Psychology

In a Canada analysis, suicide was the most common cause of death from firearms at 68 percent, and older men in rural areas were impacted most. To better understand injuries and deaths from firearms, researchers looked at data on all residents of Ontario with a valid OHIP number who were injured or died of gun injuries between 2002 and 2016. They used hospital discharge and provincial death records to categorize injuries as assault, unintentional, self-harm and undetermined intent.  The data are readily available because outside criminals, most firearms in Canada are registered with…

With unemployment at its highest rate in three decades, almost a million Australians are experiencing the anxiety of being out of work. Even more are underemployed, and more still holding on to jobs for now, not knowing if that will last. If you feel secure in your job, you are lucky. Because the psychological fallout of job insecurity can last a lifetime. Many studies have shown the association between employment and psychological and physical well-being. A meta-analysis of 104 empirical studies by behavioural researcher Frances McKee-Ryan and colleagues argues the evidence is “strongly…

Do you believe that COVID-19 was created by Bill Gates so he and his Big Pharma pals could get rich selling a cure? Do you believe career government employees are exaggerating COVID-19 to sway the election to their side? If so, there is a strong chance political experts know how you vote - and it is for opposing parties. Just like many aspects of science that have become political footballs, the SARS-CoV2 virus that has shaken the world is shaking America even more, thanks to American Exceptionalism. Even when it comes to disasters, we have to be more impacted by coronavirus, because America…

Two studies of people who had completed personality assessments as undergraduates or MBA students at three universities, and were surveyed again over a decade later and ranked by co-workers about their workplace behavior, found that those with selfish, deceitful, and aggressive personality traits were not more likely to have attained power than those who were generous, trustworthy, and generally nice. Plenty of jerks were in positions of power, but it wasn't because they manipulated their way into it.  Machiavellian behavior has been part of the lexicon for 500 years, but in contrast to…

Fear of thunder or other loud noises, nervousness about new areas, and fear of slippery surfaces and heights are common among dogs but a new paper says these non-social fears can be mitigated. Not for all dogs, the typical Cairn Terrier will remain more fearful than the average Chinese Crested Dog, but living environment and lifestyle will help. What works, according to 14,000 dog owners surveyed? Exposure to new things as puppies. Insufficient socialization of puppies to various situations and new environments were a link with fearfulness related to novel situations, loud noises as well…

A world-famous psychological experiment with over 5,000 citations may be another reason for the increased skepticism about psychology claims. used to help explain the brain's understanding of the body, as well as scores of clinical disorders, has been dismissed as not fit-for-purpose in a new academic paper from the University of Sussex. The Rubber Hand Illusion, where synchronous brush strokes on a participant's concealed hand and a visible fake hand supposedly give the impression of illusory sensations of touch and of ownership of the fake hand, has been considered accepted science for more…

Kids often have excitement or anxiety about the return to school. COVID-19 threw a lot of families into disarray when kids started staying home. And it be may present as they go back. School safety protocols for COVID-19 or other things highlighted in the news such as racial tension could cause increases in anxiety. While a little anxiety is normal, it may that the usual relief found in positive student relationships may disappear along with bullying if kids are again staying home. Here are some tips for navigating the adjustment if kids are going back to school. Image: Nationwide Children's…

A recent survey results analysis sought to quantify the happiness of married, formerly married and single people at the end of their lives - to find out just how much love and marriage played into overall well-being.  The 7,532 participants were surveyed periodically from ages 18 to 60 and the psychologists sought to determine who reported to be happiest at the end of their lives. The analysis of survey results found that participants fell of three groups: 79 percent were consistently married, spending the majority of their lives in one marriage; 8 percent were consistently single,…

Some people would not or said they could not socially distance effectively during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019 coronavirus mutation that originated in Wuhan, China and spread worldwide. Is there scientific truth to why? A new paper's results suggest that 'naming and shaming' and social media videos are not always the way to promote social distancing compliance during a pandemic. But it's surveys mixed with questions via Amazon Mechanical Turk (meaning participants in a narrow demographic and were paid) so caution is warranted.(1) The psychologists used information from…

The recently released 2020 ParticipACTION Report Card revealed that Canadian children scored a D+ for “daily physical activity,” an F for “active play” and a D- for “active transportation.” Only 39 per cent of Canadian children and youth achieve recommended physical activity levels. A decline in children’s physical activity isn’t a new trend. However, with COVID-19, there has been further decline in physical activity resulting from public health protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. COVID-19 has resulted in major disruptions of everyday life including school, playground and…