While the cognitive benefits of bilingual experience had been well established, there are still people who disparage non-native English speakers as if English is a superior language. Edgar, Todd, Eschman, Hayes & Bahrick (2023) published “Effects of English versus Spanish Language Exposure on Basic Multisensory Attention Skills across 3 to 36 Months of Age” in Developmental Psychology. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Today, I summarize a longitudinal study. Koepp et al. (2023) published “Attention and Behavior Problems in Childhood Predict Adult Financial Status, Health, and Criminal Activity: A conceptual replication and extension of Moffitt et al. (2011) using cohorts from the United States and the United Kingdom” in Developmental Psychology.

Alsem, van Dijk, Verhulp, Dekkers & De Castro (2023) published Treating children's aggressive behavior problems using cognitive behavior therapy with virtual reality: A multicenter randomized controlled trial” in Child Development.

This multicenter randomized controlled trial investigated whether interactive virtual reality enhanced effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce children's aggressive behavior problems.

The DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) has been around since 2015 although related research goes back to 2003. The DSM-V identifies Criterion A: impairments or deficits in sense of self and interpersonal relatedness; and Criterion B: five domains of negative affectivity, detachment, psychoticism, antagonism, and disinhibition. Today, I want to address three recent studies utilizing it. First, Yalch, Hujing & Hopwood (2023) published “Association Between Maladaptive Personality Traits and Violence Risk” in Journal of Threat Assessment and Management.  Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Today, I describe work done with people with dementia using music. Dawudi, Schall, Tesky & Pantel (2023) published “The Psychosocial and Physiological Effects of Choir-Singing in People with Dementia: A pilot study.” in GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry. Here’s the edited article:

Today, I address three articles that speak to negative emotion, emotion suppression, hope and gratitude. First, Pugach, Starr, Silvia & Wisco (2023) published “Negative Emotion Differentiation in Trauma-Exposed Community Members: Associations with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in daily life” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

This is a lengthy article but I find its content fascinating, especially in light of growing evidence of teen victimization, especially online. Malamut & Salmivalli (2023) published “Adolescent Victimization Predicts Adult Depression and Aggression: The role of rumination” in Developmental Psychology. Here’s the highly edited article:

Today, I address three articles that speak to negative emotion, emotion suppression, hope and gratitude. First, Pugach, Starr, Silvia & Wisco (2023) published “Negative Emotion Differentiation in Trauma-Exposed Community Members: Associations with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in daily life” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Today, I address two studies that focus on vicarious experiences. First, ElTohamy, et al. (2023) published “Effect of Vicarious Discrimination on Race-Based Stress Symptoms among Asian American Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. Previous work has established that experiencing racism increases one’s dysfunctional anxiety and avoidance actions—key symptoms of race-based stress symptoms.

Today I address two recent studies of depression. First, Millgram, Mizrahi Lakan, Joormann, Nahum, Shimony & Tamir (2023) published “Choosing to Avoid the Positive? Emotion regulation strategy choice in depression” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) are more likely than

I am providing a lengthy article because I think it offers important insights regarding people on the autism spectrum. Van Trigt, Colonnesi, Brummelman, Jorgenson & Nicolic (2023) published “Autistic Traits and Self-Conscious Emotions in Early Childhood” in Child Development. Here’s the highly edited article:

Self-conscious emotions arise from evaluating the self through the eyes of others. Given that children with autistic traits may experience difficulties with understanding others' minds, they might show less attuned self-conscious emotions. Self-conscious emotions reflect the interpersonal self, that is, how the self relates to others. Some self-conscious emotions, such as guilt and embarrassment after misbehavior motivate prosocial behaviors and evoke forgiveness and appeasement in others. Other self-conscious emotions, such as shame, are considered less socially adaptive, as they trigger withdrawal and avoidance, thereby inhibiting prosocial behaviors. A lack or surplus of self-conscious emotions could lead to problems in forming and maintaining social relationships, since self-conscious emotions help people navigate social situations in which they misbehaved or broke social rules. Given the difficulties in navigating social relationships, children with more autistic traits might be prone to disturbances in self-conscious emotions after transgression.

The two articles I describe here relate to emotion processing. Their focus is quite different but equally important. First, Hubbard, Moore, Zajac, Bookhout & Dozier (2023) published “Emotion Transmission in Peer Dyads in Middle Childhood” in Child Development. Here’s the edited abstract:

A substantial portion of U.S. combat veterans reported having enjoyed violence during war. Our findings point to the importance of being open to the possibility that appetitive aggression is not uncommon in U.S. combat veterans and to the need to be prepared to face this sequela of combat with the same compassion, openness, and understanding we currently offer when encountering other wounds of war.

The two articles I discuss here are potentially helpful to those who work with LGBTQ+ clients. First, Clements, Riggle & Rostosky (2023) published “Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Brief Online Positive Identity Intervention for Transgender People” in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Today, I address two studies related to attachment. First, Snyder, Luchner & Tantleff-Dunn (2023) published “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Insecure Attachment: The indirect effects of dissociation and emotion regulation difficulties” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement:

Difficulties with dissociation and emotion regulation are well-documented reactions to early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Trach, Garandeau & Malamut (2023) published “Peer Victimization and Empathy for Victims of Bullying: A test of bidirectional associations in childhood and adolescence” in Child Development. I’ve previously cited work by Trach but was drawn to this work because of its premise. Here’s the edited abstract and article:

O'Gorman et al. (2023) published “Childhood Sexual Abuse in Boys and Men: The case for gender-sensitive interventions” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Here’s the edited abstract and impact statement with some information in bold:

We conducted a narrative review of papers pertaining to boys and men exposed to childhood sexual abuse. Implications of this literature for treatment were critically appraised.

This post comes from a story originally on NPR’s Morning Edition. In late June 2023, Six Things Psychologists Are Talking About posted Miotke’s “Anti-dopamine parenting can curb a kid’s craving for screens or sweets.” Here’s the highly edited transcript with some bold in the tips section:

Back when my daughter was a toddler, I would make a joke about my phone: "It's a drug for her," I'd say to my husband. "You can't even show it to her without causing a tantrum." She had the same reaction to cupcakes and ice cream at birthday parties.

Here, I present two recent articles focusing on the importance of language in preschoolers. First, Perry, Kucker, Hurst & Samuelson (2022) published “Late Bloomer or Language Disorder? Differences in toddler vocabulary composition associated with long-term language outcomes” in Child Development. Here’s the slightly edited abstract and highlights

In a previous post, I discussed Ackerman’s (2023) “Intelligence . . . Moving Beyond the Lowest Common Denominator” published in American Psychologist. Here’s another response to his article. