Daniel Goleman on Compassion
Emotional Intelligence author Daniel Goleman holds forth about compassion.
More TED Psychology here.
Habit Slayers
Unwanted habits are susceptible to some simple tricks, says PsyBlog, reviewing a new study. Something you want to stop doing? Try:
- Vigilant monitoring: watching out for slip-ups and saying “Don’t do it!” to yourself.
- Distraction: trying to think about something else.
- Stimulus control: removing the opportunity to perform the habit, say by leaving the bar, fast-food restaurant or electronics store.
Angry Patriotism
ScienceDaily: Anger Drives Support for Wartime Presidents, Study Finds
Contrary to popular opinion and previous speculations among psychologists, Lambert’s study shows that the impulse to support the president in times of war has little to do with feelings of anxiety or uncertainty or needing a president to somehow make us feel safe.
Overstudying the WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic)
The universal truths of psychology may not be so universal, after all.
A new University of British Columbia study says that an overreliance on research subjects from the U.S. and other Western nations can produce false claims about human psychology and behavior because their psychological tendencies are highly unusual compared to the global population…
Online Marriage Checkup
Studies have couples checking in annually about their marriages, online.
“You don’t wait to see the dentist until something hurts — you go for checkups on a regular basis…If people were to bring their marriages in for a checkup on an annual basis, would that provide the same sort of benefit that a physical health checkup would provide?”
Sleep = Energy
“Brain’s energy restored during sleep–not exactly a news flash. But a study looks at what actually goes on in your head while you’re slumbering:
In the initial stages of sleep, energy levels increase dramatically in brain regions found to be active during waking hours [suggesting] a surge of cellular energy may replenish brain processes needed to function normally while awake.
About Alcoholics Anonymous
A.A., then and now: After 75 Years, We Don’t Know How It Works. David Brooks weighs in here.
In a culture that thinks of itself as individualistic, A.A. relies on fellowship. The general idea is that people aren’t really captains of their own ship. Successful members become deeply intertwined with one another — learning, sharing, suffering and mentoring one another. Individual repair is a social effort.
Also on this site, a list of 12-step programs in L.A. Whether you’re aiming at recovery or not, if you’ve never been to a 12-step meeting, they’re well worth checking out. (Make sure it’s an open meeting–outsiders welcome.)
Depression Treatment (on a Budget)
PsychCentral looks at ways to get the most out of depression treatment during tough economic times. Suggestions include:
- Ask your doctor if a generic form of your medication exists and if it would be all right for you to take. Target and Walmart are just a few of the pharmacies that offer generic medications for as little as $4.
- Use an online program, such as Healthy Footsteps, to monitor your daily activity and moods, learning about what affects your mood and when…
- Spend time preparing for therapy, as you would a class or exam. Request work outside of sessions, journal, and really focus on what you want to get out of your sessions…
- Be completely honest with your therapist…Know that your therapist is under confidentiality rules, and that they are there to help you. They can’t do that unless you tell them what is really going on. So don’t waste your time and money by hiding in therapy.
Maintaining a Mental Edge
ScienceDaily: Age doesn’t necessarily affect decision-making, study shows
Many people believe that getting older means losing a mental edge, leading to poor decision-making. But a new study from North Carolina State University shows that when it comes to making intuitive decisions — using your “gut instincts” — older adults fare as well as their juniors.
TV and Aging
ScienceDaily sums it up in a headline: Older Adults Watch More TV Than Younger People, Enjoy It Less.
Data from other studies indicate that the average American household spends 4.5 hours watching TV per day and, in those over age 65, about 25% percent of their time is spent watching TV.