Monday, September 01, 2008

William James and the Principles of Psychology

William James (1842-1910) was one of the founders of modern Psychology. He exercised a positive and pragmatic influence on the development of the young science. William James was the brother of novelist Henry James, with whom he shared a powerful command of the English language. William James' Principles of Psychology (1890) took him over a decade to write and amounted to 1500 pages. James was a considerable reader and had absorbed much of the writings of the Scottish, English, French and German schools of Psychology but he produced his own interpretations of the subject. In his 'Principles', James defined Psychology as the 'science of mental life'.

William James and the
Principles of Psychology

Monday, August 25, 2008

Youth Problems

Research from Ohio State University has challenged the common perception that girls tend to internalize their problems, becoming depressed or anxious, while boys externalize, committing violence against people or property.

In another study, young people with pre-existing relationship difficulties were found to be more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the other way round, this being particularly the case when entering adulthood.


Youth Problems

Daytime Napping And Disturbed Sleep

Poor sleeping at night has been linked to daytime napping for older adults and practising tai chi chih, the western version of an ancient Chinese martial art, helped improve sleep quality in another study of older adults.

Daytime Napping And Disturbed Sleep

Bullying

Two recent studies on bullying:

Research from Yale School of Medicine has identified an apparent link between bullying or being bullied and suicide in young people.

Research from Ontario's York University and Queens University found that young people who bully tend to have problems in other relationships, such as with parents and friends. The study concludes that effective prevention and intervention strategies should include those relationships, as well as aggression and morality issues arising from bullying itself.

Bullying

Controversy Over Breast Self-Examination

A review into the effectiveness of regular breast self-examination concludes that despite its promotion in health advice to women there is no evidence that it has contributed to a reduction in breast cancer deaths.


Controversy Over Breast Self-Examination

Be Happy - But Not Too Happy

Although women start life happier than men, they experience more difficulty in achieving their goals and end up less happy as a result. Researchers also conclude that happiness is a worthy goal for the unhappy, but the endless pursuit of ever more happiness may be counterproductive.

Be Happy - But Not Too Happy

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes

What are bulbs and how do you distinguish them from corms, tubers and rhizomes?

Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes

Smart Bulbs

How deep should bulbs be planted? According to a study published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science it may not matter because bulbs can move themselves deeper into the ground, seemingly in search of better, moister growing conditions.

Smart Bulbs

Friday, July 25, 2008

Ferns - Popular Victorian Plants

Ferns are ancient plants. Their ancestors and related species dominated the earth when the great coal deposits of the carboniferous age were laid down around 300 million years ago. You might say that today's coal is largely made from the compressed remains of ancient ferns.

Today, according to The Fern Grower's Manual there are some 12,000 named species around the world with new types being regularly discovered. They range in size from the tiny to tree-like structures. Ferns propagate from spores rather than seeds, although this was not understood until 1794 when John Lindsay, a British surgeon in Jamaica, grew ferns from 'dust' collected from adult plants.

Ferns: Popular Victorian Plants

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Instinctive Staring

Research from Agnes Scott College published in Psychological Science studied the instinctive tendency for people in a group to stare at the person most likely to be offended if a controversial comment is made.

Instinctive Staring

Westward Ho

The price of land in nineteenth century America was a significantly less important factor in Westward Expansion than population growth and technological innovation leading to decreased transportation costs.

Westward Ho

Monday, July 21, 2008

Distance Learning

Researchers from the University of Missouri studied the demographics and personality types of adult distance learners and concluded that this increasingly popular option may not be suitable for everyone.


Only 30 Per Cent Of Distance Learners Complete Their Courses

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Adolescents With Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia severely impacts future health and functioning of youths.

Adolescents With Chronic Insomnia

Husbands Create Housework

Being married results in an extra seven hours a week of housework for women, whereas having a wife saves men about an hour.

Husbands Create Housework

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Vancouver Island

"... the largest isle in North America's Pacific, stretches for more than 450 superb kilometers off the west coast of British Columbia. A magnificent chain of rugged snow-capped mountains, sprinkled with lakes and rivers and pierced by deep inlets, effectively divides the island into two distinct sides: dense, rain-drenched forest and remote surf- and wind-battered shores on the west, and well-populated, sheltered, beach-fringed lowlands on the east. At the northern and southern tips lie large regions of low, rolling hills."

