Greater Good Research Digest http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/ Greater Good en Greater Good Copyright 2011 2011-05-25T17:24:14+00:00 GreaterGoodResearchhttp://feedburner.google.com More than a Thank You Note: The Power of Gratitude Letters http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/08dwWhufGTE/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last#more_than_a_thank_you_note_the_power_of_gratitude_letters This study suggests that thanksgiving shouldn’t be reserved for a single holiday: There are strong psychological benefits to expressing thanks to people on a regular basis. Researchers divided 219 adults into two groups. Every week for four weeks, all of the adults reported their levels of gratitude, happiness, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. During weeks two, three, and four, half of the participants wrote “gratitude letters” to someone else, expressing appreciation for that person; the other half didn’t write letters. The letters were mailed after the study ended.

Over the four weeks, the results show that happiness and life satisfaction increased significantly, and symptoms of depression decreased significantly, for the writing group but didn’t change for the other group. Levels of gratitude stayed the same for both groups. The authors suggest that gratitude may just be a fixed quality, but the action of writing with gratitude generates overall positive feelings that increase happiness and life satisfaction and reduce one’s chances of developing depression. —Alice Hua

]]> This study suggests that thanksgiving shouldn’t be reserved for a single holiday: There are strong psychological benefits to expressing thanks to people on a regular basis. Researchers divided 219 adults into two groups. Every week for four weeks, all of the adults reported their levels of gratitude, happiness, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. During weeks two, three, and four, half of the participants wrote “gratitude letters” to someone else, expressing appreciation for that person; the other half didn’t write letters. The letters were mailed after the study ended. Over the four weeks, the results show that happiness and life satisfaction increased significantly, and symptoms of depression decreased significantly, for the writing group but didn’t change for the other group. Levels of gratitude stayed the same for both groups. The authors suggest that gratitude may just be a fixed quality, but the action of writing with gratitude generates overall positive feelings that increase happiness and life satisfaction and reduce one’s chances of developing depression. —Alice Hua depression, gratitude, happiness, Mental Health Professionals 2011-11-18T20:17:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last#more_than_a_thank_you_note_the_power_of_gratitude_letters Nurturing Moms Are Better than Money http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/LObcL_Ux_Hs/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last#nurturing_moms_are_better_than_money Past research has shown that kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to get sick and are more vulnerable to illness as adults. This study, however, suggests how mothers have the power to reduce some of these risks for their kids.

The authors looked at more than 1,200 adults, finding that those who’d grown up in a household with low socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to show signs of physiological problems associated with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, adults who reported having mothers who were nurturing, warm, and sensitive—who, for instance, were sensitive to their kids’ needs and gave them attention when they needed it—were in significantly better health than their peers. By contrast, there weren’t many health benefits associated with improving one’s SES from childhood to adulthood. The researchers suggest that having a nurturing mother gives kids emotion-regulation strategies and helps them view the world as a safer, less threatening place, reducing the physical effects of stress associated with low SES. —Bernie Wong

]]> Past research has shown that kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to get sick and are more vulnerable to illness as adults. This study, however, suggests how mothers have the power to reduce some of these risks for their kids. The authors looked at more than 1,200 adults, finding that those who’d grown up in a household with low socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to show signs of physiological problems associated with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, adults who reported having mothers who were nurturing, warm, and sensitive—who, for instance, were sensitive to their kids’ needs and gave them attention when they needed it—were in significantly better health than their peers. By contrast, there weren’t many health benefits associated with improving one’s SES from childhood to adulthood. The researchers suggest that having a nurturing mother gives kids emotion-regulation strategies and helps them view the world as a safer, less threatening place, reducing the physical effects of stress associated with low SES. —Bernie Wong children, inequality, money, mothers, parenting, resilience, socioeconomic status, stress, Mental Health Professionals, Parents 2011-11-18T19:46:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/how_to_make_thanksgiving_last#nurturing_moms_are_better_than_money Does Music Make Us Smarter? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/R7CP-An4ssw/does_music_make_kids_smarter http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_music_make_kids_smarter#does_music_make_us_smarter This study explores how musical training can improve our verbal ability. Seventy-one children between the ages for four and six received either visual art or computer-based music training. In the music training, the children learned about rhythm, pitch, melody, voice, and basic musical concepts; in art, they learned about shape, color, lines, dimension, and perspective. The training lasted an hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Before and after the training, the children took an intelligence test measuring vocabulary and spatial ability, and a separate test of their ability to associate related concepts.

