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When It Comes to Memory, Practice Seems to Make Perfect
U.S. News & World Report: A new study shows that just a bit of practice can give a certain type of learning remarkable staying power. Over two consecutive days, volunteers were asked to identify a specific face or pattern from a larger group of images. They found it difficult at first but their ability improved with practice. When they were tested again one to two years later, the participants were able to retain specific information about those faces and patterns. The study, conducted by researchers at McMaster University in Canada, was published in the June issue of the journal Psychological Science. Read more: U.S. News & World Report
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The Dark Side Of Choice in America
Huffington Post: Around July 4 every year, Americans think a lot about what it means to be an American. A big part of our identity is the freedom of choice. The strong libertarian streak that runs through American politics reflects a don't-tread-on-me spirit that has been part of our national identity since Revolutionary War times. This desire for choice is also reflected in the way we consume. We love outlet malls, big box retailers and warehouse clubs that are filled with a huge variety of products with many different variations of each. We prize the ability to control our own destiny, down to the level of which fabric softener to add to our laundry. Read more: Huffington Post
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Unlocking Dyslexia in Japanese
The Wall Street Journal: After her 12-year-old son spent two years at a specialized school for children with learning disabilities, Lisa Lunday decided he was ready for a more challenging, mainstream environment. The school she chose, however, required all students to study Japanese as part of its academically rigorous curriculum. Ms. Lunday was unsure how her son, who is dyslexic, would cope. The result surprised her. The boy, now 13, excelled in his Japanese studies. His lettering of Japanese characters was sharp and distinct. That was in stark contrast to his writing in English, which appeared to be the work of a kindergartner.
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Leading researcher ‘not surprised’ by Supreme Court decision on video games
Iowa State Daily: The Supreme Court failed a California law banning the sale of violent video games to children on June 27, citing the First Amendment right to free speech. Professor Craig Anderson, distinguished professor of psychology and director of ISU's Center for the Study of Violence, has contributed extensively to a large body of research showing a definitive link between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior. Though he has served as an expert witness in similar cases, he did not take part in this one. Read more: Iowa State Daily
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Why we like to narrate stories to others
The Times of India: People often share stories, news, and information with the people around them. Now, a new study has found that why is certain content shared more than others and what drives people to share. According to Jonah Berger, the sharing of stories or information may be driven in part by arousal. When people are physiologically aroused, whether due to emotional stimuli or otherwise, the autonomic nervous is activated, which then boosts social transmission. Simply put, evoking certain emotions can help increase the chance a message is shared. Read more: The Times of India
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‘Evil Scientist’ Wants To Teach People To Do Good
NPR: In 1971, at Stanford University, a young psychology professor created a simulated prison. Some of the young men playing the guards became sadistic, even violent, and the experiment had to be stopped. The results of the Stanford Prison Experiment showed that people tend to conform — even when that means otherwise good people doing terrible things. Since then, the experiment has been used to help explain everything from Nazi Germany to Abu Ghraib. Now, in a new project, Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist who created the prison experiment, is trying to show that people can learn to bring out the best in themselves rather than the worst. Read more: NPR