Vancouver sland
Ucluelet - For All Reasons, for All Seasons
West Coast Changes and Challenges: Ucluelet Charts Dynamic Course for Island Community

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Closing the Distance

Closing the Distance: Chasing a Father's Olympic Fencing Legacy


Every kid wants to grow up to be like his father, and Jeff Bukantz was no different - but unfortunately for Jeff, his father was a four-time Olympian and one of the greatest fencers ever! In his sentimental memoir Closing the Distance: Chasing a Father's Olympic Fencing Legacy, Jeff recounts the trials and tribulations he encountered while trying to follow in the footsteps of Danny Bukantz, a great man both on and off the fencing strip.

Closing the Distance

More Biographies

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Outdoor Paris

July is a superb time to be outdoors in Paris. Together with its historical heritage and fine architecture, Paris is also typified by culturally-rich gardens with a variety of stylistic influences. Paris claims no fewer than 465 parks and 484,000 trees in those parks, along streets and roads, schoolyards and walkways. This makes walking, cycling (there is a citywide bicycle rental scheme) or roller-blading a pleasure.

More at: Paris and Eurodisney

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Ancient Canadian Fort Reveals First Nations History

A fortified village pre-dating the arrival of Europeans in Western Canada - the only one of its kind so far discovered on the Canadian plains - is producing intriguing evidence of a hitherto unknown First Nations group settling on the prairies. It is also rekindling ties between the Siksika Nation (Blackfoot) and other groups in the U.S.

Ancient Canadian Fort Reveals First Nations History

Monday, May 05, 2008

Jaipur: City Palace

Jaipur City Palace

Jaipur's City Palace is both a royal residence and a museum open to the public. The buildings are intricately decorated and guarded by the Maharajah's staff in full uniform. The palace is surrounded by a high wall in the centre of Jaipur.

Jaipur: City Palace

Delhi Tombs

Garden tombs

Humayun's Tomb is sited near Nizamuddin, the centre of medieval Moslem Delhi. Its construction was begun in 1564 after the second Mughal emperor's death by his widow Haji Begum, mother of Akbar. The gardens around the site have a number of other tombs.

Delhi Tombs

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Old Delhi

The Red Fort, Old Delhi
The Red Fort, Old Delhi


Delhi dates back to 1000 BC but the most famous features of Old Delhi reflect the period of Moslem rule, so that, according to the Rough Guide, Delhi is a 'veritable museum of Indo-Islamic architecture.'

Old Delhi

Delhi: The Red Fort

Imperial Buildings

Lal Qila, the Red Fort, is the largest monument in Old Delhi. Built for Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, the Fort was erected between 1639 and 1648. Its red sandstone walls, turrets and bastions were modeled on the royal citadel at Agra.

Delhi: The Red Fort

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Too Little Or Too Much Sleep?

Study shows that children and adults who are short sleepers have a consistent increased risk of obesity.

Too Little Or Too Much Sleep?

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

New Light On Altruism

Research led by the University of Nottingham published in Science has shed new light on ways in which people are prepared to sacrifice personal advantage for the common good and what happens when "freeloaders" take advantage of their altruism.

Researchers explain that understanding decision-making processes behind cooperation is a key element in addressing major contemporary issues such as recycling and climate change.

New Light On Altruism

Women Are More Forgiving

Men find forgiving more difficult than women but this gender gap closes if men develop empathy toward an offender by seeing they may be capable of acting in a similar way themselves.

Women Are More Forgiving

Gut Feelings

Research has shed new light on "gut feelings" arguing that they are real psychological phenomena that should be taken seriously.

Gut Feelings

Monday, April 07, 2008

Stress And Cancer Surgery

Research from Tel Aviv University published in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity has shown that psychological and physiological stress before during and after cancer surgery impairs immune system functioning and that blocking the influence of major stress hormones may improve outcome.

Stress And Cancer Surgery

Soaking Potatoes Leads To Healthier Chips

Soaking potatoes in water before frying can reduce levels of acrylamide, a naturally occurring chemical formed when starch-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures.

Soaking Potatoes Leads To Healthier Chips

How Culture Affects The Recognition Of Emotions

Research from the University of Alberta, Canada and Hokkaido University, Japan published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has found significant differences in how people from eastern and western cultures assess interpersonal situations.

