-
Vokale vermitteln Größe
ORF News Austria: Die Forscher arbeiteten mit 28 Babys im Alter von vier Monaten. Ihre Muttersprache war Spanisch. Sie spielten den Babys Silben vor, die aus Konsonanten und den Vokalen I, O, E oder A zusammengesetzt waren. Bedeutung hatten die Silben keine. Während die Babys eine Silbe hörten, zeigten ihnen die Forscher gleichzeitig mehrere geometrische Figuren. Die Kreise, Ovale, Quadrate und Dreiecke waren unterschiedlich groß und hatten verschiedene Farben. Mit einem sogenannten Eyetracker wurde das Blickverhalten der Babys aufgezeichnet. Hörten die Babys Silben mit den Vokalen I und E, fiel ihr Blick als erstes auf kleinere geometrische Figuren.
-
Optimism helps teens tackle anxiety
Times of India: Training teens to develop a positive outlook might help them tackle anxiety effectively as adults, according to a new research. "For example, I might wave at someone I recently met on the other side of the street," says experimental psychologist Jennifer Lau from Oxford University, who led the study. "If they don't wave back, I might think they didn't remember me - or alternatively, I might think they're snubbing me. People with anxiety are more likely to assume the latter interpretation," Lau said Read more: Times of India
-
Was dem Huhn ins Ohr geht
Bild der Wissenschaft: Die kleinen Hühner wurden für die Tests bereits kurz nach dem Schlüpfen darauf trainiert, einem kleinen roten Plastikzylinder zu folgen. Im eigentlichen Test ein paar Tage später setzten die Forscher sie dann in eine weißlackierte Holzkiste, in der auf jeder Seite ein Lautsprecher installiert war. Vor den Boxen war auf jeder Seite einer der roten Zylinder angebracht, wobei die gesamte Installation aus Sicht der Hühner jeweils hinter einem Gazevorhang versteckt war.
-
Researchers Find That Wisdom Really Does Come With Age
Texas A&M News and Information: COLLEGE STATION — The adage “with age comes wisdom” may actually ring true, according to psychologists at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. By examining how aging affects decision-making, researchers concluded that older adults use the experience in decision-making accumulated over their lifetime to determine the long-term utility and not just the immediate benefit before making a choice. However, younger adults tend to focus their decision-making on instant gratification, says Darrell Worthy, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M.
-
World Cup Shootout Goalkeepers Favor Right If Team Is Behind, Study Finds
Bloomberg: Goalkeepers tend to dive right when their soccer team is trailing in a World Cup penalty shootout, according to a study to be published in the Psychological Science journal. Researchers at the University of Amsterdam examined every penalty shootout at the four-yearly championship from 1982 to 2010 and found that most of the time, goalkeepers are equally likely to dive right and left. When the goalie’s team was behind, he was more likely to go right, the study showed. “Even in this really important situation, people are still influenced by biological factors,” Marieke Roskes, who co-wrote the study, said in an e-mailed statement. Read the whole story: Bloomberg
-
The rise of equal rights organisations that have ‘led to bigotry’
Daily Mail: Equal rights organisations can actually encourage bigotry, a study claims. Groups which campaign on issues such as gender equality and gay rights have been found to worsen prejudice if they try to tell people how to think. Presenting a more subtle argument was revealed as a more potent way of combating prejudice. Read more: Daily Mail