The results show that after the training, children in the art group showed only a modest increase in spatial ability. But more than 90 percent of the children trained in music-listening skills showed significant improvements in their verbal ability, as well as higher scores on the conceptual task. The researchers suggest that music training requires “high levels of control, attention, and memorization,” which could be linked to later academic achievement. —Bernie Wong

]]> This study explores how musical training can improve our verbal ability. Seventy-one children between the ages for four and six received either visual art or computer-based music training. In the music training, the children learned about rhythm, pitch, melody, voice, and basic musical concepts; in art, they learned about shape, color, lines, dimension, and perspective. The training lasted an hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Before and after the training, the children took an intelligence test measuring vocabulary and spatial ability, and a separate test of their ability to associate related concepts. The results show that after the training, children in the art group showed only a modest increase in spatial ability. But more than 90 percent of the children trained in music-listening skills showed significant improvements in their verbal ability, as well as higher scores on the conceptual task. The researchers suggest that music training requires “high levels of control, attention, and memorization,” which could be linked to later academic achievement. —Bernie Wong art, children, cognition, education, learning, music, Educators, Parents 2011-10-28T19:01:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_music_make_kids_smarter#does_music_make_us_smarter Reading Emotion Involves More than the Face http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/DdVL6Zjss28/does_music_make_kids_smarter http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_music_make_kids_smarter#reading_emotion_involves_more_than_the_face While Paul Ekman and his disciples (including Greater Good’s Dacher Keltner) have pioneered the study of facial expressions, this study demonstrates that there’s more to emotion perception than just reading the face. After an extensive review of prior studies, the researchers identify three additional factors that influence how we recognize emotions.

First, our perception can change based on environment, such as certain images or objects that are juxtaposed with an expression. For instance, a scowl could be seen as fearful when paired with a story of danger, but it could be interpreted as disgust when paired with an image of soiled underwear. Second, words play an important role as well: When people are asked to identify emotions without words alongside them, they are accurate just 58 percent of the time; when they can match expressions to words, that rate improves to 83 percent. Finally, our cultural backgrounds influence how we perceive emotions: Research suggests that Western cultures actually tend to focus on the eyes, nose, and mouth when observing facial expressions while East Asian cultures fixate on the eyes alone. Western cultures also see emotion as an internal, individualized state, whereas East Asian cultures judge an individual’s emotion by focusing on the expressions of those around the individual and his or her relationships to others. As the researchers point out, it’s rare for us to see an isolated facial expression, and thus our perceptions shift as other information is taken into consideration. —Bernie Wong

]]> While Paul Ekman and his disciples (including Greater Good’s Dacher Keltner) have pioneered the study of facial expressions, this study demonstrates that there’s more to emotion perception than just reading the face. After an extensive review of prior studies, the researchers identify three additional factors that influence how we recognize emotions. First, our perception can change based on environment, such as certain images or objects that are juxtaposed with an expression. For instance, a scowl could be seen as fearful when paired with a story of danger, but it could be interpreted as disgust when paired with an image of soiled underwear. Second, words play an important role as well: When people are asked to identify emotions without words alongside them, they are accurate just 58 percent of the time; when they can match expressions to words, that rate improves to 83 percent. Finally, our cultural backgrounds influence how we perceive emotions: Research suggests that Western cultures actually tend to focus on the eyes, nose, and mouth when observing facial expressions while East Asian cultures fixate on the eyes alone. Western cultures also see emotion as an internal, individualized state, whereas East Asian cultures judge an individual’s emotion by focusing on the expressions of those around the individual and his or her relationships to others. As the researchers point out, it’s rare for us to see an isolated facial expression, and thus our perceptions shift as other information is taken into consideration. —Bernie Wong emotional intelligence, emotions, expressions, Mental Health Professionals 2011-10-28T19:00:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_music_make_kids_smarter#reading_emotion_involves_more_than_the_face Kindness Calculations http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/oufrzlEGP8I/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person#kindness_calculations Why do we sometimes go out of our way to help another person? To answer this question, researchers in this study broached new scientific territory: the science of door entry etiquette. Yes, they actually observed 148 people in the act of holding a door open for another person. They identified two key factors behind door etiquette. First, the farther away the second person was, the less likely the first person was to hold the door open. And second, they found that people would perform this altruistic act if the total effort of both individuals was less than if they each individually opened the door themselves: When the first person held the door a bit longer and the second person walked at a faster pace, they reduced the time and effort needed to have the door open. The message that the researchers want to convey is that the everyday acts of kindness we frequently perform are driven by largely unconscious processes and calculations. —Bernie Wong

