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

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Psychology

    Basketball players richly rewarded for selfishness in playoffs

    Future paychecks trip up teamwork in NBA championship tournament.

  7. Psychology

    Babies learn some early words by touch

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

  8. 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.

  9. Anthropology

    Laetoli footprints show signs of unusual gait

    Contrary to prior study, 3.6-million-year-old hominids in Tanzania did not walk like humans.

  10. Anthropology

    Earliest case of a battered child found in Greece

    A baby living in Athens around 2,200 years ago was probably beaten to death.

  11. Anthropology

    Ancient boy died surprisingly young

    Imaging analysis reduces age of Australopithecus sediba youngster from 9 to 7.5 years old.

  12. Anthropology

    Turkana Boy sparks row over Homo erectus height

    Estimating the adult height and weight of an ancient youth from his skeleton has proven tricky.