… “Most of the early scary doll movies primarily involved ventriloquist dummies,” says James Kendrick, an associate professor of film and digital media at Baylor University who’s an expert on horror. “The whole concept of a ventriloquist dummy is that it seems to have a life of its own. They move, they talk seemingly of their …
How Creepy Dolls Like M3GAN Became a Horror Phenomenon Read More »
My three young daughters like to watch pets doing silly things. Almost daily, they ask to see animal video clips on my phone and are quickly entertained. But once my 7-year-old lets out a belly laugh, the laughter floodgates are opened and her two sisters double over as well. This is just what science would …
“Dang it, I lost my keys!” One solution to this frustratingly common scenario is to retrace your steps. This can be done by physically moving through the space where you suspect your elusive keychain is hiding or, as explored in recent research in Psychological Science, scanning your memory to find them. Humans structure memories of …
Events Serve as “Stepping Stones” en Route to Retrieved Memories Read More »
Wiki Education is seeking psychological scientists and graduate students to participate in a 6-week virtual course to learn how to edit Wikipedia. Participants will improve medical information on Wikipedia with a special focus on pages related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This program is ideal for psychological scientists focusing on clinical areas of research or …
Professional Development Opportunity: Psychology & Medicine Wiki Scientists Read More »
Editor’s note: This release is a slight modification of a release originally distributed by the Yale School of Medicine on January 3. Bias is embedded in the very ways healthcare organizations operate, according to a study published recently in Clinical Psychological Science. Conducted by researchers Miraj U. Desai, Larry Davidson, APS Fellow John F. Dovidio …
The European Research Council (ERC) has issued an open call for applications to its Advanced Grant funding scheme. Established researchers who have a record of significant research achievement over the last 10 years are eligible and encouraged to apply. The ERC expects that applicants should be leaders in the field and show originality in their …
Open Call for European Research Council Advanced Grants Read More »
The reviewer was not impressed with the paper written by Israeli brain researcher Idan Segev and a colleague from Switzerland. “Professor Idan,” she wrote to Segev. “I didn’t understand anything that you said.” Segev and co-author Felix Schürmann revised their paper on the Human Brain project, a massive effort seeking to channel all that we know about …
Kid-Edited Journal Pushes Scientists for Clear Writing on Complex Topics Read More »
It’s that time of year again — when seemingly every advertisement, social media post, or well-meaning loved one is quick to remind you how you’re due for a refresh, a restart, a rebrand. Self-improvement is difficult any time of year, but you may feel extra pressure to embark on a life change at the top of the …
In Search of an Attainable New Year’s Resolution Read More »
Go back 25 years or so and psychology was almost exclusively focused on investigating mental illnesses and the suffering they caused. Then in 1998 pioneering psychologist Martin Seligman took up his term as president of the American Psychological Association and declared a new focus on “positive psychology.” This new area of study wouldn’t look at disease and …
We all face demanding days that seem designed to test our self-control. Perhaps you are a barista, and you have some particularly rude and demanding customers, but you manage to keep your poise throughout. Or maybe you are finishing an important project and you have to remain in quiet concentration, without letting your attention slip …