ANN ARBOR—Forget the “me” generation. A new analysis of long-term trends in egotism shows there’s been a “me” century in America. The analysis, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, shows that characteristics related to self-interest, compared to interest in the lives and needs of other people, was low during the 19th century but… Continue reading State of the nation’s egotism: On the rise for a century
News Tag: Research
U-M researcher available to discuss new Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey
ANN ARBOR — University of Michigan researcher Sela Panapasa is available to discuss the significance of the National Health Interview Survey of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) peoples that started this month. “This is the first time in half a century that the federal government is collecting nationally representative health information from such a… Continue reading U-M researcher available to discuss new Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey
Jacqui Smith and colleagues explore association between life satisfaction and health care utilization
Along with Eric Kim, Jennifer Sun and Christopher Peterson, Jacqui Smith used HRS data to study links between happiness and doctor visits among American adults 50+ years of age. They found, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, that higher satisfaction with life was associated with fewer doctor visits — a finding that could have important implications… Continue reading Jacqui Smith and colleagues explore association between life satisfaction and health care utilization
U-M collaborative sparks integration of biological and social data
The BioSocial Methods Collaborative, based at the U-M Institute for Social Research, is funded in part by the U-M Office of the Provost. Partners include the U-M Life Sciences Institute and the U-M Medical School. “We aim to be a catalyst for new research methods that link the social and health sciences, and that will… Continue reading U-M collaborative sparks integration of biological and social data
Bad Boys: Research helps predict whether boys will grow out of it—or not
ANN ARBOR — Using the hi-tech tools of a new field called neurogenetics and a few simple questions for parents, a University of Michigan researcher is beginning to understand which boys are simply being boys and which may be headed for trouble. “When young children lie or cheat or steal, parents naturally wonder if they’ll… Continue reading Bad Boys: Research helps predict whether boys will grow out of it—or not
Manipulative and empathetic people both adept at reading emotions
ANN ARBOR—People shouldn’t assume that someone who can easily read their feelings always has their best interests at heart. Although good emotion-recognition skills might seem like concern and empathy, some people might use these skills to manipulate others, new University of Michigan research suggests. Both manipulative and empathetic people are equally capable of reading others’… Continue reading Manipulative and empathetic people both adept at reading emotions
Buying behavior can be swayed by cultural mindset
ANN ARBOR—There are some combinations that just go well together: Milk and cookies, eggs and bacon, pancakes and syrup. But new research reveals that people with individualistic mindsets differ from their collectivist counterparts in ascribing value to those perfect combinations. The collection of new studies, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for… Continue reading Buying behavior can be swayed by cultural mindset
You’re so vain: Study explores links between social media and narcissism
ANN ARBOR—Facebook is a mirror and Twitter is a megaphone, according to a new University of Michigan study exploring how social media reflect and amplify the culture’s growing levels of narcissism. The study, published online in Computers in Human Behavior, was conducted by researchers Elliot Panek, Yioryos Nardis and Sara Konrath. “Among young adult college… Continue reading You’re so vain: Study explores links between social media and narcissism
Panapasa comments on negative health effects for Samoans of some high-fat imported foods
Sela Panapasa says inexpensive high-fat foods imported to the Republic of Samoa — for example, Spam, mutton flaps, and turkey tails — are the kinds of foods that have contributed to Samoa’s high rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. A 2007 ban on several such products, however, is being lifted to comply with WTO rules… Continue reading Panapasa comments on negative health effects for Samoans of some high-fat imported foods
Brain scans reveal first objective measure of physical pain
ANN ARBOR—For the first time, scientists have identified how much pain people feel by looking at images of their brains. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, may lead to the development of methods doctors can use to objectively quantify patients’ pain. Currently, pain intensity is usually based on patient self-reports, using… Continue reading Brain scans reveal first objective measure of physical pain