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Book explains why people do poorly under pressure; video captures bicycle stunts
The Washington Post: When the going gets tough, sometimes the tough make embarrassing last-minute mistakes. In her book, newly available in paperback, psychologist Sian Beilock examines the mental forces that drive golfers to miss easy putts, cause businessmen to bungle presentations and may have caused you to nuke yourself during that Mario Cart match against your housemates last weekend. Read the whole story: The Washington Post
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Careful whom you mimic
The Globe and Mail: Careful whom you mimic “Have you ever crossed your arms to match a friend’s stance or leaned in a little closer as your date did the same thing? If so, you’ve experienced mirroring,” The Huffington Post says. “Whether you realize you’re doing it or not, subtly mimicking people in social settings helps you form bonds and establish connections. Mirroring – copying a person’s looks, gestures and general body language – is especially handy on job interviews and dates when we’re trying to establish a rapport and develop trust.
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Marriage helps survival after heart surgery
USA Today: New research finds that married people are more than twice as likely as single people to be alive 15 years after coronary bypass surgery, although the findings can't prove that having a spouse has a protective effect. In fact, the limitations of ethical research may make it impossible to ever prove that marriage is good for your health. Still, the study provides more evidence that having a long-term mate is good for you, said study co-author Harry T. Reis, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. Read the whole story: USA Today
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Economic Inequality Is Linked To Biased Self-Perception
Pretty much everybody thinks they’re better than average. But in some cultures, people are more self-aggrandizing than in others. Until now, national differences in “self-enhancement” have been chalked up to an East-West individualism-versus-collectivism divide. In the West, where people value independence, personal success, and uniqueness, psychologists have said, self-inflation is more rampant. In the East, where interdependence, harmony, and belonging are valued, modesty prevails. Now an analysis of data gathered from 1,625 people in 15 culturally diverse countries finds a stronger predictor of self-enhancement: economic inequality.
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Web Surfing Helps at Work, Study Says
The Wall Street Journal: Don't feel guilty about browsing the Internet at work—turns out it may actually improve your performance. According to a new study, Web browsing can actually refresh tired workers and enhance their productivity, compared to other activities such as making personal calls, texts or emails, let alone working straight through with no rest at all. The study, "Impact of Cyberloafing on Psychological Engagement," by Don J.Q. Chen and Vivien K.G Lim of the National University of Singapore, was presented last week in San Antonio, Texas, at the annual meeting of the Academy of Management, an association of management scholars. The researchers conducted two studies.
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Don’t take ‘engaged’ employees for granted
Financial Post: Engaged employees — those who approach their work with energy, dedication, and focus — are more productive and more willing to go the extra mile for their employers. Moreover, engaged workers take the initiative to change their work environments to stay engaged. So what do we know about the inner workings of employee engagement, and what can employers do to enhance it to improve job performance? Much of the early research on this issue was done by the Gallup organization, and used by consulting companies such as Hewitt Associates to assist leaders in developing practices to assess and increase engagement. The most recent research conducted by Arnold B.
