The Teenage Mind

Anger

Communicating With Your Dog

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on October 12, 2017

Dogs do not speak in words but they communicate with us through sounds, postures, tail positions, and other non-verbal cues. Our job is to listen.

Dogs do not speak in words but they communicate with us through sounds, postures, tail positions, and other non-verbal cues. Our job is to listen.

Bias

"Us" and "Them"

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on April 25, 2017

Many of the principles studied by social psychologists after WWII apply to our current political climate.

Many of the principles studied by social psychologists after WWII apply to our current political climate.

Leadership

Money Management Skills for Children

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on April 12, 2017

Teach your children good money management skills and spare them a lifetime of debt.

Teach your children good money management skills and spare them a lifetime of debt.

Self-Esteem

Day Care Is Much More Than Babysitting

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on November 18, 2016

Quality day care fosters cognitive, physical, and social development. Day care is more than babysitting, much more.

Quality day care fosters cognitive, physical, and social development. Day care is more than babysitting, much more.

Play

Five Inspirational Films

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on October 3, 2016

There is a huge creative outpouring of film these days and a lot of it focuses on kids and teachers.

There is a huge creative outpouring of film these days and a lot of it focuses on kids and teachers.

Education

Navajo Math Circles

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on May 12, 2016

Youth who previously failed at math and saw it as unrelated to their lives are finding joy in math. How did this happen?

Youth who previously failed at math and saw it as unrelated to their lives are finding joy in math. How did this happen?

Environment

The Invention of Nature: a Book Review

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on March 10, 2016

Andrea Wulf's Invention of Nature surpassed my expectations. Rated as one of 2015's best books by Science Friday radio show, I rate it even higher.

Andrea Wulf's Invention of Nature surpassed my expectations. Rated as one of 2015's best books by Science Friday radio show, I rate it even higher.

Memory

'Inside Out'

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on December 7, 2015

"Inside Out" is a fun movie and a great resource for parents, teachers, and therapists, but the real meat is in the bonus materials.

"Inside Out" is a fun movie and a great resource for parents, teachers, and therapists, but the real meat is in the bonus materials.

Friends

How Did Dogs Become Our Best Friends?

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on September 15, 2015

Ever wonder how dogs became our best friends? Dr. Brian Hare developed a research program to understand how dogs evolved to read human gestures.

Ever wonder how dogs became our best friends? Dr. Brian Hare developed a research program to understand how dogs evolved to read human gestures.

Public school enrollment and sour cream consumption are highly correlated. Does this mean if I eat more sour cream that more teens will stay in school?

Adolescence

The Teen Brain

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on July 9, 2015

Recent brain scan imaging research explains risky behavior in adolescents as a failure of emotional and logical centers of the brain to communicate with each other. Normal adolescent growth improves neural connectivity explaining improved self-control by the middle twenties.

Recent brain scan imaging research explains risky behavior in adolescents as a failure of emotional and logical centers of the brain to communicate with each other. Normal adolescent growth improves neural connectivity explaining improved self-control by the middle twenties.

Memory

Mental Fitness for Seniors

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on May 19, 2015

Baby boomers are one of the largest aging cohorts ever. Given that more seniors than ever will be driving, traveling, and working, there is an urgency to staying mentally fit.

Baby boomers are one of the largest aging cohorts ever. Given that more seniors than ever will be driving, traveling, and working, there is an urgency to staying mentally fit.

Attention

Do Dogs Listen to Our Words or Voice Tone?

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on March 5, 2015

Dogs are more similar to us than we like to believe.

Dogs are more similar to us than we like to believe.

Obese children become obese adults.

Education

Sesame Street Creates Mobile Vocabulary App

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on January 6, 2015

Sesame Street creates a mobile app for preschoolers aimed at increasing vocabulary and concept development. With the new camera phone, children can learn anywhere and anytime. Is this an effective educational tool or a replacement for face time with parents?

Sesame Street creates a mobile app for preschoolers aimed at increasing vocabulary and concept development. With the new camera phone, children can learn anywhere and anytime. Is this an effective educational tool or a replacement for face time with parents?

Placebos have been found to reduce barking, scratching, and crying when dogs are separated from their owners.

Children can learn responsibility, nurturance, and a sense of being needed from a pet.

Behaviorism

Train Your Dog the Psychological Way

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on April 9, 2014

No more wild dogs. Simply master a few principles of learning theory and you can teach your dog all the basic commands.

No more wild dogs. Simply master a few principles of learning theory and you can teach your dog all the basic commands.

Attention

Communicating With Dogs

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on March 4, 2014

It has long been known that dogs respond to human gestures and voice tone. But can they understand our words? Are they more similar to us than we previously believed?

It has long been known that dogs respond to human gestures and voice tone. But can they understand our words? Are they more similar to us than we previously believed?

Adolescence

Teen Heroes of 2013

Jann Gumbiner Ph.D. on January 11, 2014

My role models are friends, neighbors, and colleagues—not celebrities and their manufactured images.

My role models are friends, neighbors, and colleagues—not celebrities and their manufactured images.