Psychology

Psychologist Tackles Why Some Movies Are Better Than Others

A film that wins critical acclaim is likely to be an R-rated drama, adapted from a prize-winning play or book, based on a true story, with the original author or director involved in writing the screenplay. It is unlikely to be a sequel or remake, a comedy ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 15 2007 - 2:50pm

Is Depression Overdiagnosed?

Are too many people now diagnosed as having depression? Two experts give their views. Professor Gordon Parker, a psychiatrist from Australia says the current threshold for what is considered to be ‘clinical depression’ is too low. He fears it could lead to ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 16 2007 - 7:16pm

The Structure Of Feminine Identity- Know Her Beauty Creams, Know Her?

An unusual investigation was recently carried out by researchers under the guidance of Tatiana Rebeko, Ph.D. at the Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences. Their interest was beauty aids and what it could tell them about personality strains. ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 17 2007 - 12:43pm

Song Debunked: Breaking Up Actually Not So Hard To Do

Without the heartbreak of ended relationships, half of popular music would cease to exist. Everyone has had one but it turns out it probably wasn't so bad- especially if you thought it would be horrible. A new Northwestern University study shows that ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 29 2007 - 6:50pm

Do All Signals For Food Cause Obesity?

Few people have used the theory behind the Shangri-La Diet more successfully than Tim Beneke, an Oakland journalist. I put before and after photos of him — before and after he lost about 100 pounds — on the front page of the proposal for The Shangri-La Di ...

Article - Seth Roberts - Aug 23 2007 - 2:02am

How To Make Your Brain Work Better In Three Hours

I did this experiment yesterday. It took the whole day but the results were clear by noon. At about 7 am I took 4 tablespoons of flaxseed oil (Spectrum Organic). I measured my mental function with a letter-counting test. Here is what happened. ...

Article - Seth Roberts - Aug 23 2007 - 2:03am

Is Irrational Behavior In Market Economics Limited?

A situation in which wages increase 2.3% and prices increase 3.1% is equivalent to a situation in which wages fall by 0.8% at constant prices. Though the two scenarios are equivalent in real terms there are people who perceive these situations differently. ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 24 2007 - 1:46am

Can Professors Say The Truth? (radio Show)

Two days ago, the KQED radio program Forum with Michael Krasny discussed the attacks on Northwestern psychology professor Michael Bailey and his book The Man Who Would Be Queen. Here is their webpage. Joan Roughgarden, a professor of biology at Stanford, ...

Article - Seth Roberts - Aug 24 2007 - 11:01am

Why We Remember Bad Times Better Than Good

Do you remember exactly where you were when you learned of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? Your answer is probably yes, and researchers are beginning to understand why we remember events that carry negative emotional weight. Boston College psychologist Eli ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 28 2007 - 11:28am

Want Fewer Calories? Don't Go To A 'Healthy' Restaurant

Health food is extremely popular in America yet obesity levels continue to rise. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research explains that paradox. It turns out that when consumers see a healthy choice, be it drinks, deserts or food, they end up consum ...

Article - News Staff - Aug 29 2007 - 3:02pm