Psychology news

• Anxiety Over Prostate Cancer Diagnosis May Lead to Over-treatment

  15-01-2017 15:45
  
  Men who experience high levels of anxiety and emotional distress over a prostate cancer diagnosis are more likely to choose unnecessary treatment options, according to a new study by researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
  “Emotional distress may motivate men with low-risk prostate cancer to choose more aggressive treatment, such as choosing surgery over active surveillance,” said lead author Heather Orom, Ph.D., associate professor of communi
  
  Read more

• Quitting, Cutting Back on Cocaine May Reverse Coronary Artery Disease

  15-01-2017 15:00
  
  Although using cocaine on a regular basis is tied to a high risk of coronary artery disease, stopping or reducing its use can potentially reverse the disease process, according to a new study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
  “In the past, there has been excellent work to uncover the consequences of drug use,” said Dr. Shenghan Lai of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore. “However, few studies have revealed what happens after drug use stops. Studies of this
  
  Read more

• Kids may Put On More Weight When Parents See Them as Overweight

  15-01-2017 14:15
  
  Children whose parents considered them to be overweight tended to gain more weight over the following decade compared with children whose parents thought they were a normal weight, according to new research.
  The findings indicate that children whose parents identified them as being overweight perceived their own body size more negatively. This made them more likely to attempt to lose weight, factors that partly accounted for their weight gain, according to the researchers.
  “Although parent
  
  Read more

• The seven faces of Donald Trump – a psychologist’s view

  15-01-2017 14:00 via theguardian.com
  
  From the chin-jut to the zipped smile, we examine the president-elect’s signature facial expressions and what they tell us about himA great deal of Donald Trump’s political success can be put down to his body language and the unusual ways he uses his face.The first thing we notice about Trump’s facial expressions is the sheer variety. The second is their dramatic, often over-stated character. This was evident before and during the presidential election. While the other candidat
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Deadly Thoughts Can Spur Deadly Crimes

  15-01-2017 13:30
  
  “I could kill you.” It’s a figure of speech often used during an argument or a frustrating situation, with no one actually intending murder.
  But for a small percentage of the population, that phrase is not so meaningless, according to a new study.
  According to a researcher at Iowa State University, criminal offenders with homicidal ideation — thoughts of committing deadly violence, regardless of action — were more likely to commit a variety of serious crimes.
  S
  
  Read more

• How moral are you based on the countries you’ve visited? – quiz

  15-01-2017 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Try our quiz and discover a surprising link between worldwide travel and your moralsMoral values are notoriously tricky to measure. But the findings of a 2016 study conducted at INSEAD Business School suggest a surprisingly simple way to do so. From the list below tick off all the countries you have visited:France, USA, Spain, Italy, China, UK, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Saudi Ar
  
  Read more

• Friend zone: why we all long to belong | Emily Esfahani Smith

  15-01-2017 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Relationships – especially close ones – are crucial, says Emily Esfahani Smith, which is why loneliness is so perniciousWe all need to feel understood, recognised and affirmed by our friends, family and romantic partners. We all need to find our tribe. Research has shown that among the benefits that come with being in a relationship or group, a sense of belonging clocks in as the most important driver of meaning. When other people think you matter and treat you as if you matter, you
  
  Read more

Follow @UK_Psychology on Twitter!