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Suicide Prevention Sheds a Longstanding Taboo: Talking About Attempts
The New York Times: The relationship had become intolerably abusive, and after a stinging phone call one night, it seemed there was only one way to end the pain. Enough wine and pills should do the job — and would have, except that paramedics barged through the door, alerted by her lover. “I very rarely tell the story in detail publicly, it’s so triggering and sensational,” said Dese’Rae L. Stage, 30, a photographer and writer living in Brooklyn who tried to kill herself in 2006.
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Do animals have a sense of humor?
Slate: Right now, in a high-security research lab at Northwestern University’s Falk Center for Molecular Therapeutics, scientists are tickling rats. Their goal? To develop a pharmaceutical-grade happiness pill. But their efforts might also produce some of the best evidence yet that humor isn’t something experienced exclusively by human beings. Scientists believe human laughter evolved from the distinctive panting emitted by our great-ape relatives during rough and tumble play; that panting functions as a signal that the play is all in good fun and nobody’s about to tear anybody else’s throat out.
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People Selectively Remember the Details of Atrocities That Absolve In-Group Members
Conversations about wartime atrocities often omit certain details. According to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, these omissions can lead people to have different memories for the event
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Both Stars and Blunderers Get Bullied at Work
While low performers are typically the targets of bullying from co-workers, research suggests that people tagged as aces are also victimized in more discrete ways.
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Raising a Moral Child
The New York Times: What does it take to be a good parent? We know some of the tricks for teaching kids to become high achievers. For example, research suggests that when parents praise effort rather than ability, children develop a stronger work ethic and become more motivated. Yet although some parents live vicariously through their children’s accomplishments, success is not the No. 1 priority for most parents. We’re much more concerned about our children becoming kind, compassionate and helpful. Surveys reveal that in the United States, parents from European, Asian, Hispanic and African ethnic groups all place far greater importance on caring than achievement.
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Blame Your Parents for Your Procrastinating Ways
Inc.: The next time someone gets mad at you for putting things off, blame Mom and Dad. Procrastination is linked to genetics, according to a surprising new study published in the journal Psychological Science, and it may even stem from impulsivity. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder surveyed 181 identical twin pairs and 166 fraternal twin pairs to assess their ability to set and maintain goals, as well as their tendencies toward procrastination and impulsivity. The study found procrastination actually derives from impulsivity, as ancestors relied on the latter for survival but evolved to have more long-term goals.