How Culture Affects The Recognition Of Emotions

Acne Inhibits Exercise

Research from Bath University published in the Journal of Health Psychology has found people with acne who are highly anxious about their condition report being less likely to get involved in sport or exercise.

Acne Inhibits Exercise

Monday, March 17, 2008

Selecting The Proper Pond Pump

Whether you own a preformed, or liner pond, a pond pump plays a vital role in maintaining balance in any garden pond or water feature. It's no surprise that stagnant bodies of water, are inviting to mosquito infestations, which are a major concern with West Nile Virus. Not only do these stagnant ponds have a wretched smell, they look un-appealing, and will be very un-inviting to guests or wildlife. This is why pond pumps are of the utmost importance, to regularly circulate water and maintain the health of your pond.

More at: Selecting The Proper Pond Pump

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Bronze Age Iberia

New light on Bronze Age life in the Iberian Peninsula.

Bronze Age Iberia

Mayans Used Glittering Pigments On Their Buildings

Ancient Mayans used lustrous pigments to make their buildings glitter in daylight.

Mayans Used Glittering Pigments On Their Buildings

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Anxiety And Heart Attacks

Longstanding anxiety significantly increases the risk of heart attack in men, even when other common risk factors are taken into account.

Anxiety And Heart Attacks

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Explaining To Mother Helps Problem-Solving

Children are best able to identify the solution to a problem when they explain it to their mother.

Explaining To Mother Helps Problem-Solving

Origins Of Pacific Islanders

New research throws light on long-standing controversies surrounding the origins and genetic relationships of Pacific Islanders.

Origins Of Pacific Islanders

Monday, February 04, 2008

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Interpreting Health Information On The Web

While Internet searches to answer health-related questions can yield a huge amount of data, people tend to pay more attention to information that matches pre-existing beliefs.

Interpreting Health Information On The Web

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Dementia Screening

A recent commentary arguing against routine screening for dementia by physicians working in primary care settings has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Dementia Screening

Disclosing Bad News

Using negotiation skills to help clinicians handle requests from family members not to reveal bad news to a patient.

Disclosing Bad News

Never Too Late To Change Your Lifestyle

Older adults can achieve significant health improvements with simple and realistic lifestyle changes.

Never Too Late To Change Your Lifestyle

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Bestselling Computing Books

Updated selection of the best computing and internet books:

Bestselling Computing Books

Monday, January 28, 2008

Recovery From Substance Abuse

An expert panel's report recently published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment concludes that abstinence from alcohol and drugs is only the initial stage in recovery for people with substance abuse disorders. The report from the Betty Ford Institute explains that although recovery is generally recognized as a primary treatment goal, there is no widely accepted definition of what the term actually
means.

Recovery From Substance Abuse

Lifestyle Habits

Child health psychologists should play a greater role in development of positive
lifestyles thus contributing to adult disease prevention.

Lifestyle Habits

Hearing Messages

Hearing messages embedded in meaningless noise could be an early sign of schizophrenia.

Hearing Messages

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Machiavellian Monkeys

Humans and rhesus macaque monkeys share tendencies towards nepotism and political maneuvering.

Machiavellian Monkeys

Survey Of Caistor Roman Town

A survey of Caistor Roman town near Norwich sponsored by the British Academy has given dramatic new insights into the nature of this settlement and confirms it as a site of international importance.

Survey Of Caistor Roman Town

20,000 New Cancer Cases A Day Worldwide

A report from the American Cancer Society estimates that 2007 saw over 12 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths (about 20,000 a day) worldwide. Of these, 5.4 million cases and 2.9 million deaths occurred in economically developed countries, compared to 6.7 million cases and 4.7 million deaths in developing economies.

20,000 New Cancer Cases A Day Worldwide

Roman-Byzantine Era Synagogue Found

Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered an ancient synagogue among the ruins of a large Jewish village from the Roman-Byzantine era at the foot of the Mt Nitai cliffs overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

Roman-Byzantine Era Synagogue Found

Chocolate's Early History

The earliest known cacao consumption has been identified from analysis of pottery shards found at the site of Puerto Escondido in northern Honduras.

