Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Choice doesn't always mean well-being for everyone
American culture venerates choice, but choice may not be the key to happiness and health, according to a new study.
Mind Reading, Brain Fingerprinting and the Law
What if a jury could decide a man's guilt through mind reading? What if reading a defendant's memory could betray their guilt? And what constitutes 'intent' to commit murder?
Brain Scan Offers First Biological Test in Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
An event such as sexual assault or a battlefield injury is physically agonizing at the time, but it also can eventually sentence a person to a host of mental symptoms--often...
Disclosing sexual abuse is critical
Half of sexual abuse survivors wait up to five years before disclosing they were victimized, according to a new study.
Minority teen boys smoke more when they perceive discrimination; girls do not
Researchers in Indiana report that minority teen boys smoke more when they perceived discrimination, girls reacted differently. There does not appear to be an association between perceived discrimination and smoking...
Video gamers: Size of brain structures predicts success
Researchers can predict your performance on a video game simply by measuring the volume of specific structures in your brain, a multi-institutional team reports this week...
Picture is worth a thousand words: Program uses art to engage at-risk kids and identify needs
Identifying the public health and safety needs of children from low-income communities may be best accomplished through art, researchers report. In their paper, they describe the success of Visual Voices,...
Siblings play formative, influential role as 'agents of socialisation'
What we learn from our siblings when we grow up has - for better or for worse - a considerable influence on our social and emotional development as adults, according...
Reasoning through the rationing of end-of-life care
Acknowledging that the idea of rationing health care, particularly at the end of life, may incite too much vitriol to get much rational consideration, a professor of neurology called for...
Calpain is important to memory processes after all
Recent studies reestablish the importance to memory processes of calpain, a protease first hypothesized to play a crucial role in memory 25 years ago.
Low socioeconomic status affects cortisol levels in children over time
Given the importance of identifying risk factors for such diseases early in life, a new study looked at the relationship between low SES and cortisol in children over a 2-year...
Sweating out the cravings
It's been 18 excruciating hours since you last had one. You're irritable, stressed out, and the cravings are intense. There is only one thing you can think about firing up...
Those less motivated to achieve will excel on tasks seen as fun
Those who value excellence and hard work generally do better than others on specific tasks when they are reminded of those values. But when a task is presented as fun,...
Winehouse gets conditional discharge for assault
LONDON (AP) -- Amy Winehouse pleaded guilty Wednesday to drunkenly assaulting a theater manager at a family Christmas show and was ordered to pay her victim...
Face recognition ability inherited separately from IQ
Recognising faces is an important social skill, but not all of us are equally good at it. Some people are unable to recognise even their closest friends (a condition called...
Rice responsible for Asians' alcohol flush reaction
The mutation responsible for the alcohol flush reaction, an unpleasant response to alcohol that is relatively common in people of Asian descent, may have occurred following the domestication of rice....
Orangutan acts as 'peacemaker'
In a never before seen behaviour, a captive Bornean orangutan acts as a peacemaker, resolving conflicts between other apes.
Science 2020: Prospecting For Nanopores
I think that in many ways, the motivation of scientists is similar to that of prospectors in the 1800s. The prospectors had gold fever, grubstakes, the ability to persevere against...
Reasons explored for making child repeat first grade
Reasons for requiring a child to repeat the first grade may go far beyond the basic "three R's," reveals a study by two education psychologists. They say parents must often...
Eating habits of female soccer players and consequences for sporting activity
To be a good sportsperson, apart from having talent and being fit and in-training, eating habits are also important. Researchers concluded that just by changing one or two bad habits...
Cosmic Log: Solar salvation for Haiti?
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Donors are gearing up to send solar-powered cell phones, streetlights and even audio Bibles to earthquake-hit Haiti. Mobile phone - Alan...
Teacher With Bible Divides Ohio Town
Officials say a teacher should be fired for pushing religion in class. Supporters say he is being unfairly punished.
Mental health is a luxury for the uninsured
An unemployed Nevada resident is forced to seek treatment at a crowded state facility. But a sensitive and understanding nurse named Jeff makes the visits worthwhile. When I get anxious, I call Jeff....
How to stay healthy during old age: Keep moving
Physical activity is the No. 1 preventive-care tip for seniors. ...
Dr. Jeffry Life believes he's the picture of health
He's that graying senior with the chiseled physique in those print ads. He shares his health regimen. ...
Harsh criticism for WHO's drug access ideas
A long-awaited WHO report on boosting the developing world's access to drugs has disappointed those who wanted radical solutions.
Will China Achieve Science Supremacy?
China is leaping forward in the sciences, but academic fraud and limited Web access are hurdles.
Our memory of time is shortened when we believe products and events are related
When we believe two events are connected -- such as drinking caffeine and getting a burst of energy -- we tend to compress time, according to a new study.