Tag Behavior
A shock to the system: Spring has finally sprung
“We always want what we can’t have — and for months, we’ve wanted sunshine and warm weather. Now that we have it, though, there’s a bit of pressure to enjoy every moment,” says Christine Whelan. Read More
Gambling against the odds on life’s risks more common after childhood stress
Trouble reading the signs that a loss or punishment is looming can lead to situations that risk avoidable problems. Read More
To pick a great gift, it’s better to give AND receive
A new study shows that gift recipients are happier with a present when the giver got themselves the same thing — a phenomenon researchers call "companionizing." Read More
Researchers crack the smile, describing 3 types by muscle movement
The smile may be the most common and flexible expression, used to reveal some emotions, cover others and manage social interactions. But how do we tell one kind of smile from another? Read More
Study finds Pokemon Go players are happier, friendlier
Media researchers at UW–Madison leapt at the opportunity to study the wildly popular mobile game shortly after its release in July 2016. Now they're reporting their results. Read More
Mobile communication keeps couples who live close to one another even closer
Even couples who live close to one another rely heavily on mobile media to manage their dating relationships. And that can be a good thing. Read More
Video game research shows promise for autism
The Waisman Center is studying how helping kids with autism spectrum disorder improve their motor skills may have a positive impact on their symptoms. Read More
A compassionate approach leads to more help and less punishment
Understanding what motivates people to be altruistic can not only inform our own behaviors, it may also play a role in creating more just societal institutions. Read More
When brain metabolism dips, desire goes up in monkeys on ‘female Viagra’
As “the female Viagra” comes to market, researchers are learning more about how the drug affects the brain. Read More
Apes may be closer to speaking than many scientists think
Koko the gorilla is best known for a lifelong study to teach her a silent form of communication, American Sign Language. But some of the simple sounds she has learned may change the perception that humans are the only primates with the capacity for speech. Read More
Infamous study of humanity’s ‘dark side’ may actually show how to keep it at bay
In 1961, with memories of Holocaust atrocities and the prosecution of Nazi officials at Nuremburg still fresh, psychologist Stanley Milgram undertook a series of now infamous experiments on obedience and reprehensible behavior. Read More
Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows
Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion - the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior. Read More