Flags And Phrenology: The Week ’s Best Psychology Links

Our weekly round-up of the best psychology coverage from elsewhere on the web “Grumpy” dogs may be better learners than their more agreeable counterparts, reports James Gorman at The New York Times. Researchers found that grumpier canines were better at learning how to reach an object placed behind a fence by observing a stranger. But other scientists suggest that something more specific than “grumpiness” is responsible for the animals’ superior performance, such as increased aggression, reduced inhibition, or hyperactivity. Adults are more compassionate when children are around. That’s according to a series of studies whose results include the finding that people are more likely to donate to charity when more kids are nearby, and even that adults are more prosocial after merely thinking about children. Lukas Wolf and colleagues explain the work at The Conversation. Psychologists are working on various strategies to help people deal with the “infodemic” of fake news and social media manipulation. At Undark, Teresa Carr explores some of these attempts, ranging from online games to lessons on how to behave like fact-checkers. The country’s recent obsession with the Union flag could end up damaging social cohesion, warns Amit Katwala at Wired. While flags can act as a symbol of unity, research has found that they can also make outsiders feel less welcome. Other work has shown that, in some cases, the presence of a flag can increase ...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Weekly links Source Type: blogs