]]> Why do we sometimes go out of our way to help another person? To answer this question, researchers in this study broached new scientific territory: the science of door entry etiquette. Yes, they actually observed 148 people in the act of holding a door open for another person. They identified two key factors behind door etiquette. First, the farther away the second person was, the less likely the first person was to hold the door open. And second, they found that people would perform this altruistic act if the total effort of both individuals was less than if they each individually opened the door themselves: When the first person held the door a bit longer and the second person walked at a faster pace, they reduced the time and effort needed to have the door open. The message that the researchers want to convey is that the everyday acts of kindness we frequently perform are driven by largely unconscious processes and calculations. —Bernie Wong altruism, ethics, helping, Educators 2011-09-30T09:00:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person#kindness_calculations Bad Mood, Good Deeds http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/9NyliEiJA_0/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person#bad_mood_good_deeds This study suggests that being in a bad mood might make you more altruistic—and being altruistic might make your mood improve. Every morning for three weeks, 68 employees at a technology company completed short surveys to measure their mood. Throughout the workday, they recorded whether they performed acts of altruism, courtesy, or other forms of kindness, then reported their mood again. The results show that employees who rated their moods negatively earlier in the day were more likely to perform altruistic acts later in the day—which, in turn was associated with a more positive mood. The researchers suggest that negative emotions may actually encourage social activity—in the form of altruism—in order to improve mood and divert attention away from negative thoughts. —Bernie Wong

]]> This study suggests that being in a bad mood might make you more altruistic—and being altruistic might make your mood improve. Every morning for three weeks, 68 employees at a technology company completed short surveys to measure their mood. Throughout the workday, they recorded whether they performed acts of altruism, courtesy, or other forms of kindness, then reported their mood again. The results show that employees who rated their moods negatively earlier in the day were more likely to perform altruistic acts later in the day—which, in turn was associated with a more positive mood. The researchers suggest that negative emotions may actually encourage social activity—in the form of altruism—in order to improve mood and divert attention away from negative thoughts. —Bernie Wong altruism, kindness, negative emotions, positive emotions, work, Educators, Mental Health Professionals 2011-09-30T08:01:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/does_a_bad_mood_make_you_a_good_person#bad_mood_good_deeds What Predicts Happiness? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/Zvgh8pffq-Y/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old#does_personality_predict_happiness This study explored whether it’s possible to predict people’s happiness based on their personality, looking at both adolescents and older adults. The researchers gave surveys to 223 high school students and 134 adults, ages 54 to 90, measuring their happiness levels, self-esteem, loneliness, and general psychological health; they also assessed the participants’ personalities. The results show that demographic factors like age, gender, and marital status held little sway over happiness and general psychological health for adults and teens alike; education had only a slight influence on self-esteem and psychological well-being for older adults.

