When we read about a psychology study, it is easy to think that we should try following it’s conclusion as recommendations. That might be a mistake. Jamil Zaki, an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford University, put it a little more strongly in his recent piece in his Scientific American blog. “Psychological studies are not…
Category: Psychology
How To Say No And Stay Friends
Most of us want to help a friend who asks for our help. Unfortunately, there are times you simply need to say no when a friend seeks your assistance. Perhaps you’re way too busy or maybe your friend is asking you to do something that you’re uncomfortable doing. It’s awkward saying no to a friend.…
From Stressed to Chilled- the Mood Freezing Technique
Do you act out when you get angry or upset in the hope that venting will make you feel better? It turns out that mood freezing is a more effective option. The term “mood freezing” comes from a 1984 study where researchers intentionally got people riled up. You won’t believe what they did next. They…
Empathy Assists Children in Understanding Sarcasm
The better the empathy skills of children, the easier it is for them to recognize sarcasm, says a new study. Sarcastic language can be problematic to understand for children. They generally begin to recognize sarcasm between ages 6 and 8, especially familiar sarcastic praise such as “Thanks a lot!” and “Nice going!” But some children…
Is The Brain Capable Of Identifying Fake Smiles?
Peace begins with a smile, Mother Teresa once said. It may be true, but Spanish researchers have discovered how far this attention-grabbing expression confuses our emotion recognition and makes us perceive a face as happy, even if it is not. Human beings deduce others´ state of mind from their facial expressions. David Beltrán Guerrero, researcher…
The Personality Type That Can Amplify Tinnitus Troubles
Tinnitus, the perception of sounds in the head or ears, usually described by sufferers as a ringing, buzzing, or whistling, is disturbing enough. On top of that, new research finds that people who were lonely, worried, anxious, miserable, or experiencing mood swings were more likely to report their tinnitus as being bothersome. The results suggest…
How Ballet Dancers’ Brain Structures Adapt To Dizzyness
Differences in the brain structure of ballet dancers found by scientists may be helping them circumvent feeling dizzy when they perform pirouettes. Many years of training, the research suggests, can permit dancers to suppress signals from the inner ear’s balance organs. These are interesting findings, because they could lead to improved treatment for patients with…
Treating Phobias in Your Sleep
By exposing people to a fear memory over and over again while they slept, scientists reduced fear during sleep. This is the first time that emotional memory has been manipulated in humans during sleep. “It’s a novel finding,” said Katherina Hauner, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “We showed a small but significant decrease…
Aggression In Boys May Begin Before Birth
Chronic aggressive behavior exhibited by some boys from disadvantaged families may be due to epigenetic changes during pregnancy and early childhood, suggests a study from McGill University. The research showed that men who displayed chronic aggressive behavior during childhood and adolescence have lower blood levels of four biomarkers of inflammation than in men who exhibited…