CHICAGO — People tend to change their voice when interacting with voice assistant apps like Alexa and Siri, according to new research. When speaking to these devices, individuals are often louder, flatter, and slower compared to when they’re conversing with another person. This finding could potentially enhance the ability of these technologies to comprehend human …
MUNICH, Germany — Studies show visiting museums and viewing great works of art in-person may promote various health benefits and generally improved well-being and mood, but what about viewing art online? The prospect of seeing Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa on a computer screen instead of in-person hardly sounds as satisfying …
There’s no time like the present to give yourself a little introspection. The global pandemic COVID-19 caused many people to take a closer look at themselves, and while it came with struggles and darkness for some – it also has led to a lot of self-awareness for the future. Psychology books are a great way …
QUEENSLAND, Australia — The relationship between doctor and patient should be a sacred one, but it doesn’t always feel that way. Doctors often don’t click with their patients when it comes to personality, and that can make all the difference when discussing medical matters. Now, a fascinating new study out of Australia is shedding further light …
Molly was 88 years old and in good health. She had outlived two husbands, her siblings, most of her friends and her only son. “I don’t have any meaningful relationships left, dear,” she told me. “They’ve all died. And you know what? Underneath it all, I want to leave this world too.” Leaning a little …
FLORENCE, Italy — For art lovers, a new study finds that the details really do make a big difference. Researchers in Italy have discovered that visitors at a modern art museum spent more time looking at the artworks and showed more signs of excitement when they could read a detailed description of each piece, as opposed …
LONDON — Years ago, there was an expectation that coaches should be gruff and adversarial towards their players, often screaming from the sidelines and even insulting their own squad. Nowadays, more and more coaches are adopting an empathetic approach to leadership, but does level-headed, emotionally intelligent coaching really drive success in elite sports? A new book …
CHIBA, Japan — Hearing the sounds of nature could curb your gambling disorder, a new study reveals. Researchers in Japan say that by hearing the buzz and noise of insects, compulsive gamblers feel less stress and are less likely to relapse. The approach is part of a nature therapy called shinrin-yoku. Study authors explain that …
Spending time alone can induce fear in a lot of people, which is understandable. At the same time, the difference between moments of solitude and loneliness is often misunderstood. As a psychologist, I study solitude – the time we spend alone, not interacting with other people. I started this research more than ten years ago and, …
DURHAM, N.C. — If you ever felt like all your bosses are jerks, there’s an evolutionary reason for that. Acting like a cut-throat bully has been one way to get ahead in life, a recipe for success our closely-related ancestors (primates) have followed for years. So, if acting villainous gives you more power and success, …