Psychology in Action

Category: General Psychology

  • brain mapping disorders

    An ever growing number of studies feature brain mapping to illustrate structural differences in the brain based on grouping those with and without a given disorder. Techniques such as structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in researchers understanding of differences in shape and volume of various brain regions. Group differences are often found, yet…

  • More money more problems? Rich teens, drugs, and other mental health issues

    From allaboutaddiction.com: Teens raised in affluent homes display the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse according to a recent article in Monitor on Psychology, the APA‘s monthly magazine. One of our recent posts dealt with some of the issues unique to teens and drugs. In addition to the issues we’d already mentioned, the…

  • The Ethics of Neuroenhancement

    A recent issue of the New Yorker featured a wide-ranging and engagingly written review of the current controversy over the ethics of neuroenhancement. Neuroenhancement refers to the growing trend of off-label use of psychiatric drugs by men and women of all ages and backgrounds for the purpose of boosting their brain power and ability to…

  • Self-Control is important, and teachable to some extent

    Self-control or behavioral disinhibition has been implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It may be a mediating factor responsible for the lowered academic performance found among many children with ADHD. The ability to inhibit responses may predict academic performance even better than IQ. This New Yorker article reviews studies of…

  • Disclose or not? The catch 22 of mental illness

    A recent report published by SAMHSA addresses the issue of self-disclosure regarding mental illness. Research has already shown that the more familiar people are with others who have different form of mental illness, the more their attitudes regarding mental illness will improve. The problem is that in the process, those who self-disclose fear being ostracized,…

  • Teasing: Bullying or Playful Fun?

    Dacher Keltner over at UC Berkeley recently wrote this interesting piece on teasing for the New York Times magazine. Citing examples of recent attempts to curb teasing in schools and in the workplace, Keltner argues that society is going too far in its opposition to teasing. He points out that teasing behavior is central to…

  • Gossip

    Tobias Gibson once said, “Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people.” Well that may or may not be true, talking about other people may be adaptive. We all find ourselves engaging in this activity from time to time and it may not be all bad. This review of the psychology of…