BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Fold your arms to boost your performance
A little more on the idea of "embodied cognition" that I've posted about previously.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Procrastination is a good thing?
Procrastination: A strategy for change | Psychology Today Blogs
Read the article - the author really does make an excellent point.
More here.
UPDATE: still more here.
Read the article - the author really does make an excellent point.
More here.
UPDATE: still more here.
Why do some battered women stay in their abusive relationships?
Why do some battered women stay in their abusive relationships? | Psychology Today Blogs
The arguments here go beyond the normal "entity vs. incremental" motivational theories and tries to get at underlying motives. The most interesting element for me was to find out that studies often show that most women don't really know why they stay in abusive relationships, they attribute it to "I just love him" - which I've seen again and again through friends, and I will never, ever understand.
The arguments here go beyond the normal "entity vs. incremental" motivational theories and tries to get at underlying motives. The most interesting element for me was to find out that studies often show that most women don't really know why they stay in abusive relationships, they attribute it to "I just love him" - which I've seen again and again through friends, and I will never, ever understand.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Magical Thinking
The Mouse Trap: Magical Thinking
Another excellent post that is worth reading. Essentially the article is arguing that the commonly held (in many scientific corners) belief that "mystical" thinking (the type of thinking that leads to a belief in mysticism or attributing supernatural causality for events) may actually have merit in todays digital age.
More here and here.
Another excellent post that is worth reading. Essentially the article is arguing that the commonly held (in many scientific corners) belief that "mystical" thinking (the type of thinking that leads to a belief in mysticism or attributing supernatural causality for events) may actually have merit in todays digital age.
More here and here.
How to Give a Bad Science Presentation
Of Two Minds : How to Give a Bad Science Presentation
Brilliant stuff - every "presenter" should read/listen/watch this.
Brilliant stuff - every "presenter" should read/listen/watch this.
Brainy muscles
Brainy muscles « Neuroanthropology
The gist of this article is that if you're preparing for a specific type of activity, the best training is to actually DO the activity. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Weight training could potentially enhance certain aspects, but the best results are if the weight training reinforces the same type of movements that you encounter in the actual activity.
In other words, you don't just train your muscles, you train your brain for the movements as well.
The gist of this article is that if you're preparing for a specific type of activity, the best training is to actually DO the activity. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Weight training could potentially enhance certain aspects, but the best results are if the weight training reinforces the same type of movements that you encounter in the actual activity.
In other words, you don't just train your muscles, you train your brain for the movements as well.
Paying Students to Learn
The Frontal Cortex : Paying Students to Learn
And yet, studies show that monetary bonuses for adults actually reduce job performance. I'm not quite sure, however, why Jonah (the author of the post) feels like this is "offensive" as a bribe. What the heck does he think a paycheck is? No. Difference. At. All.
Somehow if we're dealing with children pay for performance is offensive, or pay for performance in an educational setting is offensive, but pay for performance in a job is okay.
Whatever.
And yet, studies show that monetary bonuses for adults actually reduce job performance. I'm not quite sure, however, why Jonah (the author of the post) feels like this is "offensive" as a bribe. What the heck does he think a paycheck is? No. Difference. At. All.
Somehow if we're dealing with children pay for performance is offensive, or pay for performance in an educational setting is offensive, but pay for performance in a job is okay.
Whatever.
Categorical color perception: the language effect
The Mouse Trap: Categorical color perception: the language effect
Interesting research, which also can help to unravel the confusion around the Piraha people and the strange linguistic anomalies that occur there.
More about this research here.
Interesting research, which also can help to unravel the confusion around the Piraha people and the strange linguistic anomalies that occur there.
More about this research here.
Blue Brain - success?
Conscious Entities » Blue Brain - success?
I have been, and continue to be skeptical with any and all AI attempts. The claims have been made since at least the 1970's that a true AI would happen inside the next 10 years (or 20, or 30) - and the target keeps shifting.
I may be alone in my thinking, but we will NEVER have a computer that we program that will truly be intelligent, meaning that it will achieve self-awareness, creativity, and other "human" thought characteristics. We may be able to create a program that could out "think" a human in certain constrained circumstances (see "Big Blue" and the Kasparov chess match) and we may even be able to create a computer that could pass the "Turing Test" - but all of that is merely a result of programming that is complex enough that the computer works through those problems through brute force. We will not ever be able to create "intelligent" life in a machine.
