A Level Psychology Resources

Attractive Males Less Fertile Than Unattractive Males

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:39:29 +0000

Researchers from UCL and the University of Oxford are claiming that attractive males release fewer sperm per mating to maximise the number of offspring they can produce. Because more attractive males have greater access to a range of females, the optimum strategy is to produce less sperm and mate with more females. This means that attractive males may be less fertile than unattractive males.

Positive Self Statements May Backfire

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:58:22 +0000

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Times of doubt and uncertainty lead many people turn to self-help books in search of encouragement, guidance and self-affirmation. The positive self-statements suggested in these books, such as "I am a lovable person" or "I will succeed," are designed to lift a person's low self-esteem and push them into positive action. According to a recent study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, however, these statements can actually have the opposite effect.

Anorexia Linked to Brain Protein

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:30:26 +0000

Eating disorders are frequently seen as psychological or societal diseases, but do they have an underlying biological cause? A new study shows that the levels of a brain protein differ between healthy and anorexic women.

"Looking Like a Criminal" Means You Are More Likely To Be Selected In An Identity Parade

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:06:25 +0000

According to a new study presented today by Heather Flow and her colleagues at the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, just looking like a criminal could meant that you are more likely to be picked out in an identity parade.

Schizophrenia Linked to Quality of the Brain's White Matter

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:47:21 +0000

A new brain imaging technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has revealed a link between white matter integrity and schizophrenia.

Social Learning in Sticklebacks

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:46:51 +0000

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory claims that much of human learning occurs through observing others and imitating their behaviour. This type of learning has now been demonstrated in sticklebacks and the researchers believe that many other animals are able to learn in this way.

Eating Disorders in Male Heterosexuals Rising

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:26:30 +0000

A leading eating disorders specialist has warned that young heterosexual men are developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia at similar rates to women and gay men.

Video Demonstration of Classical Conditioning in Humans

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:35:46 +0000

Our latest featured resource for A Level Psychology is this video clip that demonstrates that classical conditioning works in humans too.

Are Women Really Choosier Than Men?

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:58:46 +0000

Evolutionary theories of sexual selection claim that as females are limited in the number of offspring they produce, whereas men are not, females have to be more careful in who they choose as a partner. Males, on the other hand, benefit from being less choosy and fathering lots of children. However, new research to be published in Psychological Science suggests that in particular social circumstances the roles are reversed and men are more choosy than women.

In The Long Run, Women Prefer Feminine Looking Men

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:35:09 +0000

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen have published research that shows that generally, when women are looking for long term relationships, they prefer feminine looking men. This research is relevant to the Relationships option in Unit 3 of the New AQA-A Psychology Specification.