Personality, however, was the most strongly linked to happiness and psychological well-being throughout life, even more so among adolescents than adults. The most important personality factors were extroversion (how outgoing someone is) and “emotional stability,” meaning that someone is not easily upset and doesn’t suffer from persistent negative feelings. The authors suggest that personality affects happiness less among older adults because the relative influences of health, education, and relationships increase as people age. —Bernie Wong

]]> This study explored whether it’s possible to predict people’s happiness based on their personality, looking at both adolescents and older adults. The researchers gave surveys to 223 high school students and 134 adults, ages 54 to 90, measuring their happiness levels, self-esteem, loneliness, and general psychological health; they also assessed the participants’ personalities. The results show that demographic factors like age, gender, and marital status held little sway over happiness and general psychological health for adults and teens alike; education had only a slight influence on self-esteem and psychological well-being for older adults. Personality, however, was the most strongly linked to happiness and psychological well-being throughout life, even more so among adolescents than adults. The most important personality factors were extroversion (how outgoing someone is) and “emotional stability,” meaning that someone is not easily upset and doesn’t suffer from persistent negative feelings. The authors suggest that personality affects happiness less among older adults because the relative influences of health, education, and relationships increase as people age. —Bernie Wong happiness, personality, Mental Health Professionals 2011-09-16T18:02:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old#does_personality_predict_happiness The Key to Lasting Life Satisfaction http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/8WyA8mVo_MI/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old#lasting_life_satisfaction Happy experiences make you happy and sad experiences make you sad, right? This study suggests it’s more complicated than that. Researchers asked 815 participants, ranging from 58 to 95 years of age, about their life story, particularly their “anchor” periods (i.e., the most emotionally significant points in life), as well as the most positive and negative periods of their lives. They also recorded participants’ overall life satisfaction. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that the intensity of happiness during positive periods was significantly higher than happiness during negative periods; it was also more intense than the level of sadness during both positive and negative periods .

The main finding, however, concerned how happiness and sadness during past happy or sad times help predict current happiness. Though happiness during happy times may boost life satisfaction, frequent sadness during sad times, and even happiness during sad times, can lead to low life satisfaction. In essence, happiness and suffering by themselves don’t determine overall life satisfaction; instead, what matters is the context in which these fleeting feelings are experienced, and how the sum of these experiences add up over time. —Bernie Wong

]]> Happy experiences make you happy and sad experiences make you sad, right? This study suggests it’s more complicated than that. Researchers asked 815 participants, ranging from 58 to 95 years of age, about their life story, particularly their “anchor” periods (i.e., the most emotionally significant points in life), as well as the most positive and negative periods of their lives. They also recorded participants’ overall life satisfaction. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that the intensity of happiness during positive periods was significantly higher than happiness during negative periods; it was also more intense than the level of sadness during both positive and negative periods . The main finding, however, concerned how happiness and sadness during past happy or sad times help predict current happiness. Though happiness during happy times may boost life satisfaction, frequent sadness during sad times, and even happiness during sad times, can lead to low life satisfaction. In essence, happiness and suffering by themselves don’t determine overall life satisfaction; instead, what matters is the context in which these fleeting feelings are experienced, and how the sum of these experiences add up over time. —Bernie Wong happiness, life satisfaction, sadness, Mental Health Professionals 2011-09-16T18:01:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_scientists_predict_how_happy_youll_be_when_youre_old#lasting_life_satisfaction Is Love Best Expressed through a Touch or a Smile? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/jIVe5NOJIsY/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile#is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile Is love best expressed through a touch or a smile? This study suggests that the best way to convey an emotion depends on what type of emotion you’re trying to convey. Researchers asked participants to express a range of emotions to someone else using their face, body, or touch. Participants also watched videos of other people expressing emotions and had to identify the emotions conveyed. The results suggest that the body best expresses emotions that convey our social status (e.g., embarrassment, guilt, or pride), the face best expresses survival emotions (e.g., anger, happiness, or sadness), and touch best expresses intimate emotions (e.g., love, sympathy). —Nadine Lueras-Tramma

]]> Is love best expressed through a touch or a smile? This study suggests that the best way to convey an emotion depends on what type of emotion you’re trying to convey. Researchers asked participants to express a range of emotions to someone else using their face, body, or touch. Participants also watched videos of other people expressing emotions and had to identify the emotions conveyed. The results suggest that the body best expresses emotions that convey our social status (e.g., embarrassment, guilt, or pride), the face best expresses survival emotions (e.g., anger, happiness, or sadness), and touch best expresses intimate emotions (e.g., love, sympathy). —Nadine Lueras-Tramma embarrassment, emotions, happiness, love, touch, Couples 2011-09-09T17:39:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile#is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile How to Cope with Rejection http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/E-1YJFQ7uTY/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile#ever_feel_rejected No one ever likes being socially rejected—in fact, it can feel downright painful. But this study suggests the effects of rejection go beyond hurt feelings. Reviewing more than 20 prior studies, it found that social rejection can reduce performance on a challenging intellectual task, reduce impulse control, and increase aggression and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The authors also looked at how people can effectively cope with rejection, finding (not surprisingly) that it varies by individual but that it’s generally important to overcome rejection and seek out new sources of support or acceptance. Studies have found that effective strategies include striving to form bonds with new friends, recalling positive memories from childhood, and even taking a pain reliever like Tylenol. —Raymond Firmalino

