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APS 2013 Mentor Award: Michael T. Turvey
Michael T. Turvey, University of Connecticut, is best known for his pioneering work in ecological psychology and for applying a dynamic systems approach to the study of motor behavior. Elke U. Weber, Columbia University, presents Turvey with a 2013 Inaugural Mentor Award at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC. The Mentor Award is a lifetime achievement award to recognizing those who have significantly fostered the careers of others, honoring APS members who masterfully help students and others find their own voice and discover their own research and career goals.
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Failure to Replicate the Mehta and Zhu (2009) Color Effect
Mehta and Zhu (2009) reported several studies in Science on the effects of the colors red and blue over a series of cognitive tasks. Red was hypothesized to induce a state of avoidance motivation which would cause people to become more vigilant and risk-averse in a task. Blue was hypothesized to induce a state of approach motivation which would cause people to use more innovative or risky strategies. Studies appear in high-impact journals, like Science, often because they report novel or far-reaching effects. Such studies need to be replicated in order to determine whether the finding is reliable.
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Race/Ethnicity Moderates Associations Between Childhood Weight Status and Early Substance Use
Identification of risk-factors for early drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use is essential for targeted substance abuse prevention. Few studies have examined associations between weight during childhood and early substance use, with mixed results. Some research has linked childhood obesity to higher rates of alcohol, cigarette, and/or cannabis use during adolescence, while others have found no associations. The present study examined the role of race/ethnicity as a potential moderator of relationships between childhood weight status and early use (by age 15) of alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis.
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The Influence of Family Dynamics: Mental Health of Colombian Dementia Caregivers
Megan E. Sutter of Virginia Commonwealth University is a 2013 RISE Research Award recipient. Sutter presented her research on “The Influence of Family Dynamics: Mental Health of Colombian Dementia Caregivers” at the 25th APS Annual Convention.
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When Families Do Not Fit, nor Measure Up: Categorization and Evaluation of ‘Modern’ Families
David Kille of the University of Waterloo, Canada, is a 2013 RISE Research Award recipient. He presented his research on “When Families Do Not Fit, nor Measure Up: Categorization and Evaluation of ‘Modern’ Families” at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC.
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Psychopathic Traits Predict Preferred Social Distance in Healthy Individuals
Joana Vieira, a 2013 APS Student Research Award recipient from the University of Porto, Portugal, presented her work on “Psychopathic Traits Predict Preferred Social Distance in Healthy Individuals” at the 25th APS Annual Convention in Washington, DC.
