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Curiosity Is Not Intrinsically Good
Scientific American: Why do people seek out information about an ex's new relationships, read negative Internet comments and do other things that will obviously be painful? Because humans have an inherent need to resolve uncertainty, according to a recent study in Psychological Science. The new research reveals that the need to know is so strong that people will seek to slake their curiosity even when it is clear the answer will hurt. Read the whole story: Scientific American
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Can your genes predict future success in life?
CBS: Your genes may play a part in whether or not you'll enjoy career and financial success, researchers suggest. But, these "success" genes aren't necessarily your destiny. They may play only a small role in your life, and the study wasn't designed to prove that certain genes determine your future, the researchers noted. ... This new study, published June 1 in the journal Psychological Science, took that finding a step further. "Getting a good education requires many of the same skills and abilities needed to get ahead in life more generally.
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Don’t have a passion? Now’s the time to foster one
CBS: In her New York Times best-selling book, "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," psychologist Angela Duckworth argued that "grit" -- a combination of passion and perseverance -- is a key predictor of success. After interviewing dozens of high achievers, from JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Duckworth determined that they all shared the skill of focusing on one thing. "When you look at gritty people in full maturity, adults, they do one thing really well. It's their passion," Duckworth explained on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday. Read the whole story: CBS
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What I’m Reading: Article on Improving Students’ Learning
The Chronicle of Higher Education: We have all had the experience of giving a test that a significant number of students did poorly on, and then getting blowback from those students because they had "worked hard." I have never doubted that students do work hard, but lately I’ve started to wonder if their study techniques are actually effective. A 2013 article in Psychological Science in the Public Interest, by John Dunlosky and four co-authors, analyzes the effect of both the common study techniques used by students, and techniques that were developed and evaluated through cognitive and educational psychology research. Read the whole story: The Chronicle of Higher Education
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Why Driving Lessons Should Go Green
A promising new study shows that a simple behavioral intervention for bus drivers may go a long way towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Don’t beat yourself up
aeon: Human beings are the only creatures who can make themselves miserable. Other animals certainly suffer when they experience negative events, but only humans can induce negative emotions through self-views, judgments, expectations, regrets and comparisons with others. Because self-thought plays such a central role in human happiness and wellbeing, psychologists have devoted a good deal of attention to understanding how people think about themselves. For many years, the experts have focused on self-esteem.
