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New Research From Psychological Science
A sample of new research exploring the emergence of abstract grammatical categories in children’s speech, the development of a sense of body ownership, and adaptable categorization of hands and tools among prosthesis users.
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Scientific Proof That No One Wants to Hear Your Vacation Stories
New York Magazine: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when you get back from a vacation and someone says “I want to hear about it!” what they really mean is “I am being polite but I very much want you to keep this short, and please, for the love of God, do not show me photos.” And a study recently published in the journal Psychological Science confirms it: We really, really don’t like hearing about other people’s new experiences, unless they’re not new to us. Want to trade stories with a friend who’s also traveled to wherever you’ve just returned from? Full speed ahead. Want to regale your pals with tales of your adventures in a place they’ve never been? Maybe hold off.
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Sleep-Deprived Judges Dole Out Harsher Punishments
Harvard Business Review: One of the unpleasant aspects of being a manager is that you have to deal with employees who engage in punishable offenses, such as taking credit for another employee’s work, blaming someone else for a mistake, harassing a coworker, or violating company policies. Some typical disciplinary actions might include reassignment, suspension, formal performance write-ups, eliminating bonuses, or even firing. A good manager knows that these types of consequences are only effective if they are proportionate to the infraction.
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Very premature babies at risk of mental health problems – research
The Guardian: Children who are born very prematurely are at greater risk of developing mental health and social problems that can persist well into adulthood, according to one of the largest reviews of evidence. Those with an extremely low birth weight, at less than a kilogram, are more likely to have attention disorders and social difficulties as children, and feel more shyness, anxiety and depression as adults, than those born a healthy weight. The review draws on findings from 41 published studies over the past 26 years and highlights the need for doctors to follow closely how children born very prematurely fare as they become teenagers and adults. Read the whole story: The Guardian
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Why conservatives are more likely than liberals to believe false information about threats
Los Angeles Times: After an electoral season that blurred the line between fact and fantasy, a team of UCLA researchers is offering new evidence to support a controversial proposition: that when it comes to telling the difference between truth and fiction, not all potential voters see it the same way. When “alternative facts” allege some kind of danger, people whose political beliefs are more conservative are more likely than those who lean liberal to embrace them, says the team’s soon-to-be-published study. Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times
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Higher-Ranking People Have More Difficulty Spotting Unethical Behavior
Research suggests that obtaining a higher rank within an organization may prompt people to overlook unethical behavior.
