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Why it’s good to have smart friends: The role of feedback in decision making
Every day we are faced with a multitude of options, but the majority of choices we make fall into two categories: descriptive choice (based on what we are told or on statistics) and experiential choice (based on our own personal experience). An example of these choices would be deciding whether or not to wear a helmet while cycling. We are told that it is for our safety, so choosing to wear the helmet would be a descriptive choice. However, we see that our friends never wear helmets and they have never been hurt, so in this case choosing not to wear a helmet would be an experiential choice.
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The Nose Knows: Two Fixation Points Needed for Face Recognition
Many of us are bad at remembering names but we are very quick to point out that at least we never forget a face. Never mind recognizing a familiar face- how is it that we recognize faces at all? Facial recognition is so automatic that we do not think about how our brain actually perceives a face. Previous studies have indicated that during face recognition, we look most often at the eyes, nose and mouth. Now, a new study has pinpointed exactly where our eyes land when we see a face.
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On the Move: Personality Influences Migration Patterns
When meeting someone for the first time, the second question that is usually asked (following “what’s your name?”) is “where do you live?”. Until recently, it was not apparent just how revealing that answer may be. Although behavioral research has suggested that people who are extremely outgoing have a tendency to relocate often, was unknown if specific areas attract particular personality types.
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Cold and Lonely: Does Social Exclusion Literally Feel Cold?
When we hear somebody described as “frosty” or “cold”, we automatically picture a person who is unfriendly and antisocial. There are numerous examples in our daily language of metaphors which make a connection between cold temperatures and emotions such as loneliness, despair and sadness. We are taught at a young age that metaphors are meant to be descriptive and are not supposed to be taken literally. However, recent studies suggest that these metaphors are more than just fancy literary devices and that there is a psychological basis for linking cold with feelings of social isolation.
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The Grass is Always Greener…Or is It? The Neural Basis of Searching Behaviors
What motivates some to constantly seek out the next best thing, the greener grass, while others of us are content to stick with what’s known and safe? Our ancient ancestors had to forage in the savanna for food and water, but there was no telling where they would find these resources. The environment was patchy and unpredictable. So what was the best search strategy? Once you find a hunting ground with some antelope in it, do you set up camp and make it your own, or go looking for a better hunting ground, then a better one still? Psychologists are very interested in this question, and some believe it may reflect a fundamental difference in cognitive style, wired into our neurons.
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Trouble Quitting? New Pitt-Carnegie Mellon Smoking Study May Reveal Why
A new study from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University sheds light on why smokers’ intentions to quit “cold turkey” often fizzle out within days or even hours. If a smoker isn’t yearning for a cigarette when he makes the decision to kick the habit — and most aren’t — he isn’t able to foresee how he will feel when he’s in need of a nicotine buzz.
