Healthy Kids Make Better Students
More schools are putting health centers on-site, improving students' health and mental health care-- and offering new opportunities for clinical psychologists.
featured October 21, 2005

Psychology And Your Health
Recent findings show that work-related burnout can lead to cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory-linked illness. Now, researchers find evidence that men and women differ in their inflammatory reactions to work-related burnout and depression.
featured October 18, 2005

APA Expert Summit on Immigration: "Global Realities: Intersections and Transitions"
San Antonio, Texas, February 2, 2006
Join APA President-Elect Dr. Gerry Koocher in discovering how psychology has the potential to help to move America in greater acceptance of multiculturalism.
featured October 16, 2005

October Is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
APA encourages you to learn more about domestic violence and the impact it may have upon your life or the lives of those you know.
From the Monitor

APA Offers Help For Hosts
Hosting a family displaced by Katrina can be rewarding and certainly offers you the opportunity to do some tremendous good, but special considerations are needed to make the "visit" go smoothly. Find out more in Tips for Hosting Families Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, from APAHelpCenter.org.
featured September 27, 2005

Advancements In Predicting Alzheimer's
Two recent studies may help better predict and understand Alzheimer's type dementia earlier. Both studies appear in the September issue of the APA journal Neuropsychology.
featured September 27, 2005

Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds
The passage of time doesn't always bring relief to survivors of traumatic events. Instead, some are finding it more difficult to cope now than they did in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. APA's topic page on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) offers help in identifying symptoms of PTSD and finding appropriate treatment for those affected.
featured September 25, 2005

Ethics In Extreme Settings
Psychologists can ethically serve in consultative roles to interrogation or information-gathering processes for national security-related purposes, but must do so within the boundaries of a strict set of ethical considerations.
featured September 25, 2005

Psychologists On The Front Lines
Are you prepared for a disaster in your community? In the article below APA member Dr. Sam Goldstein, PhD, maintains that preparation is the key to confronting, and surviving, unforeseen disasters. 'It's Psychologically Healthy to Prepare'
September 20, 2005, Newsweek
featured September 20, 2005

Helping Children Cope With Disaster
APF funding is helping the Population and Community Development Association of Thailand use a mountain resort camp to help Thai children recover from the tsunami's lingering affects. Lessons learned may benefit victims of Katrina as well.
featured September 20, 2005

After Katrina: More Assistance From APA
APA is offering free Spanish-Language materials on its online consumer help center, http://www.APAHelpCenter.org, that provide tips for coping in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Materials to be added soon include tips for parents and tips for teens.
Related information...
featured September 18, 2005

Men And Women Are Both From… Earth?
The popular media has portrayed men and women as psychologically different as two planets - but these differences are vastly overestimated and the two sexes are more similar in personality, communication, cognitive ability and leadership than realized.
featured September 18, 2005

APA Responds to Katrina
APA has responded to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina with financial assistance and the unique skills of psychologists when people are in need. APA is offering financial assistance to charitable and relief organizations, dues relief to affected APA members, training to mental health responders, and information to the public and policymakers about trauma, trauma recovery and the role of psychologists in that process.
featured September 15, 2005

Psychologists On The Front Lines
The efforts of APA's Disaster Response Network have been significant… read about DRN members & activities in the following articles:

Hurricane Katrina: Psychologists Helping Psychologists

Hurricane Katrina: APA's DRN Has Hit The Ground Running
As reported by Newsweek, members of APA's Disaster Response Network are working hard to deal with the damaged psyches, hurting hearts and emotional fallout of Hurricane Katrina.
>>A Very Long Recovery
September 6, 2005, Newsweek
Also of interest…
>> APA's Response to Hurricane Katrina
>> Application to volunteer with APA's Disaster Response Network (DRN)
featured September 8, 2005

Hurricane Katrina: Help From APA
APA's Education Directorate has compiled a wealth of information for psychology students, interns, faculty, researchers and practitioners in need.

Assistance available through psychology organizations

Opportunities for psychology faculty, students and interns

Managing Traumatic Stress: After Hurricane Katrina
The effects of a hurricane like Katrina will be long-lasting and the resulting trauma can reverberate even with those not directly affected by the disaster. Understanding normal responses to these abnormal events can aid you in coping effectively with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and help you along the path to recovery.
Also of interest…
>> APA Help Center Offers Materials To Public On Managing Traumatic Stress After Hurricane Katrina
featured September 4, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA
Help From APA
APA is offering free materials to the public on managing traumatic stress in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The materials include information for people both directly and indirectly affected by the hurricane and provides strategies for people to help themselves, their families and children and those struggling to cope from afar.
featured September 1, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA
APA Member Psychologists On The Disaster
Chaos, Crime Add To Katrina's Mental Woes
September 1, 2005, Reuters
"Social order is just breaking down," said psychologist Debra Borys, a disaster specialist who practices in Los Angeles. "To have the human-to-human violence added to the violence of nature -- people could feel there is no safety." -- APA Member Dr. Debra Borys, PhD
"When the the resources run out they tend to have more difficulty in coping," said Gerard Jacobs, a psychologist and head of the University of South Dakota's Disaster Mental Health Institute. -- APA Fellow Dr. Gerard Jacobs, PhD
Read the full-text article
featured August 31, 2005

