A Third of People Report Enjoying COVID-19 Lockdown – 40% Gained Weight
On balance, a third of people in the UK have been enjoying the lockdown, while 46% have not been enjoying it and 21% have mixed…
Behavioral Science
Life-Hack: Research Shows Rituals Spell Anxiety Relief
With graduation ceremonies, weddings, funeral, annual parades, and many other gatherings called off in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is apparent that our…
The Price of Taking a Stance: How Corporate Sociopolitical Activism Impacts Bottom Line
Businesses should look to the values of their stakeholders to predict the effects of taking a public stance on a divisive issue, says new research…
Similar Thinking Patterns Shown in Native Amazonians, Americans and Monkeys
The neural computations of human and non-human primates shed new light on the evolution of language. Humans and monkeys may not speak the same lingo,…
The Surprisingly Simple Way Researchers Say a Second COVID-19 Wave Could Be Avoided
A Second COVID-19 Wave Could Be Avoided if Social Distancing and the Use of Face Masks Are Maintained A model developed by ISGlobal shows that…
Police Inspector Warns: Extra Police Powers During COVID-19 Could Affect Legitimacy
Serving police inspector and Huddersfield PhD researcher Dan Jones warns against police forces adopting an authoritarian or militarized approach. HOW the police use extra powers…
Is Santa Real? Examining Children’s Beliefs in Cultural Figures From the Tooth Fairy to SpongeBob
Young children understand dinosaurs and The Wiggles are (or were!) real, and that fictional characters like Peter Pan and Spongebob are not real — but…
Scientists Baffled by Strange Form of Childhood OCD – Yale Researchers Propose Explanation: PANDAS
Yale scientists may have found a cause for the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in some children, they report. Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, or…
Loneliness May Make It Harder to Quit Smoking
In a study published today (June 15, 2020) in Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of…
Feeling Disconnected? Loneliness Alters Your Brain’s Social Network
Feeling disconnected from others is reflected by how the brain represents relationships. Social media sites aren’t the only things that keep track of your social…
New Research Shows Candidates Who Use Humor on Twitter May Find the Joke Is on Them
Study finds funny stuff reduces credibility and support. Political candidates’ use of humor on social media could sometimes backfire on them with potential supporters, new…
Even ‘Low-Risk’ Alcohol Drinking Can Result in Hospitalization and Death
It’s not just heavy drinking that’s a problem — even consuming alcohol within weekly low-risk drinking guidelines can result in hospitalization and death, according to…
Marijuana Concentrates Boost THC Levels but Not Impairment – Mobile Lab Offers First Glimpse of Real-World Use
Smoking high-potency marijuana concentrates boosts blood levels of THC more than twice as much as smoking conventional weed, but it doesn’t necessarily get you higher,…
What Kind of People Stockpiled Toilet Paper for COVID-19? Researchers Link Personality Traits
People who feel more threatened by COVID-19 and rank highly on scales of emotionality and conscientiousness were most likely to stockpile toilet paper in March…
Study Finds Elite Gamers Share Mental Toughness With Olympic Athletes
High performing esports professionals may require the same mental stamina it takes to be a top Olympian, according to QUT research. A new study, published…
New Study Shows Regular Volunteer Work Provides Demonstrable Benefits for Health and Well-Being
Doing Good Does You Good Regular volunteer work provides demonstrable benefits for the health and well-being of older adults, according to a new study in…
“Playing Hard to Get” Really Works – Here’s the Science
We tend to like people who like us — a basic human trait that psychologists have termed “reciprocity of attraction.” This principle generally works well…
Monkeys Experience the Uncanny Valley Effect, Just Like Humans
Monkeys Appreciate Lifelike Animation: New Realistic Avatar Can Overcome Uncanny Valley Effect Monkeys can overcome their aversion to animated monkeys through a more realistic avatar,…