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Shooting in the Dark
The New York Times: The young men who opened fire at Columbine High School, at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and in other massacres had this in common: they were video gamers who seemed to be acting out some dark digital fantasy. It was as if all that exposure to computerized violence gave them the idea to go on a rampage — or at least fueled their urges. ... Many similar studies have found the same thing: A dose of violent gaming makes people act a little more rudely than they would otherwise, at least for a few minutes after playing. It is far harder to determine whether cumulative exposure leads to real-world hostility over the long term.
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New Research From Psychological Science
Read about the latest research published in Psychological Science. Within-Cohort Age-Related Differences in Cognitive Functioning Timothy A. Salthouse People born within the same range of birth years are often categorized as belonging to the same birth cohort. Age-related differences in cognitive functioning are assumed to be partly determined by generational influences associated with cohort membership. Individuals ranging in age from 18 to 97, born between 1907 and 1989 were assessed for five different cognitive abilities.
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10 Fresh Looks at Love
Smithsonian: It should probably tell us something that the most frequently asked question on Google last year was “What is love?” Clearly, most of us are clueless on the matter; otherwise we wouldn’t be turning to algorithms for an explanation. Which explains why scientific research on love continues unabated. We want answers. So, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, here are 10 recent studies or surveys trying to make sense of matters of the heart. According to a study soon to be published in the journal Psychological Science, people like to believe that their way of life–whether they’re single or in a couple–is the best choice for everyone. Read the whole story: Smithsonian
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Online dating sites: Can crunching data help you find love?
CBS: People are turning to online dating to find their next partner, but how realistic is finding love by crunching data? Eli Finkel, of Northwestern University, speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about the online dating trend. Watch here: CBS See Eli J. Finkel at the 25th APS Annual Convention.
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Why Consumers Just Don’t Feel the Love for Valentine’s Day
TIME: Valentine’s Day is a pale, pink shadow of its former self. Once associated with throbbing red passion and romance, today it’s more likely to elicit a sense of obligation, dread or apathy. The annual Valentine’s Day spending survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) reveals that 60% of Americans — and 91% of those in relationships — plan to celebrate the holiday to the tune of $18.6 billion. The folks playing along will spend an average of $131 on gifts for spouses, significant others, friends, children, parents, classmates, teachers, pets and co-workers. Average spending is expected to be up around $4 compared with Valentine’s Day last year. Read the whole story: TIME
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In Places Red, Not Blue, a Preference for the Tried and True
The Wall Street Journal: Bringing a new product to market? You’ll have a harder time in conservative parts of the country, a new paper implies. A trio of business professors studied six years of supermarket purchases in counties covering nearly half the U.S. population and found that, when it comes to groceries, conservatives like established national brands—and are significantly less likely to try new items. Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal
