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Happiness rooted in respect, not money
United Press International: Overall happiness is related to respect and admiration in your inner circle, not how much money a person has in his or her bank account, U.S. researchers say. Cameron Anderson of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-authors conducted a series of studies based on the hypothesis that higher sociometric status -- respect and admiration in your face-to-face groups, such as friendships, neighborhoods or athletic teams -- might make a difference in overall happiness. In one study, the researchers surveyed 80 college students who participated in 12 different campus groups.
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Brain Games May Curb Risky Impulses
LiveScience: Certain brain training exercises could make people less impulsive, and in turn, cut down on risky behaviors, a new study suggests. The "training" involves engaging in a task that requires people to inhibit their movements. For instance, participants in the study were told to press a button when they saw a certain image, but to restrain from pressing the button if the image suddenly turned boldface. When participants took part in such "inhibition training," they were less likely to place risky bets in a gambling game two hours later, the researchers said.
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Do animals from geographically distant areas speak the same language?
The Washington Post: A friend recently asked me whether black bears in Appalachia have Southern accents and whether they have trouble understanding black bears raised in Canada or Alaska. Taken literally, those are notions more fit for a Disney movie than a scientist. In a more abstract sense, however, it’s a profound inquiry that fascinates zoologists and psychologists alike. Is communication learned or innate in nonhuman animals? Can geographically distant groups of the same species develop local culture: unique ways of eating, playing and talking to each other? I posed those questions to Darcy Kelley, a Columbia University professor who studies animal communications.
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Reminders of Mortality Increase Concern for Environmental Legacy
Reminders of our own mortality may encourage us to keep future generations in mind as we make decisions that have environmental impact.
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5 Ways To Spark Your Creativity
NPR: Innovation is the name of the game these days — in business, in science and technology, even in art. We all want to get those big ideas, but most of us really have no idea what sets off those sparks of insight. Science can help! In the past few years, neuroscientists and psychologists have started to gain a better understanding of the creative process. Some triggers of innovation may be surprisingly simple. Here are five things that may well increase the odds of having an "Aha!" moment. 1. Take a shower. A seemingly mindless task — showering, fishing or driving — might help spur creative thoughts, as the mind wanders from "lather-rinse-repeat" to a recent problem, and then back again.
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Anxiety Can Bring Out the Best
The Wall Street Journal: You have an important presentation tomorrow but your heart is racing and your mind is serving up a steady stream of what-ifs: What if I'm not fully prepared? What if it goes badly? You're running out of time. The last thing you need is all this anxiety. Actually, a little anxiety may be just what you need to focus your efforts and perform at your peak, psychologists say. Somewhere between checked out and freaked out lies an anxiety sweet spot, some researchers say, in which a person is motivated to succeed yet not so anxious that performance takes a dive.
