Psychology
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Quantum PhysicsQuantum math makes human irrationality more sensible
Vagaries of human decision making make sense if quantum math describes the way the brain works.
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Science & SocietyMain result of Facebook emotion study: less trust in Facebook
Facebook’s controversial manipulation of emotional posts raises key questions about how to study online behavior.
By Bruce Bower -
PsychologyPeople will take pain over being left alone with their thoughts
Evidence suggests that people dislike solitary thought so much that some prefer electric shocks.
By Bruce Bower -
PsychologyVocal fry
At the lowest registers of the human voice, a creaky, popping sound known as vocal fry emerges.
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PsychologyTablet devices help kids with autism speak up
Talking iPads may help break the near-silence of some kids with autism.
By Bruce Bower -
NeuroscienceShaking up the body may improve attention
Just two minutes of whole body vibrations improved young adults’ attention to detail.
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PsychologyWesterners sleep more than people from Eastern nations
Sleep schedules vary from country to country, with social demands like work and study providing the primary incentives to stay up.
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PsychologyOnline 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.
By Bruce Bower -
PsychologyJust four questions can identify which ER patients need prompt care
A simple decision tree may find serious ailments in ER patients’ fuzzy complaints.
By Bruce Bower -
PsychologyChildren 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.
By Bruce Bower -
HumansThere’s more to acing interviews than holding the vocal fry
A new study of vocal fry, a low razz in human speech, suggests job interviewees might want to hold the fry. But there's more to a job interview than a little vocal sizzle.
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PsychologyWhy stabbing a voodoo doll is so satisfying
To measure how aggressive a person is, psychologists turn to voodoo dolls and hot sauce.