Psychology news

• AI, algorithms and apps: can dating be boiled down to a science? – podcast

  16-05-2024 06:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Last week the founder of the dating app Bumble forecasted a near future dating landscape where AI ‘dating concierges’ filter out prospective partners for us. But does AI, or even science, really understand what makes two people compatible? Madeleine Finlay speaks to Amie Gordon, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, to find out what we know about why two people go the distance, and why she’s designing her own dating app to learn more.Clips: BloombergR
  
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• Freud’s Last Session review – what-if meeting of minds with Anthony Hopkins as the master analyst

  13-06-2024 10:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Hopkins’ Sigmund Freud locks horns with Matthew Goode’s CS Lewis in an imaginary encounter that is watchable but not terribly profoundHere is a determinedly old-fashioned drama, verbose and elaborate but also forthright and watchable in its way. It is a Stoppardian what-if meeting, imagining a bruising encounter between two celebrated historical figures who could, theoretically, have run into each other; it is adapted by director Matt Brown from a stage-play by American dramatist Mar
  
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• Why do we expect working moms to feel guilty?

  12-06-2024 00:05 via positivepsychologynews.com
  By Frawn Morgan -
  Most working mothers struggle constantly with feelings of guilt. Just ask any working mother you know. The guilt they experience isn’t just around their choice to pursue a career. They also worry that they aren’t giving as much as they could to their employers or are shortchanging their friends and partners due to limitations on their time, energy, and attention. This feeling of guilt is so constant and pervasive that it has become part of their being, so much that
  
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• Protocol Available for Creating "Wired Miniature Brains"

  11-06-2024 19:59 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top HealthResearchers worldwide can now create highly realistic brain cortical organoids—essentially, miniature artificial brains with functioning neural networks—thanks to a proprietary protocol released this month by researchers at the University of California San Diego. The new technique, published in Nature Protocols, paves the way for scientists to perform more advanced research regarding autism, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders.
  
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• Lifestyle Changes Improve Alzheimer's Symptoms for Some, Study Finds

  11-06-2024 19:59 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthA new study, published Friday in the European Heart Journal, suggests that lifestyle changes may lead to improvement in people with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. Though the study was small, some participants showed remarkable changes within the 5-month research period. "This is a study to give us hope," said Maria Shriver, former journalist and founder of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
  
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• Methodist Church Apologizes for "All Forms of Homophobia"

  10-06-2024 08:23 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: BBC News - UK NewsThe Methodist Church in Ireland has apologized "unreservedly for failures in pastoral support and care" to the LGBT community and their families. The church also said it strongly condemned all forms of homophobia, both within the church and the wider community. However, the church has decided that marriage remain a relationship "between one man and one woman" and has decided not to follow the Methodist Church in Great Britain in allowing...
  
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• Trauma can leave us emotionally numb – each step towards reconnection is a win | Diane Young

  09-06-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The brain protects itself from pain by shutting down emotional responses – this can help us cope in the short term, but is problematic when it persistsThe modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their workTo the outside world, it seemed as if he had it all.At just 34, Kane* had already become a successful business owner. As a builder by trade, his revenue had soared over a decade, earning him millions. He had also invested in property, owning t
  
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• ‘We’ve talked for hundreds of hours’: the joy of volunteering as a telephone friend

  09-06-2024 15:00 via theguardian.com
  
  We’re 50 years apart and have never met, but my connection with Pauline is deeper than I could have imaginedAll best friends were strangers once. Why, then, does reaching out to someone you don’t know, making platonic connections in the modern world, feel like such a bold, even brave thing to do?Let me tell you about my friend, Pauline. Like all good friends, we make a point of catching up at least once a week, talking for hours about everything and nothing at all. But Pauline and I,
  
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• Come on, feel the noise: how I unplugged my headphones and reconnected with the world

  09-06-2024 11:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Worried she was missing out, Ella Glover took off her headphones for a month and rediscovered the soundscape of humanity, made space to listen to friends – and tuned in to her own thoughtsUntil about a month ago, the thought of leaving my flat without my headphones connected to my smartphone filled me with anxiety. Any length of time, whether a two-minute walk to the shop or a two-hour commute, with nothing but my own thoughts and the racket of the city to listen to, was enough to send me
  
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• Healthy Lifestyle May Slow Symptoms in Patients with Early Dementia

  08-06-2024 13:50 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: United Press International - Health NewsNew research suggests that healthy lifestyle habits can help preserve brain function in people with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. Over 70% of people who ate healthy, exercised regularly, and managed stress had their dementia symptoms either remain stable or improve without the use of drugs, researchers reported Friday in the journal Alzheimer's Research and Therapy. In contrast, nearly 70% showed a decline without these lifestyle...
  