Psychological Ethics And National Security
A new study has discovered a vicious APA's Council of Representatives has endorsed a Task Force Report on Psychological Ethics and National Security that sets forth strict ethical guidelines for psychologists' participation in national security-related investigations and interrogations.
featured August 28, 2005

Opiates Increase Vulnerability To Stress
A new study has discovered a vicious cycle between stress and opiates: Not only does stress trigger drug use, but in return the drug leaves animals more vulnerable to stress. This helps to explain why people who use opiates such as heroin have very high rates of anxiety problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, even after they stop using.
featured August 28, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA
APA's Natural Disaster Assistance
>> APA's Disaster Response Network (DRN) is a national network of volunteer psychologists with training in disaster response.
>>Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Natural Disasters
>>APA Natural Disasters Webpage
>>APA Help Center offers tips and articles on the psychological issues that affect the physical and emotional well-being of disaster survivors.
featured August 28, 2005

2005 APA Convention Press Releases: Featured on the APA site throughout the 2005 Convention (August 18-21, 2005)
New Research Extends Understanding Of The Positive Health Effects Of Expressive Writing
WASHINGTON — Researchers have known for some time that expressive writing can have a positive effect on the writer's health, such as illness recovery. Now researchers have shown that the effects of affective expressions are not necessarily fixed but rather dependent on the writer's mental context at the time.

Review Of Research Shows That Playing Violent Video Games Can Heighten Aggression
WASHINGTON – Violent video games can increase aggressive behavior in children and adolescents, both in the short- and long-term, according to an empirical review of the last 20 years of research.

Episode Of Minor Depression Found To Increase The Risk For Developing Major Depression, Confirms A Longitudinal Study
WASHINGTON – Those who feel sad and lack an interest in regular life activities for at least two weeks and qualify for a diagnosis of minor depression are six times as likely to develop major depression compared to those who don’t have these symptoms.

Health And Consumer Groups Call For An Integrated Health Care System
WASHINGTON — A coalition of 24 health care provider, public health and consumer groups today called for the integration of behavioral and mental health services into the nation’s primary and public health systems.

Mental Health Of U.S. Correctional Inmates
WASHINGTON — According to a symposium of psychological and public health experts presenting at the 113th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA), a lack of mental health diagnosis and treatment does exist in many U.S. correctional facilities for those inmates who have a mental illness.

APA Gives Media Recognition Award To CBS News’ The Early Show
WASHINGTON – CBS News' popular morning news program, The Early Show, will receive the 2005 News Media Recognition Award for excellence in reporting of psychological research and information.

Informing The Public About Psychological Health Through Public Art
WASHINGTON — Art serves as a way to teach the public about psychology in "Heads Up Kentucky! Psychology Promotes Healthy Living," an innovative public health education campaign that pairs consumer information about psychological aspects of health with appealing street art.

APA Calls For Reduction Of Violence In Interactive Media Used By Children And Adolescents
WASHINGTON - Research shows playing violent video games increases aggressive behavior and decreases helpful behavior; learning critical evaluating skills may reduce negative effects.

Press Information About American Psychological Association's 113th Annual Convention In Washington, DC August 18-21, 2005
WASHINGTON — Major convention themes and logistics, facilities, hours and convention highlights of interest to members of the press.

ACTing Up
A violence prevention initiative developed by APA is targeting everyday aggression. Adults and Children Together (ACT) Against Violence has launched its third national media campaign with new radio, billboard and newspaper ads that educate parents about the negative effects of everyday aggression.
featured August 14, 2005

Kids & TV Violence
Violent programs on television lead to aggressive behavior by children and teenagers who watch those programs. Fortunately parents have tremendous power to moderate the influence of violent programming.
featured August 14, 2005

CE Workshops & Sessions
60 Continuing Education Workshops will be offered by the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology and the Continuing Education Committee.
Over 200 Continuing Education Sessions will be offered by APA Divisions and APA Directorates/Offices.
featured August 11, 2005

Psychology In The News

NEWS FROM APA: PHOBIAS
When Health Fears Hurt Health
Some people neglect their health because of phobias about dentists, needles, diseases and germs. But psychological interventions show promise in treating such fears.
featured August 9, 2005

Figuring Out Phobia
Researchers are using neuroimaging techniques to delve into the neurobiological underpinnings of phobias, with a view to improving treatments.
featured August 9, 2005