Chocolate's Early History

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Cancer Viruses

Ground-breaking research from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University published in PloS One has demonstrated successful treatment of cancers by targeting causative viruses and raised the possibility of prevention by destroying virus-infected cells before they turn cancerous. Researchers explain that nearly 20 per cent of human cancers result from pre-existing viral infections, for example liver cancer (caused by hepatitis B and C viruses), cervical cancer (caused by human papillomaviruses) and some types of lymphoma (caused by the Epstein-Barr virus).

Cancer Viruses

Monday, December 24, 2007

Caribbean Islands

Take A Break From Winter With A Luxurious Point Grace Getaway

Located on a blissful stretch of powder white sandy beach, Point Grace offers a selection of ocean-front suites or cottage suites with relaxing pool and garden views. All suites are exquisitely furnished and decorated. With magnificent views of the ocean and the peaceful sounds of the gentle Caribbean waves in the background, Point Grace offers the most elegant surroundings with an uncompromised level of service.

Jamaican Christmas

Christmas season in Jamaica is the most festive time of the year, filled with non-stop celebrations, special treats like Jamaican Christmas cake and sorrel drinks, entertainment, parties, festivals and happy gatherings of friends and family.

Antigua Today

History of Antigua

Sunday, December 16, 2007

More Than 3 Million Americans Have Dementia

About 3.4 million Americans over the age of 70 (13.9 per cent) suffer from some form of dementia of whom about 2.4 million (9.7 per cent) have Alzheimer's disease.

More Than 3 Million Americans Have Dementia

Teenage Substance Misuse: What Parents Do And Don't Know

Research from the Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) at the University of Buffalo published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse found that the majority of parents could accurately evaluate their teenagers' cigarette smoking and substance use but were less aware of marijuana and alcohol use.


Teenage Substance Misuse: What Parents Do And Don't Know

How Antioxidants May Work

Very high doses of antioxidant polyphenols (commonly found in red wine, fruits, vegetables, and green tea) shut down and prevented cancerous tumors by inhibiting new blood vessel formation. Conversely, at relatively low doses they play a beneficial role in cardiac and circulatory diseases by facilitating blood vessel growth.

How Antioxidants May Work

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Depression And Intellectual Decline

Depression increases the risk of intellectual decline in older people and can be a predictive factor.


Depression And Intellectual Decline

Spouses And Healthy Lifestyles

A study published in Health Services Research has shown that spouses often mirror each other's positive health behaviors and that intervention programs should be designed with a broader perspective than the individual patient.

Spouses And Healthy Lifestyles

Negative Influences

While we tend to believe that we are capable of forming independent opinions, what other people think can influence our conclusions, with negative attitudes resulting in the biggest changes.

Negative Influences

Stress, Cancer And HIV

A review of research into the relationship between stress and disease has found that stress is a contributing factor particularly in triggering or worsening depression, cardiovascular disease and speeding progression of HIV/AIDS.

Stress, Cancer And HIV

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Two Studies On Autism

Characteristic and sometimes severe symptoms of autism such as repetitive motions, problems interacting with others and impaired communication can improve with age.

Two New Studies On Autism

Physician-Assisted Suicide

Research led by Margaret Battin, professor of philosophy and adjunct professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah and published in the Journal of Medical Ethics has found no evidence that legalization of physician-assisted suicide results in disproportionate numbers of vulnerable people dying prematurely. Researchers explain that opponents of such legislation have claimed that it leads to a "slippery slope" making it easier to end the lives of those considered a burden.

Physician-Assisted Suicide

Breast Cancer Articles

An online survey commissioned by AstraZeneca and conducted by Harris Interactive found that most breast cancer survivors considered themselves stronger after having the disease but their level of knowledge about steps they could take to reduce the likelihood of recurrence was surprisingly low.

21st Century Breast Cancer Management

Research by Kaiser Permanente presented at the recent European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14) has found that increased risk of breast cancer is related to alcohol itself and the
quantity drunk rather than the type.

Alcohol And Breast Cancer

Two recent studies have investigated the role of exercise in breast cancer risk,
treatment and rehabilitation.

Exercise Benefits Cancer Care

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Too Little Or Too Much Sleep?

Research from the University of Warwick and University College London published in SLEEP found that both lack of and too much sleep can more than double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Too Little Or Too Much Sleep?