]]> No one ever likes being socially rejected—in fact, it can feel downright painful. But this study suggests the effects of rejection go beyond hurt feelings. Reviewing more than 20 prior studies, it found that social rejection can reduce performance on a challenging intellectual task, reduce impulse control, and increase aggression and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The authors also looked at how people can effectively cope with rejection, finding (not surprisingly) that it varies by individual but that it’s generally important to overcome rejection and seek out new sources of support or acceptance. Studies have found that effective strategies include striving to form bonds with new friends, recalling positive memories from childhood, and even taking a pain reliever like Tylenol. —Raymond Firmalino loneliness, social connections, stress, Mental Health Professionals, Parents 2011-09-09T17:31:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_love_best_expressed_through_a_touch_or_a_smile#ever_feel_rejected Who Gets Forgiven? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/4Pg9Rtwyfis/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness#forgiveness_for_offenders What makes someone more forgivable? This study asked 214 undergraduates to both recall a past relationship in which someone betrayed them and say how likely they were to avoid that person or seek revenge against him or her—typical signs of unforgiveness. The researchers also asked about the characteristics of the offender, trying to determine what types of people are more likely to receive forgiveness. They found that people seemed more forgiving toward offenders who they had seen as more conscientious, honest, humble, and benevolent in the past. —Bernie Wong

]]> What makes someone more forgivable? This study asked 214 undergraduates to both recall a past relationship in which someone betrayed them and say how likely they were to avoid that person or seek revenge against him or her—typical signs of unforgiveness. The researchers also asked about the characteristics of the offender, trying to determine what types of people are more likely to receive forgiveness. They found that people seemed more forgiving toward offenders who they had seen as more conscientious, honest, humble, and benevolent in the past. —Bernie Wong forgiveness, relationships, Couples 2011-08-25T05:44:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness#forgiveness_for_offenders How Can We Become More Engaged at Work? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/UHnz9ixzlQI/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness#how_can_we_become_more_engaged_at_work Employees are more satisfied and productive in their jobs when they’re more engaged with their work—but how can employers promote worker engagement? This study offers some answers. Reviewing more than 30 prior studies, it found that if workers receive more social support from colleagues and supervisors, more performance feedback, and more opportunities for learning, they report personal growth and do better work. The study also suggests that managers who let employees choose and negotiate job tasks, who place high demands on their employees, and who also provide employees with opportunities for rest and recovery foster growth for both employees and the organizations for which they work. —Raymond Firmalino

]]> Employees are more satisfied and productive in their jobs when they’re more engaged with their work—but how can employers promote worker engagement? This study offers some answers. Reviewing more than 30 prior studies, it found that if workers receive more social support from colleagues and supervisors, more performance feedback, and more opportunities for learning, they report personal growth and do better work. The study also suggests that managers who let employees choose and negotiate job tasks, who place high demands on their employees, and who also provide employees with opportunities for rest and recovery foster growth for both employees and the organizations for which they work. —Raymond Firmalino flow, work, Managers 2011-08-25T04:45:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/getting_engaged_receiving_forgiveness#how_can_we_become_more_engaged_at_work Brief Meditation Produces Positive Brains http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/Jq-zegdbf-g/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#meditation_and_happiness Meditating for just 15 minutes a day can produce substantial improvements in brain activity, according to this study. Eleven people participated in a five-week meditation training program, where they practiced focusing their attention on their breathing and cultivating awareness of their fleeting thoughts before promptly letting them go. After the program, researchers recorded the participants’ brain activity, comparing it with people who didn’t receive the training. Those who received the training had significantly greater activity in the brain’s frontal lobe, resulting in more positive emotions and a greater willingness to approach people or experiences. The researchers argue that the benefits of meditation are much more widely available than previously believed: Practicing for just a few minutes a day can lead to a more positive (and happier) state of mind. —Bernie Wong

