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Preterm Babies Have Less Wealth, Education in Adulthood
Parents: Across the globe, 15 million premature babies are born every year. Those who are born premature face adverse effects both academically and economically throughout their lifespan, according to a new study. The research, which was published in Psychological Science, suggests that preemies have lower academic abilities in childhood when compared to their peers. And when preemies enter adulthood, they are often less wealthy and have attained less education. In order to draw conclusions, researchers analyzed data from two large studies: Participants from the National Child Development Study were born in 1958 and those from the British Cohort Study were born in 1970.
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The psychology of why people like Steve Rannazzisi lie about having survived 9/11
The Washington Post: Steve Rannazzisi didn’t sound like someone putting on a show. “I was sort of the party starter of Merrill Lynch,” he said in an interview in 2009. “Until our building got hit with a plane.” “Oh, Christ,” his interviewer, the podcast host Marc Maron, interjected. “Yeah. And then the party ended right there.” Without tears or theatrics, Rannazzisi went on to explain that he was working on the 54th floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. He felt the impact of a plane ramming into the first tower and ran outside to see what was happening. When the building began to crumble, “I just started f—ing booking it,” he told Maron.
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Making Government Logical
The New York Times: THERE wasn’t a lot of fanfare, but last week may turn out to be among the most consequential of President Obama’s second term. By executive order, Mr. Obama directed federal agencies to incorporate behavioral science — insights into how people actually make decisions — into their programs. When government programs fail, it is often because public officials are clueless about how human beings think and act. Federal, state and local governments make it far too hard for small businesses, developers, farmers, veterans and poor people to get permits, licenses, training and economic assistance.
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People Are More Likely to Cheat at the End
Scientific American: Life, for better or worse, is full of endings. We finish school, get a new job, sell a home, break off a relationship. Knowing that a phase is soon coming to an end can elicit the best in us, as we try to make amends for errors past and avoid last-minute regrets. We might try to visit that local museum, or make time for happy hour drinks with a longtime coworker, or be more generous with our praise to a partner. But while the sense of an ending can draw out people’s finest selves, it can also, new psychological research suggests, bring out their darker side.
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When Millennials Move Back Home
The Wall Street Journal: More millennials are spending early adulthood in the same place where they spent their formative years: in their parents’ homes. It’s crucial that both parties understand the financial implications of this homecoming. For parents, a child’s return often means a greater financial burden, just as the parents may be struggling to meet their own savings and retirement goals. It also can make it more difficult for the millennials to acquire the financial skills they’ll need later in life. According to a recent study by PEW Research Center, the percentage of 18- to 34-year-olds living with their parents is higher today than it has been in decades.
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Why We Compete
The Atlantic: It’s said that when chased by a bear, you don’t need to outrun the bear; you just need to outrun your friend. Similarly, to win a championship, a promotion, or a date, you need only to beat the immediate competition, whether a team, a colleague, or a fellow suitor. No wonder we constantly measure ourselves against our peers. In a survey of faculty, students, and staff at the Harvard School of Public Health, nearly half of the respondents said they’d prefer to live in a world where the average salary was $25,000 and they earned $50,000 than one where they earned $100,000 but the average was $200,000.