Monday, October 08, 2007

Childhood Violence Perpetuates Into Adulthood

Victims of violence in childhood are more likely to continue the pattern in adulthood, either as victims or perpetrators.

Childhood Violence Perpetuates Into Adulthood

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Longing Influences Choice

Longing for something intensely (like a holiday or food) can change an individual's choice making processes with a wider array of options considered than would normally be
the case.

Longing Influences Choice

Monday, September 24, 2007

How Children Relate To Storybook Characters

A new study from University of Waterloo researchers Daniela O'Neill and Rebecca Shultis published in Developmental Psychology used an innovative approach to evaluate young children's storytelling ability and found that they are able to immerse themselves in the thoughts and feelings of fictional characters.

How Children Relate To Storybook Characters

IQ And Short-term Memory

Research from the University of Oregon published in Psychological Science suggests that short-term memory capacity is a strong predictor of IQ.

IQ And Short-term Memory

Suppressing Negative Emotional Memories

Recent research has shown that negative emotional memories can be suppressed with practice, offering the possibility of new treatments for people suffering from a range of conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive syndrome.

Suppressing Negative Emotional Memories

Gut Instinct Decisions

People usually follow emotional gut instinct rather than rational responses when making decisions about complex issues such as terrorism, troop surges or crime, even though the brain can simultaneously process both kinds of information.

Gut Instinct Decisions

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Breastfeeding Does Not Protect Against Allergies

The results of a large randomized trial recently published on bmj.com indicate that prolonged or exclusive breastfeeding fails to protect against development of asthma and allergies in later life.

Breastfeeding Does Not Protect Against Allergies

Personal Chaos Inhibits HIV Health Care

Chaotic personal circumstances may significantly inhibit access to health care for HIV-positive people living in poverty.

Personal Chaos Inhibits HIV Health Care

Chocolate May Not Be Addictive

While people readily admit to being "chocoholics", chocolate is not truly addictive and there is an alternative explanation for this ubiquitous craving.

Chocolate May Not Be Addictive

Fruity Vegetables Reduce Childhood Asthma

A diet rich in fish and "fruity vegetables" such as tomatoes, aubergines, cucumber, green beans and courgettes can reduce childhood asthma and allergies.

Fruity Vegetables Reduce Childhood Asthma

Mediterranean Diet May Help Alzheimer's

Research led by Dr Nikos Scarmeas of Columbia University Medical Center published in Neurology has found that a Mediterranean diet may help people with Alzheimer's disease live longer than those relying on a more traditional Western diet.

The study followed 192 people with Alzheimer's disease in New York for an average of four and a half years during which 85 participants died. However, the study found that those most closely following a Mediterranean diet were 76 per cent less likely to die.

Mediterranean Diet May Help Alzheimer's

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Loneliness Affects Health

Pointing out that loneliness is not the same as solitude which can be highly valued researchers nevertheless conclude that social isolation and physical aging may have a deleterious effect on health.

Loneliness Affects Health

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

New Research On Reading

Two recent studies look at the process of metacomprehension and greater effectiveness of female teachers.

New Research On Reading

Motherese

Female rhesus monkeys use particular vocalizations while interacting with their babies comparable to the way humans use "motherese" or "baby talk".

Motherese

Explaining Out-of-body Experiences

Two recent studies published in Science offer insight into how individuals perceive their own bodies and a possible explanation for out-of-body experiences. This phenomenon has been associated with drug use and neurological disorders such as epilepsy but patients were commonly thought to have imagined it.

Explaining Out-of-body Experiences

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Tomato Antioxidant Does Not Prevent Cancer

A recent study concludes that lycopene, an antioxidant predominately found in tomatoes, is not effective in preventing prostate cancer.

Tomato Antioxidant Does Not Prevent Cancer

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Stroke Care In UK Severely Deficient

The perception of stroke among health professionals and the public must be changed so that it is viewed as a condition requiring emergency treatment.

Stroke Care In UK Severely Deficient

NICE's Threshold Range Questioned

A situation in which NICE employs an unsubstantiated range to assess cost effectiveness and others within UK healthcare make no use of any such threshold is not conducive to efficiency and fairness in the NHS.

