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Learning New Skills Keeps an Aging Mind Sharp
Older adults are encouraged to stay active to keep their minds sharp. But new findings from a longitudinal study suggests that only demanding activities — such as learning photography — will benefit cognitive functioning.
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Sirens in the Grocery Aisles
On his long sea journey back home following the fall of Troy, the Greek war hero Odysseus sailed perilously close to the Sirens. The Sirens were beautiful and seductive creatures who used their enchanting songs to lure sailors into shipwrecks on the rocky coast. Odysseus yearned to hear the Sirens’ song, but he also knew that his weak will was no match for their potent temptation, so he ordered his crew to plug their ears and lash him to the ship’s mast—and never to untie him no matter what he pleaded. He did plead to be released, and his crew did ignore his pleas as ordered—and only in that way did Odysseus control his desires and avoid destruction.
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Overscheduled Children: How Big a Problem?
The New York Times: Now that the school year is under way, my wife and I are busy managing our children’s after-school schedules, mixing sports practices, music lessons, homework and play dates. It can be a complicated balancing act for our elementary-age daughters, as some days end up overstuffed, some logistically impossible, some wide open. Still, compared to when we were children, the opportunities they get to sample on a weekly basis is mind-blowing. There’s only one problem: To absorb the conventional wisdom in parenting circles these days, what we’re doing to our children is cruel, overbearing and destructive to their long-term well-being.
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The Face(s) of the GOP. Who Do You See?
The Huffington Post: I've worked in Washington, D.C. for decades, so I have witnessed a fair number of political logjams, even a few government shutdowns. So I'm not quick to panic when the two parties' leaders stubbornly stake out what are seemingly irreconcilable positions. But I confess that listening to House Republicans this time around -- especially but not only the Tea Party zealots -- is making me nervous. This is not just the usual posturing and brinkmanship. I really think they perceive a different reality than the rest of us. Is that possible?
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Big Salary Hikes Today Could Lead to a Psychological Fall Tomorrow
Think hefty merit raises, commissions, and bonus structures are the best motivators? Maybe not. Such remuneration schemes can actually backfire. Staff morale can take a big dive during lean times, when bonuses and raises are curtailed. Temporary declines in income—say, from lower sales commissions due to a business slowdown— have a much larger impact on our feeling of contentment than income gains of the same magnitude. A new study conducted in Europe demonstrates this.
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Why You’re Able to Spot a Friend in a Crowd, Even When You Can’t See Their Face
Pacific Standard: Have you ever surprised yourself by correctly recognizing a friend in a crowd, far, far away? Even if her face isn’t at all visible, there’s something about the way she’s standing or walking that gives her away instantly. New research by psychologists at the University of Texas-Dallas helps to confirm and explain that very common phenomenon. In a study published recently in the journal Psychological Science, researchers asked participants to look at photographs of people in different settings and clothing and to match them up, determining which ones were photos of the same person.