Family Support Aids Treatment
Symptoms of agoraphobia can take a toll on sufferers' families as well as the sufferers themselves; however, with family support people with agoraphobia are more likely to bounce back into normal routines.
featured August 9, 2005

Who Knows You Best?
Psychologists find that people are fairly good at judging their health risks -- but only when they base their opinion on their own history and what's happened to people they know instead of relying on 3rd party sources such as obituaries and news reports, doctors' warnings, and public-awareness campaigns.
featured August 7, 2005

Weight Loss By Any Means?
San Francisco Chronicle, August 2, 2005
A research team found it could make people believe that some foods sickened them as children, thus making those foods less appealing to them as adults. Stephen Behnke, Ethics Director of APA, wonders about the ethics of lying to people about their past in order to change their current behavior.
featured August 4, 2005

On Resilience
Detroit News, August 4, 2005
Trisha Meili, a featured speaker at the upcoming APA Convention, is interviewed about her journey of recovery and healing as the "Central Park Jogger."
featured August 4, 2005

Just The Facts
Plain and simple, empirical research shows behavioral treatments for substance abuse and depression help people.
featured August 2, 2005

APA Convention Town Hall Meeting
Come join in an open conversation on psychology's future with APA President Ron Levant, President-elect Gerald Koocher and Chief Executive Officer Norman Anderson. This Town Hall Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 20th from 2:00 to 2:50 in the Washington Convention Center's Meeting Room 143A.
featured August 2, 2005

Alzheimer's Early Warning Signs
An analysis of 47 scientific studies in this month's issue of Neuropsychology finds clear patterns across thousands of people who went on to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, with early warning signs exhibited across several cognitive domains years before an official diagnosis.
featured July 31, 2005

Resources On Aging
APA's Office On Aging serves as a source on aging issues; develops and disseminates information pertaining to older adults; and is involved in efforts to bring psychology into discussions on the issues facing older adults.
featured July 31, 2005

New In PSA
Read about one researchers focus on human visual processing and cognition using a wide variety of methodologies in "How Experience Shapes Vision," in this month's Psychological Science Agenda.
featured July 26, 2005

Public Policy Update
APA is heading a national coalition to address behavioral health concerns--and access to care--in public health.
featured July 26, 2005

Again The Target
Steven Breckler, Executive Director of APA's Science Directorate, speaks out about an amendment to the NIH appropriation bill to rescind the funding of two active NIMH peer-reviewed grants. Both grants were awarded to psychologists.
featured July 24, 2005

Counting Pennies In Congress
The House of Representatives has approved the FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, which provides $28.507 billion for NIH, an increase of $142.3 million but $3 million less than the President's FY 2006 budget request.
featured July 24, 2005

Support Scientific Integrity
As Congress continues to question NIH funding grants, primarily related to sexual behavior and HIV/AIDS, psychologists are encouraged to show their support of NIH and scientific integrity by signing on to a petition developed by the Coalition to Protect Research, co-chaired by APA.
featured July 24, 2005

Money Isn't Everything
Workers who feel personally mistreated or underappreciated during a layoff are more likely to view the layoff as unfair than those who feel well-treated, even if both receive a favorable outcome, such as a large severance package.
featured July 19, 2005

The Age Of Religiousness
American adults have been thought to become more religious as they age, yet a new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology argues that people's religiousness increases or decreases as they age depending on the rational choices they make.
featured July 19, 2005

FROM APA JOURNALS:
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
An optimistic view can help protect a person's health when faced with family member's death and illness, according to a new study in the July issue of Health Psychology (Vol. 24 No. 4).
featured July 19, 2005

FROM APA JOURNALS:
Physical Activity And Psychological Well-Being In Advanced Age: A Meta-Analysis Of Intervention Studies
Data from 36 studies linking physical activity to well-being in older adults indicates that physical activity had the strongest effects on self-efficacy, and improvements in cardiovascular status, strength, and functional capacity were linked to well-being improvement overall. (Psychology and Aging, Vol. 20 No. 2)
featured July 17, 2005

Resources On Aging
APA's Office On Aging serves as a source on aging issues; develops and disseminates information pertaining to older adults; and is involved in efforts to bring psychology into discussions on the issues facing older adults.
featured July 17, 2005

Capacity Assessment In Older Adults Project
Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Lawyers offers tips for addressing problems of client capacity, in some cases with help from a clinician. It is a must-read for professionals needing to balance autonomy and protection as they confront the challenges of working with older adults with diminished capacity.
featured July 17, 2005

PROFILES IN PUBLIC SERVICE: Psychologists Who Make A Difference
Richard Rubin is publicizing diabetes' behavioral impact at ADA
Psychologist Mark Goldman seeks to stem alcohol abuse Adrienne Stith Butler and Tracy Myers are addressing public policy issues at IOM Clinical psychologist Lisa Kaneshiro helps fellow Hawaiians lead healthier lives
featured July 12, 2005

