Things of interest from psychology past and present

View Article  Observers of Walking Figures See Men Advancing, Women in Retreat
Observers of Walking Figures See Men Advancing, Women in Retreat

When viewing figures walking, a curious illusion appears. People perceive male strollers as moving toward them, whereas the female walkers appear to be moving away, regardless of the figure's actual direction.

60-Second Psych from Scientific American podcasts
8 September 2008
View Article  Counterproductive Cameras At Traffic Lights
Counterproductive Cameras At Traffic Lights
Researchers in Florida contend that cameras for catching drivers who run red lights actually increase accidents and injuries.

60-Second Science from Scientific American podcasts
12 March 2008

View Article  Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control
Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control
In a preschool in Bridgeton, New Jersey, children are learning to develop important cognitive and self-regulation skills -- through play.

NPR Morning Edition (28 Feb 2008)
by Alix Spiegel
View Article  You Say Potato, I Say Cassava: Language, Culture and Perception
Scientific American -- Science Talk
(6 February 2008)

In this episode, University of California, Berkeley, linguist Alice Gaby talks about the relationships among language, culture, cognition and perception.
View Article  No Clowning for Hospitalized Kids
"No Clowning for Hospitalized Kids"
60-Second Science from Scientific American podcasts
January 17, 2008

Researchers spoke to 255 kids between the ages of 4 and 16.  And none of them liked clowns. 

According to the magazine Nursing Standard, one researcher said, “We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them frightening and unknowable.”
View Article  When the Virtual You Changes the Real You
"When the Virtual You Changes the Real You"
60-Second Psych
from Scientific American podcasts
November 22, 2007