-
New Research From Psychological Science
Read about the latest research published in Psychological Science: The Stability of Intelligence From Age 11 to Age 90 Years: The Lothian Birth Cohort of 1921 Ian J. Deary, Alison Pattie, and John M. Starr How stable is intelligence over the lifespan? Participants completed the Moray House Test No. 12 (MHT) -- a paper-and-pencil test of general mental ability -- at ages 11 and 90. MHT scores at age 11 and at age 90 were significantly correlated. MHT performance at age 90 was also significantly correlated with performance on other commonly used assessments of cognitive functioning at age 90, indicating that intelligence has moderately high stability across the lifespan.
-
A Friendly Face Might Mask Ill Intent
Oxytocin, sometimes called the “trust hormone” might actually inhibit our skill in detecting hidden intentions in others’ faces, a study suggests.
-
Why We Are Wired to Connect
Scientific American: When we experience social pain — a snub, a cruel word — the feeling is as real as physical pain. That finding is among those in a new book, Social, and it is part of scientist Matthew Lieberman’s case that our need to connect is as fundamental as our need for food and water. He answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook. You argue that our need to connect socially is “powerful.” But just how powerful is it?
-
Pessimists may be genetically predisposed to see the world darkly: new UBC study
National Post: Some people are genetically predisposed to seeing the world darkly, according to a new Canadian study that adds to a recent raft of research acknowledging biology’s role in shaping a person’s perspective, positive or negative. The study found a particular gene variant can cause some people to see emotional events — especially negative ones — more vividly than peers who don’t carry the gene. According to the lead author, University of British Columbia psychology professor Rebecca Todd, it’s the first study to find this genetic variation deeply affects how people see and experience their world. It was published in the current issue of Psychological Science.
-
10 Things We’ve Learned About Negotiation
Smithsonian Magazine: While negotiating, it may not be such a good idea to look the other party straight in the eye, after all. A study published earlier this month in Psychological Science says that making eye contact may actually make people who disagree with you less likely to change their minds. Researchers found that the more time viewers spent looking at speakers’ eyes, the less likely they were to shift to the speakers’ point of view. Eye contact seemed to be effective only when a viewer already agreed with a speaker. Read the whole story: Smithsonian Magazine
-
Study: Making Direct Eye Contact Is Not An Effective Way To Persuade
Forbes: Few popular beliefs are as unshakable as, “If you want to influence someone, always make direct eye contact.” But new research suggests that this bit of sturdy pop lore is hardly gospel – in fact, in many circumstances a direct gaze may result in the exact opposite effect. Researchers from Harvard, the University of British Columbia and the University of Freiberg used newly developed eye-tracking technology to test the claim during two experiments. ... According to Julia Minson of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, co-lead researcher of the studies, “The findings highlight the fact that eye contact can signal very different kinds of messages depending on the situation.
