On the Newsstand

The ‘No’ Muscle: How To Bulk Up Your Self-Control
Boston Sunday Globe
December 16, 2007
“If self-control can tire like a muscle, then one intriguing corollary is that it can also be built up like a muscle – and some research seems to say this is true. ‘Targeted [efforts] to control behavior in one area, such as spending money or exercise’ [write the authors]…’lead to improvements in unrelated areas, such as studying or household chores.'”
– Coverage of “The Strength Model of Self-Control” in Current Directions in Psychological Science (Roy F. Baumeister, Kathleen D. Vohs, and Dianne M. Tice, Vol. 16 (6), 351-355).

Showdown at Sex Gap: Women’s Intrinsic Math and Science Aptitude Divides Scientists
Science News
November 24, 2007
“Enter a consensus statement, published in the August Psychological Science in the Public Interest, written by six researchers with varying takes on the reasons for sex differences. They conclude that ‘early experience, biological factors, educational policy, and cultural context affect the number of women and men who pursue advanced study in science and math’ and that ‘these effects add and interact in complex ways.'”
– Coverage of “The Science of Sex Differences in Science and Mathematics” in Psychological Science in the Public Interest (Diane F. Halpern, Camilla P. Benbow, David C. Geary, Ruben C. Gur, Janet Shibley Hyde, and Morton Ann Gernsbacher,  Vol. 8 (1), 1-51).

How To Stop Your Emotions From Wrecking Your Returns
Wall Street Journal
December 12, 2007
“Make no mistake: Emotions can hurt your investment results. For instance, a study published in Psychological Science in June 2005 found that people with impaired emotional responses made more sensible financial decisions…Investors with a strong emotional reaction to market swings often buy and sell at the wrong time and may trade more, thus racking up hefty investment costs. Emotions can also help, supplying the motivation to focus on our finances, plan for retirement, save diligently and avoid excessive risk.”
– Coverage of “Investment Behavior and the Negative Side of Emotion” in Psychological Science (Baba Shiv, George Loewenstein, Antoine Bechara, Hanna Damasio and Antonio R. Damasio, Vol. 16 (6), 435-439).

What’s in a Name? Maybe an Unconscious Trend Toward Failure
USA Today
November 15, 2007
“Your name made you do it, albeit unconsciously, suggests new research that finds your name can negatively undermine your goals… Students whose names begin with C or D get lower grades than those whose names begin with A or B; major league baseball players whose first or last names began with K (the strikeout-signifying letter) are significantly more likely to strike out, according to the report published in the December issue of Psychological Science.” Coverage of “Moniker Maladies: When Names Sabotage Success” in Psychological Science (Leif D. Nelson and Joseph P. Simmons, Vol. 18 (12), 1106-1112).