The Brains Of Psychopathic Prisoners Show Differences In Structure And Function

On November 22, 2011, in Brain Imaging, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a prison cell

Images of prisoners’ brains show important differences between those who are diagnosed as psychopaths and those who aren’t, according to a new study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. The results could help explain the callous and impulsive anti-social behavior exhibited by some psychopaths.

Children’s Anxiety And Depression Halved When Parenting Is Styled To Personality

On November 11, 2011, in Family | Social, Mental Health, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
father with his two daughters

When it comes to rearing children, just about any parent will say that what works with one kid might not work with another. Parents use all sorts of strategies to keep kids from being cranky, grumpy, fearful or moody, while encouraging them to be independent and well-adjusted. But which parenting styles work best with which kids? A study by University of Washington psychologists provides advice about tailoring parenting to children’s personalities.

Quitting Smoking Enhances Positive Personality Changes

On November 7, 2011, in Health | Fitness, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Andrew Littlefield

University of Missouri researchers have found evidence that shows those who quit smoking show improvements in their overall personality. “The data indicate that for some young adults smoking is impulsive,” said Andrew Littlefield, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science. “That means that 18-year-olds are acting without a lot of forethought and favor immediate rewards over long term negative consequences. They might say, ‘I know smoking is bad for me, but I’m going to do it anyway.’

Rubber Hand Illusion Shows That People With Schizophrenia Have Weakened Sense Of Body Ownership

On October 31, 2011, in Schizophrenia, Therapy, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Rubber Hand Illusion

A study using a procedure called the rubber hand illusion has found striking new evidence that people experiencing schizophrenia have a weakened sense of body ownership and has produced the first case of a spontaneous, out-of-body experience in the laboratory. These findings suggest that movement therapy, which trains people to be focused and centered on their own bodies, including some forms of yoga and dance, could be helpful for many of the 2.2 million people in the United States who suffer from this mental disorder.

Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Conscientiousness And A Sense Of Mastery Are Important Predictors Of Self-Esteem

On July 24, 2011, in Mental Health, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
happy women

Self-esteem increases during adolescence, then slows in young adulthood, but contrary to popular belief, there is no significant difference between men’s and women’s self-esteem during either of those life phases, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The publisher made the full-text study available for an unknown length of time; check the end of this report for a download link.

Personality Plays Important Role In Maintenance Of Body Weight Over Time

On July 19, 2011, in Health | Fitness, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a women who lost weight

People with personality traits of high neuroticism and low conscientiousness are likely to go through cycles of gaining and losing weight throughout their lives, according to an examination of 50 years of data in a study published by the American Psychological Association. The publisher made the original study available for free for an undetermined length of time; check the end of this report for a download link.

People Increasingly Look To Psychotherapy For Depression When Optimism Is Low

On July 15, 2011, in Mental Health, Psychotherapy, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
psychotherapy

In a study published by a group of Finnish investigators headed by Prof. Karlsson in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, low level of optimism appear to predict initiation of psychotherapy for depression. The patient’s personality may also be one of the many factors that contribute to the decision to initiate a certain treatment for depression. The aim of this study was to examine whether dispositional optimism and pessimism play a role in the initiation of psychotherapy as the treatment for new-onset depression in previously nondepressed public sector employees.

Children’s Personalities Linked To Their Chemical Response To Family Stress

On July 8, 2011, in Anxiety, Personality, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Patrick Davies

Is your kid a “dove” – cautious and submissive when confronting new environments, or perhaps you have a “hawk” – bold and assertive in unfamiliar settings? These basic temperamental patterns are linked to opposite hormonal responses to stress – differences that may provide children with advantages for navigating threatening environments, researchers report in a study published online July 8, 2011, in Development and Psychopathology.

Don’t Take it Personally

On June 16, 2011, in Family | Social, Mental Health, submitted by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
drama

Is it about you?
The Practice
Don’t take it personally.
Why?

Patients With Cluster A Personality Disorders Benefit From Psychotherapy

On May 16, 2011, in Mental Health, Psychotherapy, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a women in psychotherapy

A group of researchers of the University of Amsterdam published a new study on the impact of psychotherapy for personality disorders in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. While psychopharmacological studies are common in patients with cluster A personality disorders (schizoid, paranoid, schizotypal), the effects of psychotherapy have received little attention.

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