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Are Letters of Recommendation Worth the Effort?

By Michael G. Aamodt, Ph.D. on February 22, 2012 in Get Psyched!

This time of year, faculty are often busy writing letters of recommendation for students applying to graduate school and responding to reference requests from potential employers. Read More

Mutual Pathology: Gasoline and Fire

By Sandra Brown, M.A. on February 21, 2012 in Pathological Relationships

Pathology is a mental health issue, not a gender issue. Women have just as much pathology in some areas of personality disorders, as men do in other areas of personality disorders. Some of the 10 personality disorders present more in men, while some of the disorders present more in women. Read More

Is There a Liberal Bias Among American Professors?

By Gad Saad, Ph.D. on February 20, 2012 in Homo Consumericus

We often hear about the Leftist bent at American university campuses. Is this true? See the results of a study that explored voter registration data (Democrat versus Republican) across 11 universities. Read More

Principle Number Five: Love Your Enemy

By Izzy Kalman on February 20, 2012 in A Psychological Solution to Bullying

The purpose of school anti-bullying policies and campaigns is to promote the development of morality in children. Unfortunately, they tend to promote hatred. To reverse this trend, we need to be teaching "Love your enemy." Read More

The Shape and Color of Song in Germany

By Maureen Seaberg on February 20, 2012 in Tasting the Universe

Alexandra Kirschner of Stuttgart teaches young synesthetes to sing through the imagery they see while forming sound. Read More

Why Wireless Children Are More Successful in School

By Gina Barreca, Ph.D. on February 19, 2012 in Snow White Doesn't Live Here Anymore

These are kids for whom it is not unusual to make a quick leap from the first awakening of sexual awareness to the first consummation of sexual experience. They haven't had to wait for anything else; why wait for that? Read More

Is Evolution "Just a Theory"?

By Tania Lombrozo, Ph.D. on February 18, 2012 in Explananda

Evolution's scientific credentials are sometimes challenged by noting that it is a THEORY, not a FACT. Do people reject evolution because it's "just a theory"? Research suggests that understanding the nature of science, and in particular the idea that theories are reliable but revisable, is related to accepting evolution. Read on to find out why. Read More

The Self-Education of Oscar Micheaux

By Lisa Rivero on February 18, 2012 in Creative Synthesis

Whether his achievements were the result of talent or practice or something else entirely, one trait stands out as allowing Oscar Micheaux to pursue his successive dreams: He was willing to be the oddball and to appear foolish in others’ eyes. Read More

Psychology's Best-Kept Secrets

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. on February 18, 2012 in Fulfillment at Any Age

How much do you really know about how much psychology knows? These 10 well-established facts will give you insight into some of the field’s most significant (and cool) findings. Read More

The Fallacy of the Parental Fool

By Steve Baskin on February 16, 2012 in S'mores and More

TV programs targeted at children portray adults and parents as fools. While this is amusing to children, it is harmful to their relationships with parents. Here are some suggestions to address this challenge. Read More

10 Principles for Teaching Ethics (and Lots of Other Stuff)

By Mitchell M. Handelsman, PhD on February 16, 2012 in The Ethical Professor

Here are ten of my guiding principles that I shared with the students in our graduate course: "Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology." Read More

Ritalin Results Gone Wrong

By Polly Palumbo, Ph.D. on February 15, 2012 in Momma Data

A retired psychologist stirred controversy claiming medications for attention deficits don't have long-term benefits. Some responded by praising the drugs, some denouncing them. Parents told how the drugs saved their kids. Psychologists spoke of the needs of the individual child. Hardly anyone mentioned empirical evidence. Read More

Was I a Troublemaker? Weren't you?

By Gina Barreca, Ph.D. on February 15, 2012 in Snow White Doesn't Live Here Anymore

I felt like a foster-child at the affluent institution I attended, but only a very good education could have prepared me to be a truly effective troublemaker. For that I am indeed grateful. Read More

Why Poor Children Are Falling Behind

By Arthur Dobrin, DSW on February 15, 2012 in Am I Right?

It is too easy for those who are successful to blame those who aren't for their own failures. Read More

Experts Explain How to Choose a School by the Numbers

By Garth Sundem on February 15, 2012 in Brain Trust

Last week I wrote a somewhat half-baked post describing simple numbers that parents can use to pick an elementary school (the first and second were solid!). This week, I called around to get experts’ take on the topic. Here’s what they said. Read More

Some Ways to Practice Are More Perfect Than Others

By Susan Heitler, Ph.D. on February 14, 2012 in Resolution, Not Conflict

What separates world-class performers from everyone else is how they practice. Here are the keys to becoming far better at whatever you love doing. Read More

Shooting Your Kid’s Laptop Is No Solution to Media Literacy

By Pamela Brown Rutledge, Ph.D., M.B.A. on February 14, 2012 in Positively Media

The dad who shot his daughter’s laptop over a Facebook post shows the critical need for media literacy. His YouTube video response, showing the laptop’s demise at the hands of his 45 revolver, underscores the fallacy of publishing things you really want to stay private in what is fundamentally not just public, but permanent and searchable. Read More

What People Believe Is True Is Frequently Wrong

By Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D. on February 14, 2012 in Cutting-Edge Leadership

The title is one of my favorite Peter Drucker quotes. What he is referring to is the fact that common wisdom (what the majority believes is true) is often false. Take for example, that the majority of Americans believe in paranormal phenomena... Read More

Early Friendships Are Important, Especially for Boys

By Debbie Glasser, Ph.D. on February 14, 2012 in Parenting News You Can Use

When your son in kindergarten makes a new friend in school, this little buddy may likely be more than just a fun playmate. This early friendship can enhance your child's social skills and even protect against behavioral problems in later grades. Read More

What Students Love about Teachers: A Valentine Mash Note

By Dana S. Dunn, Ph.D. on February 14, 2012 in Head of the Class

Dear Professor: I heart your intro class, I really do. Here's why. Read More

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