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Wealth and the 47 percent: An ancient debate
The first two debates of this presidential campaign have left little doubt about the central political and philosophical issue dividing the country today. The candidates have all drawn a bright line between the two parties on the issue of wealth, and how much we as a society should share it. Should we tax the haves to help out the have-nots, or let only the fittest thrive in a Darwinian struggle? This core idea shapes policy positions on Social Security, government health care programs, student loans, veterans’ benefits, and more. But it basically comes down to what’s called redistribution. Republicans think redistribution is a dirty word, a handout for the feckless 47 percent.
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Phobia about holes is not officially recognized, but U.K. scientists look into it
The Washington Post: During an introductory psychology course at Britain’s University of Essex in 2009, Arnold Wilkins asked his class to participate in a quick experiment. Wilkins projected two images on a wall and asked students to write down whether they found either of them disturbing. One was a photograph of a woody landscape. The other was a close-up of a lotus-flower seedpod — a flat-faced pod pocked with small holes. Most of the students were unmoved, but one, freshman An Le, recalls being both transfixed and revolted by the lotus image. “It felt like I was in shock,” he says. Le is far from alone in his response.
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Healthy Lungs May Keep Brain Running Smoothly
U.S. News & World Report: Good lung health may help you maintain your brain's processing speed and problem-solving abilities as you age, according to a new study. While reduced lung function had a negative effect on these two types of "fluid" cognitive [thinking] abilities, it was not linked with poorer memory or any significant loss of stored knowledge, the researchers said. Changes in thinking function did not affect lung health. For the study, the research team analyzed data from 832 people, aged 50 to 85, in Sweden who were followed for up to 19 years. The findings were published recently of the journal Psychological Science. Read the whole story: U.S. News & World Report
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Worriers who feel guilty before doing anything wrong make best partners, research finds
The Telegraph: A new study found that worriers who begin to chastise themselves at the mere thought of doing something wrong are less likely to behave immorally as a result of their unwavable conscience. In contrast some 30 to 40 per cent of people fit the opposite category and give very little forethought to how their actions will make them feel – a recipe for unethical behaviour, psychologists say. Women are more likely to feel pre-emptive guilt than men, and older people tend to anticipate feelings of shame and regret better than those who are younger and less experienced in life.
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Quanto costa la felicità (How much does happiness cost?)
la Repubblica: Se potessimo avere, 3500 euro al mese... Saremmo certi di trovare la felicità? Ricerche alla mano, parrebbe proprio di sì. L’importante, come consigliava nel ’39 la famosa canzone Mille lire al mese, è non esagerare. Ovvero: non rischiare di guadagnare di più. Gli studiosi sostengono infatti che esiste un “numero magico”, una cifra di reddito sopra la quale è inutile andare, perché la felicità non aumenta.
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The ‘human touch’ in computer-based learning
The Washington Post: The importance of a good relationship between teacher and student is no surprise. More surprising is that the “human touch” is so powerful it can improve computer-based learning. In a series of ingenious yet simple experiments, Rich Mayer and Scott DaPra showed that students learn better from an onscreen slide show when it is accompanied by an onscreen avatar that uses social cues. Eighty-eight college students watched a four-minute Powerpoint slide show that explained how a solar cell converts sunlight to electricity. It consisted of 11 slides and a voice-over explanation. Read the whole story: The Washington Post