Yes, I'm a technological heretic.
I have been, and continue to be skeptical with any and all AI attempts. The claims have been made since at least the 1970's that a true AI would happen inside the next 10 years (or 20, or 30) - and the target keeps shifting.
I may be alone in my thinking, but we will NEVER have a computer that we program that will truly be intelligent, meaning that it will achieve self-awareness, creativity, and other "human" thought characteristics. We may be able to create a program that could out "think" a human in certain constrained circumstances (see "Big Blue" and the Kasparov chess match) and we may even be able to create a computer that could pass the "Turing Test" - but all of that is merely a result of programming that is complex enough that the computer works through those problems through brute force. We will not ever be able to create "intelligent" life in a machine.
Yes, I'm a technological heretic.
Resisting temptation is energy intensive
Mind Hacks: Resisting temptation is energy intensive
Self-restraint takes some real energy - no wonder self-mastery is one of the hardest things to accomplish.
Self-restraint takes some real energy - no wonder self-mastery is one of the hardest things to accomplish.
Brain doping
Brain Enhancement: Beyond Either/Or « Neuroanthropology
This is the scholastic "steroids" argument - if you could "dope" your brain, would you? There have even been a few online pols recently and it seems that a solid majority (around 60%) say: yes, they would take cognitive enhancers.
It sounds tempting, but, like steroids, I don't think we understand the long-term effects of such cognitive tampering yet.
Here's some more on another method of enhancement: brain implants.
And here is a little more on the subject.
And even more here.
The results of an informal poll of potential intellectuals here.
This is the scholastic "steroids" argument - if you could "dope" your brain, would you? There have even been a few online pols recently and it seems that a solid majority (around 60%) say: yes, they would take cognitive enhancers.
It sounds tempting, but, like steroids, I don't think we understand the long-term effects of such cognitive tampering yet.
Here's some more on another method of enhancement: brain implants.
And here is a little more on the subject.
And even more here.
The results of an informal poll of potential intellectuals here.
Psychology doesn't make sense
PsyBlog: Why Psychology is Not Just Common Sense
Seems that, for untrained individuals, the "common sense" approach to diagnosing yourself or your friends doesn't work very well. We just don't do well as closet psychologists.
More here.
Seems that, for untrained individuals, the "common sense" approach to diagnosing yourself or your friends doesn't work very well. We just don't do well as closet psychologists.
More here.
Does experience make a difference?
Mind Hacks: Are you experienced? Does it matter?
There has been a large amount of research on novice vs. expert abilities, so this research is new information for me, and seems to contradict a lot of the older research.
There has been a large amount of research on novice vs. expert abilities, so this research is new information for me, and seems to contradict a lot of the older research.
Class size
Does class size matter?
This has been a contentious issue for a long time so this is interesting, in-depth research. It probably won't convince the naysayers, but still, I like the overall look of the research.
This has been a contentious issue for a long time so this is interesting, in-depth research. It probably won't convince the naysayers, but still, I like the overall look of the research.
Happiness and Children
The Frontal Cortex : Happiness and Children
The research is interesting, but I think they leave out quite a bit in finding conclusions. Happiness isn't the end-all-be-all of life. What about fulfillment? Immediate happiness rests mostly in the idea that you are fulfilling your immediate concerns and/or desires - but what about long-term happiness? Do people who have children have a more fulfilled and happy later life once the children are grown and grandkids (long-term posterity) start to come along.
While I don't dispute the findings of the research, I think the overall conclusions are a bit off and more longitudinal studies would be required to get a better understanding of the dynamics.
The research is interesting, but I think they leave out quite a bit in finding conclusions. Happiness isn't the end-all-be-all of life. What about fulfillment? Immediate happiness rests mostly in the idea that you are fulfilling your immediate concerns and/or desires - but what about long-term happiness? Do people who have children have a more fulfilled and happy later life once the children are grown and grandkids (long-term posterity) start to come along.
While I don't dispute the findings of the research, I think the overall conclusions are a bit off and more longitudinal studies would be required to get a better understanding of the dynamics.
