Behaviour

Analysis and Comment (14)

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A few minutes of shut-eye considerably enhances short-term memory and mood. Image from shutterstock.com

Want to boost your memory and mood? Take a nap, but keep it short

By Nicole Lovato, Flinders University and Leon Lack, Flinders University

We’re told to have power naps to keep us safe on the road and improve our alertness if we’ve had insufficient sleep. They even help our surgeons stay awake during long shifts. But siestas and nana naps…
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We all know the rules, and yet some of us seem happy to break them. Looking Glass

Seeing red: why cyclists ride through traffic lights

By Marilyn Johnson, Monash University

You’ve probably seen it happen. You’re driving your car and you come to a stop at the traffic lights. You’re mindful of traffic infringement fines and public safety, then someone on a bike rides past you…
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Protesters march against the torture at Abu Ghraib; we use social psychology to help understand why people commit such acts. Shrieking Tree

Rethinking long-held beliefs about the psychology of evil

By Alex Haslam and Stephen Reicher, University of St Andrews

Social psychology addresses many of the important questions that concern us as human beings. It’s also the subject of newspaper editorials on most days: why is there conflict between groups? How can it…
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Were we born to work with others or look after number one? Cayusa

On first thought, cooperate; on second thought, be selfish

By Peter Karl Jonason, University of Western Sydney

Are we cooperative or are we selfish? This question goes back as far as the philosophers Rousseau and Hobbes – Rousseau advocated for a “noble savage” model of humanity whereas Hobbes advocated for a…
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Getting rid of negative memories is increasingly within our grasp. taylor.a

Remembering to forget: how to erase unwanted memories

By Amy Reichelt

Memories influence our behaviour for better or worse. A traumatic incident, experienced once, can darken our lives for ever more. Drug or alcohol addiction – driven by remembered rewards – can render…
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Personal insight can be gained from one’s use – or misuse – of social media. Olga Palma/Wikimedia

Stalking your ex on Facebook is creepy … and bad for you

By Sean Rintel and Chelmin Lim

New research from Dr. Tara Marshall at Brunel University has found that Facebook surveillance of ex-romantic partners may disrupt post-breakup recovery and personal growth. That’s bad news, because earlier…
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Don’t want someone sitting next to you? You’re not alone. j.o.h.n. walker

Enjoy the silence: commuters are ‘nonsocial’ for good reason

By Esther Kim, Yale University

On public transport, there’s an unspoken rule to not take the seat next to someone if there are other seats available. In especially longer public transport commutes, the entire ride can be done in silence…
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Society as we know it may depend on lies more than we realise. ireland :)

Truth is, everyone lies all the time

By Edward Reynolds

Recent research in residential aged care by Anthony Tuckett from the University of Queensland has illustrated that, in some instances, lying is not only necessary, it’s actually virtuous. It is a complex…

Research and News (3)

Research Briefs (10)

Why we get bored

University of Guelph

Boredom arises from our inability to engage one of our brain’s attention networks. Our awareness of this inability to concentrate…

When in doubt, invest in karma

University of Virginia

When faced with uncontrollable outcomes, people act as though they can still get on the good side of fate by doing good deeds…

Hyper TV makes for hyper kids

University of Virgina

Young children who watch fast-paced television shows may find it difficult to pay attention, solve problems and moderate…

Humans and chimps share more with each other

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Chimpanzees have shown significant signs of prosocial behaviour. The new finding is in contrast with previous thought that…

Stress linked to parent’s childhood

University of Haifa

Researchers have used rats in a study to discover stress and resilience can be inherited. Rats were used in the study because…

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