]]> Meditating for just 15 minutes a day can produce substantial improvements in brain activity, according to this study. Eleven people participated in a five-week meditation training program, where they practiced focusing their attention on their breathing and cultivating awareness of their fleeting thoughts before promptly letting them go. After the program, researchers recorded the participants’ brain activity, comparing it with people who didn’t receive the training. Those who received the training had significantly greater activity in the brain’s frontal lobe, resulting in more positive emotions and a greater willingness to approach people or experiences. The researchers argue that the benefits of meditation are much more widely available than previously believed: Practicing for just a few minutes a day can lead to a more positive (and happier) state of mind. —Bernie Wong brain, happiness, meditation, neuroscience, positive emotions, Mental Health Professionals 2011-08-12T18:01:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#meditation_and_happiness Does Being Drunk, Powerful, and in the Dark Make You Do Good—or Evil? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/iUrhbksbgXw/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#drunk_powerful_and_in_the_dark This study examines how power, alcohol, and anonymity can have strong influences on our behavior, for better or for worse. Why do they lead some people to act more kindly, even heroically, while others display more aggression and hostility? Reviewing a range of research, this study’s authors find that all three factors promote disinhibition, in which the brain cannot recognize every possible response to a given situation. Without the mental ability to gauge the effects of different choices, people are more likely to choose the response that seems most obvious to them in the moment. The nature of their response depends on personal dispositions and social cues—for example, disinhibited people are more likely to act kindly towards others if they have a naturally compassionate personality or if social pressures call for considerate behavior. —Carmen Sobczak

]]> This study examines how power, alcohol, and anonymity can have strong influences on our behavior, for better or for worse. Why do they lead some people to act more kindly, even heroically, while others display more aggression and hostility? Reviewing a range of research, this study’s authors find that all three factors promote disinhibition, in which the brain cannot recognize every possible response to a given situation. Without the mental ability to gauge the effects of different choices, people are more likely to choose the response that seems most obvious to them in the moment. The nature of their response depends on personal dispositions and social cues—for example, disinhibited people are more likely to act kindly towards others if they have a naturally compassionate personality or if social pressures call for considerate behavior. —Carmen Sobczak altruism, behavior, bystander, compassion, heroism, power, social intelligence, 2011-08-12T18:00:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#drunk_powerful_and_in_the_dark How Depression Reduces Empathy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/EC6b6aj7Hr0/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#depression_on_relationships This study suggests that depression can reduce feelings of empathy for one’s partner in a relationship. Researchers looked at 55 couples who had been living together for a minimum of six months. First, the researchers assessed each partner’s levels of depression, they then videotaped the couples taking turns asking each other for help with a problem. Later, each partner watched the footage and recorded what they thought they and their partner had been thinking and feeling during the conversations. For three weeks afterward, they also kept a daily diary of their moods, feelings about their relationship, and empathy levels. When the researchers analyzed the responses to the videos and the diaries, they found that the more depressed women seemed, the worse they were at identifying the feelings of their partner; men didn’t show this link between depression and empathy. Also, when women were more depressed, men were worse at understanding their emotions. Since empathy is important to intimate relationships, the results suggest how depression among women can challenge a relationship by reducing their empathy and their partner’s empathy. —Bernie Wong

