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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 11, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
War’s shadow: Mothers’ psychological distress before conception might be linked to daughters’ sleep problems
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/wars-shadow-mothers-psychological-distress-before-conception-might-be-linked-to-daughters-sleep-problems/

<p>A study of Israeli mothers who conceived within a year after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war found that war exposure was not associated with their children’s later sleep problems. However, mothers who experienced more emotional distress as a result of the war tended to have daughters with slightly more sleep problems. This association was absent in boys. The research was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254231215063"><em>International Journal of Behavioral Development</em></a>.</p>
<p>War can have profound and long-lasting effects on the well-being of individuals and communities. Physically, it can lead to injury, disability, and death. Psychologically, it can cause anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Socially, war can disrupt families and communities, leading to displacement, loss of social support, and the breakdown of social norms. War can devastate infrastructure, reduce access to resources, and lead to poverty and unemployment.</p>
<p>Many studies suggest that exposure to war could render future generations more prone to mental and physical health issues. The stress related to war experienced by mothers might even impact children who were not conceived at the time of the conflict. Some research suggests that war exposure could detrimentally affect the mental health of future mothers and induce physiological changes that might influence their future offspring.</p>
<p>In this context, studies have found associations between maternal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and their children&#8217;s emotional negativity, or maternal emotional distress related to war before conception and poorer adaptive behavior and socio-emotional functioning in their children.</p>
<p>Study author Emma Bolhuis and her colleagues wanted to investigate if there is a link between children’s sleep characteristics and their mother’s exposure to war and emotional distress caused by the war. They noted that sleep plays a crucial role in the development of children. Insufficient sleep and sleep problems in children are associated with deficits in more complex cognitive functions as well as with behavioral problems. Because of this, it is important to identify any links between maternal war exposure and their children’s sleep quality.</p>
<p>The study included 107 mothers who became pregnant one to twelve months after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and their children born from these pregnancies. They were recruited postpartum from either the Western Galilee Hospital or the Sheba Medical Center. The Western Galilee Hospital, located in northern Israel, was within the missile attack range during the conflict, whereas the Sheba Medical Center, situated in central Israel, was not.</p>
<p>When the children reached the age of ten, the study authors reassessed the mother-infant pairs. Initially, right after childbirth and approximately a year post-war, the mothers filled out questionnaires regarding their war exposure and emotional distress. At the age of ten, the researchers visited the children and their mothers at home, asking them to independently complete assessments of the children&#8217;s sleep (using the Children&#8217;s Sleep Habits Questionnaire).</p>
<p>Results showed that mothers exposed to war reported much more emotional distress than mothers not exposed to war. Mothers exposed to war tended to report higher sleep anxiety of their children. However, this was not the case with sleep quality reported by the child. There were no significant differences in total sleep problems between children of war-exposed mothers and those of non-exposed mothers.</p>
<p>What the researchers did find was a weak association between mothers’ emotional distress at the start of the study and their daughters&#8217; (but not sons&#8217;) total sleep problems at age 10. In other words, the daughters of mothers who experienced more emotional distress (as a consequence of war) tended to have slightly more sleep problems.</p>
<p>“As war exposure <em>per se</em> was not predictive, whereas maternal emotional distress during wartime was predictive of child sleep problems, even after controlling for maternal pre-war stressful events, post-war stressful events prior to childbirth (including pregnancy), and current perceived stress, the outcomes of this study suggest that interventions aimed at decreasing maternal distress and increasing maternal resilience during the pre-conception period might benefit both mother and child, as animal findings also suggest,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about the links between war exposure and sleep characteristics of children. However, it should be noted that the one obtained association was weak and found only in daughters. Further studies are needed to confirm or disprove this finding, but also to provide a theoretical explanation for it.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254231215063">War exposure prior to conception: Longitudinal associations between maternal emotional distress and child sleep 10 years later,</a>” was authored by Emma Bolhuis, Anat Scher, Hanit Ohana, Rotem Ad-Epsztein, Micah Leshem, and Roseriet Beijers.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 08:00PM
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TITLE:
Social anxiety is linked to mobile phone dependence, increasing the risk of celebrity worship
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/social-anxiety-is-linked-to-mobile-phone-dependence-increasing-the-risk-of-celebrity-worship/

<p>A recent study sheds light on the intertwining roles of various psychological factors in shaping celebrity worship among college students. The findings, published in <a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-023-01405-x"><em>BMC Psychology</em></a>, provide evidence of a significant link between social anxiety and increased celebrity worship, a relationship further nuanced by mobile phone addiction and socioeconomic status.</p>
<p>Given the pervasive nature of social media and the ease of accessing celebrity content, there&#8217;s a growing concern about the potential psychological impacts of parasocial relationships, which refer to the one-sided emotional bonds individuals form with media personalities or celebrities. These relationships often emerge from prolonged exposure to celebrity content through various media channels, allowing individuals to feel as though they &#8220;know&#8221; the celebrity personally.</p>
<p>Celebrity worship extends this concept further, ranging from simple, enthusiastic interest in a celebrity&#8217;s life to an intense, obsessive involvement that significantly impacts the individual&#8217;s daily life and psychological state. This spectrum of engagement reflects the deepening of parasocial interactions into more encompassing and sometimes problematic forms of adulation.</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers recruited 1,147 college students aged 19 to 26 from Chinese universities using an online platform. Participants responded to a series of questionnaires measuring their level of celebrity worship, social anxiety, mobile phone dependence, and socioeconomic status. The Celebrity Attitude Scale, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale were among the tools used to gather data on these phenomena.</p>
<p>The study found that students experiencing higher levels of social anxiety were more inclined to engage in celebrity worship. This suggests that for some young people, celebrities might serve as a form of emotional refuge or companionship in the absence of real-life social interactions, potentially compensating for feelings of loneliness or social inadequacy.</p>
<p>Mobile phone addiction was found to play a mediating role in the link between social anxiety and celebrity worship. Specifically, it found that social anxiety predicts a higher dependence on mobile phones, which in turn leads to increased levels of celebrity worship. This mediation underscores the influence of mobile technology om parasocial relationships, providing a seamless, always-available channel for individuals to engage with celebrity content and communities.</p>
<p>Another significant aspect of the study&#8217;s findings is the moderating role of socioeconomic status (SES) on the relationship between social anxiety, mobile phone dependence, and celebrity worship. The study indicates that individuals from higher SES backgrounds are less likely to develop mobile phone addiction and, by extension, less prone to intense levels of celebrity worship.</p>
<p>However, the cross-sectional design precludes any firm conclusions about causality, leaving open the question of whether social anxiety leads to celebrity worship or vice versa. Future research could benefit longitudinal designs to trace the evolution of celebrity worship over time.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01405-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social anxiety and celebrity worship: the mediating effects of mobile phone dependence and moderating effects of family socioeconomic status</a>,&#8221; was authored by Rong Jia, Qing Yang, Bo Liu, Han Song, and Zhengjun Wang.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Addiction’s blueprint: The profound impact of alcohol and drugs on gene expression in the brain
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/addictions-blueprint-the-profound-impact-of-alcohol-and-drugs-on-gene-expression-in-the-brain/

<p>Many people are wired to <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/306396/the-compass-of-pleasure-by-david-j-linden/9780143120759">seek and respond to rewards</a>. Your brain interprets food as rewarding when you are hungry and water as rewarding when you are thirsty. But addictive substances like alcohol and drugs of abuse can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00104-8">overwhelm the natural reward pathways</a> in your brain, resulting in intolerable cravings and reduced impulse control.</p>
<p>A popular misconception is that addiction is a result of low willpower. But an explosion of knowledge and technology in the field of <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/molecular-genetics/">molecular genetics</a> has changed our basic understanding of addiction drastically over the past decade. The general consensus among scientists and health care professionals is that there is a <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/557515/never-enough-by-judith-grisel/9780525434900">strong neurobiological and genetic basis</a> for addiction.</p>
<p>As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XgunjGkAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">behavioral neurogeneticist</a> <a href="https://www.kaunlab.com">leading a team</a> investigating the molecular mechanisms of addiction, I combine neuroscience with genetics to understand how alcohol and drugs influence the brain. In the past decade, I have seen changes in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of addiction, largely due to a better understanding of how genes are dynamically regulated in the brain. New ways of thinking about how addictions form have the potential to change how we approach treatment.</p>
<h2>Alcohol and drugs affect brain gene activity</h2>
<p>Each of your brain cells has your genetic code stored in long strands of DNA. For all that DNA to fit into a cell, it needs to be packed tightly. This is achieved by winding the DNA around “spools” of protein <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/histone">called histones</a>. Areas where DNA is unwound contain active genes coding for proteins that serve important functions within the cell.</p>
<p>When gene activity changes, the proteins your cells produce also change. Such changes can range from a single neuronal connection in your brain to how you behave. This genetic choreography suggests that while your genes affect how your brain develops, <a href="https://theconversation.com/brains-work-via-their-genes-just-as-much-as-their-neurons-47522">which genes are turned on or off</a> when you are learning new things is dynamic and adapts to suit your daily needs.</p>
<p>Recent data from animal models suggests that alcohol and drugs of abuse directly influence <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1649-20.2020">changes in gene expression</a> in areas of the brain that help drive memory and reward responses.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1649-20.2020">many ways</a> addictive substances can change gene expression. They can alter which proteins bind to DNA to turn genes on and off and which segments of DNA are unwound. They can change the process of how DNA is read and translated into proteins, as well as alter the proteins that determine how cells use energy to function.</p>
<p>For example, alcohol can cause an alternative form of a gene to be expressed in the memory circuits <a href="https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.120.303101">in flies</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30926-z">and people</a>, resulting in changes in dopamine receptors and transcription factors involved in reward signaling and neuronal function. Similarly, cocaine can cause an alternative form of a gene to be expressed in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.008">reward centers</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.11.027">of mice</a>, leading them to seek out more cocaine.</p>
<p>Exactly how these drugs cause changes in gene regulation is unknown. However, a direct link between alcohol consumption and changes in gene expression in mice provides a clue. A byproduct of alcohol being broken down in the liver called acetate can cross the blood-brain barrier and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1700-7">unwind DNA from histones</a> in mouse memory circuits.</p>
<p>Alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and opioids also all activate important signaling pathways that are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.12725">central regulators of metabolism</a>. This suggests they can also affect many aspects of neuronal function and consequently affect which genes are expressed.</p>
<h2>Changing brain gene activity with lifestyle</h2>
<p>How addictive substances change cell function is complex. The version of a gene you’re born with can be modified in many ways before it becomes a functional protein, including exposure to alcohol and drugs. Rather than discouraging researchers, this complexity is empowering because it provides evidence that changes to gene expression in your brain aren’t permanent. They can also be altered by medications and lifestyle choices.</p>
<p>Many commonly prescribed medications for mental health disorders also affect gene expression. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41398-019-0589-0">Antidepressants and</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.05.028">mood stabilizers</a> can change how DNA is modified and which genes are expressed. For example, a commonly prescribed drug for depression called escitalopram affects how tightly wound DNA is and can change the expression of genes important to brain plasticity.</p>
<p>Additionally, <a href="https://theconversation.com/customizing-mrna-is-easy-and-thats-what-makes-it-the-next-frontier-for-personalized-medicine-a-molecular-biologist-explains-216127">mRNA-based therapies</a> can specifically change which genes are expressed to treat diseases like cancer. In the future, we may discover similar therapies for alcohol and substance use disorder. These treatments could potentially target important <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tins.2021.09.006">signaling pathways linked to addiction</a>, altering how brain circuits function and how alcohol and drugs affect them.</p>
<p>Lifestyle choices can also affect gene expression in your brain, though researchers don’t yet know whether they can alter the changes induced by addictive substances.</p>
<p>Like alcohol and drugs, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-you-eat-can-reprogram-your-genes-an-expert-explains-the-emerging-science-of-nutrigenomics-165867">dietary changes</a> can affect gene expression in many ways. In flies, a high sugar diet can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abc8492">reprogram the ability to taste sweetness</a> by tapping into a gene expression network involved in development.</p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100152">Intensive</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.004">meditation</a>, even after only <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.003">one day</a>, can also affect gene regulation in your brain through similar mechanisms. Attending a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100152">monthlong meditation retreat</a> reduces the expression of genes that affect inflammation, and experienced meditators can reduce inflammatory genes after just <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.003">one day of intensive meditation</a>.</p>
<p>Work in animal models has also shown that exercise changes gene expression by altering both <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147191">histones</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101398">and the</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07508.x">molecular tags</a> directly attached to DNA. This increases the activity of genes important to the activity and plasticity of neurons, supporting the idea that <a href="https://theconversation.com/high-intensity-exercise-improves-memory-and-wards-off-dementia-127001">exercise improves learning and memory</a> and can decrease the risk of dementia.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000297">Dry January</a> and beyond, many factors can have profound effects on your brain biology. Taking steps to reduce consumption of alcohol and drugs and picking up healthy lifestyle practices can help stabilize and bring long-lasting benefits for your physical and mental health.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/220134/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/alcohol-and-drugs-rewire-your-brain-by-changing-how-your-genes-work-research-is-investigating-how-to-counteract-addictions-effects-220134">original article</a>.</em></p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Romantic jealousy spikes with mate value mismatch, infidelity tolerance, and opposite-sex interactions
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/romantic-jealousy-spikes-with-mate-value-mismatch-infidelity-tolerance-and-opposite-sex-interactions/

<p>A study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00374-z"><em>Evolutionary Psychological Science</em></a> found that romantic jealousy in intimate relationships is linked to mate value discrepancies, attitudes toward cheating, and opposite-sex interactions, with significant gender differences and implications for partner behavior and freedom.</p>
<p>Romantic jealousy, an emotionally charged response to perceived threats to a relationship, has been scrutinized for its dual role: on one hand, it is associated with numerous negative outcomes, such as relationship dissolution, domestic violence, and mental health issues; on the other, it is argued to serve a protective function against the risk of infidelity.</p>
<p>At the heart of this investigation is the role of romantic jealousy as an evolved mechanism aimed at safeguarding against the fitness costs posed by a partner’s potential infidelity. Jealousy may act as a deterrent, motivating individuals to take corrective actions to avert or mitigate the consequences of a partner’s extramarital activities. This includes increased vigilance over the partner’s actions and preemptive measures to limit their opportunities for engaging with potential rivals.</p>
<p>The study was conducted at a private university in the Republic of Cyprus. A total of 333 Greek-speaking adults participated in this research. The participants, predominantly in heterosexual relationships, varied in relationship status with 54.4% in a relationship and 45.6% married. Their ages averaged 33.9 for women and 37.5 for men.</p>
<p>Participants completed a questionnaire distributed via Google Forms, consisting of nine parts, including measures of relationship status, partner and self mate value, partner jealousy, attitudes towards cheating, interactions with the opposite sex, freedom to flirt, fear of partner’s reaction to infidelity, and demographic information (e.g,. sex, age, and sexual orientation).</p>
<p>Apostolou and Tzannetatou found that discrepancies in mate value influenced the level of jealousy reported by partners, such that participants who perceived their mate value as higher than their partner’s reported significantly higher levels of jealousy from their partners compared to those who viewed mate values as similar or lower, with no significant difference noted between the latter two groups.</p>
<p>More positive attitudes towards infidelity led to higher reported jealousy. An interaction between participant gender and opposite-sex interactions suggested gender-specific effects. For women, increased interactions with the opposite sex were significantly associated with higher levels of reported partner jealousy, a relationship not observed for men.</p>
<p>Further, partner jealousy was significantly linked to reduced freedom to flirt, with both direct and indirect effects mediated by fear of the partner’s reactions. This mediation analysis highlighted that an increase in partner’s jealousy led to a corresponding increase in limitations on flirting freedoms, primarily through a direct effect but also indirectly via heightened fear of partner’s reactions.</p>
<p>The study is not without its limitations, particularly the reliance on self-report instruments, which may introduce biases such as inaccuracies in participants’ responses. These instruments measure perceptions rather than objective realities, such as perceived partner jealousy, which might not fully capture the actual levels of jealousy.</p>
<p>Overall, these findings align with evolutionary theories suggesting that jealousy serves as a mechanism to prevent infidelity, potentially leading to renegotiations within the relationship that could enhance relationship fidelity and satisfaction.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00374-z">The Infidelity Protection Nature of Romantic Jealousy: Testing Five Predictions in the Greek Cultural Context</a>”, was authored by Menelaos Apostolou and Georgia Tzannetatou.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
New study reveals how genes and food availability shape brain development in the womb
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/new-study-reveals-how-genes-and-food-availability-shape-brain-development-in-the-womb/

<p>A recent study provides new insights into how maternal and fetal genes contribute to the growth of a baby&#8217;s cerebral cortex, the brain&#8217;s outer layer responsible for many of its higher functions. Published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45409-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Communications</a></em>, the research not only underscores the genetic variants linked to higher birth weight and an enlarged cerebral cortex but also highlights the influence of environmental factors, such as food availability, on these genetic interactions.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study was to deepen our understanding of early brain development, which plays a pivotal role in determining cognitive abilities and mental health outcomes later in life. By focusing on the cerebral cortex, the brain region responsible for many higher-order functions such as thought, memory, and decision-making, researchers aimed to dissect the factors contributing to its growth <em>in utero</em>.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are interested in early brain development because we know how important it is for future cognitive capacities and mental health. And studying what drives growth of the brain in the womb is one way to start,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://recherche.umontreal.ca/english/our-researchers/professors-directory/researcher/is/in34310/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tomas Paus</a>, a professor at the University of Montreal, scientist in the Research Centre of the Mother and Child Hospital, and co-editor of <em><a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262548137/digital-ethology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Digital Ethology: Human Behaviour in Geospatial Context</a></em>.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is important to note that we are able to look for answers to these questions not only by imaging the brain during this period but also by looking at the adult brain &#8211; simply because most of the growth of the cerebral cortex is happening in the womb and during the first couple of years after birth. So looking at the brain &#8211; the total area of the cerebral cortex (~1,800 cm2) &#8211; of a middle-aged person is providing a window into early development, and everything in our genes and environment that influence this early growth.&#8221;</p>
<p>To investigate this, the researchers turned to the UK Biobank, a rich biomedical database that includes genetic, health, and demographic information from over half a million participants across the United Kingdom. Specifically, they focused on a subset of participants for whom detailed birth weight data, genetic information, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were available.</p>
<p>The team first identified genetic variants associated with birth weight by examining both maternal and fetal genes. They distinguished between genes directly influencing the fetus&#8217;s birth weight and those affecting the intrauterine environment, thereby influencing fetal growth indirectly.</p>
<p>For the fetal aspect, they found genes linked to insulin action to be pivotal, highlighting insulin&#8217;s role in growth and energy regulation. Maternally, genes that enhance the cell&#8217;s ability to detoxify emerged as significant, underscoring the mother&#8217;s environmental and physiological influence on fetal development.</p>
<p>With these genetic markers in hand, the researchers then turned to the MRI scans to measure the surface area of the cerebral cortex. By applying sophisticated imaging analysis techniques, they were able to quantify the cortical surface area in thousands of adults, providing a window back into the critical periods of brain development in the womb and early life.</p>
<p>The analysis yielded several key findings. First, they confirmed a positive association between higher birth weight and a larger cortical surface area, underscoring the link between overall fetal growth and brain development. More intriguingly, they discovered that the genetic variants in both the mother and baby associated with birth weight were also linked to the size of the cerebral cortex.</p>
<p>Further analysis revealed that the relative importance of maternal and fetal genetic variants in determining cortical size could vary based on external conditions, notably food availability. This was dramatically illustrated by examining individuals born during or shortly after the Dutch famine of 1944-45.</p>
<p>In individuals born during or shortly after this period, maternal genes associated with detoxification had a more pronounced effect on the growth of the cerebral cortex. This suggests that under conditions of food scarcity, the ability to detoxify, potentially linked to the mother&#8217;s ability to process and eliminate toxins, becomes more crucial for fetal brain development.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the researchers observed that this pattern of relationships between maternal detoxification genes and cortical growth seemed to reemerge in the children of those exposed to famine, hinting at a potential transgenerational transmission of these effects.</p>
<p>Paus told PsyPost he was surprise by &#8220;the fact that different sets of &#8216;birthweight&#8217; genes relate to the cortical growth depending on when the person was born, namely during WWII or ~10 years later. We interpreted this finding as reflecting differences in food availability, scarce during the war and abundant later.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We were also quite surprised to see that the same pattern of this relationship reemerged about 20 years later, hinting at possible transgenerational transmission of this possible effect of environment (food availability).&#8221;</p>
<p>The findings highlight that the &#8220;healthy growth of the baby during pregnancy also means health growth of their brains,&#8221; Paus explained. &#8220;We must do what we can to ensure that all pregnant women have access to healthy food and free health care.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, while groundbreaking, is not without its limitations. For instance, while it robustly links birth weight and cortical growth to specific genetic and environmental factors, the observational nature of the study and its reliance on historical data mean that direct causal relationships are difficult to establish. Moreover, the potential for transgenerational effects, suggested by the findings, opens up new avenues for exploration but requires more direct evidence to be fully understood.</p>
<p>&#8220;As with any observational study, we cannot make any causal inferences,&#8221; Paus said. &#8220;And, of course, we do not know what the pregnant mothers ate &#8211; remember, they were pregnant with the persons we studied many years earlier, as far back as during WWII.&#8221;</p>
<p>Future research will aim to build on these findings, exploring ways to optimize brain growth during pregnancy, Paus said. &#8220;And &#8211; if this was not possible in some cases for whatever reason &#8211; finding ways we can compensate for a suboptimal growth later in childhood so that we can maximize cognitive abilities of the child and minimize the risk of mental illness later in life.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45409-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intrauterine growth and the tangential expansion of the human cerebral cortex in times of food scarcity and abundance</a>,&#8221; was authored by Daniel E. Vosberg, Igor Jurisica, Zdenka Pausova, and Tomáš Paus.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Two-year-olds remember things better if they sleep soon after learning them
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/two-year-olds-remember-things-better-if-they-sleep-soon-after-learning-them/

<p>New research suggests that 24-month-olds have a superior ability to recall things they observed on a screen compared to 15-month-olds, particularly if they slept within four hours after the learning session. The duration of sleep during this period directly correlated with how well they remembered the content. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.14121"><em>Journal of Sleep Research</em></a>.</p>
<p>Research suggests that sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, the process by which short-term memories are transformed into long-term memories. During sleep, particularly in the slow-wave and REM (rapid eye movement) stages, the brain reorganizes and strengthens neural connections, making memories more stable and durable. This consolidation process helps to integrate new information with existing knowledge, enhancing learning and retention. Consequently, adequate sleep is essential for optimal memory function, and sleep deprivation can impair memory consolidation and overall cognitive performance.</p>
<p>Scientists have proposed several theories explaining the neurobiology of this mechanism, but the superior theory remains unidentified. The effects of sleep on memory in infants, in particular, are still uncertain, with a recent study on the topic producing inconclusive or counterintuitive results.</p>
<p>In their new study, Neele Hermesch and her colleagues wanted to examine whether caregivers’ help and guidance during viewing of televised contents facilitates the effects of sleep on memory consolidation in 15 and 24-month-old infants. They conducted a study using the deferred imitation paradigm, a method to assess an infant&#8217;s ability to observe an action and replicate it later, as a measure of memory.</p>
<p>The study included 51 infants at 15 months and 54 at 24 months, with girls making up about 45% of the participants. The infants were divided into three groups: one that would nap post-learning, another that wouldn&#8217;t nap, and a control group. Infants in the nap group were required to sleep for at least 30 minutes within four hours following the learning session. The study was conducted remotely.</p>
<p>Prior to the study, the researchers provided participants with an actiwatch (a motion-detecting wrist device used to monitor sleep), a tablet for displaying video demonstrations, materials for the test session, and a small participation gift. Two video chat sessions with infants and their caregivers were scheduled 24 hours apart.</p>
<p>During the experimental session, caregivers showed their infants the study material on the provided tablet. A female model demonstrated three distinct actions on various objects in succession in these videos. Caregivers were instructed to draw the infants&#8217; attention to the screen with comments but were told not to verbally identify the objects or actions. For other videos, they remained silent. Following these demonstrations, one group of children napped within four hours, while another did not.</p>
<p>Twenty-four hours later, another meeting took place where caregivers presented the previously demonstrated objects to the infants, and researchers observed the infants&#8217; ability to accurately reproduce the actions. The control group only wore the actiwatch without viewing the demonstrations, but they were given the objects during the test session. This setup allowed the researchers to differentiate learned behaviors from spontaneous interactions with the objects.</p>
<p>The findings revealed that 24-month-olds exhibited a higher capability than 15-month-olds in recalling and imitating the demonstrated actions. While 15-month-olds generally struggled to imitate, 24-month-olds were able to remember the actions irrespective of having napped. Yet, those who did nap showed more accuracy than their peers who did not nap.</p>
<p>The presence of caregiver commentary during the video did not affect the imitation levels. Additionally, the amount of daily screen time as reported by parents did not correlate with the infants&#8217; ability to replicate the actions. Nonetheless, the longer the 24-month-olds slept within the four-hour window post-demonstration, the better they were at imitating the target actions.</p>
<p>“The present study demonstrates that sleep may also help infants with the challenge of remembering information from screens. From a theoretical perspective these findings shed further light on how screen content is processed in the developing brain. Given the increasing role screen media plays in infants’ everyday life, it is necessary to increase our understanding of the complex relationships between sleep, memory, and media to provide evidence-based guidance to parents and practitioners,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the effects of sleep on memory consolidation in infants. However, it should be noted that infants watched activities that might have not been of particular interest to them. Caregiver’s guidance during the demonstrations was also very basic. Results in situations where infants remember activities more important to them and with more elaborate adult guidance might not yield equal results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.14121">Sleep-dependent memory consolidation of televised content in infants,</a>” was authored by Neele Hermesch, Carolin Konrad, Rachel Barr, Jane S. Herbert, and Sabine Seehagen.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 10, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Cannabis’s impact on psychological health is less negative than previously thought, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/cannabiss-impact-on-psychological-health-is-less-negative-than-previously-thought-study-suggests/

<p>A recent twin study found limited evidence of a direct causal relationship between moderate cannabis use and most negative psychological outcomes, suggesting that shared genetic and environmental factors largely explain these associations. However, it identified modest yet significant effects of cannabis use on specific areas, including illicit drug use. The findings have been published in the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-40025-005?doi=1"><em>Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science</em></a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Cannabis is recreationally legal for adult use in many states now,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/stephanie-zellers">Stephanie Zellers</a>, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland at the University of Helsinki. &#8220;I have studied the consequences of recreational cannabis legalization and found that cannabis legalization causes increased cannabis use. This is potentially a reason for concern, because cannabis use is associated with a variety of negative outcomes.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;That said, correlation does not imply causation! So I wanted to investigate the causal links between cannabis use and psychological and psychiatric outcomes. I believe adults should have access to rigorous and causally informative science to make informed choices about their own use of legal substances and the possible consequences.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study analyzed data from approximately 4,078 individuals, drawn from two longitudinal community twin samples maintained by the Minnesota Center for Twin Family Research and the Colorado Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence. These participants were initially recruited during adolescence through birth records and had been born between 1972 and 1994. Their cannabis use was prospectively tracked from ages 11 to 35, spanning the years 1994 to 2014.</p>
<p>The primary measure of interest was the &#8220;lifetime average cannabis frequency,&#8221; which represented an average frequency of cannabis use across all available waves of assessment. This measure aimed to capture the cumulative effects of cannabis use throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Additionally, the study explored alternative measures of cannabis exposure to consider different conceptualizations of cannabis use, including age of onset and patterns of heavy use.</p>
<p>Outcomes assessed in adulthood included a wide range of substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and psychosocial factors. These outcomes were measured through self-report surveys and structured clinical interviews, providing insights into the participants&#8217; substance use habits (including alcohol and tobacco use), psychiatric conditions (like cannabis use disorder symptoms and disordered personality traits), and various aspects of psychosocial functioning (e.g., employment status, financial problems, cognitive ability).</p>
<p>Central to their methodology was the cotwin control study design, a quasi-experimental approach that compares monozygotic twins who share nearly 100% of their genetic makeup. This design capitalizes on the natural experiment afforded by twins who differ in their exposure to cannabis, effectively controlling for genetic and many shared environmental factors that could confound the observed relationships between cannabis use and various outcomes.</p>
<p>While cannabis use correlated with several adverse outcomes at the individual level, the researchers found that these associations largely dissipated when examining differences within twin pairs. This pattern suggested that many of the negative outcomes traditionally associated with cannabis use might not be directly caused by the substance itself but are instead attributable to shared genetic liabilities and environmental influences.</p>
<p>In other words, individuals might be predisposed to both cannabis use and certain adverse outcomes due to these underlying factors, challenging the notion that cannabis use is a primary cause of these issues.</p>
<p>But the study&#8217;s findings were not uniformly dismissive of cannabis&#8217;s potential adverse effects. A notable exception emerged in the relationship between cannabis use and specific outcomes such as cannabis use disorder, tobacco use frequency, and illicit drug involvement.</p>
<p>In these instances, the researchers observed modest but statistically significant effects that persisted even within twin pairs. For example, twins who used cannabis more frequently tended to have higher rates of cannabis use disorder symptoms compared to their lesser-using siblings, indicating that increased cannabis use might indeed contribute to the likelihood of developing problematic use patterns.</p>
<p>&#8220;Higher lifetime average cannabis use causes increased symptoms of cannabis use disorder,&#8221; Zellers told PsyPost. &#8220;There is also some evidence that increased cannabis use may also cause increased use of tobacco and illicit drugs, but the causal relationship was less clear. Besides those things, we did not find that lifetime average cannabis use causes significant harm in the psychological and psychiatric outcomes that we investigated.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Individuals who choose to use cannabis should do so in moderation, learn about the risk of cannabis use disorder, and be mindful of their use of other substances that could cause physical or psychological harm.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, there are some caveats to consider. &#8220;The average frequency of cannabis use in our sample was about once or twice a month, and so our results cannot tell us as much about the potential consequences of heavy cannabis use,&#8221; Zellers noted.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is possible that relatively infrequent use does not cause psychological harm, but heavier use has more direct consequences. We also have a community sample with low rates of psychopathology, it is possible that there are some individuals who are more likely to experience negative consequences of cannabis use.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;For example, some people are concerned that cannabis use could cause psychosis or worsening symptoms in people predisposed to schizophrenia. We could not examine this withy our study. Lastly, we only looked at a subset of psychological outcomes, there are many things, like physical health, that could be affected by cannabis use that we did not study here.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fabn0000867" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Limited Psychological and Social Effects of Lifetime Cannabis Use Frequency: Evidence From a 30-Year Community Study of 4,078 Twin</a>s,&#8221; was authored by Stephanie Zellers, Jordan Alexander, Jarrod M. Ellingson, Jonathan D. Schaefer, Robin P. Corley, William Iacono, John K. Hewitt, Christian J. Hopfer, Matt K. McGue, and Scott Vrieze.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 04:24AM
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TITLE:
Irish Constitution to Keep Traditional Language About Women's Role
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178037&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vYXBuZXdzLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlL2lyZWxhbmQtd29tZW4tY29uc3RpdHV0aW9uLXJlZmVyZW5kdW0tOGVlYWQ3ZmQ0ZWUxM2U3NmQ3N2U4MzIyYmYzNDhkMGTSAQA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>In Friday's referendum, Irish voters overwhelmingly rejected constitutional amendments that would have broadened the definition of family and removed language about a woman's role in the home. The first proposal would have changed a description of families from being founded on marriage to being founded &quot;on marriage or on other durable relationships.&quot; And the second would have removed language about women's duties being in the home.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Anxiously attached members of Congress exhibit reduced bipartisanship
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/anxiously-attached-members-of-congress-exhibit-reduced-bipartisanship/

<p>A study has shed new light on the psychological forces shaping the landscape of bipartisanship in the United States. Published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112576"><em>Personality and Individual Differences</em></a>, the research led by Dritjon Gruda of the Católica Porto Business School and his colleagues suggests that politicians&#8217; attachment orientations influence their willingness to cross party lines.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this research stemmed from the stark polarization gripping U.S. politics. Over recent decades, a widening chasm has emerged between the major political parties, with a growing &#8220;us vs. them&#8221; mentality.</p>
<p>With <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1142751143/poll-americans-want-compromise-but-have-no-confidence-congress-will-work-togethe#:~:text=Three%2Dquarters%20of%20Americans%20say,percent%20said%20Congress%20should%20compromise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75% of Americans desiring more compromise</a> from their congressional representatives, Gruda and his team sought to shed light on what drives or deters bipartisan efforts. While previous studies have focused on personality traits, the research breaks new ground by investigating how relational traits might play a role in political behavior.</p>
<p>The researchers began by assembling a comprehensive list of U.S. representatives and senators who served in the 113th to the 116th Congresses. This initial step involved gathering demographic information, including age, gender, and party affiliation, from public government sources like congress.gov. The focus was then shifted to the politicians&#8217; digital footprints, specifically their Twitter profiles, which are publicly accessible and rich in personal expression.</p>
<p>To infer the politicians&#8217; attachment orientations, the team employed a machine learning approach. They analyzed the syntax, semantics, and overall language use in tweets, applying algorithms that were specifically designed to predict personality traits based on online behavior and linguistic patterns.</p>
<p>Politicians characterized by an avoidant attachment orientation — those who tend to seek emotional distance, prioritize self-reliance, and have a general skepticism towards relying on others — showed a greater propensity for bipartisanship. This suggests that avoidantly attached politicians may be more open to collaborating with members of the opposite party, possibly because their desire for autonomy and less reliance on close relational bonds make them less bound by party loyalty or peer pressure.</p>
<p>Conversely, anxiously attached politicians — those who have a negative perception of themselves but a positive view of others, leading them to seek reassurance and fear abandonment — were found to be less likely to engage in bipartisan efforts.</p>
<p>This behavior aligns with the theory that anxiously attached individuals prioritize group cohesion and fear actions that could be perceived as betrayal or lead to rejection, such as crossing party lines to cooperate with the opposition. Thus, their political behavior appears driven by a deep-seated need for acceptance within their party, limiting their willingness to pursue bipartisan opportunities.</p>
<p>Another significant finding relates to the influence of state-level cultural tightness-looseness on bipartisanship. Cultural tightness refers to the degree to which states adhere to social norms and tolerate deviations from these norms.</p>
<p>The study found that politicians from culturally tighter states were less likely to be bipartisan. This suggests that in environments where deviation from the norm is less tolerated, there is greater pressure on politicians to conform to party lines, thereby reducing the likelihood of bipartisan behavior.</p>
<p>Moreover, the study uncovered that cultural tightness moderates the relationship between attachment orientation and bipartisanship. Specifically, the negative impact of anxious attachment on bipartisanship was found to be more pronounced in culturally tighter states. This indicates that the cultural context can amplify the inherent tendencies of anxiously attached politicians, making them even less likely to engage in bipartisan efforts when societal norms are rigid.</p>
<p>The use of Twitter data to infer personal traits of politicians raises questions about the accuracy of these inferences, considering tweets may not always be personally authored by the politicians. The research team acknowledges this and suggests that, despite potential discrepancies between a politician&#8217;s public persona and their private self, the traits expressed on Twitter are likely aligned with the public image they wish to project, which in turn influences their political behavior.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is crucial to consider the unique interpersonal dynamics of elected officials. Members of Congress, adept in navigating complex social landscapes, might display degrees of anxious and avoidant attachment orientations differing from the general population. Nevertheless, our results are in line with prior literature on the link between attachment and group member behaviors and seem to extend in the examined political sample as well.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;However, we acknowledge that the nuances of a politician&#8217;s public and private personas could influence this relationship. This consideration is vital in interpreting our findings and in understanding the complex interplay between personal traits and political behavior in high-stakes environments such as national politics.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886924000369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Every vote you make: Attachment and state culture predict bipartisanship in U.S. Congress</a>,&#8221; was authored by Dritjon Gruda, Paul Hanges, Eimante Mikneviciute, Dimitra Karanatsiou, and Athena Vakali.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Pandemic triage scenarios reveal surprising insights into explicit discrimination in moral decision-making
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/pandemic-triage-scenarios-offer-surprising-insights-into-explicit-discrimination-in-moral-decision-making/

<p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scarcity of intensive care units (ICUs) led to ethically challenging decisions where doctors had to prioritize patients for treatment, based on guidelines that largely favored utilitarian principles of saving those with the best prognosis. Ethical guidelines suggest random allocation of resources when no significant differences between patients exist. However, both the public’s and professionals’ decisions often deviate from these guidelines, influenced by patient characteristics, such as age, health status, perceived responsibility for one’s health condition, and societal contributions.</p>
<p>This discrepancy between the endorsement of non-discriminatory policies and the actual decision-making process in concrete cases highlights a complicated link between explicit judgments and implicit biases, suggesting that discrimination may not only be overt but also covert, facilitated by seemingly fair practices like random allocation. A new study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50385-w"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a> takes a closer look at this possibility.</p>
<p>People’s decisions do not always align with moral reasoning norms, often deviating from utilitarian and egalitarian principles due to biases towards certain groups of patients. These biases are evident in preferences for younger, healthier individuals, or those perceived as more socially valuable, and extend to in-group favoritism, affecting decisions in sacrificial dilemmas and allocation of scarce medical resources.</p>
<p>This research explores how these biases manifest in triage decisions, particularly through the strategic use of random allocation to covertly favor certain patients over others, thereby violating impartiality principles. By examining both overt and covert discrimination in the allocation of ICU resources during a pandemic, researchers Nico Gradwohl and colleagues examine the moral landscape navigated when making life-and-death decisions under conditions of scarcity.</p>
<p>The study included 2,296 individuals recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (39.1% female, average age 37.2 years). Data collection occurred at six intervals between March and September 2020, during U.S. working hours to minimize biases related to time of day or week.</p>
<p>Participants were asked to make hypothetical decisions on allocating a single available ventilator to one of two patients in a viral epidemic scenario, with the option to use a randomization device for allocation. Each patient pair differed by one focal feature without affecting survival probability, allowing the study to explore how these features influenced allocation decisions. The study included both a withholding condition, where no prior allocation was made, and a withdrawal condition at two timepoints, where the ventilator had been pre-allocated. Participants provided additional data on personal beliefs, health, and demographic information to evaluate potential in-group effects.</p>
<p>Gradwohl and colleagues found an inclination towards overt discrimination in the allocation of scarce medical resources. Participants were presented with pairs of patients differing in a single, focal feature—health and longevity, ethical behavior, family and caretaking roles, or demographics—and asked to decide whom to prioritize for life-saving treatment. Individuals tended to favor patients based on perceived health status, ethical conduct, family responsibilities, and societal roles, demonstrating a preference for those deemed more ‘deserving’ of care.</p>
<p>Health and longevity emerged as significant factors, with participants showing a marked preference for younger, healthier individuals. This bias was particularly pronounced when comparing features perceived as controllable, such as lifestyle choices leading to excess weight or excessive alcohol consumption, against uncontrollable conditions like hereditary diseases.</p>
<p>Ethical behavior also influenced decisions, with a preference for patients who engaged in socially beneficial acts, such as organ donation or vaccination, over those with negative behaviors like tax evasion. Similarly, patients with family ties or in caretaking roles were favored over those without.</p>
<p>Demographic features, including sex, ethnicity, and occupation, subtly influenced decisions, albeit less consistently than health-related or ethical behaviors. Notably, healthcare professionals and police officers were prioritized over other professions, reflecting a possible recognition of their roles in pandemic response and societal stability.</p>
<p>The researchers found minimal evidence of covert discrimination; participants did not exploit the option of random allocation to indirectly favor certain patients over others. This suggests a straightforward application of biases rather than an attempt to mask them under the guise of impartiality.</p>
<p>A limitation of the study is the potential influence of experimenter demand characteristics or a general aversion to randomness on participants’ allocation decisions. Such factors might have amplified the observed degree of discrimination, or affected the likelihood of choosing random allocation as a supposedly impartial decision-making strategy.</p>
<p>Overall, these findings underscore the complexity of moral reasoning in triage situations, revealing a gap between ethical guidelines advocating for impartiality and the intuitive biases guiding laypeople’s decisions in scenarios of medical resource scarcity.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50385-w">Explicit discrimination and ingroup favoritism, but no implicit biases in hypothetical triage decisions during COVID‑19</a>”, was authored by NicoGradwohl, Hansjörg Neth, Helge Giese, and Wolfgang Gaissmaier.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Twin study sheds light on genetic influences on loneliness
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/twin-study-sheds-light-on-genetic-influences-on-loneliness/

<p>A new study in <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10519-023-10176-5"><em>Behavior Genetics</em></a> provides evidence that a genetic predisposition towards experiencing stress is associated with increased feelings of loneliness. The research sheds light the genetic and environmental contributions to the association between stress perception and loneliness.</p>
<p>Previous studies have consistently shown that loneliness carries with it a plethora of negative outcomes, affecting individuals&#8217; mental, emotional, and physical health. However, pinpointing the exact risk factors for loneliness has proven to be a complex task. While demographic traits like age, marital status, and income level have been linked to loneliness, other factors such as unmet social needs and personality traits like shyness also contribute to this emotional state.</p>
<p>But loneliness is distinct from social isolation. Social isolation is an objective state characterized by a lack of contact with other individuals and limited social relationships, essentially describing the physical absence of social interactions. Loneliness, on the other hand, is a subjective feeling of being isolated, involving a perceived discrepancy between desired and actual social connections, regardless of the quantity of social contact.</p>
<p>The researchers behind the new study posited that individuals who perceive situations as more stressful might also experience higher levels of loneliness, and sought to better understand whether this association could be attributed to genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of both.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always had a strong interest in factors that affect our mental health, especially loneliness, stress, depression, and anxiety,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ryan_moshtael/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Moshtael</a>, a student in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Southern California.</p>
<p>&#8220;I conducted this research for my Honors Psychology thesis with guidance from my mentor, Dr. Christopher Beam, who runs <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/beam-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Lifespan Development &amp; Clinical Geropsychology Lab</a>. He has a particular interest in examining the genetic and environmental influences of sex differences, stress, and loneliness on dementia risk, but agreed to help guide me in conducting the study in relation to the general population, as opposed to focussing on dementia.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I thought this specific study would be important because no previous study has been conducted to examine whether the presence of a genetic predisposition for the experience of perceived stress confers a greater experience of loneliness.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study leveraged a robust sample of 3,066 twins from <a href="https://wstwinregistry.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Washington State Twin Registry</a>, a diverse group encompassing both identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins. This unique sample allowed researchers to dissect the genetic and environmental influences on perceived stress and loneliness. By comparing similarities and differences between identical twins (who share all their genes) and fraternal twins (who share about half of their genes), the team could estimate the relative contributions of genetics and environment to these feelings.</p>
<p>Participants were asked to complete standardized questionnaires designed to measure their levels of perceived stress and loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This period was marked by significant stressors, including enforced social distancing and uncertainty about the future, providing a poignant backdrop for examining these emotional states.</p>
<p>Both genetic factors and individual environmental experiences were found to contribute to the relationship between perceived stress and loneliness. Specifically, the study revealed that a portion of this association could be attributed to genetic variance, suggesting that some people might be genetically predisposed to both higher stress perception and feelings of loneliness. However, environmental factors—especially those unique to an individual&#8217;s experience—also played a crucial role, accounting for a significant portion of the variance in loneliness levels.</p>
<p>&#8220;The big takeaway from my study is that the results imply that genetic and environmental differences in individuals cause certain individuals to experience greater levels of loneliness as a result of their perceived stress than others,&#8221; Moshtael told PsyPost. &#8220;In other words, people who have a predisposition to perceive life events to be stressful due to their inherited genetics may be more susceptible to feeling lonelier irrespective of their environmental experience.&#8221;</p>
<p>Interestingly, the impact of these genetic and environmental factors was consistent across genders, challenging previous assumptions about the differential effects of stress and loneliness in men and women.</p>
<p>&#8220;I was surprised to find that the genetic correlation between loneliness and perceived stress was not significantly stronger in women than men given the increased prevalence of the experience of perceived stress and loneliness in women as compared to men,&#8221; Moshtael said.</p>
<p>But the researchers caution against drawing causal conclusions from their findings, noting the observational nature of the study. The unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic also raise questions about the generalizability of the results to other contexts.</p>
<p>&#8220;As the data used in this study was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may not generalize beyond the span of the pandemic,&#8221; Moshtael noted. &#8220;Also, as the data in this study were cross-sectional and observational, no causal conclusions can be reached in terms of the association between perceived stress and loneliness; one can only take away that perceived stress and loneliness have a common genetic etiology.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the study opens new avenues for understanding the complex interplay between stress, loneliness, and the genetic and environmental factors that influence these experiences.</p>
<p>&#8220;I intend for the findings of this study to be used to inform future intervention studies designed to increase social connection and combat the deleterious health effects of perceived stress and loneliness,&#8221; Moshtael said. &#8220;I have decided to pursue the clinical route, as opposed to research, so I do not have any immediate plans for personally building on the findings of this study. However, I hope that others can benefit from and build on the findings of this study in future research, so that myself, and others, can use it to inform interventions we utilize in future clinical practice.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10519-023-10176-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Genetically Informed Study of the Association Between Perceived Stress and Loneliness</a>,&#8221; was authored by Ryan Moshtael, Morgan E. Lynch, Glen E. Duncan, and Christopher R. Beam.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to heightened risk of ADHD symptoms
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/prenatal-cannabis-exposure-linked-to-heightened-risk-of-adhd-symptoms/

<p>A recent meta-analytic study has explored the connection between maternal cannabis use during pregnancy and the occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in their children. The researchers found that children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy were more likely to have symptoms of ADHD compared to children whose mothers were not using cannabis during pregnancy. The findings were published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.045"><em>Journal of Psychiatric Research</em></a>.</p>
<p><em>Cannabis sativa</em> is a plant that contains psychoactive compounds, primarily tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). It can be consumed in various forms, including smoking dried leaves and flowers, ingesting it in edibles like cookies or candies, using oils or tinctures, or vaporizing. Recreationally, cannabis is used for its relaxing and euphoric effects, while medicinally, it is used to alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety, and nausea. The legal status of cannabis varies widely across different regions, with some areas allowing its use for medical and/or recreational purposes, while others prohibit it entirely.</p>
<p>Recent research findings indicate that the use of cannabis among pregnant women has been increasing substantially. This has raised concerns among scientists as studies on animals indicate that prenatal exposure to cannabis is associated with various cognitive deficits in newborns. Human studies have similarly found that children born to mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing ADHD and ASD, although these findings have been inconsistent.</p>
<p>Study author Abay Woday and his colleagues wanted to systematize the results of these studies and see whether there is indeed an association between the use of cannabis by mothers during pregnancy and ADHD and ASD symptoms of their children during childhood and adolescence.</p>
<p>ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with everyday social functioning, particularly in the school environment. It is usually first detected in childhood, but the symptoms can persist in adolescence and adulthood as well.</p>
<p>ASD is a complex developmental condition that adversely affects communication abilities, behavior, and social interaction in varying degrees. Individuals with ASD tend to have difficulties with social communication, exhibit repetitive behaviors, and show a narrow range of interests.</p>
<p>For their new study, the authors scoured scientific databases for studies that examined the relationship between prenatal cannabis use and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically focusing on ADHD and ASD. Out of 8,444 articles initially found, only 14 contained the relevant data needed for their analysis—10 linked to ADHD and 4 to autism in children. The studies included 203,783 participants overall.</p>
<p>Results that children exposed to cannabis <em>in utero</em> had a statistically significant increased risk of developing symptoms of ADHD and/or being diagnosed with the disorder. Prenatal cannabis exposure was also associated with an increased likelihood of ASD symptoms in children. However, this finding was not statistically significant, implying that the observed association between cannabis <em>in utero</em> and ASD symptoms could be due to chance.</p>
<p>The results remained significant even after accounting for factors such as tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy and maternal mental health issues.</p>
<p>“In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we found that offspring exposed to prenatal cannabis use had an increased risk of ADHD symptoms and ASD compared with unexposed offspring. Adjustment for maternal mental health problems, maternal alcohol use, and tobacco smoking did not substantially alter the observed associations. The findings suggest the importance of implementing prevention and early interventions among offspring exposed to prenatal cannabis use,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The paper, &#8220;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395624000591">Prenatal cannabis use and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis</a>,&#8221; was authored by Abay Woday Tadesse, Berihun Assefa Dachew, Getinet Ayano, Kim Betts, and Rosa Alati.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 05:24AM
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TITLE:
Global Survey: What Countries Really Think of Women's Rights
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178027&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2024-03-08/global-survey-what-countries-really-think-of-womens-rights

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>There's an investment that has the potential to boost global gross domestic product per capita by 20%, spark hundreds of millions of jobs, fight climate change, and improve human rights across the world. The blue-chip offering is an investment in gender equality, which the United Nations is championing on this year's International Women's Day. Here's what a survey of more than 17,000 people from 36 countries shows about public support for...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 05:23AM
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TITLE:
At Current Rate Gender Equality Could Take 300 Years, Says U.N. Chief
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178033&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-03-09/un-chief-legal-equality-for-women-could-take-300-years-as-backlash-rises-against-womens-rights

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Legal equality for women could take centuries as the fight for gender equality is becoming an uphill struggle against widespread discrimination and human human rights abuses, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on International Women's Day. The worst example is in Afghanistan, he said, where the Taliban has barred girls from education beyond sixth grade, from employment outside the home, and from most public spaces, including parks and...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
New psychology research indicates psychopathy is linked to social power and dating success in adverse environments
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-indicates-psychopathy-is-linked-to-social-power-and-dating-success-in-adverse-environments/

<p>Adolescents who grow up in negative social environments &#8211; characterized by hostility, neglect, and competition &#8211; may develop psychopathic traits as a form of adaptation to obtain socially valued outcomes, such as popularity and dating success, according to new research published in <em><a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/development-and-psychopathology/article/adolescent-psychopathic-traits-and-adverse-environments-associations-with-socially-adaptive-outcomes/3B483E6773AFE69E5D7685CABE9FD15C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Development and Psychopathology</a></em>. This suggests that the behaviors often associated with psychopathy, such as manipulation and a lack of empathy, might in some contexts serve as a strategy for adolescents to navigate and succeed in challenging social landscapes.</p>
<p>Psychopathic personality traits are characterized by a blend of interpersonal, affective, and behavioral dimensions. These traits include manipulation, grandiosity, callousness, unemotionality, impulsivity, and sensation-seeking. Individuals exhibiting high levels of psychopathic traits may show a superficial charm, a lack of empathy or remorse, and a willingness to exploit others for personal gain.</p>
<p>Psychopathy should not be confused with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), although the two are related. ASPD is a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), primarily characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others. While there is an overlap, not all individuals with ASPD have psychopathic traits, and vice versa. Psychopathy encompasses a broader range of traits and is a spectrum, with individuals displaying these characteristics to varying degrees.</p>
<p>&#8220;Psychopathy is associated with many negative outcomes such as incarceration, early mortality, and economic problems. But these negative outcomes should be viewed in the context of the environments where psychopathy develops,&#8221; said study author Kristopher Brazil, a postdoctoral researcher at Carleton University.</p>
<p>&#8220;For instance, psychopathy is often found in environments with higher levels of adversity, including competitiveness, neglect, parental hostility and low warmth, and neighborhood violence, among other things. Further, these adverse environments may change the calculus around what is acceptable behavior to achieve one’s goals and acquire valuable and desired resources, such as social dominance in one’s peer group and dating partners.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Thus, characteristics of psychopathy (e.g., callousness, manipulativeness, sensation seeking) may be a response to adverse environments that results in the acquisition of positive social outcomes (e.g., dating, social dominance) as well as the negative outcomes (e.g., incarceration, early mortality). Our study aimed to test the more &#8216;positive&#8217; side of this idea in a sample of adolescents.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study included 396 adolescents, including 230 girls, with an average age of 14.64 years. These young individuals were recruited from a diverse array of extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, youth groups, and dance groups across several medium-sized cities in Southern Ontario, Canada. The participants completed a series of online questionnaires, designed to assess their personal perceptions of their environments, psychopathic traits, and social outcomes.</p>
<p>Brazil and his colleagues found significant associations between adverse environmental factors — such as parental neglect, school social competition, and neighborhood violence — and higher levels of psychopathic traits among adolescents. In other words, youths who perceive their environments as hostile or competitive are more likely to report characteristics associated with psychopathy, such as impulsivity, callousness, and grandiosity. These findings align with the hypothesis that psychopathic traits may develop as a coping mechanism or adaptive response to navigate challenging social landscapes.</p>
<p>However, not all aspects of perceived environmental adversity were directly linked to psychopathic traits. For instance, family socioeconomic status (SES) did not show a direct association with psychopathic traits, indicating that the pathways between environmental factors and psychopathic behaviors might be nuanced and variable.</p>
<p>Importantly, the researchers also found that psychopathic traits were positively related to socially adaptive outcomes, notably social power and dating behavior. Adolescents displaying higher levels of psychopathic traits reported greater success in obtaining social influence and more active dating lives. This indicates that, within the context of their environments, these traits may offer a strategic advantage in achieving desired social goals. These indirect pathways were robust across different facets of psychopathy, such as impulsivity, callous-unemotional traits, and narcissism.</p>
<p>&#8220;Two observations are important to take away from this study,&#8221; Brazil told PsyPost. &#8220;First, youth who are higher in traits of psychopathy (e.g., lacking remorse, having a big ego, being reckless) seem to come from more challenging home, school, and neighborhood environments.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Second, youth who are higher in psychopathy do not just acquire negative outcomes like jail time and poor school performance as shown in previous research, they also seem to acquire outcomes that are desirable to adolescents, such as dominance among peers and dating opportunities. Together, these points suggest that psychopathy in adolescence may involve turning adversity into an advantage for themselves.&#8221;</p>
<p>Despite these significant insights, the study has its limitations, including its cross-sectional design, reliance on self-reported data, and the focus on a relatively homogenous demographic group. These constraints highlight the need for further research, particularly longitudinal and experimental studies, to better understand the causal relationships and the potential for these findings to generalize across different populations.</p>
<p>The findings are in line with previous work by Brazil and his colleagues, which has <a href="https://www.psypost.org/psychopathic-men-have-more-children-study-finds/">linked psychopathy to increased mating success</a>. Research has also found that that <a href="https://www.psypost.org/secondary-psychopathy-in-high-school-boys-positively-predicts-future-dating-involvement-study-finds/">adolescent boys with psychopathic traits may gain dating success</a> through heightened delinquency, suggesting an evolutionary benefit to these traits.</p>
<p>&#8220;It’s important not to have the positive and individually self-serving outcomes that we found in our research overshadow the negative outcomes that psychopathy creates for adolescents themselves and society,&#8221; Brazil added. &#8220;The traits are inherently destructive and self-serving, which results in clear costs at the social and collective level.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The negative outcomes are very real for those with psychopathy too. For instance, who wants to die young? Who wants to spend most of their lives in prison? Nevertheless, we make do with what we have, and an important point that our research hopefully will communicate is that the positive outcomes that these traits may sometimes provide to adolescents are an important part of the developmental calculus and they should be viewed in the context of what these youth experience (e.g., competitive school atmosphere, poorly connected home life).&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Interventions for these youth could be made more sensitive to the positive social outcomes that adolescents may acquire who have these traits and target the adverse social issues that may be influencing their development in the first place,&#8221; Brazil concluded.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000051">Adolescent psychopathic traits and adverse environments: Associations with socially adaptive outcomes</a>,&#8221; was authored by Kristopher J. Brazil, Ann H. Farrell, Abby Boer, and Anthony A. Volk.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 09, 2024 at 05:02AM
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TITLE:
Lo que hay que saber sobre la ibogaína
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/es/2024/03/09/espanol/ibogaina-que-es.html

Algunos investigadores esperan que la droga, aún ilegal en Estados Unidos, pueda considerarse como tratamiento para la adicción, el trastorno de estrés postraumático y las lesiones cerebrales.
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Ayahuasca accelerates fear extinction via its effect on serotonin receptors
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/ayahuasca-accelerates-fear-extinction-via-its-effect-on-serotonin-receptors/

<p>A recent study sheds light on the neural mechanisms that might underlie the therapeutic benefits of the traditional psychoactive brew known as ayahuasca. The study found that the powerful concoction helps to reduce the fear response in rats, working equally well on both new and old fear memories. This effect appears to be caused by ayahuasca&#8217;s interaction with specific serotonin receptors in the brain.</p>
<p>The findings have been published in the <a href="https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.16315"><em>British Journal of Pharmacology</em>.</a></p>
<p>Ayahuasca is typically made from the leaves of the <em>Psychotria viridis</em> bush and the vines of the <em>Banisteriopsis caapi</em>. This brew, revered in many South American cultures for its powerful psychoactive properties, primarily owes its effects to the compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) found in <em>P. viridis</em> and the β-carbolines (harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline) in <em>B. caapi</em>. The latter compounds inhibit enzymes that would otherwise degrade DMT, allowing it to exert its psychoactive effects, including alterations in perception, emotion, and consciousness, by affecting serotonin receptors in the brain.</p>
<p>Despite anecdotal evidence of ayahuasca&#8217;s psychological benefits, including its use in traditional healing ceremonies to promote emotional and mental well-being, there was a lack of scientific understanding of its effects on fear memory extinction, a critical process in the treatment of anxiety and trauma-related disorders such as PTSD. Fear memory extinction refers to a psychological process through which the response to a previously learned fear-inducing stimulus decreases over time, typically through repeated exposure to that stimulus without any negative outcomes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our rodent lab investigates the brain and molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation during threatening or stressful experiences. We focus on developing pharmacological approaches to weaken the expression of aversive memories,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://twitter.com/bertogliolab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leandro Jose Bertoglio</a>, a full professor of pharmacology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina.</p>
<p>&#8220;Collaborators within our network are studying ayahuasca, a popular brew in Brazil and the Amazon, for its potential to treat depression and ethanol dependence. Given our expertise in fear extinction &#8211; the process where a neutral memory suppresses an aversive one &#8211; we are exploring ayahuasca&#8217;s impact on this process. The extinction likely forms the biological foundation for some psychotherapies.&#8221;</p>
<p>The researchers conducted a set of experiments using 331 Wistar rats, both male and female, to assess the effects of orally administered ayahuasca on the extinction of fear memories. Fear memories were induced using a contextual fear conditioning procedure, and extinction was measured as a reduction in fear response, quantified by the amount of time spent freezing.</p>
<p>The researchers evaluated different doses of ayahuasca and included control treatments to ensure the reliability of the findings. Advanced techniques, including the use of specific antagonists, were employed to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying ayahuasca&#8217;s effects.</p>
<p>They found that ayahuasca facilitated the extinction of both recent and remote fear memories without inducing anxiety or affecting the general exploratory behavior of the subjects. This outcome was consistent across different doses of ayahuasca and was observed in both male and female rats.</p>
<p>The findings pinpointed the activation of serotonin receptors in the infralimbic cortex, a brain area known to regulate fear, as a critical component of ayahuasca&#8217;s action. Specifically, the 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors played significant roles in mediating the extinction-enhancing effects of ayahuasca. This suggests that ayahuasca, through its interaction with these receptors, may influence the balance between excitation and inhibition in the infralimbic cortex, thereby modulating the fear extinction process.</p>
<p>&#8220;Orally administered ayahuasca accelerates fear extinction and its retention in female and male rats,&#8221; Bertoglio told PsyPost. &#8220;This effect is associated with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and involves the activation of two serotonin receptor subtypes (5-HT1A and 5-HT2A) in the infralimbic cortex. This brain region, homologous to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in humans, is crucial in regulating memory extinction.&#8221;</p>
<p>The 5-HT2A receptors are known for their role in the mechanism of action of many psychedelic substances. 5-HT1A receptors are widely distributed in the brain, including areas such as the hippocampus, raphe nuclei, and cerebral cortex, but less is known about their relationship with psychedelic substances.</p>
<p>&#8220;Compared to the 5-HT2A receptor, the participation of the 5-HT1A receptor in the effects of ayahuasca and other classical serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD) has been less explored,&#8221; Bertoglio said. &#8220;Our research aimed to elucidate the role of both receptors, demonstrating that DMT&#8217;s action on both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors contributes to enhanced fear extinction.&#8221;</p>
<p>By demonstrating that ayahuasca can facilitate fear memory extinction, the study opens the door for future research into its potential as a therapeutic tool for treating anxiety and trauma-related conditions. Furthermore, the identification of specific neural mechanisms involved in ayahuasca&#8217;s effects offers a promising direction for the development of novel psychiatric treatments that target these pathways. In particular, further investigations will focus on more severe and widespread fear memories, which are associated with PTSD.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our goal is to advance understanding of how and where psychedelic substances act when modulating the expression and persistence of aversive memories,&#8221; Bertoglio explained. &#8220;These studies foster collaborations and their findings encourage related studies with humans.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16315">Ayahuasca-enhanced extinction of fear behaviour: Role of infralimbic cortex 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors</a>,&#8221; was authored by Isabel Werle, Laura M. M. Nascimento, Aymee L. A. dos Santos, Luciane A. Soares, Rafael G. dos Santos, Jaime E. C. Hallak, and Leandro J. Bertoglio.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 10:03AM
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TITLE:
Trump Supporters Target Black Voters With Faked AI Images
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178024&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68440150

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.socialpsychology.org/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Social Psychology Network News</a></p>Donald Trump supporters have been trying to win over Black voters by creating and sharing dozens of AI-generated fake images of Black people seeming pleased with the former president. Mr. Trump has openly courted Black voters, who were key to Joe Biden's 2020 win. The co-founder of &quot;Black Voters Matter&quot;&mdash;a group that encourages Black people to vote&mdash;said the deepfake images were pushing a &quot;strategic narrative&quot; that Mr. Trump is popular in the...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 10:03AM
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TITLE:
Sexism in London Still "Shocking," Report Finds
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178019&url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68504996

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/" rel="tag" target="_blank">BBC News - Business</a></p>Women working in London's financial district are still routinely subjected to &quot;shocking&quot; levels of sexual harassment and bullying, a government report has found. Efforts to tackle sexism is moving at a &quot;snail's pace&quot; and requires action, the report concluded, calling for an end to the &quot;era of impunity&quot; that is &quot;holding back women&quot; in their careers. The report, published to coincide with International Women's Day, follows high-profile rape...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 10:03AM
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TITLE:
Sweden Joins NATO As Worries Grow Over Russian Aggression
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=178009&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5wci5vcmcvMjAyNC8wMy8wNy8xMjM2NjE4NTgzL3N3ZWRlbi1vZmZpY2lhbGx5LWpvaW5zLW5hdG8tYXMtd29ycmllcy1ncm93LW92ZXItcnVzc2lhbi1hZ2dyZXNzaW9uLWluLWV1cm9wZdIBAA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. &quot;Sweden's accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer and the whole alliance more secure,&quot; said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who described Sweden's entry into NATO as &quot;historic.&quot;</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Creatine supplementation increases memory performance, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/creatine-supplementation-increases-memory-performance-study-finds/

<p>A meta-analysis of experiments studying the effects of creatine supplements on healthy humans found that their use improves memory, particularly in older adults aged between 66 and 76. The benefits of creatine supplementation were observed regardless of the intervention&#8217;s duration, the participant&#8217;s gender, or their geographical origin. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064"><em>Nutrition Reviews</em></a>.</p>
<p>Creatine is a compound that occurs naturally, found in small quantities in certain foods and produced by the body, mainly in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It is stored in the muscles and serves as an energy source for high-intensity, short-duration activities such as sprinting and weightlifting. Creatine plays a crucial role in the regeneration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell&#8217;s primary energy molecule, essential for muscle contraction and overall cellular energy functions. Dietary intake of creatine-rich foods, like red meat and fish, or through supplementation, can increase the body&#8217;s creatine stores.</p>
<p>Creatine supplements are commonly used by athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts to enhance physical performance, increase muscle mass, and improve strength and power during high-intensity, short-duration exercises. These supplements are believed to increase the availability of creatine phosphate in muscles, which can be quickly converted to ATP during intense physical activity, thereby providing a greater energy supply. Supplementation with creatine has been shown in numerous studies to improve performance in activities that require bursts of speed and power, such as sprinting and weightlifting.</p>
<p>Study author Konstantinos Prokopidis and colleagues wanted to explore the potential benefits of creatine supplementation on memory, given the brain&#8217;s high energy usage and evidence suggesting creatine&#8217;s role in energy provision. Recognizing the presence of multiple studies on creatine&#8217;s effects on memory, the researchers aimed to synthesize these findings through a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p>
<p>The researchers focused on published randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of creatine supplements on the memory of healthy adults. An initial search across several scientific journal databases uncovered 23 studies, of which 8 were deemed suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis after a detailed evaluation.</p>
<p>Results showed that creatine supplementation improved memory better than placebo did. The effect was particularly pronounced in older adults, individuals between 66-76 years of age, compared to individuals between 11 and 31 years of age. There were no differences in effects between genders. Effects found in studies with different durations of intervention (between 5 days and 24 weeks) were similar. Similarly, the creatine dosage (2.2 to 20 grams per day) and geographical origin of the study participants did not significantly influence the outcomes.</p>
<p>“This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that creatine monohydrate supplementation has a beneficial effect on memory performance in healthy individuals. Subgroup analysis showed the effects of creatine were more robust in older adults,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about the effects of creatine supplementation on memory functioning. However, the study authors note that many of the experiments they analyzed were of only moderate quality. Additionally, studies included in the meta-analysis assessed memory function using very different assessment tools, limiting the accuracy of the findings.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac064">Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,</a>” was authored by Konstantinos Prokopidis, Panagiotis Giannos, Konstantinos K Triantafyllidis, Konstantinos S Kechagias, Scott C Forbes, and Darren G Candow.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 08, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Men less upset by infidelity with women, viewing them as potential opportunities
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/men-less-upset-by-infidelity-with-women-viewing-them-as-potential-opportunities/

<p>According to new research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12540"><em>Personal Relationships</em></a>, heterosexual men experience less distress from infidelity involving female interlopers than from male ones, potentially perceiving these women as additional sexual opportunities, especially when they exhibit feminine traits.</p>
<p>“The topic started out as a discussion with one of my undergrads back in grad school about how sex role presentation may influence reactions to infidelity seen in various papers covering same-sex infidelity,” said study author <a href="https://spherelabar.weebly.com">Mitch Brown</a>, PhD (<a href="https://twitter.com/ExtravertedFace">@ExtravertedFace</a>), an instructor of psychological science at the University of Arkansas.</p>
<p>“My student and I were considering the fact that such reactions could have multiple causes that would manifest in different ways. Namely, does the reduced risk of cuckoldry from a female interloper in a man’s relationship coincide with perceptions of the interloper as an additional sexual opportunity? If so, when does that actually happen? This turned into an exercise in determining whether these predictions were competing or complementary hypotheses.”</p>
<p>Study 1 investigated how the sex role presentation (masculine or feminine) of a female extradyadic partner affects heterosexual men’s reactions to same-sex infidelity. The study was conducted with 156 men from a large public university in the Southeastern U.S. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of three vignettes describing a scenario where they discover their long-term girlfriend in an intimate situation with either another man, a masculine woman, or a feminine woman.</p>
<p>Participants completed measures assessing negative reactions to the infidelity scenario, the perceived sexual opportunity of the extradyadic partner, sexual arousal from the scenario, and the perceived sexual orientation of the extradyadic partner, using a 7-point scale.</p>
<p>Heterosexual men exhibit the most negative reactions to infidelity involving another man, with significantly less distress towards female interlopers, regardless of their masculine or feminine presentation. However, a feminine woman was perceived as offering the greatest sexual opportunity and elicited higher sexual arousal. These findings suggest that factors such as perceived sexual opportunity significantly influence distress levels.</p>
<p>Study 2 aimed to enhance the ecological validity of Study 1’s findings by incorporating visual cues into the experimental design, given that physical attractiveness and secondary sex characteristics can significantly influence perceptions of sexual receptivity and arousal. A total of 138 heterosexual men from a large public university in the Southeastern U.S. were included.</p>
<p>This study replicated the original scenario of discovering infidelity but introduced stock photos of the hypothetical girlfriend and the extradyadic partners to test the impact of visual presentation on men’s reactions. Participants were exposed to images of either another man, a masculine-presenting woman, or a feminine-presenting woman alongside the narrative. Similar to Study 1, participants completed measures for negative reactions, arousal, perceived sexual opportunities, and perceptions of sexual orientation.</p>
<p>Study 2’s results echoed those of Study 1, showing that heterosexual men reacted most negatively to infidelity involving another man, with significantly less distress for a feminine woman, who was perceived as offering the most sexual opportunity.</p>
<p>“The fitness costs imposed by an interloper in one’s relationship are different based on whether the interloper is a man or woman. Men’s threat is that of cuckoldry, which is not imposed by women,” explained Brown.</p>
<p>“We found that men are most distressed by male interlopers in cases of infidelity. However, the possibility exists that a female interloper could minimize contact with the partner, which could be more common among more masculine-presenting lesbian women. This would make feminine-presenting women the least threatening to the relationship, partly because men could perceive her as more likely to report interest in men in her own right (i.e., bisexuality) that may not be inferred from a masculine-presenting woman. Thus, feminine-presenting women elicited the most sexual arousal from men and were viewed as a sexual opportunity more readily.”</p>
<p>No significant difference was found between the masculine-presenting woman and the man in perceptions of sexual opportunity or arousal.</p>
<p>In terms of perceived sexual orientation, participants rated the masculine-presenting women as the least heterosexual (primarily homosexual), the feminine woman as bisexual, and the man as primarily heterosexual, with all differences being statistically significant.</p>
<p>I asked Brown if there are any caveats. The researcher said, “Results for this study are based on two specific main effects that may not address the considerable nuance that is likely in these findings. For example, it could be possible that an unrestricted sociosexuality may be associated with greater tolerance toward extradyadic sex. This could similarly emerge for individuals involved in consensual nonmonogamy.”</p>
<p>What are possible future directions for this line of research? Brown responded, “Perceptions of the sexual interest of the interloper in these studies were based on stereotypes. It could be possible that these inferences could be magnified with stimuli that exhibit a kernel of truth. That is, perceivers have a degree of accuracy in identifying sexual orientation based on physical appearance. Future research would benefit from providing normed stimuli for which information exists of their actual sexual orientation.”</p>
<p>The researcher added, “It is important to recognize that sexual orientation is a complex trait in humans for which multiple selection exists. Some research suggests that women’s homosexuality evolved partly because of the increased benefit of alloparenting, whereas other research suggests that the origin is partially based on men’s relative tolerance that is not afforded to gay men. Heterosexuality emerged under its own unique set of selection pressures. As we investigate topics related to these origins, it remains important to understand this complexity so as not to accuse others of reductionist theorizing.”</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12540">Heterosexual men&#8217;s reactions to infidelity revisited: Comparing the sex role presentation of extradyadic female partners</a>”, was authored by Mitch Brown, Samuel E. Snowden, and Seth M. Bridges.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 07:16PM
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TITLE:
TikTok overuse: Unveiling the intersection of personality, depression, and social media
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/tiktok-overuse-unveiling-the-intersection-of-personality-depression-and-social-media/

<p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-01541-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BMC Psychology</a></em> sheds light on the psychological dynamics of TikTok overuse, revealing how personality traits and depressive tendencies intertwine, potentially leading to what has been termed TikTok Use Disorder (TTUD). The study found that individuals with higher levels of negative emotions and lower self-discipline are more likely to develop an unhealthy dependence on TikTok, with this relationship significantly influenced by depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>TikTok, a social media platform operated by ByteDance, has rapidly ascended to global prominence, distinguished by its short video sharing format. Unlike traditional social media platforms that may prioritize text-based posts or photos, TikTok’s emphasis on brief, engaging videos offers a unique user experience, which quickly propelled it to the forefront of digital culture.</p>
<p>But there are burgeoning concerns over the potential adverse effects of social media overuse, with TikTok’s influence being somewhat underexplored in existing research. While the advantages of social media, such as enhancing social capital, are well-documented, the escalation of use to the point of dependency — bearing resemblance to behavioral addiction — poses significant questions. Given TikTok’s unique design and massive appeal, the researchers sought to better understand the platform&#8217;s specific impact on mental health.</p>
<p>&#8220;Overuse of social media is currently not recognized as an official diagnosis,&#8221; wrote the researchers, Christian Montag and Sebastian Markett. &#8220;This field remains a subject of ongoing and controversial discussion [13, 14]. On the other hand, it’s worth noting that Gaming Disorder and Gambling Disorder are both included in the current International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11) issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, these established disorders could potentially serve as a model for examining disordered social media use and may offer valuable insights into this emerging area of study.&#8221;</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers initially screened a large pool of 7,111 individuals, narrow the sample down to 383 participants who affirmed their use of both social media and TikTok, were at least 18 years old, and thus met the criteria for inclusion. This selection process ensured that the study focused on an adult population actively engaged with TikTok.</p>
<p>Participants were administered a series of questionnaires, crucial among them being the TikTok Use Disorder-Questionnaire (TTUD-Q), which the researchers adapted from the Gaming Disorder Test to assess symptoms related to Gaming Disorder as outlined by the World Health Organization. This approach involved rephrasing items to focus on TikTok use, capturing elements such as loss of control, prioritization of TikTok over other daily activities, continuation despite negative consequences, and functional impairments over a twelve-month period. The study also employed the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) to gauge depressive tendencies and the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10) to assess personality traits.</p>
<p>The examination of the TTUD-Q scores revealed that the majority of participants’ scores were concentrated in the lower range, suggesting that while TTUD tendencies exist within the sample, extreme cases were not prevalent.</p>
<p>The researchers found a significant association between specific personality traits — namely high neuroticism and low conscientiousness — and heightened tendencies towards TTUD. This suggests that individuals who are more prone to experiencing negative emotions and exhibit less discipline and organization in their lives are more likely to develop unhealthy patterns of TikTok usage.</p>
<p>Depressive tendencies played a crucial mediating role in this relationship, indicating that the pathway from these personality traits to TTUD is significantly influenced by the presence of depressive symptoms. This finding aligns with the hypothesis that individuals with higher levels of neuroticism may use TikTok excessively as a coping mechanism to alleviate their depressive symptoms, inadvertently reinforcing a cycle of dependency on the platform.</p>
<p>Gender and age emerged as important variables in understanding TTUD tendencies. The study found that, on average, females exhibited higher scores on TTUD, neuroticism, and depressive tendencies, while older participants showed lower TTUD tendencies. This suggests that demographic factors can influence how individuals interact with and are affected by platforms like TikTok.</p>
<p>Specifically, the negative association between age and TTUD tendencies might reflect differences in how various age groups use and engage with social media, with younger users possibly being more susceptible to developing disorderly usage patterns.</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes limitations. Its cross-sectional design restricts the ability to establish causal relationships between the investigated variables and its reliance on a convenience sample may affect the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, the unique demographic profile of the participants, skewing older than the average TikTok user, might color the outcomes, necessitating further research with younger cohorts.</p>
<p>&#8220;The current study suggests that the framework proposed by the WHO for diagnosing Gaming Disorder may be suitable for diagnosing [TikTok Use Disorder],&#8221; the researchers concluded. &#8220;However, we exercise caution in not overinterpreting our data at this point. As we conclude this work, we encourage other researchers to further investigate and scrutinize the WHO framework for Gaming Disorder in the context of social media overuse. This exploration should extend to the examination of specific platforms, considering their distinct designs and potential to instigate addictive behaviors.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-024-01541-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Depressive inclinations mediate the association between personality (neuroticism/conscientiousness) and TikTok Use Disorder tendencies</a>,&#8221; was published February 17, 2024.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:38AM
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TITLE:
Some Women Avoid Mental Health Effects of Menopause
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177966&url=https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2024/03/06/menopause-women-escape/1531709740819/

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/" rel="tag" target="_blank">United Press International - Health News</a></p>Menopause is thought to trigger mood changes among women, with changes in female hormone levels contributing to anxiety, depression, and stress. A study published Tuesday in The Lancet reports, however, that some women avoid these problems. The women at highest risk are those with previous depression or depressive symptoms, those whose sleep is disturbed by nighttime hot flashes, and those who had a stressful life event around the time of...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:38AM
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TITLE:
Can You Tell Ai-Generated People From Real Ones?
.
URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177963&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240306003456.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Society</a></p>If you have trouble figuring out if an image of a person is real or created using artificial intelligence (AI), you're not alone. A new study found that many people have difficulty distinguishing who is a real person and who is artificially generated. The study provided 260 participants with 20 unlabeled pictures: 10 of real people and 10 generated by Stable Diffusion or DALL-E (two popular AI programs). Only 61% could tell the difference...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:37AM
.
TITLE:
Namibians Demand Return of Land Taken During German Genocide
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177998&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-03-07/namibian-communities-demand-return-of-land-in-dispute-over-german-genocide-legacy

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Namibian communities whose ancestors were massacred by German colonial forces and had their property seized more than a century ago are calling for talks with Berlin to negotiate the return of ancestral land. Germany has apologized for the genocide, and it promised in May 2021 to fund projects worth $1.2 billion over 30 years to make up for the property seizures and killing approximately 65,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama people between 1904 and 1908.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:37AM
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TITLE:
APA Calls for Ban on Punitive Isolation of Youths in Juvenile Justice Settings
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177990&url=http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2024/03/punitive-isolation-juvenile-justice

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases" rel="tag" target="_blank">APA Press Releases</a></p>The American Psychological Association has called for prohibiting the placement of youths in isolation in juvenile justice settings, except for emergencies, citing the research showing its detrimental effects on mental health and development. &quot;Solitary confinement can have profound and lasting effects on the psychological well-being of young individuals,&quot; explained APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:35AM
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TITLE:
U.S. Commission Forcing Companies to Disclose Climate Information
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177992&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5wci5vcmcvMjAyNC8wMy8wNi8xMjM1OTQzODM5L3NlYy1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS1jb21wYW5pZXMtcmlzay1kaXNjbG9zdXJlLXJ1bGUtZ3JlZW5ob3VzZS1nYXMtZW1pc3Npb25z0gEA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued rules to make companies whose shares are publicly traded in the United States account for their climate pollution and explain how they're dealing with threats from global warming. The climate rules the SEC adopted Wednesday have been the target of intense lobbying since they were proposed in 2022, with interest groups arguing over how much information companies should have to disclose.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:36AM
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TITLE:
Does Trying to Look Younger Reduce How Much Ageism Older Adults Face?
.
URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177914&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240229182917.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily</a></p>Millions of Americans spend money and time to try to look younger than they are. They color graying hair, buy anti-balding products, use wrinkle fillers, and more. Now, a new study looks at what this kind of effort means for older adults' experiences with ageism. The study also explores how a person's perception of how old they look relates to both their positive and negative age-related experiences, and their physical and mental health.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:34AM
.
TITLE:
AI Tools Can Generate Misleading Election Images, Researchers Warn
.
URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177956&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2024-03-06/openai-microsoft-ai-tools-generate-misleading-election-images-researchers-say

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>Imagery tools powered by artificial intelligence can be used to create photos that could disrupt elections and spread disinformation, despite companies having policies against using their tools for this purpose, researchers reported Wednesday. The Center for Countering Digital Hate used AI tools to create images of U.S. President Joe Biden laying in a hospital bed, raising worries about falsehoods ahead of the U.S. presidential election in...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Brands faced consumer backlash over Black Lives Matter support, study finds
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/brands-faced-consumer-backlash-over-black-lives-matter-support-study-finds/

<p>In an era where the lines between corporate identity and social activism blur, brands increasingly find themselves navigating the treacherous waters of public opinion on social media. At the heart of this phenomenon is the question: What happens to brands that align themselves with movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM)?</p>
<p>A recent study published in the INFORMS journal <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/full/10.1287/mksc.2022.1372"><em>Marketing Science</em></a> offers an answer, revealing that companies endorsing BLM have faced a backlash from consumers. This backlash manifests as a decline in social media engagement, measured by followers and likes, alongside an uptick in negative commentary.</p>
<p>The study was spurred by the observation that while brands are increasingly expected to take stands on social issues, the actual impact of such endorsements on consumer behavior, especially in the context of racial justice movements, remains underexplored. The researchers sought to fill this gap by examining whether brands&#8217; support for BLM positively or negatively influenced consumer engagement on social media platforms.</p>
<p>The researchers programmatically collected data from two major social media platforms: Instagram and Twitter. Their dataset included information from 435 brands spanning multiple industries such as automotive, clothing, food, high-tech, jewelry, and sporting goods. This broad sample was chosen based on the availability of data concerning foot traffic (from Safegraph) and social media accounts on both platforms.</p>
<p>The study period covered posts from June 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020, which allowed for the analysis of over 396,988 social media posts, including the period before, during, and after Blackout Tuesday — a key event in the BLM movement. For each post, the researchers gathered details such as the timestamp, captions, content, likes, and follower growth metrics.</p>
<p>A cornerstone of the study&#8217;s methodology was its use of Blackout Tuesday as a natural experiment. Blackout Tuesday, which occurred on June 2, 2020, was a day when individuals and organizations posted black squares on Instagram to show solidarity with the BLM movement. This event provided a unique opportunity to compare the effects of BLM support on consumer engagement in a quasi-experimental setup.</p>
<p>Instagram, where the black square posting was prevalent, served as the treatment group, while Twitter, which did not experience the same level of participation in the event, served as the control group. This allowed the researchers to isolate the impact of BLM support from other factors that might influence social media engagement.</p>
<p>To analyze the vast amount of textual data in the social media posts, the researchers employed machine learning methods, specifically natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning tools. These tools enabled them to categorize posts into different topics, such as prosocial (e.g., supporting societal causes) and self-promotional content.</p>
<p>They used guided Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and a bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model with attention mechanisms to predict the probability that each post related to specific topics. This sophisticated analysis allowed them to examine the nuances of how different types of content influenced consumer responses to brands&#8217; BLM support.</p>
<p>The researchers found that brands that publicly supported BLM on social media generally saw a decrease in follower growth. The comparison of follower growth rates on Instagram (where Blackout Tuesday participation was widespread) with Twitter (used as a control group where the event was not mirrored) revealed a significant decline in follower growth on Instagram. This decline suggests that, contrary to the expectations that aligning with social justice causes might bolster a brand&#8217;s social media presence, public endorsements of BLM often led to a backlash among consumers.</p>
<p>Apart from the slowdown in follower growth, brands supporting BLM also faced an uptick in negative commentary on their social media posts. This backlash was not uniform but varied depending on the nature of the brands&#8217; posts and their audience&#8217;s political leanings.</p>
<p>The study highlighted that the negative sentiment was particularly strong among consumers with Republican political affiliations who opposed the BLM movement. However, a segment of Democratic consumers also contributed to the negative commentary, criticizing brands for engaging in what they perceived as &#8220;slacktivism&#8221; – showing support for a cause without accompanying their words with actions or financial contributions.</p>
<p>An intriguing aspect of the study’s findings was the moderating effect of self-promotional content posted by brands alongside their BLM support messages. When brands continued to post self-promotional content in close proximity to their BLM endorsements, the negative impact on consumer engagement was exacerbated. This suggests that consumers may view the juxtaposition of social justice support with commercial promotions as inauthentic or as an attempt to capitalize on the social movement for commercial gain.</p>
<p>“One of the interesting findings is that negative associations were stronger when more brands posted in support of BLM, while concurrently posting self-promotional messages,” explained study author Yang Wang. &#8220;This suggests that large-scale BLM allyship programs that also included self-promotional posts created a ‘bandwagon effect’ that had a negative impact on those brands.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Brands that sought to capitalize by jumping on the bandwagon by allying with salient racial justice movements should have heeded caution,” added study author Xueming Luo. &#8220;And they should not have been too quick to resume business as usual with their product promotions while at the same time supporting BLM.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study also found that the negative repercussions of BLM support were not uniform across all brands. Brands with a history of engaging in social activism or those with mission statements emphasizing social causes experienced less severe declines in consumer engagement. In some cases, these brands may have even benefited from their support of BLM, suggesting that a consistent track record of social activism can mitigate potential backlash.</p>
<p>&#8220;Some brands with more historical prosocial posting on social media and with socially oriented missions suffered less from the negative effects and may even benefit from supporting BLM,&#8221; Luo said.</p>
<p>Moreover, the political affiliation of a brand&#8217;s consumer base played a significant role in moderating the impact of BLM support. Brands primarily followed by Republican consumers faced more significant negative effects, highlighting the polarized nature of political and social issues in consumer behavior.</p>
<p>But the researchers acknowledged that their focus on social media engagement metrics might not fully capture the broader impact of BLM support on a brand&#8217;s reputation or financial performance. Future research could extend this work by linking social media activism to tangible business outcomes or exploring consumer responses to brand activism across other social issues.</p>
<p>The study, <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/full/10.1287/mksc.2022.1372" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;How Support for Black Lives Matter Impacts Consumer Responses on Social Media</a>,&#8221; was authored by Yang Wang, Marco Shaojun Qin, Xueming Luo, and Yu (Eric) Kou.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Embracing nature: A path to rebalancing our sense of time
.
URL:
https://www.psypost.org/embracing-nature-a-path-to-rebalancing-our-sense-of-time/

<p>Have you ever felt the minutes drag on endlessly during a stressful day, yet noticed how time seems to fly when you&#8217;re engrossed in a pleasant activity? This phenomenon underlines the highly subjective experience of time, which can be influenced by a myriad of factors including our environment, emotional state, and physical well-being.</p>
<p>A new scientific review sheds light on an intriguing aspect of our relationship with time: the role that nature plays in regulating our perception of it. The research offers insights into designing living spaces that promote a healthier sense of time, particularly in the fast-paced rhythm of urban life.</p>
<p>The research, published in the journal <em><a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10601" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People and Nature</a></em>, emerges against the backdrop of an increasingly urbanized world where &#8216;time is money&#8217; has become a guiding principle. The relentless pace of city living often disconnects us from the natural rhythms that once dictated human life, leading to a pervasive sense of &#8216;time scarcity&#8217; and its consequent stress. Ricardo Correia, an assistant professor at the University of Turku, Finland, argues that reconnecting with nature might be the key to counteracting this time pressure.</p>
<p>Correia&#8217;s review of scientific literature on this subject revealed two significant ways in which nature impacts our sense of time: by altering our perception of temporal duration and shifting our temporal perspective.</p>
<p>Firstly, the review highlights that experiences in natural environments tend to extend our perception of temporal duration. When people spend time in nature, they often perceive that time stretches longer than it actually does. This contrasts sharply with the urban setting, where time seems to slip away rapidly.</p>
<p>Such experiences in nature could give individuals a feeling of having more time at their disposal, a valuable counterbalance to the common urban sensation of time scarcity. This perception of extended duration during nature experiences may stem from the restorative effects of natural settings, which can shift attention and mood in ways that alter our temporal experience.</p>
<p>Secondly, Correia&#8217;s review points to significant changes in temporal perspective as a result of nature exposure. Temporal perspective refers to the orientation of one&#8217;s thoughts towards the past, present, or future. Nature has the ability to facilitate a more balanced temporal perspective, helping individuals to smoothly transition between thinking about the past, being immersed in the present, and considering the future.</p>
<p>This shift can be especially beneficial for mental well-being, as an overemphasis on negative past experiences or excessive worry about the future can contribute to stress and anxiety. By promoting a more balanced time perspective, nature experiences can encourage a healthier, more positive outlook on life.</p>
<p>These findings are grounded in a variety of studies that Correia reviewed, each contributing evidence to the thesis that nature profoundly affects how we perceive and experience time. For example, experimental studies revealed that participants estimated time intervals to be longer when they were in natural settings compared to urban ones, suggesting that the quality and perception of time can be markedly different depending on the environment.</p>
<p>Additionally, interventions like walks in nature or even viewing natural scenes can lead to shifts in temporal perspective, making individuals more present-oriented and reducing focus on negative past experiences.</p>
<p>The significance of these findings lies in their implications for urban design and lifestyle choices. In an era where the urban experience often disconnects us from natural rhythms, integrating nature into our living environments could serve as a therapeutic counterforce, helping to restore a healthier and more balanced perception of time. This could involve the creation of green spaces, urban parks, and other initiatives that facilitate access to natural settings, thereby enhancing the collective well-being of urban populations.</p>
<p>&#8220;Put together, the existing evidence strongly suggests that nature experiences play an important role in regulating and maintaining a healthy sense of time, and I think the impact of nature on human well-being should be better recognized,&#8221; Correia said. &#8220;Furthermore, we lack detailed information about which elements of nature or nature experiences regulate our time perception the most. Developing a better understanding of these aspects can provide important information that helps us to design our cities and parks so that they boost our collective well-being.&#8221;</p>
<p>The paper was titled, &#8220;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10601" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Acknowledging and understanding the contributions of nature to human sense of time</a>.&#8221;</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
The Madonna-whore complex may have an evolutionary explanation
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/the-madonna-whore-complex-may-have-an-evolutionary-explanation/

<p>In studying human sexuality and relationships, few concepts have sparked as much debate as Sigmund Freud’s Madonna-Whore complex. This psychological theory, first articulated in the early 20th century, suggests that men divide women into two polar categories: the Madonna, representing purity and maternity, and the Whore, embodying sexual availability and vice. A recent paper published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00364-1"><em>Evolutionary Psychological Science</em></a> offers an evolutionary explanation for the Madonna-Whore complex.</p>
<p>The dichotomy of female sexuality is not a novel invention of Freud’s. Literature, long before Freud, grappled with this divide. Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s <em>The Brothers Karamazov</em> and <em>Crime and Punishment </em>presented characters that embodied these extremes, highlighting the tension between virtue and vice. Classic works like William Makepeace Thackeray’s <em>Vanity Fair</em> explore these themes too, demonstrating the dance between societal expectations and individual identity.</p>
<p>The Madonna-Whore complex has been studied from multiple perspectives, including Enlightenment philosophy and feminist theory. Critics argue that it serves as an instrument of female oppression, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing gender inequality. Recent research has provided empirical support to the existence of this dichotomy in men’s attitudes towards women, linking it to sexism, objectification, and relationship dissatisfaction.</p>
<p>In this paper, researchers Steven Hertler and colleagues offer an evolutionary rationale for the Madonna-Whore complex. Human mating is profoundly shaped by internal fertilization and cryptic ovulation. Unlike other species where fertilization occurs externally or ovulation is conspicuously advertised, humans evolved a system where fertilization is hidden within the body, and the timing of ovulation is obscure. This adaptation creates uncertainty around paternity, a significant evolutionary pressure for males who risk investing resources in offspring not genetically theirs.</p>
<p>Unlike many other mammals, human offspring require prolonged care and resources to reach maturity. This investment, while crucial for the survival and propagation of our species, introduces a vulnerability for men: the risk of cuckoldry, or investing in offspring that are not their own. Herein lies the evolutionary rationale for the Madonna aspect of the complex, favoring women who are perceived as more likely to be faithful and thus ensure the paternity of offspring.</p>
<p>The multi-male/multi-female social structures that early humans likely inhabited further complicated mating. The plentiful opportunities for both short- and long-term mating strategies likely intensified male competition and concerns over paternity. The evolution of mate guarding behaviors and jealousy can be viewed as outcomes of these socioecological pressures, with the Madonna-Whore complex serving as a psychological extension of these strategies, guiding men towards women who would be more likely to ensure their genetic legacy.</p>
<p>As human societies evolved from hunter-gatherer bands to industrial societies, the accumulation and transference of wealth became a significant factor in mating decisions. This magnified the stakes of paternal investment, as men now had not only their genetic legacy to consider but also their material legacy. In such contexts, the desire for a “Madonna” — a woman perceived as virtuous and faithful — became even more pronounced, ensuring that a man’s resources would benefit his biological offspring.</p>
<p>Hertler and colleagues argue that the Madonna-Whore complex’s variability across cultures and environments can also be explained through biogeographical and life history strategies. In harsher climates and environments where resources are scarce or difficult to procure, the emphasis on paternal certainty and investment increases, possibly intensifying the dichotomous view of female sexuality. But in environments where resources are abundant and survival less precarious, these pressures may subside, leading to more relaxed attitudes towards sexuality.</p>
<p>Importantly, this perspective does not excuse or justify harmful stereotypes or behaviors but seeks to understand their origins. Evolutionary psychology offers a lens through which to view the Madonna-Whore complex, not as a moral failing or social construct, but as an adaptation to the reproductive challenges our ancestors faced.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00364-1">An Evolutionary Explanation of the Madonna‑Whore Complex</a>”, was authored by Steven Hertler, Mateo Perñaherrera‑Aguirre, and Aurelio José Figueredo.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 07:00AM
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TITLE:
‘Space: The Longest Goodbye’ Review
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/movies/space-the-longest-goodbye-review.html

This documentary by Ido Mizrahy examines the psychological challenges of space exploration for astronauts and their loved ones as scientists consider whether humans could reach Mars.
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Cannabis and appetite: Scientists uncover the brain mechanism behind the munchies
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/cannabis-and-appetite-scientists-uncover-the-brain-mechanism-behind-the-munchies/

<p>Although the phenomenon of cannabis-induced &#8220;munchies,&#8221; or a temporary surge in appetite, is widely recognized, scientists have recently uncovered the brain mechanism responsible for this effect. The researchers discovered that when they inhibited the activity of agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons — often referred to as &#8220;hunger neurons&#8221; — the effects of cannabis vapor on these behaviors were negated. Their findings have been published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50112-5"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a>.</p>
<p>Agouti-related protein neurons (AgRP neurons) are a group of neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus region in the brain. They are known to play a crucial role in regulating appetite and energy balance by releasing specific neuropeptides that promote feeding behavior and reduce energy expenditure.</p>
<p>AgRP neurons are naturally activated in response to energy deficiency or fasting, leading to increased hunger and food-seeking behavior. They are part of a complex neural circuit that interacts with other hypothalamic neurons to maintain energy homeostasis in the body. Artificially activating these neurons in rats makes them start looking for food and eat if food is available.</p>
<p>Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, , is recognized for enhancing appetite in humans, leading to its use in treating anorexia—an eating disorder marked by an intense fear of weight gain that results in restricted food intake, a distorted body image, and significantly low body weight. However, the precise neural mechanism through which cannabis enhances appetite remained unclear until now.</p>
<p>Study author Emma C. Wheeler and her colleagues hypothesized that specific chemicals in cannabis known as cannabinoids might be triggering specific receptors in the hunger neurons (the cannabinoid type-1 receptors), increasing their activity and, in turn, increasing appetite. They conducted a study on rodents to test whether this is the case.</p>
<p>The research involved male Long-Evans rats and two genetic strains of mice, which were housed in enclosures with unrestricted access to food and water and subjected to a 12-hour light-dark cycle. One rat was excluded due to its size.</p>
<p>During the experiments, rats were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. On test days, the experimental group was placed in a chamber filled with cannabis vapor for 10 minutes, ensuring they received a specific dose (800 mg) known to stimulate food intake. The control group was placed in an identical chamber without cannabis vapor. The researchers then performed various behavioral tests on the subjects.</p>
<p>The procedure for mice was similar, except that they were exposed to 100 mg of cannabis vapor over a 5-minute period, with some mice receiving higher doses for further observation. Following exposure, the researchers conducted biochemical tests and neural activity imaging on the mice.</p>
<p>The results confirmed cannabis&#8217;s appetite-stimulating effects. Both rats and mice exposed to cannabis showed an increase in food consumption 2-3 hours post-exposure compared to the control group. They also exhibited increased metabolic activity. Rats&#8217; motivation to obtain food increased just one hour after exposure, although this effect dissipated after two hours.</p>
<p>Contrary to the researchers&#8217; initial assumptions, the movement of rats exposed to cannabis did not change. The activity of AgRP neurons in mice exposed to cannabis increased both when anticipating food and while eating.</p>
<p>Further analysis indicated that cannabis vapor activates the cannabinoid type-1 receptors in these neurons, leading to their disinhibition and heightened activity. This resulted in increased food-seeking behavior and consumption. By using chemogenetics to inhibit AgRP neuron activity, the researchers were able to diminish the appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis vapor, confirming the role of AgRP neurons in this process.</p>
<p>&#8220;Based on these results, we conclude that MBH [mediobasal hypothalamus] neurons contribute to the appetite stimulatory properties of inhaled cannabis,&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study makes an important contribution to the scientific understanding of the neural mechanisms behind psychological effects of cannabis sativa components. However, it should be noted that the study was done on rodents. Although rodents and humans share many physiological similarities, they are still very different species. Effects on humans might not be equal.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50112-5">Cannabis Sativa targets mediobasal hypothalamic neurons to stimulate appetite,</a>” was authored by Emma C. Wheeler, Pique Choi, Joanne De Howitt, Sumeen Gill, Shane Watson, Sue Yu, Peyton Wahl, Cecilia Diaz, Claudia Mohr, Amy Zinski, Zhihua Jiang, David Rossi, and Jon F. Davis.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Reading aloud boosts memory, but not understanding
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/reading-aloud-boosts-memory-but-not-understanding/

<p>Reading text out loud has been shown to improve memory recall compared to its silent counterpart. But does this enhancement extend to understanding the material at a deeper level? A recent study published in the journal <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13421-023-01442-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memory &amp; Cognition</a></em> sought to answer this very question.</p>
<p>Previous research on study strategies has explored various methods to enhance learning effectiveness, focusing on how different approaches impact memory retention and comprehension. Notably, strategies like self-quizzing, spaced repetition, and elaborate self-explanation have been shown to improve learning outcomes. However, these methods often require a significant investment of time.</p>
<p>Among simpler techniques, reading aloud has emerged as a potentially efficient alternative. This interest in reading aloud as a study strategy dates back to early 20th-century research, which suggested that vocalization could aid in memorizing material, a phenomenon later termed the &#8220;production effect.&#8221;</p>
<p>Yet, while the production effect&#8217;s influence on memory has been well-documented, its impact on deeper comprehension remains less clear, highlighting a gap in our understanding of how vocalization influences learning beyond mere recall.</p>
<p>&#8220;We wanted to determine whether the production effect, a well-known memory improvement technique, could extend to deeper comprehension of written text beyond the typical word lists that researchers use in memory studies,&#8221; explained study author <a href="https://bradyrtroberts.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brady R. T. Roberts</a>, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago, who conducted the research as a PhD student at the University of Waterloo.</p>
<p>&#8220;There had been work in the educational literature that showed the related &#8216;read aloud technique&#8217; improved comprehension, but that research tended to define certain types of &#8216;comprehension&#8217; much in the same way we would define rote memorization in the field of psychology.&#8221;</p>
<p>To investigate this, Roberts and his colleagues conducted a series of four experiments.</p>
<p>Experiment 1 included 47 university students from the University of Waterloo, who engaged with 10 short passages from the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, reading some passages aloud and others silently in a randomized order to control for potential order effects. This within-subject design ensured each participant acted as their own control. After reading, participants answered multiple-choice questions designed to assess memory and comprehension.</p>
<p>Memory-focused questions tested the participants&#8217; ability to remember specific details mentioned in the text. Comprehension-focused questions, on the other hand, required participants to engage with elements such as the theme or tone of the passage, its gist, or the inferences that could be derived from the text.</p>
<p>Experiment 2 expanded on the initial findings by including an additional condition: reading text silently in an unusual font, specifically Sans Forgetica, hypothesized to create a &#8220;desirable difficulty&#8221; and thus potentially enhance memory and comprehension. This experiment was conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, broadening the participant pool to include 114 individuals recruited through the MTurk platform and an online research participation system at Flinders University.</p>
<p>After filtering for various criteria, the final sample consisted of 64 participants. The methodology mirrored Experiment 1 in terms of the reading and testing process but included the Sans Forgetica condition to test whether visual degradation of text could similarly enhance learning outcomes.</p>
<p>Experiment 3 aimed to further validate the findings of the previous experiments with a larger and more diverse sample. This experiment was also conducted online, recruiting 167 participants through the Prolific online recruitment system. The study maintained the original design of reading passages aloud or silently but enhanced data quality controls, including more stringent criteria for participation and data inclusion.</p>
<p>A total of 151 participants&#8217; data were analyzed, with the study seeking to replicate the memory benefit observed in earlier experiments and further examine the effect on comprehension. Experiment 3 also explored participants&#8217; intuitions about the efficacy of reading aloud versus silently.</p>
<p>Experiment 4 sought to generalize the findings to different materials and examine the comprehension effect more closely. This experiment used new reading passages obtained from the Test Prep Review website, chosen for their educational relevance and the inclusion of comprehension-focused questions.</p>
<p>Conducted online with 167 participants recruited via Prolific, the methodology was similar to Experiment 3, with adaptations to ensure the new materials were comparable in difficulty and content to those used in previous experiments. The final analysis included data from 131 participants, focusing solely on comprehension to pinpoint whether vocalization could enhance understanding beyond memory recall.</p>
<p>Across the experiments, the researchers consistently found that reading aloud significantly improved memory for the material over reading silently. These results align with the concept of the production effect, which suggests that the act of vocalization enhances the memorability of the material.</p>
<p>However, when it came to comprehension, the study&#8217;s findings painted a different picture. Despite the clear benefits for memory recall, reading aloud did not confer any significant advantage for comprehension. The comprehension-focused questions yielded similar accuracy rates regardless of whether the passages were read aloud or silently.</p>
<p>This outcome indicates that while vocalization makes specific details of the text more memorable, it does not inherently improve the reader&#8217;s capacity to grasp underlying concepts or draw connections between different pieces of information.</p>
<p>&#8220;While reading aloud can indeed improve your memory, it cannot aid in your deeper comprehension of text,&#8221; Roberts told PsyPost. &#8220;So, read your grocery lists aloud to remember them better, but don&#8217;t bother reading your textbook chapters aloud.&#8221;</p>
<p>Conducted primarily in a controlled environment, the study leaves room for exploring how these findings translate to real-world learning scenarios, including classrooms and self-study sessions. Future research could expand on these results, perhaps examining how different types of material or diverse subject matter might interact with the production effect.</p>
<p>&#8220;The major caveat is that we are relying on Bayesian evidence for a null effect of reading aloud in the case of comprehension, consistent as that finding is,&#8221; Roberts said. &#8220;Future studies will need to confirm this null effect in more experiments, especially with different measures of comprehension to ensure that our test materials were not the reason for null findings.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I think our study reveals a more general point that memory researchers would be wise to consider: Even though memory is presumably required before comprehension can occur, improving memory is not always enough to cause significant improvements in deeper understanding,&#8221; Roberts added.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-023-01442-2">Reading text aloud benefts memory but not comprehension</a>,&#8221; was authored by Brady R. T. Roberts, Zoey S. Hu, Eloise Curtis, Glen E. Bodner, David McLean, and Colin M. MacLeod.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 07, 2024 at 03:00AM
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TITLE:
5 ejercicios que odiamos y por qué deberías hacerlos de todos modos
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/es/2024/03/07/espanol/burpees-sentadillas-mejores-ejercicios.html

¿Odias los “burpees”? ¿Le temes a las planchas? Estos entrenadores comparten consejos para hacer que estos temidos movimientos funcionen para ti.
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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 08:00PM
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TITLE:
Diet and brain health: Fiber supplement improves older adults’ cognitive function in just three months
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/diet-and-brain-health-fiber-supplement-improves-older-adults-cognitive-function-in-just-three-months/

<p>In just 12 weeks, a daily fibre supplement improved brain function in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46116-y#Tab2">twins over the age of 65</a>. Could the microbes in our gut hold the key to preventing cognitive decline in our ageing population?</p>
<p>The study my colleagues and I conducted showed that this simple and cheap food supplement can improve performance in memory tests – tests that are used to spot early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.</p>
<p>As populations age globally, the prevalence of age-related conditions such as declining brain and muscle function is on the rise, so we need innovative ways to slow and prevent this.</p>
<p>The number of gut microbiome studies has <a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/67/9/1716">increased exponentially</a> over the past 15 years. Researchers are recognising the huge potential of this under-explored facet of human health. We know that the gut microbiome can be influenced and changed from the outside, for example, using a prebiotic supplement.</p>
<p>Prebiotics are simple fibres that encourage healthy bacteria to flourish in the gut. They are already widely available to buy.</p>
<p>With this new study, we sought to understand how targeting the microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing in our guts, using two cheap, commercially available plant fibre supplements, inulin and FOS, could affect both brain function and muscle health.</p>
<p>The study comprised 36 twin pairs, with one twin randomly allocated to receive a placebo and the other randomly allocated to receive a prebiotic fibre supplement. The treatments (prebiotic or placebo) were taken every day for three months and none of the participants knew which they were receiving – in other words, the study was “blinded”.</p>
<p>To improve muscle function, all the participants also did resistance exercises and took a daily protein supplement.</p>
<p>We monitored participants remotely via video calls, online questionnaires, and online tests of memory and thinking.</p>
<h2>Beneficial bacteria</h2>
<p>When we tested participants’ stool samples, we found the fibre supplement led to significant changes in the participants’ gut microbiome composition. In particular, there was an increase in beneficial bacteria, such as <em>Bifidobacterium</em>.</p>
<p>While there was no significant difference in muscle strength between the groups, the group receiving the fibre supplement performed better in tests assessing memory and thinking, including the Paired Associates Learning Test. This test is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11351138/">able to detect early signs of</a> Alzheimer’s disease. Those who received the prebiotic had half the number of errors on this test compared with the group that received a placebo.</p>
<p>Seeing this positive result in just 12 weeks holds huge promise for enhancing brain health and memory in our ageing population.</p>
<p>We hope that further understanding of the gut-brain connections may unlock new approaches for helping people live more healthily for longer. For example, preventing or delaying frailty and ultimately keeping our ageing population independent and well for as long as possible.</p>
<h2>Innovative trial</h2>
<p>Another novel aspect of the study was its remote design, which showed the feasibility of conducting trials in older adults without the need for extensive travel or hospital visits, which could be delivered in many settings globally.</p>
<p>Such trial designs aim to improve the representation of older people in research. We acknowledge that challenges to this type of study design exist, including access to the internet and computers, and we aim to address these in future large-scale projects. Ultimately, the aim is to enhance the quality of life for ageing populations worldwide.</p>
<p>We estimate the cost of taking this kind of supplement at 15p a day. They are safe and easy to take. They could benefit a large group of people and the research team plan to go on and test whether these results are sustained over longer periods and in larger groups of people.</p>
<p>Our findings show that targeting the gut bacteria with simple interventions can have significant effects on human function. So how else can we target these microbes to enhance wellbeing as the population gets older? We are planning to carry out further trials, exploring the huge potential of this important question.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224885/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/daily-fibre-supplement-improves-older-adults-brain-function-in-just-three-months-new-study-224885">original article</a>.</em></p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 06:00PM
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TITLE:
Snapchat and Instagram usage linked to increased desire for cosmetic surgery
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/snapchat-and-instagram-usage-linked-to-increased-desire-for-cosmetic-surgery/

<p>A new study published in the <a href="https://jcadonline.com/covid-19-social-media-cosmetic-procedures/"><em>Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology</em></a> suggests a strong link between social media usage, photo-editing applications, and the increasing desire for cosmetic procedures. The researchers discovered that individuals who spend considerable time on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, and those who engage with photo-editing apps, are more likely to consider undergoing cosmetic surgery.</p>
<p>In an era dominated by digital interaction, the researchers aimed to explore the nuanced ways in which the virtual representations of ourselves impact our real-life decisions, particularly concerning our physical appearances. The term &#8220;Snapchat dysmorphia&#8221; has already entered the medical lexicon, describing a trend where individuals seek cosmetic enhancements to mimic the filtered versions of themselves they present online.</p>
<p>This study investigates the broader implications of social media and photo-editing on cosmetic surgery intentions, especially in light of the increased focus on appearance during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>“While there was an increase in cosmetic focus during the COVID pandemic, until now there has not been data highlighting a clear link or factors that made patients more or less likely to participate in cosmetic treatments,” explained corresponding author Neelam Vashi, an associate professor of dermatology and director of the Boston University Cosmetic and Laser Center at Boston Medical Center.</p>
<p>The study focused on individuals attending an ambulatory dermatology clinic at an urban hospital in Boston from October 2019 to June 2021. This timeframe was selected to capture data from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a unique opportunity to analyze changes in attitudes towards cosmetic procedures amidst the increased social media consumption reported during lockdowns.</p>
<p>To participate, individuals had to be 18 years or older and fluent in English or Spanish, ensuring that the surveys could be completed without language barriers affecting comprehension or responses. Participants were asked to fill out surveys that had received prior approval by the Boston University Medical Campus Institutional Review Board. These surveys included questions regarding demographics, social media usage patterns, perceptions of cosmetic procedures, and the desire to undergo such procedures. A total of 175 surveys were collected.</p>
<p>The researchers found a significant correlation between the amount of time spent on social media platforms, specifically Snapchat and Instagram, and the increased desire for cosmetic procedures. Participants who reported spending more time on these platforms were more likely to believe that social media influenced their decision to consider cosmetic enhancements. This suggests that prolonged exposure to the curated images and lifestyles presented on these platforms may heighten dissatisfaction with one&#8217;s appearance, leading to a greater interest in cosmetic solutions.</p>
<p>The use of photo-editing applications like FaceTune, Lightroom, and SnapSeed before sharing selfies on social media was another significant predictor of participants&#8217; consideration of both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. This finding indicates that the act of altering one&#8217;s appearance digitally can translate into a desire to make similar changes in reality, possibly due to the discrepancies between the edited online self and the unedited reflection in the mirror.</p>
<p>Moreover, the study found that engagement with social media content related to celebrities, influencers, and accounts showcasing the results of cosmetic procedures significantly influenced the desire to undergo cosmetic enhancements. Following and interacting with such accounts likely exposes individuals to a higher frequency of idealized beauty standards, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and increase the appeal of cosmetic interventions to achieve similar aesthetic results.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the study also observed significant differences in attitudes towards cosmetic procedures before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in the number of participants considering cosmetic procedures was noted during the pandemic, along with a rise in the number of individuals who had ever undergone a cosmetic procedure.</p>
<p>This trend may reflect the combined effects of heightened social media use during lockdowns and the phenomenon of &#8220;Zoom dysmorphia,&#8221; where increased video conferencing leads to greater self-scrutiny and dissatisfaction with one&#8217;s appearance on screen.</p>
<p>The study highlights the need for healthcare providers to consider patients&#8217; social media use as a factor in their desire for cosmetic procedures and to engage in open discussions about the motivations and expectations behind such decisions. &#8220;Quality care begins with quality conversations, and we hope this study encourages providers to ask about all aspects of a patient&#8217;s life to better understand their motivations and goals of care,&#8221; said Vashi.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://jcadonline.com/covid-19-social-media-cosmetic-procedures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Patient Social Media Use and Acceptance of Cosmetic Procedures</a>,&#8221; was authored by Iman F. Khan, Henriette De La Garza,Michelle Lazar, Kevin F. Kennedy, and Neelam A. Vashi.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Consumption of high-glycemic foods linked to lower facial attractiveness
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/consumption-of-high-glycemic-foods-linked-to-lower-facial-attractiveness/

<p>In a new study published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298984"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>, researchers have unveiled intriguing findings that link the consumption of refined carbohydrates — such as sugary snacks and highly processed foods — with changes in facial attractiveness. The study found that individuals who consumed a high glycemic load breakfast were rated as less attractive than those who consumed a low glycemic load meal.</p>
<p>The transition to a diet rich in refined carbohydrates — foods depleted of their natural fiber and overloaded with added sugars — has not only contributed to the prevalence of various metabolic diseases but also sparked curiosity about its potential impact on human physical traits, including facial attractiveness. Given the role of attractiveness in social interactions, mating preferences, and even professional success, understanding its correlation with diet is of significant interest.</p>
<p>&#8220;We were initially intrigued by the profound impact of our food choices on our physiology,&#8221; said study author Claire Berticat of the Institute of Evolutionary Science of Montpellier. &#8220;While the effects of refined carbohydrates on certain hormones are well-documented, it is less known that sex hormones can also be affected. Certain traits, such as facial attractiveness, are influenced by sex hormones. Thus the possibility of uncovering a previously unexplored connection between refined carbohydrate consumption and attractiveness was highly appealing.&#8221;</p>
<p>The research team recruited a total of 104 participants, evenly split between males and females, aged 20 to 30 years. The recruitment process involved online calls through university networks and social media platforms, targeting a demographic likely to provide a homogeneous sample in terms of age and health status.</p>
<p>Participants were asked to attend study sessions early in the morning on an empty stomach. Upon arrival, they were randomly assigned to consume one of two types of isocaloric breakfasts: one high in refined carbohydrates and the other low. Approximately two hours after consuming their assigned breakfast, participants were photographed under standardized conditions to ensure consistency in lighting, background, and positioning.</p>
<p>The attractiveness of participants was assessed by a separate group of raters (110 men and 142 women), who were recruited in public places and carefully selected to minimize cultural bias. Raters evaluated the facial photographs, making judgments on perceived age, masculinity/femininity, and overall attractiveness. This evaluation process was designed to objectively measure the impact of dietary factors on how faces are perceived by others.</p>
<p>To evaluate chronic dietary habits, participants completed detailed dietary questionnaires concerning their consumption during breakfast, afternoon snacks, and between-meal snacks on the day before the study. This information was used to calculate the glycemic load and energy intake for these meals, providing a comprehensive picture of participants&#8217; usual refined carbohydrate consumption.</p>
<p>Additional data were collected on various demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors, including physical activity, smoking status, and for women, the use of hormonal contraceptives.</p>
<p>Participants who consumed a high-glycemic breakfast (rich in refined carbohydrates) were found to be less attractive than those who consumed a low-glycemic breakfast. This effect was observed for both male and female participants. The researchers proposed that this could be related to the physiological effects of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), such as changes in skin blood flow and complexion, which occur following the consumption of high-glycemic foods.</p>
<p>When examining chronic consumption of refined carbohydrates through glycemic load measures, the researchers found that a higher energy intake at breakfast was associated with increased attractiveness for both men and women, suggesting that foods high in fats and proteins, which do not lead to rapid glycemic responses, might contribute positively to perceived attractiveness.</p>
<p>Conversely, chronic consumption of refined carbohydrates, particularly during afternoon snacks and between-meal snacks, was generally linked to decreased attractiveness. This effect was thought to be mediated by the long-term physiological consequences of sustained high glycemic load, such as hyperinsulinemia, which could influence sex hormone levels and subsequently affect secondary sexual traits.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have found that consumption of refined carbohydrates, whether immediate or chronic, affects facial attractiveness,&#8221; Berticat said.</p>
<p>However, the effects of refined carbohydrate consumption on attractiveness varied depending on the specific meal and the gender of the participants. For example, while high energy intake at breakfast increased attractiveness across both genders, the glycemic load of afternoon snacks had opposite effects for men and women. Men with a higher glycemic load during their afternoon snack were perceived as more attractive, whereas for women, a lower glycemic load in this meal was associated with increased attractiveness.</p>
<p>&#8220;We found that the results differed, at least for men, according to the different meals of the day (breakfast, afternoon snack and between-meal snack),&#8221; Berticat explained. &#8220;The varying impact of different meals on attractiveness highlights the complexity of dietary influences on physiology. The fact that the ecophysiology of food intake varies throughout the day (physiology, needs, environment, cultural habits etc.) could be an interesting explanation to explore further.&#8221;</p>
<p>Importantly, the study controlled for a range of potential confounders, including physical activity, BMI, smoking status, and, for women, hormonal contraceptive use. These variables significantly influenced attractiveness ratings, underscoring the multifaceted nature of attractiveness and the importance of considering a broad spectrum of factors when investigating the effects of diet on physical appearance.</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes some limitations, such as not controlling for factors like skin color, menstrual cycle, sleep quality, and overall diet quality. The authors call for further research to explore these aspects and to understand the broader social implications of diet.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our findings serve as a compelling reminder of the far-reaching impact of dietary choices not only on health but also on traits having particular social importance such as facial attractiveness,&#8221; Berticat said. &#8220;Investigating how refined carbohydrate consumption may influence other traits influenced by sexual hormones could provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between diet, biology, and social behavior.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chronic and immediate refined carbohydrate consumption and facial attractiveness</a>,&#8221; was authored by Amandine Visine, Valerie Durand, Leonard Guillou, Michel Raymond, and Claire Berticat.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Psilocybin from “magic” mushrooms weakens the brain’s response to angry faces
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/psilocybin-from-magic-mushrooms-weakens-the-brains-response-to-angry-faces/

<p>A new neuroimaging study found that psilocybin reduces the brain’s amygdala region response to seeing pictures of angry faces. In contrast, neural responses to fearful and neutral faces were unaffected. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2023.103934"><em>Neuroscience Applied</em></a>.</p>
<p>Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly known as &#8220;magic mushrooms.&#8221; It is known for its psychoactive properties, which can induce altered states of consciousness, including changes in perception, mood, and thought patterns. Psilocybin has been used for centuries in various cultural and religious practices for its spiritual and introspective effects. In recent years, it has gained attention in the medical community for its potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.</p>
<p>Researchers studying the subjective effects of psilocybin report that its use can result in deep-felt feelings of love and peacefulness, emotional acceptance rather than avoidance, increased emotional empathy, and reexperiencing various emotional memories. Overall, psilocybin seems to be able to change one’s emotional state. This means that it might be able to affect regions of the brain involved in processing emotions, such as the amygdala.</p>
<p>The amygdala, a small, almond-shaped region in the brain, is crucial for processing emotions, especially those related to fear and anxiety. It plays a significant role in the formation of emotional memories and the modulation of emotional responses. The amygdala&#8217;s activity affects behaviors like aggression, avoidance, and social interactions.</p>
<p>In their new study, Sophia Armand of the University of Copenhagen and her colleagues conducted an experimental neuroimaging study to determine whether a medium-high dose of psilocybin would affect the amygdala&#8217;s response to emotionally expressive faces.</p>
<p>The study involved 28 healthy individuals recruited from a pool of volunteers interested in psychedelic research. Each participant took part in two sessions, spaced at least 21 days apart. In one session, they received a dose of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg of psilocybin, administered in 3 mg capsules, while in the other, they received 20 mg of ketanserin, a drug used to treat hypertension and investigate the role of serotonin in physiological and psychological processes. (The effects of ketanserin were not reported in this paper.)</p>
<p>At the beginning of the study, participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while completing a variant of the emotional faces task, which involved identifying emotions on faces displaying fear, anger, surprise, or neutrality in random order. The researchers measured neural activity in the amygdala during these tasks. Additionally, participants were assessed for intelligence, body mass index, mood, sleep quality, and stress level.</p>
<p>On the day they received psilocybin, participants repeated the fMRI and emotional faces task, enabling researchers to compare brain activity under the substance&#8217;s influence to their baseline state.</p>
<p>Results showed that the response of the amygdala region of the brain to angry faces was significantly decreased when participants were under the influence of psilocybin. Reactions to fearful and neutral faces were also somewhat decreased, but the decrease was small and not statistically significant. (In other words, the small effect did not allow the researchers to conclude that it was not just a random variation.) However, participants who reported feeling stronger effects of the drug tended to have more reduced amygdala reactions to fearful faces.</p>
<p>The accuracy of responses in the emotional faces task was the same both when participants were under the influence of psilocybin and when they were not.</p>
<p>“As hypothesized, we found that the amygdala response to angry faces was significantly reduced but remained unchanged to neutral faces using BOLD fMRI [blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging] following acute administration of psilocybin in healthy individuals. Consistent with our hypothesis, we also find that amygdala response to fearful faces is negatively associated with SDI [subjective drug intensity],&#8221; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the effects of psilocybin on amygdala responses to emotional faces. However, the study was conducted on a very small group of participants and the emotional faces task is based on pictures. Neural responses to real people displaying real emotions might not be the same.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nsa.2023.103934">Amygdala response to emotional faces following acute administration of psilocybin in healthy individuals,</a>” was authored by Sophia Armand, Kristian Larsen, Martin K. Madsen, Brice Ozenne, Katrin H. Preller, Gitte M. Knudsen, Dea S. Stenbaek, and Patrick M. Fisher.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 11:00AM
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TITLE:
Gender exclusion and policy threats propel women towards political office, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/gender-exclusion-and-policy-threats-propel-women-towards-political-office-study-finds/

<p>What if the very absence of women in political office is what motivates more women to run for office? New research provides evidence that moments of clear gender exclusion, combined with policy issues directly affecting women, significantly boost women&#8217;s motivation to enter the political arena. The findings have been published in <em><a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/women-grab-back-exclusion-policy-threat-and-womens-political-ambition/0B32347849AA04403C336CF9060A4CCC" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Political Science Review</a></em>.</p>
<p>The &#8220;Year of the Woman&#8221; in 2018 marked a historic surge in the number of women running for and being elected to the U.S. Congress. This watershed moment was largely a reaction to the 2016 election of Donald Trump, a figure whose candidacy and presidency sparked significant controversy, particularly around issues of gender and women&#8217;s rights.</p>
<p>The motivation behind the new study sprang from this period of political mobilization, aiming to dissect and understand the factors that drove such a significant increase in women&#8217;s candidacies. The researchers were particularly interested in exploring the dynamics between women&#8217;s exclusion from political office, the perception of policy threats under a predominantly male-led government, and the subsequent increase in women&#8217;s political ambition.</p>
<p>&#8220;We were interested in explaining the sudden rise in women&#8217;s candidacies in the Trump era, and realized that existing academic theories couldn&#8217;t account for them,&#8221; said study author <a href="https://www.amandaclayton.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amanda Clayton</a>, an assistant professor of political science and UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>To lay the groundwork for their investigation, the researchers began with focus groups consisting of women who aspired to political office. These focus groups served a dual purpose: firstly, to develop an understanding of the motivations and barriers perceived by potential women candidates, and secondly, to refine the theoretical model that links exclusion and policy threat to political ambition.</p>
<p>Building on the insights gained from the focus groups, the researchers then designed a series of survey experiments to quantitatively test their theory. The experiments were structured around vignettes that varied two critical factors: the gender composition of a hypothetical city council (all-male vs. gender-balanced) and the issue domain of the council&#8217;s upcoming policy debate (women’s reproductive healthcare vs. renewable energy, the latter serving as a control issue). These vignettes allowed the researchers to isolate the impact of perceived exclusion and specific policy threats on women&#8217;s political ambition.</p>
<p>Participants, recruited through a survey firm for a broad representation, were randomly assigned to one of the vignette conditions and then asked a series of questions to gauge their interest in running for a position on the described city council, their change in political ambition from before to after exposure to the vignette, and a behavioral indicator of ambition (clicking a link to learn more about running for office).</p>
<p>This methodological design provided a controlled environment to measure the direct effects of gendered exclusion and policy threat on political ambition, while also offering insights into the psychological mechanism of political efficacy driving these effects.</p>
<p>The researchers collected data from two primary sources to ensure a robust analysis. Initially, in July 2020, the researchers deployed their survey to 1,250 American citizens through Dynata, a survey firm. This sample was chosen to reflect the demographic composition of the U.S. adult population across various dimensions, including age, race/ethnicity, gender, and geographic location.</p>
<p>Subsequently, to further validate their findings, the researchers incorporated their experimental vignettes and the main question into the Cooperative Election Study (CES), a nationally representative survey conducted by YouGov. This part of the study targeted 1,500 U.S. adult citizens in October 2020, during the pre-election period.</p>
<p>The survey experiments demonstrated that women reported a higher interest in running for office and an increased sense of political ambition after being exposed to vignettes featuring an all-male city council debating women’s reproductive healthcare, compared to when the council was gender-balanced or discussing a non-gendered issue like renewable energy. This suggests that the visibility of gendered exclusion in policy-making contexts, especially when women&#8217;s interests are perceived to be at stake, is a powerful motivator for women to seek political office.</p>
<p>Another significant finding relates to the role of political efficacy in mediating the relationship between exclusion, policy threat, and ambition. Women who read about an all-male council addressing women&#8217;s rights felt a stronger belief in their ability to make a difference in politics, a sentiment that was crucial in translating awareness of exclusion and policy threat into concrete political ambition.</p>
<p>&#8220;Women can be inspired to run for office when they see how political exclusion threatens their rights,&#8221; Clayton told PsyPost. &#8220;However, this outcome is a small silver lining within a normatively troubling set of circumstances. While these conditions may inspire women to run for office — as well as spur social organizing and activism — they also mean that women face scenarios where their political exclusion results in decisions detrimental to their interests.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study also uncovered interesting nuances in how different groups of women responded to exclusion and policy threats. Pro-choice women, in particular, showed the most pronounced increase in political ambition in response to gendered policy threats, underscoring the significance of issue alignment in motivating political action. Additionally, the effects of exclusion and policy threat were found to be most significant among women who lean Democratic or identify as political independents.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the findings revealed variations in response among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. While Black and white women showed increased political ambition in the face of exclusion and policy threats, the same was not true for Latinas. This indicates that the impact of exclusion and policy threats on political ambition may be modulated by intersecting identities, highlighting the complexity of factors influencing women&#8217;s decision to engage in political action.</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055422001344">Women Grab Back: Exclusion, Policy Threat, and Women’s Political Ambition</a>,&#8221; was authored by Amanda Clayton, Diana O&#8217;Brien, and Jennifer Piscopo.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

.
DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Single or taken? The personality traits that could predict your relationship status
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/single-or-taken-the-personality-traits-that-could-predict-your-relationship-status/

<p>New research sheds light on whether and how being single or in a relationship correlates with certain personality traits and, in turn, how these traits influence indicators of well-being such as life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and contentment with one&#8217;s relationship status. The findings, published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672231225571"><em>Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</em></a>, indicate that individuals in relationship tend to be more extraverted and experience greater well-being compared to their single counterparts.</p>
<p>Despite previous studies suggesting that singles may fare worse on various well-being measures, emerging evidence indicates that the happiness gap between singles and those in relationships might be smaller or non-existent, especially among certain subgroups. This discrepancy led researchers to explore further, with a particular focus on how personality traits — central to an individual&#8217;s experience and behavior — might play a role in this dynamic.</p>
<p>&#8220;Existing research on singles’ happiness often shows that singles tend to be lower in life satisfaction than people in relationships – but, one key variable that has received relatively less attention in singlehood research is personality,&#8221; said study author Elaine Hoan, a PhD Student at the University of Toronto and member of the <a href="https://www.macdonaldlab.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Personality is one of the strongest predictors of well-being, so we thought understanding personality differences could help explain why singles might demonstrate lower happiness on average. There’s also a notion in the singlehood research area that singles tend to be more social than people in relationships. We wanted to test the validity of that notion by actually examining personality differences across singles and partnered people.&#8221;</p>
<p>The researchers specifically focused on the five-factor model (or Big Five model) of personality, which includes traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience, to determine if and how these traits influence well-being in the context of being single or in a relationship. Their study was conducted in two phases, each involving a comprehensive online survey distributed to participants recruited through Prolific, a platform known for academic research studies.</p>
<p>Participants were required to meet specific eligibility criteria to ensure a clear distinction between relationship statuses. They had to be either single or in a relationship for a minimum of six months, aged between 20 and 59.</p>
<p>This led to the recruitment of 860 participants in the first sample, with a small percentage being excluded due to various reasons such as failing attention checks or not completing the study, resulting in a final count of 819 participants. A similar approach was taken for the second sample, with adjustments based on the initial findings, ultimately involving 992 participants after exclusions.</p>
<p>To measure the variables of interest, the researchers utilized the Big Five Inventory–2 (BFI-2), a 60-item scale. In addition to personality, the researchers assessed well-being through three key indicators: life satisfaction, measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale; sexual satisfaction, assessed with the Sexual Satisfaction Scale; and satisfaction with one&#8217;s relationship status, evaluated using the Satisfaction with Relationship Status Scale.</p>
<p>Hoan and her colleagues artnered individuals were more likely to exhibit higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness and lower levels of neuroticism compared to singles. This pattern suggests that certain personality traits might be associated with the likelihood of being in a relationship, possibly due to how these traits influence social interaction, relationship maintenance, and emotional regulation.</p>
<p>For instance, the lower neuroticism observed in partnered individuals could suggest that lower levels of stress, anxiety, and emotional instability might contribute to more stable and satisfying relationships. Similarly, higher conscientiousness among those in relationships might indicate the role of goal-oriented behavior and reliability in sustaining partnerships.</p>
<p>The higher extraversion among partnered individuals could reflect the social nature of relationships, as extraverted individuals are often more outgoing and may find it easier to form and maintain romantic connections.</p>
<p>&#8220;Introversion could make it harder to get into relationships, perhaps because introverts may not find themselves in social situations as often as extraverts – making it more difficult to meet a romantic partner for those who want a relationship,&#8221; Hoan told PsyPost.</p>
<p>The findings clash with common perceptions of single life.</p>
<p>&#8220;The notion that singles tend to be more social is echoed in popular media depictions of singles such as in shows like &#8216;Sex and the City&#8217; or the &#8216;Trainwreck&#8217; movie, where singles are portrayed as extraverted party animals who partake in hook-up culture,&#8221; Hoan said. &#8220;And so, these findings counter not only ideas within the singlehood research area, but general caricatures of singles as well.&#8221;</p>
<p>In terms of well-being, the researchers found that singles reported lower levels of life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with their relationship status compared to those in relationships. &#8220;Extraverts are typically much happier in general! So this finding helps to partly explain why singles are, on average, lower in life satisfaction,&#8221; Hoan said.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the impact of neuroticism on satisfaction with relationship status differed markedly between singles and partnered individuals. For singles, higher levels of neuroticism were significantly associated with lower satisfaction with their relationship status. In contrast, this association was not observed among those in relationships, indicating that the detrimental effects of neuroticism on well-being might be more pronounced for singles.</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s important to note that the observed differences in well-being could not be fully explained by personality traits alone. Even after accounting for variations in extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, relationship status continued to explain a significant portion of the variance in well-being outcomes. This indicates that other factors beyond personality may contribute to the well-being disparities between singles and those in relationships.</p>
<p>As with any study, the research includes limitations, such as its cross-sectional design, which restricts the ability to infer causality. The focus on long-term singles and partnered individuals also limits generalizability to those in the early stages of singlehood or relationships.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our sample included more long-term singles or partnered people (i.e., those who were single/partnered for at least 6 months) to ensure we weren’t including people whose relationship status was unclear,&#8221; Hoan noted. &#8220;We can’t say for certain how personality differences might emerge for singles who have recently experienced a break-up.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study opens several avenues for future research, suggesting a closer examination of the causal relationships between personality, relationship status, and well-being, and the exploration of within-group variability among singles and partnered individuals. Additionally, cultural differences in these dynamics warrant further investigation to understand the global applicability of these findings.</p>
<p>&#8220;We hope to continue testing these findings in other contexts, such as longitudinally, as well as in conjunction with demographic variables like age, gender, and how long people have been single or partnered for,&#8221; Hoan told PsyPost. &#8220;Ultimately, given that personality is a powerful predictor of well-being and life outcomes, I hope to continue integrating personality to understand who singlehood or relationships is most suitable for.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231225571">Personality and Well-Being Across and Within Relationship Status</a>,&#8221; was authored by Elaine Hoan and Geoff MacDonald.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Young women use gossip against rivals, driven by jealousy and self-esteem, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/young-women-use-gossip-against-rivals-driven-by-jealousy-and-self-esteem-study-finds/

<p>A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00371-2"><em>Evolutionary Psychological Science</em></a> investigated why physically attractive women often become the targets of negative gossip, a phenomenon highlighted by the treatment of the character Malèna in the film of the same name. Previous research suggested that this gossip stems from intrasexual competition—women competing for desirable partners. In this work, Yijia Dong and colleagues go further by examining how romantic jealousy and self-esteem play roles in this behavior, proposing that jealousy drives women to gossip about attractive rivals, while self-esteem levels moderate this tendency.</p>
<p>Evolutionary psychology provides a framework for understanding these phenomena, suggesting that the psychological mechanisms developed to solve the adaptive problems of survival and reproduction influence mate preferences. Men’s preference for physical attractiveness in women, seen as an indicator of health and fertility, has led to a competitive environment where women use gossip as a strategy to undermine rivals.</p>
<p><strong> </strong>Forty adults participated in the pilot study to evaluate the physical attractiveness of female faces, for the purpose of selecting stimuli for the main study. Images of Asian women were judged on a scale from 1 (extremely unattractive) to 10 (extremely attractive). Female participants rated the images both from their own perspective and as they imagined a man would, while male participants rated only from their own perspective.</p>
<p>This process utilized images from previous research, dividing them into attractive and unattractive categories. The ratings led to the selection of the three least and three most attractive faces, as agreed upon by both male and female raters, to be used in the target study.</p>
<p>A total of 190 heterosexual female participants aged 23 to 35 years participated in the target study. Participants were randomly assigned to groups where they were exposed to images of women categorized as either high or low in attractiveness, based on the pilot study’s findings.</p>
<p>Participants first rated their own physical attractiveness on a 7-point scale. They were then introduced to a hypothetical scenario in which participants imagined themselves as a woman in a social group with a target man and a new woman (Woman Y) entering this group and getting close to the target man. Participants rated their jealousy on a 7-point scale, after which they were presented with negative information about Woman Y and asked to rate the likelihood of sharing this information in various social contexts.</p>
<p>Participants also completed measures of self-esteem via the Rosenberg’s 10-item scale, and social desirability using items from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.</p>
<p>The researchers found no significant main effect of a potential competitor’s physical attractiveness on gossip tendencies. However, a significant main effect emerged for the receiver of the gossip, indicating that participants were more likely to spread negative information about a competitor to their own friends than to the target man or a common friend. While the physical attractiveness of potential competitors did not affect gossip tendencies toward the target man or common friend, it did influence gossip toward the participant’s own friends.</p>
<p>Participants with lower self-esteem were marginally more likely to gossip, particularly when the competitors were highly attractive.</p>
<p>The physical attractiveness of potential competitors was positively associated with participants’ levels of romantic jealousy, which in turn was linked to increased gossip tendencies across all receivers. This mediation effect was significant, underscoring romantic jealousy as a key mechanism driving gossip in response to attractive competitors.</p>
<p>Additionally, self-esteem moderated these effects, with lower self-esteem amplifying the impact of competitors’ attractiveness on jealousy and gossip, particularly towards personal friends. These findings illustrate that while attractiveness and jealousy spur gossip, the extent of this behavior is further shaped by individual differences in self-esteem.</p>
<p>The researchers note that future research should consider using implicit measures of social desirability.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00371-2">Physical Attractiveness of Potential Competitors Influences Women’s </a><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00371-2">Gossip: Effects of Romantic Jealousy and Self‑Esteem</a>”, was authored by Yijia Dong, Wenqi Li, and Yu Kou.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

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DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Long-COVID recovery: The promising combo of breath exercises and creatine supplementation
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/long-covid-recovery-the-promising-combo-of-breath-exercises-and-creatine-supplementation/

<p>Could simple breathing exercises, coupled with a sprinkle of nutritional science, hold the key to overcoming the lingering effects of a virus that has touched the lives of millions globally? A study published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.4103/jpgm.jpgm_650_23"><em>Journal of Postgraduate Medicine</em></a> sheds light on this very possibility, exploring the potential of combining breathing exercises with creatine to combat the symptoms of long coronavirus disease, a condition marked by persistent fatigue and lung discomfort well beyond the initial infection phase.</p>
<p>Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome, affects a significant portion of individuals who have recovered from the initial infection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Characterized by long-lasting fatigue and lung discomfort, long COVID can severely hinder daily activities, necessitating effective rehabilitation strategies.</p>
<p>The International Task Force has highlighted the importance of pulmonary rehabilitative exercises and adequate nutrition for COVID-19 survivors. Among the recommended interventions, breathing exercises stand out as a simple, cost-effective method to enhance physical health. However, the integration of nutritional supplements such as creatine in the rehabilitation process for long-COVID patients remains largely unexplored.</p>
<p>Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that plays a vital role in energy production at the cellular level. Its effectiveness, when combined with exercise, has been documented across various health conditions, but its application alongside breathing exercises for long-COVID rehabilitation has not been thoroughly investigated until now.</p>
<p>&#8220;As a medical doctor, I&#8217;ve encountered numerous patients grappling with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), especially post-COVID-19 pandemic, with limited nutritional interventions available,&#8221; said study author Sergej M. Ostojic, a professor of nutrition at the University of Agder and head of the <a href="https://www.appliedbioenergetics.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applied Bioenergetics Lab</a> at the University of Novi Sad.</p>
<p>&#8220;After <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/503" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reviewing scientific literature on metabolic disruptions</a> in CFS, it became evident that creatine deficiency might be implicated in this multifaceted condition. Consequently, I embarked on a study to explore the potential effects of creatine supplementation, combined with breathing exercises, in individuals experiencing long-COVID.&#8221;</p>
<p>This randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial involved eight long-COVID patients who were experiencing moderate fatigue and respiratory discomfort for at least three months post-infection, without any other underlying cardiopulmonary conditions. Participants were divided into two groups: one received daily creatine supplementation (4 g) in addition to performing breathing exercises, while the control group performed breathing exercises alone.</p>
<p>These breathing exercises were designed to strengthen respiratory muscles, particularly the diaphragm, and reduce breathing effort. Patients were monitored over a three-month period, during which their adherence to the program and any changes in their condition were closely followed.</p>
<p>Participants who received creatine supplementation alongside breathing exercises showed a significant increase in tissue creatine levels across various locations, including muscles and brain areas, indicating a large effect of the combined treatment on creatine amplification. Moreover, this group experienced a reduction in post-exertional malaise and improved exercise tolerance, as demonstrated by a notable increase in time to exhaustion during physical activity.</p>
<p>In contrast, the control group, which only engaged in breathing exercises, did not show significant changes in creatine levels or time to exhaustion, although both groups reported reduced breathing difficulty and respiratory discomfort by the end of the study.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our data suggest that a three-month regimen of dietary creatine, when combined with breathing exercises, may be beneficial in alleviating fatigue associated with long COVID, as well as in ameliorating metabolic imbalances in the brain and skeletal muscles,&#8221; Ostojic told PsyPost. &#8220;Patients undergoing this intervention also showed modest improvements in exercise capacity, with no significant side effects observed.&#8221;</p>
<p>Despite these promising results, the study&#8217;s authors acknowledge its limitations, including the small sample size and the short duration of the intervention. They call for further research to validate these findings in a larger group of long-COVID patients over a longer period. Additionally, future studies should consider controlling for factors that might affect creatine homeostasis, such as age, gender, diet, and physical activity levels, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of creatine supplementation in long-COVID rehabilitation.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our study recruited a relatively small number of middle-aged patients, thus we were unable to determine whether these beneficial effects extend to elderly individuals or children, if there are any gender differences, or if shorter or longer treatment intervals would be equally effective,&#8221; Ostojic said. &#8220;Additionally, we did not analyze respiratory function, which could be crucial in long COVID. Finally, we did not assess the vaccination status of our patients, which may also impact disease severity and individual response to treatment.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;This is a preliminary study, and further research is necessary to confirm our findings in larger studies with longer treatment durations. However, adding creatine to the treatment regimen of long COVID patients could be a cost-effective and safe option.&#8221;</p>
<p>The study, &#8220;<a href="https://journals.lww.com/jopm/abstract/9900/creatine_supplementation_combined_with_breathing.19.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Creatine supplementation combined with breathing exercises reduces respiratory discomfort and improves creatine status in patients with long-COVID,</a>&#8221; was authored by J. Slankamenac, M. Ranisavljev, N. Todorovic, J. Ostojic, V. Stajer, and S.M. Ostojic.</p>

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psychbot , 4 months ago to psychology

Psychology News Robot
DATE:
March 06, 2024 at 05:00AM
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TITLE:
Trainers Share 5 of the Most-Hated but Beneficial Exercises
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/well/move/least-favorite-exercises.html

Loathe burpees? Fear planks? Trainers share tips to make dreaded moves work for you.
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