Monitor on Psychology - June 2012 - (Page 16)

Brief IN test sexual attraction. Participants also completed questionnaires about their parents. Participants who had supportive and accepting parents were more in touch with their implicit sexual orientation, while participants from more authoritarian homes exhibited the biggest discrepancy between explicit and implicit attraction. (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, April) n Maternal obesity may be contributing to the rising number of U.S. children diagnosed with autism, suggests research from the University of California, Davis, and Vanderbilt University. Scientists studied more than 1,000 children ages 2 to 5 with and without autism or other developmental problems, as well as their mothers’ health history. They found that mothers who were obese before pregnancy were 60 percent more likely to have a child with autism and twice as likely to have a child with another type of cognitive or behavioral delay than mothers who were not obese. That risk was more pronounced among mothers with high blood pressure or diabetes before or during pregnancy. (Pediatrics, online April 9) n The brain functions differently in children with math anxiety, according to a study by scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine. A series of fMRI scans conducted with 46 second- and third-grade students as they completed addition and subtraction problems revealed that those who felt panicky about doing math had increased activity in brain regions associated with fear, and decreased activity in parts of 16 Mothers who were obese before pregnancy were 60 percent more likely to have a child with autism, a study found. the brain involved in problem-solving. (Psychological Science, online March 20) n People prefer fewer choices when making personal decisions, but favor many options when making decisions for others, suggests research from New York University. In a series of experiments, the researcher asked 650 study participants to select a wine, paint color, ice cream flavor and school course for themselves or someone else. Those who chose for themselves were more satisfied when given only a few options rather than many choices. When choosing for someone else, however, the participants reported more satisfaction after they chose among many options. (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, online March 19) n Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) doubles one’s risk of mild cognitive impairment and MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • JUNE 2012 Thinkstock http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/04/04/peds.2011-2583 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/04/04/peds.2011-2583 http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/03/23/0956797611429134 http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2012-06735-001/ http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2012-06735-001/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - June 2012

Monitor on Psychology - June 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Give an Hour founder is one of Time magazine’s ‘most influential’
APA treatment guidelines panels are being formed
APA supports ‘Speak Up For Kids’
In Brief
Time Capsule
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Questionaire
APA honors Howell
Science Watch
Science Directions
What you should know about online education
Speaking of Education
Psychologist Profile
Redefining masculinity
Miscarriage and loss
Something for everyone
Candidates weigh in
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - June 2012