Psychology

Redemption Narrative- A Secular Version Of Catholic Guilt For St. Patrick's Day

"A personal redemption narrative sustains motivation to engage in prosocial behavior," write psychologists at Northwestern University. Since it is St. Patrick's Day, that is a fancy social science way of saying that is why some people " ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Mar 17 2015 - 12:10pm

Morality Is Visual? Participants Often Choose The Response Based On What They're Looking At

Moral decisions can be influenced by movements of the eyes during deliberation, according to new research which challenges the notion that the decisions people make, from whether to give money to a homeless person to whether to separate recyclables from t ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 17 2015 - 8:00am

You Wouldn't Know It By Media Coverage, But America Is Far More Tolerant

America is the most tolerant country in the world and nothing evidences that more than the constant hand-wringing about tolerance. Every minority and special interest can control the cultural discourse by shouting down anyone they happen not to like. ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 17 2015 - 8:30am

Smoking, Obesity: Are 'non-communicable' Diseases Socially Infectious?

Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are among the leading causes of death across the world. ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 17 2015 - 7:57pm

Clothes Reveal Who We Want You To Think We Are

Remember the social media storm about the color of the dress? Did you see blue and black or white and gold? It was some harmless fun that drew in millions of online commenters. But clothes are not frivolous, flippant or foolish. In telling and talking abo ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 20 2015 - 8:30am

Special Snowflakes: Why Some Kids Think They Are Exceptional

Narcissistic children feel superior to others, believe they are entitled to privileges and crave admiration from others. When they don’t get the admiration they want, they may lash out aggressively. Why do some children become narcissistic, whereas others ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 23 2015 - 8:30am

What Are Personality Disorders And How Are They Treated?

Filmmakers know personality disorders make for compelling viewing. Think of attention-seeking Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" (1939). Or the manipulation and callous disregard for others in "Silence of the Lambs" (1991), & ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 24 2015 - 8:00am

Why Anti-vaxxers Just 'Know' They're Right

Anti-vaccination beliefs can cause real, substantive harm, as shown by the recent outbreak of measles in the US. These developments are as shocking and distressing as their consequences are predictable. But if the consequences are so predictable, why do t ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 30 2015 - 12:00pm

Primary Mate Ejection Now Commencing: We're Hard-Wired To Get Over It

Had a break up and finding it difficult to move on? It's an evolutionary mandate, according to a review of evolutionary psychology articles on romantic break-ups. People are hardwired to fall out of love and move onto new romantic relationships, the a ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 25 2015 - 3:47pm

Orthorexia Nervosa: The Righteous Health Food Obsession

Orthorexia nervosa, the “health food eating disorder”, gets its name from the Greek word ortho, meaning straight, proper or correct. This exaggerated focus on food can be seen today in some people who follow lifestyle movements such as “raw”, “clean” and ...

Article - The Conversation - Mar 26 2015 - 8:30am