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• Mental Health on College Campuses: Challenges and Solutions

  08-06-2024 13:49 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: U.S. News and World ReportAdjusting to college can be difficult, as students navigate newfound independence and harder courses. It can feel especially daunting for students who face mental health challenges, which were heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Campuses are now facing what experts call a mental health crisis. For example, 70% of students said they have struggled with mental health since starting college, according to a March 2024 survey of 3,649 college...
  
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• U.N. Chief Says World Is on "Highway to Climate Hell" As Record Heat Hits

  06-06-2024 19:41 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthThe planet just marked a new milestone, enduring 12 straight months of unprecedented heat, according to data from Copernicus, the European Union's climate monitoring service. Every single month from June 2023 to May 2024 was the world's hottest such month on record. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres called on world leaders Wednesday to ban advertising fossil fuel products and find "an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell."
  
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• Spain Applies to Join South Africa's Genocide Case Against Israel

  06-06-2024 19:41 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthSpain became on Thursday the first European country to ask a United Nations court for permission to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. South Africa filed its case with the International Court of Justice last year. It alleged that Israel was breaching the genocide convention in its military assault that has laid waste to large parts of Gaza. Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and the Palestinians have also applied to...
  
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• Could Artificial Intelligence Put an End to Animal Testing?

  06-06-2024 19:41 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: BBCNews - BusinessFrom animal lovers to laboratory technicians, no one enjoys subjecting animals to scientific testing. It is instead done to help ensure that drugs and other substances are safe for eventual human use. Researchers have long sought non-animal alternatives. Artificial intelligence systems are now accelerating this work, and in some cases, AI is already proving to be more accurate than animal testing.
  
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• AI researchers build ‘future self’ chatbot to inspire wise life choices

  05-06-2024 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Scientists at MIT hope talking to 60-year-old self will shift thinking on health, money and workIf your carefully crafted life plan has been scuppered by sofa time, bingeing on fast food, drinking too much and failing to contribute to the company pension, it may be time for a chat with your future self.Without ready access to a time machine, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have built an AI-powered chatbot that simulates a user’s older self and dish
  
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• Pebbling: the viral romance trend that humans have stolen from penguins

  04-06-2024 15:49 via theguardian.com
  
  While the birds pick up stones and offer them as a gift to the object of their desire, people are displaying similar behaviour onlineName: Pebbling.Age: Gentoo penguins have been doing it pre-social media. Continue reading...
  
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• Stress bragging: why workload boasts are bad for you – and your colleagues

  03-06-2024 15:56 via theguardian.com
  
  Are you in the habit of telling everyone how overstretched you are? A new study has found that it might make you less likable and less competent, while undermining your co-workersName: Stress bragging.Age: As a tactic, ancient; as a term, about three months old. Continue reading...
  
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• Palestinians Apply to Join U.N. Court Case Accusing Israel of Genocide

  03-06-2024 13:37 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: ABC News - InternationalPalestinian officials applied Monday to the top U.N. court for permission to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The request alleges that Israel's ongoing military operation is "part of a systematic effort to wipe Palestinian society and its culture and social institutions from the map." The request to the International Court of Justice was made on behalf of the "State of Palestine" and signed by a Palestinian Authority...
  
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• How learning about the science of shyness helped me

  02-06-2024 15:00 via theguardian.com
  
  I’ve managed to conquer my fears and build great friendshipsOn the day I received an offer from my first-choice university, I expected to feel elation and excitement. I had spent years preparing for this moment, and yet when it came, I felt only dread at the thought of freshers’ week and all the social challenges this would inevitably involve.I had always been something of a shrinking violet and the fact that I now had a close group of friends at school did not helped to assuagemy so
  
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• Free AI Website Matches Patients with the Most Effective Antidepressant

  02-06-2024 11:33 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top HealthA free AI-powered website, www.MeAgainMeds.com, provides clinicians with evidence-based recommendations on the optimal antidepressant for their patients. "Many people with depression must try multiple antidepressants before finding the right one that alleviates their symptoms. Our website reduces the number of medications that patients are asked to try," said Farrokh Alemi, principal investigator and professor at George Mason University.
  
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• Admission Criteria for Graduate Psychology Programs Are Changing

  02-06-2024 11:33 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: APA MonitorOver the last few years, graduate psychology degree programs, both at the master's and doctoral levels, have shifted their admission criteria from an emphasis on standardized testing to components that reflect applicants' experiences. According to the most recent edition of Graduate Study in Psychology, doctoral programs placed the highest importance on letters of recommendation (85%), personal statements (84%), and interviews (74%).
  
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• Climate Activist Defaces Monet Paining in Paris

  02-06-2024 11:32 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: United Press International - Health NewsA climate activist has been arrested for defacing a Monet painting at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris to draw attention to climate change, authorities said Sunday. A woman representing Riposte Alimentaire (Food Response) was apprehended after sticking a poster on the French impressionist painting. The poster showed a barren red landscape, and the activist warned that this is what Monet would be painting in 2100 if climate change isn't radically..
  
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• Impact of Psychology Association's Apology to Indigenous Peoples

  02-06-2024 11:31 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: APA MonitorWhen APA leaders publicly apologized for psychology's contribution to the harms suffered by Native people, many Native and non-Native psychologists were moved to tears. It was at the 2023 convention for the Society of Indian Psychologists, and those in attendance were experiencing the result of a lengthy effort to change the way APA takes responsibility for its impact on Indigenous people. A year later, significant change finally seems on its...
  
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• Mediterranean Diet Cuts Mortality Risk by 23%, Study Finds

  01-06-2024 19:19 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthThe Mediterranean diet has long been regarded as a heart-healthy option, but a new study has found the diet may also help lower the risk of death. The study, published in JAMA Network Open Friday, examined 25,315 women over 25 years, finding a higher adherence to the diet—focused on fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains—was linked to a 23% reduced risk of death as well as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  
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• LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Celebrations, Protests, and More

  01-06-2024 19:19 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Google News - HealthPride Month, the worldwide celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights, kicks off Saturday with events around the globe. But this year's festivities in the United States will unfold against a backdrop of dozens of new state laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender young people. Here are some things to know about pride celebrations, their history, and the politics related to them.
  
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• Vermont Becomes 1st State to Force Oil Firms to Pay for Climate Change

  01-06-2024 18:37 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Huff Post Environment Vermont has become the first U.S. state to enact a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather. Republican Governor Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature Thursday. Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York are considering similar measures despite intense lobbying by the American Petroleum...
  
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• Mental Health Is Another Battlefront for Ukrainians in Russian War

  01-06-2024 18:37 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: CBS News - World NewsMore than two years after Russia launched its invasion, the toll on Ukrainians' mental health continues to climb day-by-day. It affects everyone, from children to soldiers, women who are suddenly single mothers, refugees separated from their families, and elderly men and women who cannot leave. But talking about the mental-health repercussions of the war is uncommon in Ukrainian culture, say experts, which compounds the problem even further.
  
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• AI May Help Drivers Detect Pedestrians and Obstacles Faster

  01-06-2024 18:37 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top NewsIt's every driver's nightmare: a pedestrian stepping in front of the car seemingly out of nowhere, leaving only a fraction of a second to brake or steer away. Although some cars have camera systems that can alert the driver or trigger emergency braking, these systems are not fast and reliable enough to be used in driverless cars. Now, researchers report in this week's issue of Nature that AI can reliably detect obstacles in as little as 20-30...
  
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• Three Black Men Sue American Airlines for Racial Discrimination

  30-05-2024 09:47 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsThree passengers are suing American Airlines after the company allegedly removed eight Black men from a flight due to a complaint about "offensive body odor." Video central to the lawsuit displayed a group of Black men who were not traveling together and did not know each other being removed from the flight. According to the suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, they were the only Black passengers on the flight.
  
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• Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution Linked to Mental Health Risks

  30-05-2024 09:47 via socialpsychology.org
  Source: Science Daily - Top NewsA baby's exposure to air pollution while in the womb is associated with the development of certain mental health problems once the child reaches adolescence, finds a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. Researchers hypothesize that pollution might negatively affect mental health through a variety of pathways, including by compromising the blood-brain barrier, promoting neuroinflammation, and directly damaging brain tissue.
  
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