Category Archives: Psychology News

Breaking news in the world of Psychology

Premier League Psychology – Man City and Man United Fans Struggle Under the Weight of Expectation

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robin van persie manchester united debut

After City pipped United to the Premier League title in the final minute of the final match on the final day of last season, fans and pundits have been questioning whether or not the Red Devils can snatch the trophy right back at the end of the 2012-2013 campaign. With all due respect to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool — and with all due respect to the excellent work that these teams have done in the transfer window this past summer, it is a very brave man who would bet against the title leaving Manchester. Continue reading →

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Can Food Be Male or Female?

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food gender associations

Is your lunch male or female? Odd question to ask isn’t it? But odd as it might seem, western culture does show strong associations between gender and food. We live in a world where ladies are expected to eat either fruit or vegetable salads while manly men consume red meat. And it is not difficult to see why we have these perceptions: meat, as a product of the hunt, has been associated with strength and power for ages — two features usually linked with masculinity. In fact, so prominent is the meat-male linkage that researchers Paul Rozin, Julia M. Hormes, Myles S. Faith and Brian Wansink carried out a series of experiments to investigate it. Continue reading →

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Why Do Children and Teenagers Exclude Peers From Their Cliques?

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Children and Social Exclusion

Just as it is common for youths to form friendship cliques, it is also common for some kids to be left out. Much research has paid attention to what it is like to be rejected or excluded. However a new study by Holly Recchia and her team took an unusual approach, they asked children and adolescents to relate the times that they had excluded someone, and then to give reasons for their actions. Continue reading →

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Schizophrenia/Psychosis – Brain Disease or Existential Crisis?

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Schizophrenia/Psychosis – Brain Disease or Existential Crisis?With the most recent schizophrenia/psychosis recovery research, we discover increasing evidence that psychosis is not caused by a disease of the brain, but is perhaps best described as being a last ditch strategy of a desperate psyche to transcend an intolerable situation or dilemma. To better understand how this conclusion which is so contrary to the widespread understanding of psychosis has come about, it will help if we break down this discussion into a short series of questions and answers.

What? Schizophrenia may not be caused by a brain disease?

The emerging recovery research and continuous lack of substantiation of any of the various brain disease hypotheses have cast serious doubts about the validity of the brain disease theory Continue reading →

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When Harvard Meets Hogwarts. What Can Scientists Learn From Magicians?

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the psychology of magic

As a motivational speaker, I often use magic to illustrate the key points in my speeches. Why? Well, firstly, magic is a lot more fun than PowerPoint. Secondly, magic has gained some serious credibility as scientists have begun studying magicians to learn more about how the brain works. (This research is based on the notion that, if the ladies don’t dig your “science nerd vibe,” try card tricks!) Continue reading →

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