Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Sticking to diets is about more than willpower -- complexity matters
Cognitive scientists compared the dieting behavior of women following two radically different diets. The more complicated people found their diet plans, the sooner they were likely to bail. "For people...
Captured by true crime: Why women are drawn to tales of rape, murder and serial killers
Women are more drawn to true crime books than are men, according to new research.
Words used to describe substance-use patients can alter attitudes, contribute to stigma
Changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals, even those who specialize in addiction treatment.
Economists Lay Out Path To Fiscal Stability For U.S.
If left unaddressed, the U.S. government's growing debt will inevitably limit America's future wealth and risk a disruptive fiscal crisis, claims a new report from the National Research Council and...
Chronic sleep loss degrades nighttime performance
Although the exact function of sleep remains unknown, sleep is clearly necessary for optimal cognitive performance, learning, and memory. Sufficient sleep is also important for cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune functions. New findings by...
Environmentally-friendly policies: You say offset, I say tax? Labels and political affiliation may affect preferences
New findings suggest a strong link between our political affiliation and how we react to certain labels. When choosing among two items, Democratic, Republican, and Independent volunteers tended to select...
Queen's University study finds first-generation immigrants struggling in education system
First-generation immigrant adolescents in Canada performed below average in math and science in recent testing indicating that these students may be struggling to succeed in the educational system. ...
Should Federally Funded Research Be Available To The Public?
An expert panel of library scientists, publishers, and university academics said today that the results of scientific research funded by the federal government should be made freely available to the...
Pregnancy fears can lead to extreme reactions in some women
(PhysOrg.com) -- Fear of pregnancy can lead to some women taking extreme measures to avoid pregnancy according to new research.
Sniffing out terrorists
Literally hundreds of people are hurrying through the long airport corridor between Terminals A and B. Among them are two terrorists, who've hidden themselves in the crowd. They're carrying small...
Mozart Effect Helps Premature Babies Get Stronger
Playing Mozart music to premature babies seems to help them gain weight faster and become stronger, new research found.
Burke's breakthrough has Americans excited
Tim Burke's World Cup triumphs have the U.S. biathlon team feeling especially good about the Vancouver Games and America's chances of finally grabbing an Olympic medal in Europe's most popular...
UK inmates comfortable with diversity
'Ethnicity, Identity and Social Relations in Prison', carried out by Dr. Coretta Philips of the London School of Economics, explored how prisoners' ethnic identities helped them cope with prison life,...
Wii becomes third console to stream Netflix
(AP) -- It's a triple crown for Netflix. Beginning in the spring, the Wii will become the last of the three current video game consoles to get instant viewing...
Muslim kiwis integrate easily
A recent study found that Muslim youth in New Zealand tend to be happy and well-adapted – more so than their Maori and Pakeha peers.
Online poker study: The more hands you win, the more money you lose
A new study of online poker seems counterintuitive: The more hands players win, the less money they're likely to collect -- especially when it comes to novice players.
'Weekend effect' makes people happier regardless of their job, study says
From construction laborers and secretaries to physicians and lawyers, people experience better moods, greater vitality and fewer aches and pains from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, concludes the first study...
Beat Business Burn-Out
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recent reports show that job satisfaction rates in the U.S. are at the lowest level in more than two decades. The recession has caused employees and employers to...
Prescribed erectile dysfunction drugs don't lead to risky sexual behavior: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- Despite studies suggesting that erectile dysfunction drugs promote irresponsible sexual behavior, men who receive prescriptions for them are no more likely to engage in risky sex acts than...
New technology keeps evidence close to the vest
(PhysOrg.com) -- Each day, law enforcement officials are faced with the daunting task of investigating complex crime scenes without compromising evidence. Investigators know the slightest error could jeopardize a conviction,...
Fathers are no role models
(PhysOrg.com) -- Female zebra finches do not only differ in the way they chose their mate but also in their preference for a partner.
When work interferes with life: Study reveals new insights about a common stressor
As many as 50 per cent of people bring their work home with them regularly, according to new research out of the University of Toronto that describes the stress associated...
Winnipeg police want workout time
Winnipeg police officers are asking for 40 minutes per day of gym time during their shifts to keep pace with criminals, who often emerge from jail more fit and muscular...
Scientists Identify Transition Between Easy and Difficult Tasks
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the primary ways in which we as humans can manipulate our environment involves working with our hands, using them to point, reach, and handle tools such...
Study shows people's racial biases can skew perceptions of how much help victims need
When assessing the amount of help someone needs, people's perceptions can be skewed by their racial biases, according to a Kansas State University study.
Ethnic Minority Vote Stronger Than Ever But Massively Undervalued By Main Parties
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research just published by Professor Muhammad Anwar, from The University of Warwick`s Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, shows that ethnic minority votes will be more important...
EUR1.6 Million Grant Awarded to Prof. Kobi Rosenblum for Brain and Memory Research
Prof. Kobi Rosenblum, University of Haifa, has been awarded a EUR1.6 million grant from DIP, a German-Israeli Project Cooperation. It will fund Prof. Rosenblum's international research of the role...
Goodbye to a not-so-good scientist
Though she was successful and dynamic, the Royal Institution is better off without Susan Greenfield's unfounded claimsHearing the news that Susan Greenfield has lost her job at the Royal Institution threw me back...