]]> This study suggests that depression can reduce feelings of empathy for one’s partner in a relationship. Researchers looked at 55 couples who had been living together for a minimum of six months. First, the researchers assessed each partner’s levels of depression, they then videotaped the couples taking turns asking each other for help with a problem. Later, each partner watched the footage and recorded what they thought they and their partner had been thinking and feeling during the conversations. For three weeks afterward, they also kept a daily diary of their moods, feelings about their relationship, and empathy levels. When the researchers analyzed the responses to the videos and the diaries, they found that the more depressed women seemed, the worse they were at identifying the feelings of their partner; men didn’t show this link between depression and empathy. Also, when women were more depressed, men were worse at understanding their emotions. Since empathy is important to intimate relationships, the results suggest how depression among women can challenge a relationship by reducing their empathy and their partner’s empathy. —Bernie Wong depression, empathy, love, relationships, Couples 2011-08-12T09:02:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/brief_meditation_produces_positive_brains#depression_on_relationships Are Toddlers Capable of Empathy? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/Z5FaiX0niEQ/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes#toddlers_capable_empathy Are 18-month-olds able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes? A recent study suggests that they can, to some extent. Thirty-six 18-month-olds were blindfolded, but in some cases, they could actually see through the blindfold. After the blindfold was removed, they watched an actor look for an object behind one of two curtained windows. After four attempts, the actor put on a blindfold that looked the same as the one the infant had used, and the object was moved to the other window. The researchers wanted to know where the infants would fix their gaze as they observed the actor.

The young participants who had worn the real blindfold looked at the window where the object had been before, assuming that’s where the blindfolded actor would look because he didn’t the object had been moved. Infants who had worn the see-through blindfold, on the other hand, immediately followed the object to the correct window; they seemed to think the actor would know to look there, based on the infants’ experience with the transparent blindfold. The researchers argue that even infants are able to place their own experiences into the belief systems of other people, a building block of empathy. —Bernie Wong

]]> Are 18-month-olds able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes? A recent study suggests that they can, to some extent. Thirty-six 18-month-olds were blindfolded, but in some cases, they could actually see through the blindfold. After the blindfold was removed, they watched an actor look for an object behind one of two curtained windows. After four attempts, the actor put on a blindfold that looked the same as the one the infant had used, and the object was moved to the other window. The researchers wanted to know where the infants would fix their gaze as they observed the actor. The young participants who had worn the real blindfold looked at the window where the object had been before, assuming that’s where the blindfolded actor would look because he didn’t the object had been moved. Infants who had worn the see-through blindfold, on the other hand, immediately followed the object to the correct window; they seemed to think the actor would know to look there, based on the infants’ experience with the transparent blindfold. The researchers argue that even infants are able to place their own experiences into the belief systems of other people, a building block of empathy. —Bernie Wong babies, children, cognition, empathy, perspective taking, Educators, Parents 2011-08-05T18:02:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes#toddlers_capable_empathy Meditation Makes Brains Quicker http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/0PYdQ1Oqu5s/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes#meditation_boosts_your_brain This study adds to the evidence that meditation can produce real, physical benefits in brain function. People between the ages of 25 and 71, with five to 46 years of experience in various styles of meditation, were matched with non-meditators of a similar age and educational level. All participants were given a brain scan measuring the physical structure and organization of their brain connections. Those with a meditation background—regardless of the length of experience—displayed more numerous and denser brain fibers that appeared to give them quicker and more efficient brain function. The researchers suggest that meditation can not only improve brain function but can also potentially benefit attention and intelligence as well. —Bernie Wong

]]> This study adds to the evidence that meditation can produce real, physical benefits in brain function. People between the ages of 25 and 71, with five to 46 years of experience in various styles of meditation, were matched with non-meditators of a similar age and educational level. All participants were given a brain scan measuring the physical structure and organization of their brain connections. Those with a meditation background—regardless of the length of experience—displayed more numerous and denser brain fibers that appeared to give them quicker and more efficient brain function. The researchers suggest that meditation can not only improve brain function but can also potentially benefit attention and intelligence as well. —Bernie Wong attention, brain, meditation, neuroscience, Mental Health Professionals 2011-08-05T18:01:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/can_toddlers_see_the_world_through_your_eyes#meditation_boosts_your_brain Is Racism a Zero-Sum Game? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/sXx2r3iRrs4/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks#racism_as_a_zero-sum_game Do white Americans now face more discrimination than African Americans? This study suggests that whites think racism against African Americans has declined significantly—at their expense. Researchers asked black and white Americans to indicate how much discrimination blacks and whites faced in each decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. Both groups see racism against African Americans as declining over time. However, white respondents see racism as a “zero-sum game”: As prejudice against blacks has declined, they believe prejudice against whites has increased sharply, to the point that they think anti-white prejudice is now more prevalent than anti-black prejudice. The researchers suggest whites’ views on racism may be influenced by affirmative action policies, which whites may see as a threat to their educational and employment opportunities. —Nadine Lueras-Tramma