“Making Psychology A Household Word”
Psychologists Jana Martin, Nancy Molitor and others are just a few of many psychologists across the country who are spreading the word about psychology to schools, hospitals, businesses and chambers of commerce.
featured July 12, 2005

APA's Support Of PPD Legislation
APA has expressed support for the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression (PPD) Research and Care Act, which includes provisions that direct the National Institute of Mental Health to expand research on PPD and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants for PPD diagnosis and treatment services.
featured July 10, 2005

Psychologists On The Hill
Psychologists were front and center in Washington, DC at the end of May and early June, as multiple briefings sponsored and cosponsored by APA took place on Capitol Hill.
featured July 10, 2005

The Road To Resilience
How do people deal with difficult events that change their lives? Check out the APA Help Center for information on dealing with challenging life experiences such as the death of a loved one, terrorist attacks, and other traumatic events.
featured July 7, 2005

On Psychological Ethics and National Security
APA's Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics And National Security today affirmed the adequacy of the current APA Ethics Code in addressing the ethical dimensions of psychologists' involvement in national security-related activities.
featured July 5, 2005

The Nose Knows…
Psychologists have discovered that scents that differ on the molecular level affect human visual attention in very different ways. The results suggest that tiny differences between odors can either stall or sharpen visual attention.
featured July 3, 2005

APA In The News
Stress Management Immediately Cost Effective for Heart Disease
June 29, 2005, DukeMed News
A Recipe For Resilience Through "Positive Psychology"
June 29, 2005, USA TODAY
His And Hers Stress Advice
June 29, 2005, WebMD
featured July 1, 2005

Warning Signs Of Youth Violence
Violence is a major issue facing today's young adults. One in 12 high schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year. Assistance is available from the APA Help Center.
featured June 29, 2005

Suicide Watches By Inmates Benefit All
Prison suicide watches done by other inmates, instead of prison staff, reduce the frequency and duration of watches, benefit inmate observers and reduce costs, according to a new study in Psychological Services (Vol. 2, No. 1).
featured June 29, 2005

Warning Signs Of Youth Violence
Violence is a major issue facing today's young adults. One in 12 high schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year. Assistance is available from the APA Help Center.
featured June 29, 2005

Crime And Punishment
By focusing death penalty research on state laws, psychologists can inform the capital punishment debate over the execution of juveniles and the mentally ill.
featured June 29, 2005

APA Supports National HIV Testing Day
The goal of National HIV Testing Day is to identify people who are HIV-positive and don't know it so they can access treatment, as well as to prevent new HIV infections by increasing education, awareness and access to voluntary counseling and testing.
featured June 26, 2005

APA Office on AIDS
The APA Office on AIDS provides information, training, and technical assistance on a wide range of HIV/AIDS-related topics for the benefit of patients, family members and practitioners.
featured June 26, 2005

Parental AIDS and Teen Distress
Adolescents who have a parent who dies from AIDS experience elevated emotional turmoil and run into increased criminal trouble up to a year before the death, according to a new study.
featured June 26, 2005

No Link Found Between Depression And Creativity
A new study suggests that self-reflective rumination--a focus on the self and one's feelings--may explain artists' tendency toward depression, taking the blame off creativity itself.
featured June 23, 2005

APA Advocates For Patient Care, Privacy Issues
APA Executive Director for Professional Practice Russ Newman, PhD, JD, testified at a hearing on privacy and confidentiality issues related to a proposed national system of electronic health records, stressing the special privacy concerns of mental health patients.
featured June 23, 2005

Newest SPIN Now Online
Be sure to read the latest issue of APA's Science Policy Insider News (SPIN) for important policy issues that affect psychological science and psychological scientists at the national level.
featured June 23, 2005

Meeting Military Needs
APA applauds Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) for establishing the Defense Graduate Psychology Education Program (D-GPE) which will train increasing numbers of military and civilian psychologists to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of returning military personnel and their families. Although the bill has to be passed on the Floor of the House and then accepted by the Senate at Conference, it is likely the funding will be awarded.
featured June 16, 2005

Bringing Psychology To The People
One New York City hospital is bringing mental health services directly to both children and parents in need by placing mental health professionals in settings where children are--pediatric clinics.
featured June 16, 2005

Psychologists Give Back To Psychology
The American Psychological Foundation (APF) recognizes major donors who made campaign gifts of $10,000 or more and enabled APF to raise more than $7.5 million for its Campaign for a New Era.
featured June 16, 2005

Too Tired To Work?
A study of Air Force pilots finds individual differences in how brains respond when tired. The results offer a new approach for research into ways to reverse the effects of sleep deprivation and to improve job safety among those who work long, demanding hours.
featured June 14, 2005