Improve Concentration with Mind Exercises
Concentration: Improve Concentration with Mind Exercises
Not a research article, the blog that links to it is more of a "tips and tricks for life" type of thing, still - this is good advice.
Not a research article, the blog that links to it is more of a "tips and tricks for life" type of thing, still - this is good advice.
Behavioral Economics
The University of Chicago Magazine
So, if you're looking for some type of job to apply for after you get your degree: this could be an emerging field to consider.
UPDATE: applying behavioral economic research to public policy? Wild.
And here's some application research about whether or not bonuses actually enhance performance.
So, if you're looking for some type of job to apply for after you get your degree: this could be an emerging field to consider.
UPDATE: applying behavioral economic research to public policy? Wild.
And here's some application research about whether or not bonuses actually enhance performance.
Children's under-achievement could be down to poor working memory
Children's under-achievement could be down to poor working memory
This seems like a pretty simplistic take on what could be a highly complex interaction of a bunch of different cognitive and behavioral constructs.
This seems like a pretty simplistic take on what could be a highly complex interaction of a bunch of different cognitive and behavioral constructs.
Creativity - act it out
PsyBlog: Creativity: Action is Everything
This also goes in line with some of the more recent research and thinking that cognition is more than just mental and in fact is enhanced by action and motion.
And it works with math too!
This also goes in line with some of the more recent research and thinking that cognition is more than just mental and in fact is enhanced by action and motion.
And it works with math too!
Jazz in the brain
In jazz improv, large portion of brain's prefrontal region 'takes 5' to let creativity flow
Great article. More here and here (including some imagery)
Great article. More here and here (including some imagery)
The Power of Expectations
The Frontal Cortex : The Power of Expectations
As with the previous post, expectation play a larger role in our behavior and interpretation of reality.
More here.
As with the previous post, expectation play a larger role in our behavior and interpretation of reality.
More here.
PsyBlog: New Study: SSRI Antidepressants 'Clinically Insignificant' For Most People
PsyBlog: New Study: SSRI Antidepressants 'Clinically Insignificant' For Most People
Lots of news about this recently. There is more to study about this, not least of which are things like the "placebo effect."
More on the "chemical imbalance" idea here.
Lots of news about this recently. There is more to study about this, not least of which are things like the "placebo effect."
More on the "chemical imbalance" idea here.
Dying in video games
Turns out that some gamers actually enjoy dying in video games.
I'd love to see more in-depth research on this. Positive emotions linked with what is, essentially, failure. I also wonder if this is something that occurs only in multi-player battles or if this also occurs in solo game-play.
I can see a whole bevy of psychological testing that could be based off of this small beginning.
I'd love to see more in-depth research on this. Positive emotions linked with what is, essentially, failure. I also wonder if this is something that occurs only in multi-player battles or if this also occurs in solo game-play.
I can see a whole bevy of psychological testing that could be based off of this small beginning.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Does Cognitive Dissonance exist?
Cognitive Dissonance in Monkeys - The Monty Hall Problem - New York Times
A mathematician seems to think that it may NOT exist. The article is well worth the read.
A mathematician seems to think that it may NOT exist. The article is well worth the read.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Violent video games are relaxing
VGChartz.com | News
This is an article I can get behind. I find playing video games to be wonderfully stress relieving. Especially games where I get to put the hurt on a bunch of baddies (Castle Wolfenstein was always a favorite cause you get to blow up Nazis with considerably satisfying frequency, gusto).
The only caveat: if you're losing to the game. Then it's just an exercise in frustration and annoyance.
Not that it has ever happened to me. That's what God-mode was invented for!
This is an article I can get behind. I find playing video games to be wonderfully stress relieving. Especially games where I get to put the hurt on a bunch of baddies (Castle Wolfenstein was always a favorite cause you get to blow up Nazis with considerably satisfying frequency, gusto).
The only caveat: if you're losing to the game. Then it's just an exercise in frustration and annoyance.
Not that it has ever happened to me. That's what God-mode was invented for!
Where is inteligence
The Dana Foundation - Where in the Brain is Intelligence?: From autopsies of famous Russians to a new model based on imaging studies, scientists keep looking
Seriously? This is a question? How about: it's domain specific! Is it just me or does this seem like a big crock of BS?
Seriously? This is a question? How about: it's domain specific! Is it just me or does this seem like a big crock of BS?
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