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Claustrophobic offices stifle creativity
The Telegraph: Chinese and US scientists conducted an experiment which saw volunteers seated inside or outside a cardboard box measuring five feet by five feet. Those seated outside the box, in an airier, less constricted environment were found to be more stimulated, with a greater their ability to think 'outside the box.' The team ensured that, cardboard aside, each environment was identical and that participants did not feel claustrophobic inside the box. Having set the volunteers a test, findings showed that people outside the box were consistently more creative in their thinking. Read the full story: The Telegraph
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La ‘folie des grandeurs’? Les dirigeants se voient plus grands qu’ils ne le sont en réalité…
Express Belgium: Les recherches montrent que les personnes de grande taille sont plus susceptibles d’avoir du pouvoir et gagnent plus d’argent en moyenne, mais que peut-on dire des personnes de petite taille ? C’est ce que ce sont demandé deux chercheurs, le Professeur Jack Goncalo, de l’université Cornell University de New York, et le Docteur Michelle Duguid, de l’université Washington de St. Louis. Ils ont donné des tests d’aptitudes à 266 sujets qu’ils ont associés par binômes, et qu’ils avaient préalablement mesurés. Ensuite, chaque membre du binôme devait jouer le rôle ou bien de l’employeur, ou bien de l’employé, selon des notes qui leur étaient attribuées.
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Are We Bad at Forecasting Our Emotions? It Depends on How You Measure Accuracy
How will you feel if you fail that test? Awful, really awful, you say. Then you fail the test and, yes, you feel bad—but not as bad as you thought you would. This pattern holds for most people, research shows. The takeaway message: People are lousy at predicting their emotions. “Psychology has focused on how we mess up and how stupid we are,” says University of Texas Austin psychologist Samuel D. Gosling.
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Why Relationships End
In case you missed it, the cameras were rolling at the APS 23rd Annual Convention in Washington, DC. Watch Judith Biesen from the University of the Pacific present her poster session research on “Sexual Satisfaction and the Decision to Terminate a Romantic Relationship.” Biesen and her coauthors assessed how two factors — the ascription to certain life roles (i.e. marital role, occupational role, parental role) and topics chosen for a problem-solving discussion) — moderated the relationship between sexual satisfaction and relationship termination.
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Perfectly Happy, Even Without Happy Endings
The New York Times: SEEING Lindsay Doran on a midafternoon stroll near her office in Culver City, Calif., you might wonder about this woman with the flowing curls and contemplative smile. Art historian? Massage therapist? Micro-financier? A little of each. Ms. Doran is in the movie business, and her résumé runs from production executive on “This Is Spinal Tap” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” to producer of “The Firm,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Stranger Than Fiction,” to president of United Artists Pictures, and now an independent producer. Read the full story: The New York Times
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Understanding and Improving Children’s Lives
What influences children’s development? Sandra Scarr’s research shows the impact of genes, daycare, adoption, parental influence, and intervention programs on the development of children. Her work with identical and fraternal twins and her use of adoption studies greatly enhanced the understanding of the genetic influences associated with the development of intelligence. Scarr’s research on child poverty, child care, and children’s education has had far-reaching and lasting influence on public policy in those areas. . Scarr also served as CEO of Kinder Care Learning Centers, the largest day-care provider in the US.