Generational Differences At Work
A psychologist studies ways to help traditionalists, baby boomers, gen Xers and millennials work better together, despite their generational differences.
featured June 14, 2005

Perceptions Of Enemies Differ Across Cultures
American movies and literature are rife with "personal enemies" ­ bad guys, and girls, out to exact revenge ­ yet most Americans don't feel that they have any such "bad guys" after them personally. This stands in contrast to many West Africans who commonly perceive others as enemies in their everyday world, according to a new study.
featured June 12, 2005

Military Ethics
In the war in Iraq and war on terrorism, it's often unclear to military leaders who "the enemy" is, creating ethical dilemmas for military members of all ranks.
featured June 12, 2005

Why Are Hispanics At Greater Risk For PTSD?
This study, focusing on police officers, reports that cultural and social factors play a major role in leaving Hispanic police officers more deeply affected by exposure to trauma. These results could have implications not only for the training of police officers but also for the benefit and protection of one of the fast growing ethnic groups in the U.S.
featured June 5, 2005

Making The World Better For Children

Improving Children's Mental Health
APA's Task Force on Psychology's Agenda for Child and Adolescent Mental Health has pulled together resources for mental health professionals, families, educators, and all interested in improving the mental health of children and adolescents.
featured June 9, 2005

Cat Got Your Tongue?
A study April's Neuropsychology (Vol. 19, No. 2), finds that when it comes to recalling proper names, bilingual speakers experience the same number or fewer of TOT (tip-of-the tongue) states compared to people who only speak one language.
featured June 5, 2005

Question & Answer
How did the five candidates for APA's 2007 presidency answer the following two questions? Find out in this month's Monitor.
featured June 5, 2005

Newest SPIN Now Online
Be sure to read the latest issue of APA's Science Policy Insider News (SPIN) for important policy issues that affect psychological science and psychological scientists at the national level.
featured May 31, 2005

PTSD And American Soldiers
Injured and non-injured soldiers are reporting similar levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a few months after leaving the battlefield, suggests a new study.
featured May 29, 2005

Funds Set For Veterans' Mental Health
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs spend $2.2 billion in funding for mental-health care for soldiers and their families in FY 2006. The measure must still pass the U.S. Senate.
featured May 29, 2005

Hope For Psychological Funding
Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) allocated $4 million for FY 2006 in the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee bill to train increasing numbers of military and civilian psychologists to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of returning military personnel and their families.
featured May 27, 2005

Helping To Explain The Cycle Of Pain
According to new research, weekly elevations of pain and stress predicted increases in negative affect in women with chronic pain. Both higher weekly positive affect as well as greater positive affect on average resulted in lower negative affect both directly and in interaction with pain and stress.
featured May 25, 2005

"The Lowest Form Of Wit"
New research details an "anatomy of sarcasm" that explains how the mind puts sharp-tongued words into context. The findings appear in the May issue of Neuropsychology.
featured May 22, 2005

APA Urges Congress To Support VA Research
As a member of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research, APA has been active in urging Congress to reverse a proposed Fiscal Year 2005 cut as they write legislation funding federal agencies.
featured May 22, 2005

Careers In Psychology
Yes, it's possible to find a healthy balance between school, research, job, family and other obligations.
featured May 19, 2005

Spreading The Word About A New Practice Opportunity
Court-appointed parenting coordinators help divorcing parents focus on what's best for their children – and help expand psychology's reach.
featured May 19, 2005

Striking A Balance
Yes, it's possible to find a healthy balance between school, research, job, family and other obligations.
featured May 17, 2005

Get It In Writing
Psychologists report that the memory function of people in their mid-60s and up is easily swayed by the power of suggestion, making them more vulnerable to memory-related scams. (Journal of Experimental Psychology, Vol. 134, No. 2.)
featured May 15, 2005

Treatment In The Workplace
ADHD drugs aren't just for children any more.
featured May 12, 2005

Get Fit, Physically And Mentally
There is another reason to go to the gym -- exercise can help fight depression.
featured May 12, 2005

A Call For Attention To Behavior Change
The major killers in the United States today largely derive from behaviors such as smoking, alcohol abuse and a sedentary lifestyle, but so far the American health-care system has yet to fully integrate behavior change into treatment.
featured May 10, 2005

The Mind/Body Health Connection
Meditation, prayer and other relaxation techniques can improve people's health, and psychologists are in a unique position to promote such self-care techniques as a major part of preventative health care.
featured May 10, 2005

The Universal Language
A new study suggests that dog barks play a role in canine-human interaction, and that humans can tell whether a bark is aggressive, fearful or playful.
featured May 8, 2005

Support For Smaller Classes
A new long-term study involving a 5,000 students shows that four or more years in small classes in elementary school significantly increases the likelihood of graduating from high school, especially for students from low-income homes. The study is reported on in the May issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology.
featured May 8, 2005

