Psychology News and Research

RSS

Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Children with ASD can benefit from interactive computer program

Children with autism spectrum disorders are better able to recognize faces, facial expressions and emotions with the help of an interactive computer program called FaceSay, according to newly published research from psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

3 Mar 2011

Self-perception of the body linked with general self-esteem

Low self-esteem is associated with a greater risk of mental health problems such as eating disorders and depression. From a public health perspective, it is important for staff in various health-related professions to know about self-esteem. However, there is a vast difference between the research-based knowledge on self-esteem and the simplified popular psychology theories that are disseminated through books and motivational talks, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg.

2 Mar 2011

New study reviews latest scientific developments in autism

First consultant of child psychiatry in the UK reviews state of knowledge on autism. Despite substantial gains in knowledge and understanding of autism over the last three years, we are still no closer to either prevention or cure, according to Sir Michael Rutter, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

2 Mar 2011

Psychologists develop cognitive-bias modification to help alcoholics stay sober

Alcoholism is a tough addiction to kick. Eventually, most people return to drinking. But some Dutch and German psychological scientists have tested a short-term regime that promises to help alcoholics stay sober. Their study is published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science.

2 Mar 2011

Experimental drug may help preserve neurological function in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest

An experimental drug that targets a brain system that controls inflammation might help preserve neurological function in people who survive sudden cardiac arrest, new research suggests.

2 Mar 2011

HIV women take photos to document their lives

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for women living with human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, a picture can help them deal with the challenges of living with the virus.

1 Mar 2011

Leisure activities during free time can improve communication, social skills in autistic adults

Free time is not always a fun time for people with autism. Giving them the power to choose their own leisure activities during free time, however, can boost their enjoyment, as well as improve communication and social skills, according to an international team of researchers.

1 Mar 2011

Study: Happy people tend to live longer and experience better health

A review of more than 160 studies of human and animal subjects has found "clear and compelling evidence" that - all else being equal - happy people tend to live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers.

1 Mar 2011

Think positive for a healthy heart: Study

Researchers suggest that heart disease patients are more likely to survive if they have a positive outlook. The study was published Feb. 28 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

1 Mar 2011

Building trust with cooperative witnesses in a crime investigation

Imagine that you witness a crime. The police investigator brings you to the police station to obtain an official statement, but between the crime and your official witness statement, you are exposed to other (potentially inaccurate) information about the crime. Before administering the criminal interview, the investigator asks you a litany of mundane demographic questions in a dry and uninterested manner, then moves directly into the interview about the crime. Would you feel comfortable? Most importantly, would your report be accurate and detailed, uninfluenced by the outside information you received?

1 Mar 2011

Survey finds social networking sites associated with one in five divorces in the US

If you're single, Facebook and other social networking sites can help you meet that special someone. However, for those in even the healthiest of marriages, improper use can quickly devolve into a marital disaster.

1 Mar 2011

Psychology thesis reveals work motivation greatly reduces stress in IT consultants

Information Technology consultants experience less stress when they carry out assignments in a working environment that motivates them. It also helps IT consultants experience less stress if they are able to manage their own work and if the demands placed on them in their work are reasonable. This is revealed in a psychology thesis from Gothenburg University, Sweden.

1 Mar 2011

New research shows being mindful can ease fears of death and dying

Death can be terrifying. Recognizing that death is inescapable and unpredictable makes us incredibly vulnerable, and can invoke feelings of anxiety, hatred and fear. But new research by George Mason University psychology professor Todd Kashdan shows that being a mindful person not only makes you generally more tolerant and less defensive, but it can also actually neutralize fears of dying and death.

1 Mar 2011

Acupressure improves cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury

A new University of Colorado Boulder study indicates an ancient form of complementary medicine may be effective in helping to treat people with mild traumatic brain injury, a finding that may have implications for some U.S. war veterans returning home.

1 Mar 2011

Visualization techniques and action plan can improve food habits

If you want to improve the way you eat, the best way to do so is to both make an action plan and visualize yourself carrying it out, according to McGill researchers.

28 Feb 2011

Study: Storytelling program improves communication skills, positive affect in persons with dementia

Nearly 16 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Symptoms include mood and behavior changes, disorientation, memory loss and difficulty walking and speaking.

28 Feb 2011

Stress & infertility treatment success unrelated: Study

British researchers from Cardiff University looked at 14 studies that included a total of 3,583 women who had undergone fertility treatment and been assessed for anxiety and stress before they began their therapy. They compared women who became pregnant and those who did not and noted that there was no association between emotional distress and the likelihood of becoming pregnant. The results were published in the online edition of British Medical Journal on Feb. 24.

28 Feb 2011

Well-being in adolescence linked to life satisfaction in adulthood

Being a 'happy' teenager is linked to increased well-being in adulthood, new research finds.

25 Feb 2011

Meditation leads to stronger mind-body connection than dancing

The body is a dancer's instrument, but is it attuned to the mind? A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that professional ballet and modern dancers are not as emotionally in sync with their bodies as are people who regularly practice meditation.

25 Feb 2011

PACAP hormone levels linked to post-traumatic stress disorder

High blood levels of a hormone produced in response to stress are linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in women but not men, a study from researchers at Emory University and the University of Vermont has found.

25 Feb 2011