Archive for the 'Psychology news' Category

Sleep vs. cuddling: Study looks at what happens after sex

Posted on January 21 2012 by NewsBot

According to a recent study by evolutionary psychologists, the tendency to fall asleep first after sex is associated with greater partner desire for bonding and affection.

1 In 5 Americans With Mental Illness, National Survey

Posted on January 21 2012 by NewsBot

Some 45.9 million, or around 1 in 5 American adults (age 18 and over) experienced a mental illness in the past year, according to the US government’s latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released this month…

Why do smells make some people sick?

Posted on January 21 2012 by NewsBot

Do you get a headache from the perfume of the lady next to you at the table? Do cleaning solutions at work make your nose itch? If you have symptoms prompted by everyday smells, it does not necessarily mean you are allergic but rather that you suffer from chemical intolerance. This hypersensitivity can be the result of an inability to get used to smells.

Study Finds Good Intentions Ease Pain, Add To Pleasure

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

A nurse’s tender loving care really does ease the pain of a medical procedure, and grandma’s cookies really do taste better, if we perceive them to be made with love – suggests newly published research by a University of Maryland psychologist. The findings have many real-world applications, including in medicine, relationships, parenting and business…

Behavioral Priming Paradigm Needs Update

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

Behavioral priming, in which behavior is changed by introducing subconscious influences, is a well-established phenomenon, but a new study shows that the cause may be different than what was previously assumed, and that the experimenter’s expectations are also crucial for the priming effect to be seen. The results are reported in the online journal PLoS ONE…

Engagement In Cognitively Challenging Tasks Led To An Increase In Openness To New Experiences For Older Adults

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

A program designed to boost cognition in older adults also increased their openness to new experiences, researchers report, demonstrating for the first time that a non-drug intervention in older adults can change a personality trait once thought to be fixed throughout the lifespan. Personality psychologists describe openness as one of five major personality traits…

We Are More Likely To Be Happy If Our Psychological Needs At Work Are Met

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

If you are unhappy at work, it could be partly due to your boss’ management style, according to a new study by Dr. Nicolas Gillet, from the Universite Francois Rabelais in Tours in France, and his team…

Marriage Or Cohabitation? Benefits Of Marriage Reduce Over Time While Cohabiting Couples Experience Greater Happiness And Self Esteem

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

A new study, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals that married couples experience few advantages for psychological well-being, health, or social ties compared to unmarried couples who live together. While both marriage and cohabitation provide benefits over being single, these reduce over time following a honeymoon period…

Are religious people better adjusted psychologically?

Posted on January 20 2012 by NewsBot

Psychological research has found that religious people feel great about themselves, with a tendency toward higher social self-esteem and better psychological adjustment than non-believers. But a new study finds that this is only true in countries that put a high value on religion.

When it comes to accepting evolution, gut feelings trump facts

Posted on January 19 2012 by NewsBot

For students to accept the theory of evolution, an intuitive “gut feeling” may be just as important as understanding the facts, according to a new study. In an analysis of the beliefs of biology teachers, researchers found that a quick intuitive notion of how right an idea feels was a powerful driver of whether or not students accepted evolution — often trumping factors such as knowledge level or religion.