Helping Red Lake Heal
Psychologist Doug McDonald co-directed the mental health response team dispatched to the Red Lake Nation in the wake of the worst school shooting since 1999.
featured May 5, 2005

Steps To Respect Program Reduces Playground Bullying, According To New Research
The Steps to Respect program is designed to decrease school bullying problems by increasing staff awareness and responsiveness, fostering socially responsible beliefs, and teaching social-emotional skills to counter bullying and promote healthy relationships. Developmental Psychology, Vol. 41, No. 3
featured May 3, 2005

Loneliness And Well-Being
A new study from the May issue of Health Psychology demonstrates that lonely first-year college students experienced a weaker immune response to the flu shot than did other students.
featured May 3, 2005

In Memoriam...
Educator and former APA President Kenneth Clark dies
featured May 2, 2005

Mental Stress And Worker Health
More and more evidence links psychological stress and workers' heart problems.
featured May 1, 2005

Psychology in the Schools

Soy's Health Benefits May Not Extend To Reduced Anxiety
While health experts tout the cardiovascular benefits of a soy-rich diet, recent research suggests the effects may be limited when it comes to mental health
featured April 24, 2005

Work And Well-Being: Happy Employees Make Happy Families, Study Finds
An employee's good day at work may rub off at home--especially on their spouse, according to a new study in this month's Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (Vol. 10, No. 2).
featured April 18, 2005

People in Poor Health Are Happier Than Others Think
A new study shows that as people adapt to their health conditions, illness ends up having a much smaller effect on mood than the day-to-day ups and downs of work and personal life that everyone experiences.
featured April 18, 2005

APA Applauds New California Regulations for Inpatient Psychological Services
California patients suffering from serious mental illness will now have the benefit of having their inpatient care managed by psychologists with full hospital privileges.
featured April 14, 2005

Decisions, Decisions: Older Consumers Factor More Positives, Specifics Into Product Choices
When comparing products or services, older adults generally focus on positive features more than younger adults do, according to a study in the February Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (Vol. 134, No. 1).
featured April 13, 2005

Obesity Among Adolescent Girls
A new study from the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Vol. 73, No. 2) indicates that certain weight control behaviors may precipitate obesity among adolescent girls. A parent's weight may also play a role in adolescent weight gain.
| press release | full-text article |

Also of Interest - From APA's LifeTools Book Series
The Inside Story on Teen Girls: Find expert answers to real questions asked by teen girls and their parents.
More LifeTools Books
featured April 11, 2005

Handling Trauma - A New Kind of War
With thousands of returning troops who may need help battling trauma, civilian and military psychologists alike are finding new ways to help.
More information on trauma
featured April 11, 2005

'Trust Your Instincts?'
Research shows that first instincts can stink, but we trust them anyway. In this month's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 88, No. 3), it is reported that people buy into the first-instinct myth because it feels worse to change a correct answer to an incorrect one than to stick with an original incorrect answer.
featured April 6, 2005

National Public Health Week 2005
APA Joins in Celebrating the Campaign: Empowering Americans to Live Stronger, Longer

Mental Health Needs of Older Adults

Children and Tobacco Smoke
Many parents fail to set rules to limit children's exposure to tobacco smoke inside and outside the home, according to a new study. Read the full-text article from Families, Systems & Health, Vol. 23, No. 1
featured April 4, 2005

APA Raises Privacy Concerns on Mental Health Records: Proposed Nationwide System of Electronic Records Requires Managing Many Patient Confidentiality Issues
Testifying on behalf of the American Psychological Association, Russ Newman, PhD, JD, executive director for professional practice, raised concerns regarding the need to maintain an extraordinarily high level of privacy where mental health records are concerned.
| press release | Dr. Newman's full testimony |
featured March 31, 2005

Not Biased?
Despite what people say about stereotypes being bad, most demonstrate implicit associations when tested. Want to find out about your own implicit biases? Take the Implicit Association Test or find out more about the multi-university collaboration, Project Implicit.
featured March 29, 2005

Marriage Magic Thriving Newlyweds Can Identify Spouses' Fortes and Faults
An appreciation of a spouse's weaknesses as well as strengths may lead to a more satisfying marriage and a reduced likelihood of divorce, according to a new study. Read the full-text article: "To Know You Is to Love You: The Implications of Global Adoration and Specific Accuracy for Marital Relationships" published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 88, No. 3).
featured March 28, 2005

Isn't It Romantic? Matching Monikers Prove Magnetic
People are attracted to others with similar initials and name sounds, demonstrating a sort of implicit egotism
featured March 28, 2005

Evidence Based Psychological Practice

Focus On: End-of-Life Issues Helpful Resources from APA on the Difficult Decisions