NICE's Threshold Range Questioned

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Journey Distances To Hospital Can Be Fatal

The further patients with life-threatening conditions have to travel by ambulance to reach emergency care, the more likely they are to die, with people suffering respiratory problems at greatest risk.

Journey Distances To Hospital Can Be Fatal

Friday, August 24, 2007

Conflict And In-Group Bias

A recent address by Marilynn Brewer, professor of psychology at Ohio State University to mark the award of Distinguished Scientific Contribution for 2007 by the American Psychological Association challenged the concept that conflict is an inevitable and necessary part of interaction between groups.

Conflict And In-Group Bias

Slugs and Snails

This page on our gardening site has been updated to include some tips about slugs in compost bins.


Dealing with Slugs ands Snails

Lack Of Sleep Affects School Results

Insufficient sleep can have an adverse effect the next day not only on an adult's work performance but also on how well students perform at school.

Lack Of Sleep Affects School Results

Appreciating Another Perspective

People from Western cultures such as the United States find it particularly difficult to understand someone else's point of view because they are part of a culture that encourages individualism.

Appreciating Another Perspective

Facial Recognition: The "Cross-Race Effect"

A recent study throws new light on the "cross-race effect", a well-replicated if not fully understood phenomenon involving difficulty in distinguishing between people of other racial groups.

Facial Recognition: The "Cross-Race Effect"

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Links Between Teenage And Domestic Violence

Adolescents who engaged in violent behavior relatively regularly throughout their teenage years or who began in their mid teens and increased with time were significantly more likely to perpetrate domestic violence in their mid 20s.

Links Between Teenage And Domestic Violence

Girl Talk Heightens Anxiety

Excessive discussion about problems with friends (co-rumination) may have a negative impact on emotional adjustment in girls who are more likely than boys of the same age to develop anxiety and depression as a result.

Girl Talk Heightens Anxiety

Managing Teen Emotions

Research from the University of Illinois published recently in Child Development has found that teenagers can learn to manage powerful emotions and gain insight into the processes involved.

Reed Larson, professor of family ecology said:

"There's a stereotype that teens don't manage their emotions, their emotions manage them. But this study showed that, in an atmosphere of trust and support, teens can become adept at identifying their emotions, learn to recognize the tricks emotions play on people, and begin to understand not only how to control their emotions, but to use them in positive ways."

Managing Teen Emotions

Evening-preference and Adolescent Problems

New research suggests that early adolescents who prefer evening to morning activities are more likely to exhibit antisocial behavior. Previous studies focusing on older adolescents showed a similar link with psychological problems.

Evening-preference and Adolescent Problems

Breaking Up Is Not Necessarily Hard To Do

New research shows that people were less distressed and coped much better with ending a relationship than they predicted and that this unanticipated effect was particularly marked for those described as "madly in love".

Breaking Up Is Not Necessarily Hard To Do

Why Women Prefer Pink

A study by Newcastle University researchers Anya C. Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling published in Current Biology supports the popular notion that men and women differ when it comes to colour preference. Researchers found that women prefer pink "or at least a redder shade of blue" than men do.

Why Women Prefer Pink

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Effective Health Messages

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology investigated which health messages a person might pay attention to from the plethora available via numerous media and the possible reasons for that choice.

Effective Health Messages

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Counterfactual Thinking

Research sheds new light on the mental processes involved in "counterfactual thinking" in which past decisions are reviewed and alternatives evaluated. The authors explain that while this can be positive and affirming, it more commonly engenders regret and self-criticism.


Counterfactual Thinking

Sunday, May 27, 2007

The Albion Band

A lazy Sunday afternoon. I opened up the cupboard of old vinyl records, more or less alphabetically arranged. The first was the Albion Band's Light Shining (1982). I guess we hadn't played this for close on 20 years.

The Albion Band

Friday, May 18, 2007

The Origins of Morality

A new consensus that scientists are reaching on the origins and mechanisms of morality.

The Origins of Morality

Decision-making Made not Born

People who do well on a series of decision-making tasks involving hypothetical situations tend to have more positive decision outcomes in their lives.

Decision-making Made not Born

Monday, March 26, 2007

Intimacy and Cancer

A study aimed at improving support services has investigated the lives of people caring for a partner with cancer and how they negotiate issues surrounding sexuality and intimacy.

Intimacy and Cancer