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Companies Value Curiosity but Stifle It Anyway
Harvard Business Review: As children, anything sparks our curiosity. The box intrigues as much as the gift, and the scenery outside a car window can enchant for hours. We seek to know, and we engage in the essential activity for finding out. We question. And yet, as we grow older, curiosity tends to be wrung out of us. Parents, schools, and workplaces impose rules and discourage risk. Rather than provoking with inquiry, they insist on correct answers. A child asks 300 questions a day. By middle school, the number is down to practically none. By adulthood, our disposition toward questioning can range from the timid to the hostile.
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Scientists say people with these facial features may get paid more
Business Insider: When you first interview for a job or head into a salary negotiation, there's a lot that's under your control. You can easily impress the person on the other side of the table by talking about your past achievements, ambitions for the future, and ability to lead a team to greatness. According to new research, those whose faces convey the impression of trustworthiness and dominance may walk away with a higher salary. Read the whole story: Business Insider
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Socially Responsible Gifts Are Great—Primarily for the Givers
The Wall Street Journal: Those shopping for socially responsible gifts this holiday season, be forewarned: A recent study suggests they have the potential to disappoint. The reason, succinctly put: A fair-trade fruitcake is still just a fruitcake. In fact, socially responsible gifts are appreciated much more by the givers than the receivers, concluded the authors of a study recently published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. ...
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‘Run, Hide, Fight’ Is Not How Our Brains Work
The New York Times: IN this age of terror, we struggle to figure out how to protect ourselves — especially, of late, from active shooters. One suggestion, promoted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security, and now widely disseminated, is “run, hide, fight.” The idea is: Run if you can; hide if you can’t run; and fight if all else fails. This three-step program appeals to common sense, but whether it makes scientific sense is another question. Underlying the idea of “run, hide, fight” is the presumption that volitional choices are readily available in situations of danger.
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Beware ‘Star Wars’ Spoilers: Enjoyment Suffers When Plot Revealed
Live Science: The much-anticipated film "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" opens in U.S. theaters Friday (Dec. 18), and if you're not already waiting in line to see the very first screenings, you might be worried about spoilers ruining the experience. And now you've got science to support your fears. A recent study found that spoilers — or giving away key plot details — may not ruin an experience entirely, but can reduce suspense and decrease overall enjoyment. ... Johnson explained that, even when a story is "spoiled," there's plenty of evidence to suggest that an emotional payoff is still possible.
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Learning Soft Skills In Childhood Can Prevent Harder Problems Later
NPR: Academic learning is usually in the spotlight at school, but teaching elementary-age students "soft" skills like self-control and social skills might help in keeping at-risk kids out of criminal trouble in the future, a study finds. Duke University researchers looked at a program called Fast Track, which was started in the early 1990s for children who were identified by their teachers and parents to be at high risk for developing aggressive behavioral problems. The students were randomized into two groups; half took part in the intervention, which included a teacher-led curriculum, parent training groups, academic tutoring and lessons in self-control and social skills.
