my readings in psychology for august 16th 2010

Dining with my childhood friend Pam in her home while attending the APA convention in San Diego this past week

Here is what I am reading today:

• fused people eager to die and kill for their group

“In a study to appear in Psychological Science, Bill Swann, professor of psychology, and a team of researchers found the majority of “fused” people, those who view themselves as completely immersed in a group (be it ethnic, national or other), are willing to commit extreme acts for the good of their compatriots.”

• more severe mental illness among college students

‘”In the last 10 years, a shift in the needs of students seeking counseling services is becoming apparent,” said John Guthman, PhD, author of the study and director of student counseling services at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. “University and college counseling services around the country are reporting that the needs of students seeking services are escalating toward more severe psychological problems. While the condition of students seeking counseling doesn’t necessarily reflect the experience of the average college student, our findings may suggest that students with severe emotional stress are getting better education, outreach and support during childhood that makes them more likely to attend college than in the past.”‘

“When a JetBlue flight attendant creatively deplaned earlier this week, many questions arose as to why someone would be willing to give up a steady paycheck during these tough economic times. While this “working man’s hero” will most likely be questioning his motives as he hands over his lawyer’s fees, a new report in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that his action may be a sign of trouble for JetBlue and other large companies.”