What’s Wrong With a Little Gossip?

While some research points out that gossipers are in general disliked, there is an upside: sharing negative gossip can actually help two people like each other better. In this episode we’ll find out the benefits of sharing a tasty piece of negative gossip.

The Licensing Effect

If you take supplements you need to hear this news about how you might be using your taking of the supplements to “license” other activities that aren’t so good for your health.

• • Chiou, Wen-Bin, Yang, Chao-Chin and Wan, Chao-Chin (2011). Ironic Effects of Dietary Supplementation: Illusory Invulnerability Created by Taking Dietary Supplements Licenses Health-Risk Behaviors. Psychological Science. DOI: 10.1177/0956797611416253

Evidence in Favor of Affirmations?

In a previous episode on self affirmations I presented some strongly negative evidence. However, in this study there might be a role for affirmations – especially in helping people with social anxiety to feel a bit more confident.

• • Stinson, D. A., Logel, C., Shepherd, S. and Zanna, M.P. (2011). Rewriting the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Social Rejection: Self-Affirmation Improves Relational Security and Social Behavior up to 2 Months Later. Psychological Science, doi:10.1177/0956797611417725.

• • Rosnow, R.L. and Foster, E.K. (2005). Rumor and Gossip Research. American Psychological Association Online, 19(4).

• • Weaver, J.R. and Bosson, J.K. (2011).I Feel Like I Know You: Sharing Negative Attitudes of Others Promotes Feelings of Familiarity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(4).

Additional Resources

BPS Research Digest: Take vitamin pill, eat cake. How supplements …

Psychologists call these licensing effects and a new study has documented a similar phenomenon following the simple act of taking a vitamin pill. The researchers say the finding could help explain why the explosive rise in …

Publish Date: 08/16/2011 4:38

http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2011/08/take-vitamin-pill-eat-cake-how.html

Dietary supplements and the licensing effect – Washington Post (blog)

Dietary supplements and the licensing effect Washington Post (blog) MacKay, whom I interviewed for this week’s “Eat, Drink and Be Healthy” column about dietary supplement use, notes that the phenomenon known as the “licensing effect” may well be in play among some supplement users. “People make excuses for behaviors in … and more »

Vitamin pills can lead you to take health risks – The Guardian

The Guardian

Vitamin pills can lead you to take health risks The Guardian In the study of risk perception, people talk about “the licensing effect“: when you take a vitamin pill, for example, you think you’ve done something healthy and wholesome, so you permit yourself to eat more chips and have a cigarette. … and more »

Good summary of Finding Little Albert called, Looking back: Finding Little Albert from the psychologist website. Thanks to @psychmag for bringing this to my attention.

Finding Little Albert – The Brain: A Secret History – BBC Four

More about this programme: www.bbc.co.uk Professor Hall Beck shows Michael Mosley how he tracked down Little Albert.