]]> Do white Americans now face more discrimination than African Americans? This study suggests that whites think racism against African Americans has declined significantly—at their expense. Researchers asked black and white Americans to indicate how much discrimination blacks and whites faced in each decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. Both groups see racism against African Americans as declining over time. However, white respondents see racism as a “zero-sum game”: As prejudice against blacks has declined, they believe prejudice against whites has increased sharply, to the point that they think anti-white prejudice is now more prevalent than anti-black prejudice. The researchers suggest whites’ views on racism may be influenced by affirmative action policies, which whites may see as a threat to their educational and employment opportunities. —Nadine Lueras-Tramma prejudice, racism, 2011-07-29T17:45:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks#racism_as_a_zero-sum_game Where the Brain Feels Empathy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/ZgjAofLj3Pc/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks#where_the_brain_feels_empathy This study investigated the neural basis of empathy. To do this, it studied the brain pathways of a woman born without limbs as she observed the actions and pain responses of other people. The researchers found that sensory-motor areas of her brain were active when she watched the people perform tasks that she could still perform, despite not having limbs. But when she watched tasks that she could not perform, or observed pain in body parts she didn’t have, her brain wasn’t active in those regions; instead, it was active in regions associated with reasoning, as she tried to figure out how the other person might be feeling. The results suggest that empathy occurs mostly in sensory-motor areas of the brain when a person can directly relate to the actions or feelings of another, but more in the reasoning areas of the brain when they cannot. —Alice Hua

]]> This study investigated the neural basis of empathy. To do this, it studied the brain pathways of a woman born without limbs as she observed the actions and pain responses of other people. The researchers found that sensory-motor areas of her brain were active when she watched the people perform tasks that she could still perform, despite not having limbs. But when she watched tasks that she could not perform, or observed pain in body parts she didn’t have, her brain wasn’t active in those regions; instead, it was active in regions associated with reasoning, as she tried to figure out how the other person might be feeling. The results suggest that empathy occurs mostly in sensory-motor areas of the brain when a person can directly relate to the actions or feelings of another, but more in the reasoning areas of the brain when they cannot. —Alice Hua brain, empathy, neuroscience, pain, 2011-07-29T16:39:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/do_whites_face_more_racism_than_blacks#where_the_brain_feels_empathy Does Happiness Come from Our Genes or Environment? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GreaterGoodResearch/~3/OvR5EuND8qY/is_happiness_in_our_genes http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_happiness_in_our_genes#does_happiness_come_from_our_genes_or_environment Though we all experience our fair share of emotional ups and downs, research suggests that people tend to return to a relatively stable “set point” of well-being—the basic level of happiness they maintain day in and day out. But different people have different set points. How are these levels determined? This study explored whether genetic forces or pivotal life experiences play a larger role in predicting our set point. Researchers examined identical twins over a period of several years and found that their set points differed from one another. Since twins share the same genetic material, this result suggests that our environment can strongly affect our overall psychological well-being. The researchers argue that happiness is therefore self-perpetuating: Happy people tend to seek out experiences that will sustain their good mood. —Carmen Sobczak

]]> Though we all experience our fair share of emotional ups and downs, research suggests that people tend to return to a relatively stable “set point” of well-being—the basic level of happiness they maintain day in and day out. But different people have different set points. How are these levels determined? This study explored whether genetic forces or pivotal life experiences play a larger role in predicting our set point. Researchers examined identical twins over a period of several years and found that their set points differed from one another. Since twins share the same genetic material, this result suggests that our environment can strongly affect our overall psychological well-being. The researchers argue that happiness is therefore self-perpetuating: Happy people tend to seek out experiences that will sustain their good mood. —Carmen Sobczak environment, genetics, happiness, 2011-07-22T09:00:00+00:00 http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/research_digest/is_happiness_in_our_genes#does_happiness_come_from_our_genes_or_environment