Walking Lockstep Isn't Imitation After All, Say Researchers
Two people walking hand-in-hand will automatically move their hands and legs in perfect harmony. For years, researchers believed it was mimicry. But a new study in the February Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance (Vol. 31, No. 1), finds other reasons.
featured March 21, 2005

Something In The Way We Move
People more adeptly recognize their own movements than those of their friends, but they still can distinguish friends' movements from those of strangers, according to research in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance (Vol. 31, No. 1).
featured March 21, 2005

APA Applauds Congressional Members for Reintroducing Federal Legislation to Address the Tragedy of Parental Relinquishment of Custody to Obtain Children's Mental Health Services
featured March 10, 2005

Call for Papers: Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace
Miami, Florida, March 2-4, 2006. Workshop Proposal Deadline: April 1, 2005; Proposal Deadline for Posters, Papers, and Symposia: May 1, 2005 .
featured March 10, 2005

The Latest Issue of gradPSYCH featuring: Breathe
How grad students unwind .
featured March 10, 2005

Violent Video Games - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects
Psychological research confirms that violent video games can increase children's aggression, but that parents moderate the negative effects.
featured March 7, 2005

Low Socioeconomic Status Is a Risk Factor for Mental Illness, According to a Statewide Examination of Psychiatric Hospitalizations
Does having a low socioeconomic status (SES) lead to depression or does depression lead a person into poverty? Read the results of a new study in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.
featured March 6, 2005

Studies Underscore Genetic Involvement in Nicotine Addiction and Aggressive Hostility
Two different studies in Behavioral Neuroscience present new evidence of how genes may foster nicotine addiction and aggressive hostility.
Read the full-text articles:
On Nicotine Addiction
On Aggressive Hostility
featured March 6, 2005

APA Announces Plans for Next Phase of Tsunami Relief Efforts
The second stage of APA's tsunami relief efforts will focus on mental health needs of survivors.
featured March 3, 2005

What We Know Without Knowing How
Psychologists are working to understand our split-second, unconscious judgments and deductions.
featured March 1, 2005

A 'Sixth Sense?' Or Merely Mindful Caution?
One psychologist says he's identified a new form of "visual sensing without seeing." Others say there may be a more prosaic explanation.
featured March 1, 2005

The Changing Face Of Psychology Practice
Health-Care Calling - Psychologists' roles in health care are well established and growing
featured February 28, 2005

Is verbal aggression a warning sign for later physical aggression in marriage?
From the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 73, No. 1.
featured February 28, 2005

In Monkeys, a Spatial-Memory Gender Gap Closes with Age
New studies of Rhesus monkeys spotlight a gender gap in their spatial memory, but only in young adulthood and only with untrained females. Simple training brings young females up to speed. From Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 119, No. 1.
| press release | full-text article |
featured February 27, 2005

Comprehensive Sex Education Is More Effective at Stopping the Spread of HIV Infection, Says APA Committee
Research shows that abstinence-only programs have limited effectiveness and unintended consequences. Read the Committee's Resolution in Favor of Empirically Supported Sex Education and HIV Prevention Programs for Adolescents (PDF)
featured February 23, 2005

Psychiatric Disorders Greatly Underdiagnosed in Hospital Emergency Departments, Study Finds
Underdiagnosis of psychiatric disorders is contributing to needless emotional suffering, especially for minorities and the poor, according to a newly released article in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
(Vol. 73, No. 1.) | press release | full-text article (PDF) |
featured February 20, 2005

Name That Tune?

The Mystery Of Attraction - Monkeys Fancy Symmetrically Patterned Cards
Study findings suggest human aesthetic preferences may have ancient evolutionary and genetic roots
featured February 16, 2005

Do Opposites Attract or Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together?
New research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology finds that what is important in attracting people to one another may not be important in making couples happy. | press release | full-text article (PDF) |
featured February 16, 2005

Do Opposites Attract or Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together?
New research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology finds that what is important in attracting people to one another may not be important in making couples happy. | press release | full-text article (PDF) |
featured February 14, 2005

Hues And Views
A cross-cultural study reveals how language shapes color perception.
featured February 14, 2005

Why Do We Overcommit? Study suggests we think we'll have more time in the future than we have today.
Poor forecasting is more evident for time than money. Read the full-text article, "Resource slack and propensity to discount delayed investments of time versus money," (PDF) from the February issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology (JEP): General, Vol. 134, No. 1.
featured February 11, 2005

Mystery Gifts Kindle the Most Happiness
Random acts of kindness may bring more joy than expected ones, according to a new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 88, No. 1). However, people predict just the opposite.
featured February 9, 2005

Research Confirms How Early-Life Events Shape Later Physiology
Rats infected as newborns grew up vulnerable to memory problems during an immune challenge. Read the free full-text article from Behavioral Neuroscience, "Neonatal Infection Induces Memory Impairments Following an Immune Challenge in Adulthood" (PDF)
featured February 7, 2005

