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General Psychology

Telling a joke and involuntary dancing
When dance partners perform, their bodily movements become synchronised. This is deliberate on their part, of course, and we can see the timed interplay of their actions.
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Watching TV to destress not effective
Watching the television or playing a computer game to unwind after a stressful day at work could adversely affect a person's state of mind, according to a new study.
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Milgram paper is now freely available
A British Journal of Social Psychology paper on Milgram’s famous experiment on obedience received a lot of interest last week. It was reported by the Independent and Daily Mail, and attracted interest via the British Psychological Society’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
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Scrabble minds vs crossword minds
Every year, hundreds of word lovers arrive from across the US to compete in the American Crossword Puzzle tournament.
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New model predicts first impressions
A team at the University of York's Department of Psychology have devised a model based on people's physical features that can accurately predict whether or not first impressions will be favourable.
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Feeling sensations in a rubber tongue
Our sense of where our bodies begin and end usually feels consistent and reliable. However psychologists have been having fun for decades, exposing just how malleable the body concept can be.
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How happy music defeats sad lyrics
It's a quirk of human nature that many of us enjoy sad music. Research last year uncovered some reasons why, including feeling a sense of connection, and the aesthetic appeal.
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Hijab may help to improve body image
British Muslim women who wear the hijab could benefit from a more positive body image than those who do not, according to research published in the British Journal of Psy
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Our political leanings have deep roots
A person's political persuasion could be down to "deep-seated psychology", rather than the way they were brought up or individual decisions, a new 
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BPS Developmental Section Annual Conference, Amsterdam
How the developmental effects of ‘mind-blindness’ contribute to the social and communication difficulties of those with autism spectrum disorder will be discussed by Professor Francesca Happé at the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section Conference held in Amsterdam this week (3 to 5 September).
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Cancer patients and mental health care
As many as three-quarters of cancer patients with depression are not receiving treatment for their mental health problems, despite research that suggests an integrated treatment programme could improve their quality of life, according to new
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Greener offices make staff happier
Livening up sparse office environments with plants could make employees happier and businesses more profitable, according to a new study from Cardiff University.
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What gamblers and pigeons share
Gamblers are more likely to take risks if a high-value reward is up for grabs, a new study has found.
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Stories of Psychology: War and Its Legacy
The development of psychology during the First World War will be discussed at the annual public 'Stories of Psychology' symposium organised by the British Psychological Society’s History of Psychology Centre (HOPC) at the University of London on Wednesday 8 October 2014.
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Yoga helps mental agility in older adults
Older people could improve their cognitive functions if they regularly engage in hatha yoga, according to a new study.
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Our Mind Maps exhibition will now run until late October
The BPS-supported exhibition, Mind Maps: Stories from Psychology, at the Science Museum has proved so popular that it has been extended to run until 19 October. The exhibition has been positively reviewed in both the New Statesman and Time Out London.
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How alcohol boosts your sense of smell
As our modern world relies overwhelmingly on sight and sound to transmit information, it might not strike you quite how acute our sense of smell is.
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Eating fruit and veg helps people flourish
Regularly eating fruit and vegetables may help people feel engaged and that their life is purposeful and meaningful, a study from the British Journal of H
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Anxiety in job interviews
A study from North Illinois University looked at the impact of positive and neutral feedback during job interviews. Under positive and neutral feedback, more relaxed participants gave better interviews than their anxious counterparts, ma
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Lucid dreamers better at problem-solving
People who experience lucid dreams are likely to be better problem-solvers while they are awake than their counterparts who do not, according to a new study.
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Obese at higher risk of common cancers
Obese and overweight people are at a higher risk of acquiring 10 of the most common cancers. Roughly 12,000 cancer cases per year can be blamed on obesity says a study published in The Lancet.
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Humans and social interaction
It's become a truism that humans are "social animals". And yet, you've probably noticed - people on public transport or in waiting rooms seem to do everything they can not to interact.
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Literacy skills boosted by musical training
The reading skills of disadvantaged children can be enhanced if they undergo musical training, a new study has found.
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Call for health warnings on alcohol
A group of MPs has called for bottles of beer, wines and spirits to carry health warnings to alert people of the risks associated with excessive drinking.
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President Elect welcomes deputy prime minister's call for more mental health research funding
Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes, the British Psychological Society's President Elect, has welcomed the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, that a major push is needed to help boost mental health research in England.
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