Adolescent Popularity and Weight

Our discussions in psychology classes lately have focused on the nature/nurture issue in development, as well as the issue of obesity in children.

A recent study reported in the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent health reported on how an adolescent girl's opinion of her social status or popularity predicted weight gain. Those who felt less popular were more likely to gain weight over the following two years.

Researchers at Harvard queried 4500 girls from 12-18 about their social standing at their school, asking this question:

At the top of the ladder are the people in your school with the most respect and the highest standing. At the bottom are people who no one respects and no one wants to hang around with. Where would you place yourself on the ladder?

Two years later, the girls who had answered at a level four or lower were at a 70% more risk of gaining excess weight. The researchers point out that interventions aimed at reducing obesity consider social as well as nutritional variables. What do you think?

Child's Play

Another article for parents and students of developmental psychology. Remember "the play years" - that age from 2-6 when the child's work is play? That's the topic of this article from NPR: how child's play promotes cognitive growth and how child's play has changed.

We love dogs!

The relationships between humans and canine are sometimes extraordinary. Watch this video clip about some amazing actions taken by dogs to save their human companions!

Taming the Toddler?

With so many of our students also parents, I thought this article from the New York Times would be interesting. I'd especially like to hear about any of you parents who have an opportunity to try this "method" with your own toddlers. Did it work?

The problem I find with articles like this is that we don't have any scientific proof that this method works better than any other method. Has this been scientifically tested? If so, we're not told.

The method, however, reminds me of another article, also from the New York Times, about how mimicry creates liking between people. Maybe that's what's really going on in this method to tame toddlers!

How couples resolve conflict linked to length of life

Ernest Harburg and associates at the University of Michigan followed couples for 17 years and found that their style of resolving conflicts was linked to how long they lived! Read about the article here. This study focused on whether couples express their anger and reach consensus or suppress their anger. Those who suppress their anger appear to be at greater risk for health problems over time.

So the next time you're feeling hurt and angry by something your partner said or did, speak up! Hear Harburg explain further about his findings, and how they differ for males and females, in this podcast.

Are drugs always the answer?

That's certainly what the drug companies and many others would like us to believe! A recent article and interview reported on recent research comparing the effects of antipsychotic drugs on the aggressive behavior of persons with mental retardation. As long as I've worked in clinical practice, these drugs have been used to reduce this behavior. Or so they thought! This article and audio interview with the researcher tell us that these drugs don't work at all. The placebo was the best treatment! We're also learning that antidepressants are not always the wonder drugs that we would wish they were. Psychological treatments may still be better and may offer fewer negative side effects. This article from Consumer Affairs explores that issue.

Who's the happiest?

Sometimes we think it's our next-door-neighbor, or the person sitting in the next seat in class, or our instructor. . . or anyone but us! New research suggests trends in happiness over the lifespan that change what we've thought. Maybe middle age isn't so great, after all! Check out this article!

Quit Smoking Drug Danger?

Chantix, a new drug to help smokers quit, is associated with increased risk of psychiatric problems, according to the FDA, as reported in this news article.

According to this story in Wired Science, a musician in Texas started exhibiting aggressive and bizarre behavior within a week of starting the drug.

Have you tried Chantix? What effects did it have, pro or con?

Why do we kiss?

Every possible reason to kiss is explored in this longish article from Scientific American . Bet you never thought of all this as you puckered up! With Valentine's Day on the way, it's worth a read!

People in Order

I just came across this interesting and creative video by Lenka Clayton and James Price on Youtube. Which is your favorite? What do you like about it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okOBUp0oaNM

Inquiring minds want to know . . .

more about psychology in all its forms - neuroscience, cognition, personality, health, happiness and on and on! I'm developing this blog to point you, my students, to blogs of interest. And I hope that you'll comment and also suggest other pertinent blogs or websites that you have found!

To begin, check out http://www.mindhacks.com/. Every week, these two offer a wonderful compilation of links to new research reported all over the web.

Another one that has a new post on study habits is http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/ published by the British Psychological Society and also filled with new research, as well as lots of links to other online psychological information.

Finally, check out one of my faves at http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/. Be sure to scroll down to his entry of crowds and watch the video of a recent happening. How would you have reacted to this?

I'll be waiting to see your reactions and the other sites you find!