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Nobel in Economics Is Awarded to Richard Thaler
The New York Times: Richard H. Thaler, whose work has persuaded many economists to pay more attention to human behavior, and many governments to pay more attention to economics, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Monday. Professor Thaler is the rare economist to win a measure of fame before winning the prize. He is an author of a best-selling book, “Nudge,” about helping people to make better decisions. He also appeared in the 2015 film “The Big Short,” delivering what is surely one of the most widely viewed tutorials in the history of economics, on the causes of the 2008 financial crisis. ...
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Research reveals that divorce does run in the family
New Zealand Herald: Numerous studies have shown that children of divorced parents are more likely to get divorced when compared to those who grew up with parents who remained married. But this pattern may not hold true for adopted children, a new study suggests. According to the Daily Mail, the research, genetic factors are the primary explanation for the divorce trend, and the new findings could have implications for the advice provided by marriage counsellors or therapists. The new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue Journal Psychological Science, was conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Lund University in Sweden.
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Does Your Gut Always Steer You Right?
The Wall Street Journal: You have an important decision to make. You’ve done research, made a list of the pros and cons, asked friends and family for advice. When should you just trust your gut? ... John Bargh, a psychology professor at Yale and director of the ACME (Automaticity in Cognition, Motivation, and Evaluation) Laboratory, has a book coming out this month: “Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do.” Dr. Bargh says that we tend to trust our gut reactions more than our rational ones because they happen so quickly we think they must be true. But there is a problem with this belief, he says: Our emotional states change what our gut tells us.
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President Trump believes in IQ tests. He’s not wrong.
The Washington Post: Most scientists feel a certain nervousness when the topic they research appears in the news. Overstatement is par for the course, misunderstanding a near-inevitability. But what could be more cringe-worthy than the president of the United States engaging in a macho contest with his secretary of state over the area you research? I am, of course, talking about IQ testing. ... In fact, IQ tests tell us much more than that, as a mountain of evidence from the fields of psychology, sociology, neuroscience, genetics and epidemiology attests.
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Where’s the Proof That Mindfulness Meditation Works?
Scientific American: The concept of mindfulness involves focusing on your present situation and state of mind. This can mean awareness of your surroundings, emotions and breathing—or, more simply, enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich. Research in recent decades has linked mindfulness practices to a staggering collection of possible health benefits. Tuning into the world around you may provide a sense of well-being, an array of studies claim. Multiple reports link mindfulness with improved cognitive functioning. One study even suggests it may preserve the tips of our chromosomes, which whither away as we age.
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‘Genius Grant’ Winner Used A Soap Opera To Prove A Point About Prejudice
NPR: What will it take for the people of this world to drop their prejudices, to move past intolerance — and just get along? That's a question Princeton psychologist Betsy Levy Paluck — one of the 24 MacArthur Fellows announced on Wednesday — has dedicated her career to answering. Back in 2002, when Paluck was a graduate student at Yale University, her adviser asked: "What does psychology say about how to reduce prejudice and conflict?" She and her adviser were teaching a class about hate speech and political intolerance, and he wanted to give students examples of ways to counteract those things. Paluck searched and searched. And she drew a blank.
