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Panic Symptoms within Dental Anxiety: Implications for Treatment
The current study examined panic symptoms related to sub-clinical dental anxiety and clinically significant dental phobia. Individuals with dental phobia exhibited higher levels of panic symptoms, particularly heart palpitations, sweating, trembling/shaking, and nausea/stomach distress. Panic symptoms may serve as clinical indicators of dental phobia and of specifically feared dental procedures. Carrie Potter, Dina Gordon Temple University Department of Psychology Richard G. Heimberg Temple University Marisol Tellez, Amid Ismail Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
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Mindfulness: A Habit of Mind That Predicts Social Status in Youth
Social status asymmetries are a persistent feature of human life. Occupying a position at the top versus the bottom of a social hierarchy during youth development produces substantially disproportionate effects on well-being, learning, and longevity. Adaptive social behavioral patterns and trustworthiness are among the foremost determinants of youth social status, and mindfulness training enhances healthy social functioning. Accordingly, the present study tested the extent to which early adolescents’ disposition toward mindful states of attention and awareness predicted their peer- and teacher-rated social status, as mediated by behavioral adaptation and trustworthiness.
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There’s an App for That: A Pilot Test of an Anxiety- and Stress-Reduction App
We conducted pilot testing of a new mobile “app” that is a gamified version of Attention Bias Modification for anxiety. Compared to a placebo condition, extended app use (40 minutes) resulted in improved ability to disengage from threat, whereas brief app use (20 minutes) resulted in reduced subjective state anxiety. Tracy A. Dennis, Emily J. Dunn, Akeesha Simmons, and Sayma Ahmed Hunter College, CUNY
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Magical Thinking in Decision Making About Companion Animals
We extended contagion, a form of magical thinking, to animate objects. Dogs with identical information were liked less and deemed less adoptable when this information included contact with an undesirable previous owner. The effect seemed to be modulated by a pity effect, however, when people were familiar with animal shelters. Lennea R. Bower American University Zehra F. Peynircioglu American University Jordan R. Wyatt American University
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Integrated Classroom: Mind-body Interactions
In previous decades, cognitive psychology has focused on the mind to the exclusion of the body. More recent research has begun to demonstrate the interaction between physical actions and mental processing through areas such as embodied cognition and psychoneuroimmunology (Markman & Brendl, 2005; Christian, Graham, Padgett, Glaser, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2006). While it is important to use discussions as a tool for understanding research on mind-body connections, a truly holistic approach to teaching in this field may require integration of physical class exercises with rigorous verbal discussions.
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Mindfulness: The Effects of Fatigue on Social Behavior
We investigated how fatigue influences social interactions. Eighty-three participants were presented hypothetical social activities categorized as alone or social, and active or passive. Results show that fatigued individuals show less desire to take part in alone and passive activities, a possible indication of arousal level influencing subsequent social behavior choices. Yakub Huda, Eunjung Lee-Furman, Mindy Engle-Friedman Baruch College