Psychologists' RxP Moves Forward in New Mexico
New Mexico is the first state to implement prescribing regulations for psychologists.
featured February 7, 2005

Fuzzy Math
A remote tribe that lacks a counting system suggests limitations on inborn representations of number.
featured February 7, 2005

English Number Words May Confuse Children
Even in cultures with counting systems, some languages may better prepare people to perform tasks like subtraction than other.
featured February 7, 2005

APA's Ongoing Tsunami Relief Efforts
Psychologist Gerard (Jerry) Jacobs, Ph.D., will work with APA to craft a plan to assist in the mental health needs of the tsunami survivors.
featured January 31, 2005

Phobias May Hijack Control of Eye-Gaze
People with an overpowering fear may not be able to consciously control the direction of their gaze when faced with a picture eliciting that fear, according to a new study published in the journal Emotion (Vol. 5, No. 1).
featured January 31, 2005

Automatic Racial Stereotyping Appears Based on Facial Features in Addition to Race
Stereotyped judgments based on others' Afrocentric facial features occur so automatically that even asking people to avoid their bias doesn't work, says a study in December's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 87, No. 6).
featured January 31, 2005

Life Satisfaction Set Point: Stability and Change (PDF)
What influences a person's subjective sense well-being? from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
featured January 26, 2005

Change in Life Satisfaction During Adulthood: Findings From the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (PDF)
Does that sense of well-being improve with aging? Findings from a 22-year study are at odds with prior research, from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
featured January 26, 2005

New Mexico Study Finds Surprisingly Strong Impact Of Genetic Variation
Older people with the "Alzheimer's gene" find it harder to "remember to remember" even if they're healthy.
featured January 24, 2005

Women's Facial Expressions Interpreted as Angrier, Less Happy than Men's
When women and men are depicted with the same expressions of anger and happiness, people tend to see women as more livid and less joyful than men, according to new research in the December issue of Emotion (Vol. 4, No. 4).
featured January 24, 2005

Racial Stereotypes Can Speed Visual Processing
Subconscious biases can influence visual processing, says a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 87, No. 6).
featured January 24, 2005

The Science of Savoir Faire
Psychologists from varied fields work to define and understand charisma
Charisma Doesn't Guarantee Leadership Success
People need charisma to become great leaders, it seems, yet charisma alone can't make a great leader--only break one
featured January 19, 2005

Authors Warn of Inaccuracies and Explore Thorny Issues Concerning the Use and Measurement of Race in Health and Social Science Research As More Is Learned about the Human Genome
The Gene-Environment Interaction is what must be studied; but should the study of race be thrown out altogether? Read the free full-text introductory article by Norman B. Anderson, PhD, editor of the American Psychologist and CEO of the APA. (PDF, 53K)
featured January 19, 2005

A Special Issue of the American Psychologist Devoted to Genes, Race, and Psychology in the Genome Era (January, 2005)
Authors warn of inaccuracies and explore thorny issues concerning the use and measurement of race in health and social science research as more is learned about the human genome.
featured January 17, 2005

Statement of the Disaster Response Network (DRN) Training Advisory Committee
APA Help Center Offers Materials on Managing Traumatic Stress in a Natural Disaster
"Tsunami Toolkit" - Materials for Psychologists to Use with U.S. Communities Affected by the Tsuanmi
featured January 12, 2005

Rats Can Tell Two Languages Apart from Speech Cues, Sharing an Ability with Humans and Monkeys
They're the third type of mammal shown to have this skill, according to the article "Effects of Backward Speech and Speaker Variability in Language Discrimination by Rats" (PDF), Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, Vol. 31, No. 1.
featured January 10, 2005

APA Joins in Tsunami Relief Efforts
APA pledges financial assistance and psychological expertise regarding trauma to the Southeast Asia tsunami relief effort.
featured January 8, 2005

Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Natural Disasters
When a natural disaster affects a community, the resulting trauma can reverberate even with those not directly affected by the disaster.
featured January 5, 2005

Recovery from Serious Mental Illness
Psychologist-developed treatments are providing hope for people with serious mental illness
featured January 5, 2005

Hard-Hitting Hormones: The Stress-Depression Link
Stress-hormone injections result in depressive behavior affecting male rats more than females ones.
featured January 5, 2005

Closing the Gap for Latino Patients
Research offers insights on ways psychologists can better serve Latino patients -- one of America's fastest-growing minority populations.
featured January 3, 2005

Also of interest...
Latino Psychology Takes Center Stage
Psychologists highlighted Latino health disparities at the first annual National Latino/a Psychological Association conference.
featured January 3, 2005

APA'S New President Taking Psychology to the People
APA's 2005 president--family psychologist Ronald F. Levant--aims to show the public that psychology's science-based resources can benefit everyone
featured January 3, 2005