Balance January 2020 - 7

WELCOME
HAPPY
DAYS

NEWS

GOOD

A dedicated space where we let the positive deeds shine in a negative world
SAVE YOUR BREATH
It's official: arguments are
pointless. New research shows
that neither participant is really
paying attention to each other
- that's because your brain's
sensitivity to what someone else is
saying is reduced during conflict.
"When people disagree, their
brains fail to encode the quality of
the other person's opinion, giving
them less reason to change their
mind," says the University of
London's Professor Tali Sharot.
So why fight? Stay chill.
CRIME STOPPERS
In 2017, a staggering 39,773 died
from gun-related injuries in the
United States, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). A bill has finally
been passed to fund research into
gun violence. "Violence-prevention
policy should be guided by solid
evidence," says Garen Wintemute,
director of the Violence Prevention
Research Program at the
University of California. Mark
Rosenberg of the CDC adds: "Is it
adequate? Absolutely not. Is it
important? Absolutely yes."
GOLDEN YEARS
Are you feeling a little lost and
listless this New Year? Don't rush
in your pursuit of happiness -
finding meaning in life will happen.
New research shows that people
tend to have it all figured out by
the age of 60. "People with
purpose in life are healthier, both
physically and psychologically,"
explains Dr Awais Aftab, a
psychiatrist at the University
of California. So if you're a
millennial, don't put too much
pressure on yourself. It'll happen.

PSYCHOLOGY
PEACE OUT

TECHNOLOGY
MARVEL-OUS NEWS

GUNS
TAKE CONTROL

WORK
OFFICE ROMANCE?

LIFE
BEGINS AT 60

CHILDREN
DUTCH MASTERS

SCI-FI GETS REAL
Technology not dissimilar to
Tony Stark's Iron Man outfit could
help pensioners' mobility. Yes, you
read that right. Cutting-edge
exoskeletons have been seen in
Marvel movies, but now science
fiction could become science fact
and help senior citizens to walk
more easily, thanks to work carried
out in the US. "Our vision is to
make assistive robots accessible to
everyone," explains Dr Shuo-Hsiu
Chang of McGovern Medical
School at UTHealth.
FLIRTY VIBE
Here's a nugget of good news:
flirting at work is good for you.
Now, before you go up to Gary in
accounts, slap him on the bottom
and scream, "Yes please, Tiger!"
you obviously need to be very,
very careful. "When flirtation is
enjoyed, it can offer benefits -
it makes people feel good about
themselves, which protects them
from stressors in their lives,"
explains Leah Sheppard, assistant
professor at Washington State
University. Crucially, it needs to
be mutual and between peers.
YOUTH BOOST
If you're a parent or guardian,
we're setting you a task for 2020:
encourage your children to give
themselves pep talks. New
research has found that young
people who have poor self-esteem
can boost their grades by using
positive self-talk. "Children with
low self-confidence can improve
their performance through
self-talk focused on effort," says
Sander Thomaes, a professor at
Utrecht University. Let's make
2020 the year of positivity.

7
Balance January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance January 2020
