readings in psychology for december 28 2011

My daughters Kristin and Karen show off their individually portioned Tiramisu! CLICK on the picture for our wonderful Tiramisu

Here are a few stories I have found interesting:

• severe impulsivity is genetic?

“A multinational research team led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health has found that a genetic variant of a brain receptor molecule may contribute to violently impulsive behavior when people who carry it are under the influence of alcohol. A report of the findings, which include human genetic analyses and gene knockout studies in animals, appears in the Dec. 23 issue of Nature.”

• health and fitness psychology

“It is common for people to think about the impact of exercise and nutrition on their body, but most people don’t really think about the effects of psychology or their mindset on their results. Believe it or not, it  is often possible to determine if a person will ultimately succeed or fail based on the psychological approach they have towards their health and fitness routine.”

• risk for obesity: handling stress well?

“People who seem to face stressful situations without blinking an eye may have an increased risk of health woes such as obesity and depression, according to a new study.”

• New society for social neuroscience

“Scholars at the University of Chicago have played a central role in establishing a new professional organization, the Society for Social Neuroscience, helping to advance an emerging interdisciplinary field. Research in social neuroscience is based on the use of new technologies, advanced understanding of genetics and other research, including studies on animal behavior. “We define social neuroscience broadly as the study of the neural, genetic, cellular and hormonal mechanisms underlying the emergent organizations that characterize each social species,” said  University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo.“