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New Research From Psychological Science
Read about the latest research published in Psychological Science: On Learning Natural-Science Categories That Violate the Family-Resemblance Principle Robert M. Nosofsky, Craig A. Sanders, Alex Gerdom, Bruce J. Douglas, and Mark A. McDaniel A classical view of psychology suggests that categories are formed based on family resemblance: Members of a category have a group of features in common that are not shared with members of other categories; however, not all categories have been found to adhere to the family-resemblance principle.
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Learning How to Look Leads to Safer Drivers
Fast reflexes, a good sense of direction, and a steady hand all seem important for good driving. But decades of research suggest that another skill is key to avoiding accidents.
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The Mistakes We Make When Giving to Charity
The Wall Street Journal: All of us think about giving during the holiday season. But it’s possible that we’re thinking about it wrong. That’s the conclusion of recent research, which suggests that our generosity and good intentions are hamstrung by tricks our minds play on us. Most people by their nature are very generous, but they don’t think clearly about the choices they make when they donate to charity. For example, they may donate less than they otherwise would, because they assume that giving will make them less happy than receiving. The fact is that studies show the opposite: When we’re generous and spend on others, we feel happier and more fulfilled.
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Understanding America’s Moral Divides
The Atlantic: Morality is “like the temple on the hill of human nature,” writes the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. “It is our most sacred attribute.” People cherish this sacred sense of right and wrong, put it on a pedestal and surround it with spears, to defend it against attacks. The nearness and dearness of people’s morals means that conflict becomes particularly entrenched when morality gets involved—neither side wants to yield sacred ground. ... “Everyone viewed themselves as though they were at the top of the scale,” says Ben Tappin, a graduate student in psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, and an author of the study.
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Ho-Ho-Horrible: Why We’re So Bad at Choosing Good Gifts
Scientific American: Many of us recognize that familiar feeling of eagerly tearing open a carefully wrapped gift box only to reveal a terrible woolen sweater, a creepy figurine with vacant eyes or a set of crystal “knife rests” for the dinner table. But what makes for a good gift? The answer is very different, depending on whether you ask the gift giver or receiver. A study published this month in Current Directions in Psychological Science highlights the disconnect between the gifts we actually want and the ones we want to give, and offers some insights that may come in handy this holiday shopping season. Read the whole story: Scientific American
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Can’t Wait to Celebrate: Holiday Cheer Increases Impulsivity
World financial markets tend to spike just before holidays, new research suggests this may be because “holiday euphoria” prompts impulsive behavior.
