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Why We Are Wired to Connect
Scientific American: When we experience social pain — a snub, a cruel word — the feeling is as real as physical pain. That finding is among those in a new book, Social, and it is part of scientist Matthew Lieberman’s case that our need to connect is as fundamental as our need for food and water. He answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook. You argue that our need to connect socially is “powerful.” But just how powerful is it?
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Pessimists may be genetically predisposed to see the world darkly: new UBC study
National Post: Some people are genetically predisposed to seeing the world darkly, according to a new Canadian study that adds to a recent raft of research acknowledging biology’s role in shaping a person’s perspective, positive or negative. The study found a particular gene variant can cause some people to see emotional events — especially negative ones — more vividly than peers who don’t carry the gene. According to the lead author, University of British Columbia psychology professor Rebecca Todd, it’s the first study to find this genetic variation deeply affects how people see and experience their world. It was published in the current issue of Psychological Science.
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10 Things We’ve Learned About Negotiation
Smithsonian Magazine: While negotiating, it may not be such a good idea to look the other party straight in the eye, after all. A study published earlier this month in Psychological Science says that making eye contact may actually make people who disagree with you less likely to change their minds. Researchers found that the more time viewers spent looking at speakers’ eyes, the less likely they were to shift to the speakers’ point of view. Eye contact seemed to be effective only when a viewer already agreed with a speaker. Read the whole story: Smithsonian Magazine
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Study: Making Direct Eye Contact Is Not An Effective Way To Persuade
Forbes: Few popular beliefs are as unshakable as, “If you want to influence someone, always make direct eye contact.” But new research suggests that this bit of sturdy pop lore is hardly gospel – in fact, in many circumstances a direct gaze may result in the exact opposite effect. Researchers from Harvard, the University of British Columbia and the University of Freiberg used newly developed eye-tracking technology to test the claim during two experiments. ... According to Julia Minson of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, co-lead researcher of the studies, “The findings highlight the fact that eye contact can signal very different kinds of messages depending on the situation.
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Learning new skill beats puzzles for boosting seniors’ memory
CBS News: Want to work out your brain? A new study suggests you should put away that crossword puzzle, because learning new skills may be a more effective way to keep your mind sharp. A new study in Psychological Science shows that frequently engaging in brain-teasing activities you love like puzzles may not be enough to noticeably stave off mental decline. "It seems it is not enough just to get out and do something--it is important to get out and do something that is unfamiliar and mentally challenging, and that provides broad stimulation mentally and socially.
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The Poor and the Heartless
Last year, the top 10 percent of American earners took home more than half of the country’s total income. The top 1 percent took home a fifth. That’s the greatest income disparity ever recorded, and it’s getting worse. Indeed, the income of the wealthiest has grown dramatically during the recession that began in 2008, while the less fortunate have seen their incomes stagnate. This inequality has all sorts of consequences for the poor, besides the obvious financial burden of everyday living. As Maia Szalavitz reported in Time magazine this week, the poor also suffer from poorer health and higher mortality.
