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Risk Factor for Depression Can Be ‘Contagious’
A new study with college roommates shows that a particular style of thinking that makes people vulnerable to depression can actually "rub off" on others, increasing their symptoms of depression six months later. The research, from psychological scientists Gerald Haeffel and Jennifer Hames of the University of Notre Dame, is published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Studies show that people who respond negatively to stressful life events, interpreting the events as the result of factors they can’t change and as a reflection of their own deficiency, are more vulnerable to depression.
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Student Events at Convention
Here is a quick day-by-day rundown of student-related events that you don’t want to miss at the 25th APS Annual Convention, May 23-36 in Washington, DC. Make sure to follow APS on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #aps2013dc. Thursday, May 23 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM APSSC Convention Kickoff and Student Social at Uptown Tap House Want to meet other students? This event gives the APS Student Caucus an opportunity to welcome student affiliates and provide information about all of the great student events at the convention. Students will be able to relax in a casual environment and meet other students who share the same interests.
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Weighing the Risks
No one can know everything; in our daily lives, we make do with the best information we can get. Psychological scientists are working to understand how people choose to learn facts about the world when the options available to them are limited. In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, a team of researchers led by Toshihiro Wakebe of the University of Tokyo investigated the role of risk aversion in information-gathering behavior.
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Teens’ Brains Are More Sensitive to Rewarding Feedback From Peers
Teenagers are risk-takers -- they’re more likely than children or adults to experiment with illicit substances, have unprotected sex, and drive recklessly. But research shows that teenagers have the knowledge and ability to make competent decisions about risk, just like adults. So what explains their risky behavior? In a new report, psychological scientists Laurence Steinberg and Jason Chein of Temple University and Dustin Albert of Duke University argue that some teens’ risky behavior reflects the unique effect of peer influence on the still-developing teenage brain.
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Continuing Education Credits at Convention
Don’t miss out on the many opportunities to earn Continuing Education credits at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC. A full list is below — please note that separate registration is required for Workshops. From Revolution to Legislation: The NIMH Research Domain Criteria Project Bruce N. Cuthbert, Robert F. Krueger, Elaine F. Walker Thursday, May 23, 2013 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Beyond the Guild: Innovative Models to Expand Dissemination Science in Mental Health Marc S. Atkins, Kimberly Eaton Hoagwood, Mary M.
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People Present Themselves in Ways That Counteract Prejudices Toward Their Group
Individuals from stigmatized groups choose to present themselves in ways that counteract the specific stereotypes and prejudices associated with their group, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. “People often think of prejudice as a simple, single phenomenon — general dislike for members of other groups — but recent research suggests that there are actually multiple, distinct types of prejudice,” says graduate student Rebecca Neel, who conducted the research with her advisor Steven Neuberg and post-doctoral scholar Samantha Neufeld at Arizona State University.