Genetically modified food: Would you eat it if you understood the science behind it?
The short answer is “yes,” according a new study from researchers in Rochester, Amsterdam and Wales, who set out to discover whether more information about genetically modified foods could change consumers’ attitudes.
Applying psychology to online dating
“There’s the old saying that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince—and I think that really applies to online dating,” says professor Harry Reis in an NBC News post on how to be better at online dating, according to psychology.
Ice cream and entrepreneurship in Manhattan’s Chinatown
Christina Seid ’02 mixes it up at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, bringing new flavors to her family’s deep Chinatown roots.
Does awe lead to greater interest in science?
In a recent study, participants who watched awe-inducing nature videos or virtual reality simulations consistently reported greater interest in science and greater awareness of gaps in their knowledge.
When parenting teens, keep calm and don’t carry on
In a new study, Rochester psychologists found that mothers and fathers who were less capable of dampening down their anger are more likely to resort to harsh discipline aimed at their teens, and that fathers in particular were not as good at considering alternative explanations for their teens’ behavior.
Common test of mental state understanding is biased
A new Rochester study has shown that a widely accepted test for assessing a patient’s ability to understand the mental state of another is biased against the less educated and against racial and ethnic minorities.
Cut to the chase: Can sex help start a relationship?
Researchers have demonstrated how sex and sexual desire play a major role not only in attracting potential partners to each other, but also in encouraging the formation of romantic relationships and emotional bonding.
Love in the time of Tinder
More than one-third of the sample in a recent survey by associate professor of psychology Ronald Rogge used dating apps. Rogge joined professor Harry Reis on WXXI to discuss this and other changes in dating culture.
Suicide risk in abused teen girls linked to mother-daughter conflict
Among adolescents who suffered abuse or neglect as children, not all entertain suicidal thoughts. So what can we learn about those who do? A Mt. Hope Family Center study shows a strong correlation between poor mother-daughter relationships and increased suicide risk in teenage girls.
Peering into what goes awry in schizophrenia
What cognitive processes contribute to how we function in a social world, and where do those processes break down? David Dodell-Feder—a new assistant professor of psychology—brings brain imaging, neuroscience, and even music and literature to bear in his research on the science of social connection.