behavior news stories on Newser

Lesbian Parents Do It Better

Nick McMaster — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:02:45 CDT

Children raised by lesbian parents perform better academically and exhibit better mental health than their peers raised by heterosexual couples, a new study found. Researchers found that kids raised by female-female couples had higher self-esteem and confidence, and showed fewer instances of rule-breaking and aggression, reports Time .

Texas Town's Schools Bring Back the Paddle

Emily Rauhala — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:12:00 CDT

A small town in Texas is reviving an old disciplinary technique: hitting students with paddles. Temple lifted its ban on the practice last May. Without paddling, "there were no consequences for kids," says the head of the school board, who adds that high school students have become much better behaved—...

Biologists: Drive to Help Others 'Innate'

Rob Quinn — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:21:48 CST

An inborn urge to be helpful may a key universal trait that makes us distinctively human, according to biologists. Experiments have found that babies just 12 months old are naturally helpful—pointing to help an adult find a lost item, for example—while chimpanzees aren't. The helpful instinct was found...

Shrinks Single Out Next PTSD: Bitterness

Rob Quinn — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Some psychiatrists believe embitterment is so common and so destructive that it should be classed as a mental illness, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sufferers are described as people who have worked hard at something like a job or relationship, only to be transformed into angry, pessimistic, brooding individuals consumed...

ADHD Signs Tied to Lack of Sleep

Matt Cantor — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:59:10 CDT

Kids who get enough sleep may be less likely to show signs of ADHD or other behavioral issues, the BBC reports. A Finnish study of 280 healthy kids aged 7 and 8 found that those who slept less than 8 hours were most hyperactive. Researchers say a third of US...

Playtime Teaches Kids 'Executive Function'

Nick McMaster — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:33:53 CDT

Preschool teachers are adopting new techniques to control students’ behavior that focus on impulse control, the Wall Street Journal reports. Seeking to counter a growing trend in rowdiness among young students, progressive curricula involve structured daily playtime during which kids take an imaginary trip to a pretend destination. Each plays...

I'm Not Out of Control: Winehouse

Rebecca Smith Hurd — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:43:01 CST

Despite photos and reports that suggest otherwise, Amy Winehouse says she isn’t a drunken mess—wreaking havoc at a Caribbean resort is her idea of a good time. “I’m not out of control,” she tells the Daily Mail . “Yes, I’ve had a few drinks, but I’m on holiday—I’m just...

Red Really Is the Color of Lust

John Johnson — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:57:54 CDT

Ladies looking to attract a man can ditch their magazines and follow some simple advice instead: Wear something red. So say researchers at the University of Rochester, who conducted five scientific-sounding experiments to conclude that men aren't all that complicated. The test subjects, all undergrads, judged women as sexier and...

'Social Siberia' Isn't Just a Metaphor

Ambreen Ali — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:22:02 CDT

Icy stares and chilly receptions can leave you feeling—well, cold. Metaphors about social behavior, like "warm welcome" and "cold shoulder," seem to relate to physical reality, new research finds. People who had experienced and recalled social rejection perceived a 5-degree temperature drop in the lab and experienced hot food...