human behaviour

Feeling powerless leads to expensive purchases

harminka — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:30:46 -0500

Feeling powerless can trigger strong desires to purchase products that convey high status, according to new research in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Why we make same mistakes twice

harminka — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:09:27 -0500

Many of us experience a tinge of guilt as we delight in feelings of pleasure from our favorite indulgences, like splurging on an expensive handbag or having another drink. We make resolutions: this will be the last time, positively.

Why Humans Walk on Two Legs

harminka — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:28:16 -0500

A team of anthropologists that studied chimpanzees trained to use treadmills has gathered new evidence suggesting that our earliest apelike ancestors started walking on two legs because it required less energy than getting around on all fours.

IPCC report highlights need for integrated climate/human behavior models

harminka — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:24:35 -0500

Adapting to the global climate change impacts outlined in the IPCC's Working Group 2 Report, "Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability", will require new evaluation tools to help choose the best way forward, according to the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), an international network of environmental scientists.

Change is always fashion

harminka — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:12:21 -0500

Fashions come and go at a surprisingly steady rate, new research suggests, driven by a small minority of innovators amidst a majority of people copying each other.

Stone-banging by South American monkeys as socially-learned skill

harminka — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:44:18 -0500

Fresh evidence that suggests monkeys can learn skills from each other, in the same manner as humans, has been uncovered by a University of Cambridge researcher.