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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.
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Study shows how stress triggers immune system
USA Today: Shedding some light on why stress might be bad for you, a new study finds that parts of your immune system ramp up when you get into personal conflicts with others. It's not clear how this effect of stress may make you sick, but the activated parts of the immune system -- which cause inflammation in the body -- have been linked to conditions such as diabetes and cancer. "The message is that the flotsam and jetsam of life predict changes in your underlying biology in ways that cumulatively could have a bad effect on health," said study co-author Shelley Taylor, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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To-Do List: Let’s, Let’s Stay Together
The New Yorker: To know: The Department of Justice shut down the popular service Megaupload and filed criminal charges against seven people connected with the company … France is considering withdrawal from Afghanistan after four of its troops there were killed … The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is in Israel to discuss Iran’s nuclear program … Deadlock at a meeting in Geneva means that “leap seconds” will get at least three more years of life. Read the full story: The New Yorker
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Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2011: Meet the Brain, BBC Two, preview
The Telegraph: If you ever wondered how your brain works, take this chance to catch Professor Bruce Hood’s superb three-part lecture series, aptly titled Meet Your Brain, first shown on BBC Four over Christmas. Hood is professor of experimental psychology at Bristol University, and his ability to reduce complex concepts to bite-sized chunks for children (of which this audience is made up) makes these lectures perfect also for adults keen to get a taste of the latest developments in psychological research without going to any trouble. In tonight’s opener Hood starts out by showing how the brain not only governs all our physical processes, but also gives each of us individuality and identity.
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Mind Over Matter: Patients’ Perceptions of Illness Make a Difference
Whenever we fall ill, there are many different factors that come together to influence the course of our illness. Additional medical conditions, stress levels, and social support all have an impact on our health and well-being, especially when we are ill. But a new report suggests that what you think about your illness matters just as much, if not more, in determining your health outcomes. In the February issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, Keith Petrie, of the University of Auckland, and John Weinman, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College, review the existing literature on patients’ perceptions of illness.
