Bruce Bower

Bruce Bower

Behavioral Sciences Writer

Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences since 1984. He often writes about psychology, anthropology, archaeology and mental health issues. Bruce has a master's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Following an internship at Science News in 1981, he worked as a reporter at Psychiatric News, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, until joining Science News as a staff writer. In 1996, the American Psychological Association appointed Bruce a Science Writer Fellow, with a grant to visit psychological scientists of his own choosing. Early stints as an aide in a day school for children and teenagers with severe psychological problems and as a counselor in a drug diversion center provided Bruce with a surprisingly good background for a career in science journalism.

All Stories by Bruce Bower

  1. Psychology

    Tablet devices help kids with autism speak up

    Talking iPads may help break the near-silence of some kids with autism.

  2. Psychology

    Online causes may attract more clicks than commitments

    Online awareness campaigns can make people feel they’ve contributed to a good cause, but social scientists say the tangible benefits of such efforts may be small.

  3. Psychology

    Just four questions can identify which ER patients need prompt care

    A simple decision tree may find serious ailments in ER patients’ fuzzy complaints.

  4. Psychology

    Children negotiate taking turns surprisingly early in life

    Five-year-olds can coordinate decisions with others in a fair way, even when each child has conflicting interests.

  5. Psychology

    Stereotypes might make ‘female’ hurricanes deadlier

    Precautions may get shelved by those in the path of severe storms with feminine names, leading some to suggest that storms should be named after animals.

  6. Archaeology

    First pants worn by horse riders 3,000 years ago

    A new study indicates horse-riding Asians wove and wore wool trousers by around 3,000 years ago.

  7. Psychology

    Recessions take a lasting toll on narcissism

    Coming of age in hard economic times makes people less likely to feel superior and entitled later in life.

  8. Anthropology

    Teen’s skeleton ties New World settlers to Native Americans

    Underwater cave discovery in Mexico shows genetic range of New World’s ancient Asian colonists.

  9. Psychology

    Farming practices have shaped thinking styles

    The different levels of cooperation required to grow rice and wheat have sown psychological differences within China and possibly between East Asia and the West.

  10. Psychology

    Basketball players richly rewarded for selfishness in playoffs

    Future paychecks trip up teamwork in NBA championship tournament.

  11. Psychology

    Babies learn some early words by touch

    Tactile cues provided by caregivers give infants a leg up on learning words for body parts.

  12. Psychology

    Word-streaming tech may spell trouble for readers

    Technologies like Spritz that display one word at a time on a screen reduce reading comprehension, a new study concludes.