Developmental Psychology

Too Much Sitting at School Leads to Attention Lapses

Too Much Sitting at School Leads to Attention Lapses

There are as many parenting philosophies as there are parents, but one thing most parents probably agree on is that it’s good for kids to stay active. Running around outside beats hours ...
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When Does Hoarding Start?

When Does Hoarding Start?

Hoarding disorder is a condition in which people compulsively acquire possessions that they then find themselves unable to discard. Hoarding can harm people’s health, their relationship with others, and their everyday functioning, ...
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Synesthesia and Aging

Synesthesia and Aging

The cross-sensory associations of synesthesia are still something of a mystery. We know that some people link letters with colors, or sounds with tactile sensations, but the broader implications of having synesthesia ...
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Focus on Short-Term Benefits for Motivation to Exercise

Focus on Short-Term Benefits for Motivation to Exercise

Exercise might prolong your lifespan and cut your risk of dementia later in life, but focusing on these long-term benefits isn’t necessarily enough to motivate a regular exercise routine. In fact, recent ...
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Can Implicit Bias Training Make College Admissions Fairer?

Can Implicit Bias Training Make College Admissions Fairer?

Last week, the ugly and absurd side of the United States' college admissions process burst into public view. Charges were filed against 50 people from wealthy families across the countries, who were ...
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Perfectionism Has Been Rising Over Time

Perfectionism Has Been Rising Over Time

Millennials get accused of all sorts of things. Narcissism is a common one. That idea fell apart when scientists took a closer look at it. But here’s a charge that might stick: ...
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Optimism Predicts Healthy Aging

Optimism Predicts Healthy Aging

If you expect that the future holds good things, you might be right. It’s a common idea that optimism can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and psychology research has tended to back up ...
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Biking Can Boost Cognitive Function in Older Adults

Biking Can Boost Cognitive Function in Older Adults

For better or worse, pedaling around on a two-wheeled vehicle seems to effect people’s cognition, as I’ve written about before. Being bicyclists apparently makes people better drivers but also gives them a ...
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Talking About Their Future Selves Improves Preschoolers' Cognitive Skills

Talking About Their Future Selves Improves Preschoolers’ Cognitive Skills

Conversations with adults are a key way that children build cognitive skills. And if you’re looking for something to talk about with the young children in your life, new research suggests a ...
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How Our Ability to Recognize Emotions Changes With Age

How Our Ability to Recognize Emotions Changes With Age

Being able to make an accurate guess at what the people around us are feeling is a skill that helps us get along with friends, family, partners and coworkers. Like other cognitive ...
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