social psychology

Stateside: Keeping our New Year's resolutions

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:21:12 +0000

New Year’s resolutions.

We may groan about them, we may proclaim that we are “above” making them, but it does seem that the New Year brings about a collective longing for a fresh start.

So, how do you keep going strong as the year goes on? And is it possible to turn a good intention into a lifelong, good habit?

University of Michigan psychologist Michelle Segar says the key to success is the ability to see something like exercise as a way to enhance our lives immediately, instead of the means to achieve a long-term goal.

Why are you so mean online?

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:16:08 +0000

People are mean on the internet.

This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with chat rooms or the comments sections of blogs. But why do people say things online that they would never say out loud?

A recent article in the Detroit Free Press asked a few experts what they thought.

Smart phone app helps kids with autism

Kyle Norris — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:17:33 +0000

Two Michigan psychologists have created a smart phone app to help kids with autism develop better social skills. Kelly Bowers and her husband Mark are both psychologists who work with kids. They watched their patients learn social skills in workshop settings, but noticed the kids had a harder time applying those skills to real-life situations.

Study: self-esteem trumps sex and sweets

Mark Brush — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:02:57 +0000

Michigan Radio news intern Bridget Bodnar filed a report on a new study published in the Journal of Personality.

The study found that young people prefer praise over things like sex, favorite foods, seeing a best friend, getting a paycheck, or drinking alcohol.

Ohio State University put out a press release on the new research. From the release: