-
Memory training improves intelligence in some children, report says
Los Angeles Times: Training a child to hold a whole cluster of items in his or her memory for even a short time may feel like trying to hold a wave on the sand. But a study published Monday says it's a drill that can yield lasting benefits. Children who've had such training have better abstract reasoning and solve problems more creatively than kids who haven't, the study found. But here's a warning to parents already grooming their young children for entry into elite universities: Don't automatically rush out to enroll your young genius in brain-training summer camp or invest in DVDs promising to deliver high IQs.
-
How our brains make the most of recalling bad memories
Irish Times: CAN NEGATIVE emotions help memory? It seems they can, under certain circumstances, according to a new study published in Psychological Science. Researchers asked students to study lists of Swahili words and their translations into English, then the students were asked to recall the meanings. After each correct answer, the students were shown a negative image, a neutral picture or a blank screen. When that first test was over, they did a quick multiplication exercise, then the students were quizzed again on the Swahili- English items. Read more: Irish Times
-
Women’s prejudice linked with menstrual cycle
Times of India: A study byMichigan State University psychologist researchers has indicated that women's bias against male strangers increases when women are fertile, suggesting prejudice may be partly fuelled by genetics. "Our findings suggest that women's prejudice, at least in part, may be a byproduct of their biology," said Melissa McDonald, a doctoral student and lead author on the paper. Read more: Times of India
-
Why are passionate women always compared to cats? Meow!
The Globe and Mail: Earlier this month, someone who is not a cat meowed at Australian Minister of Finance Penny Wong. Wong had the floor during a heated debate among members of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee when a Tasmanian senator named David Bushby interrupted her with said animal sound. Wong, incredulous at what she’d heard, shot back: “The blokes are allowed to yell, but if a woman stands her ground, you want to make that kind of comment. It’s sort of schoolyard politics, mate. It’s just extraordinary.” Read more: The Globe and Mail
-
Powerful, Intoxicated, Anonymous: The Paradox of the Disinhibited
A team of scientists proposes a model to explain how the diverse domains of power, alcohol intoxication and anonymity produce similarly paradoxical social behaviors.
-
Do Sexist Workplaces Foster ‘Queen Bee’ Behavior?
The Epoch Times: "Queen bee" behavior in the workplace might be a response to a difficult, sexist environment, according to a study in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science. Some women in upper management are described as "queen bees" if they are perceived to discriminate against other women, for example, by refusing to help them advance in the ranks. A team of researchers led by Belle Derksof Leiden University conducted a survey of 63 women holding senior positions in police departments in the Netherlands. Among the first questions the participants were asked was to describe how important their gender identity was in the workplace. Read more: The Epoch Times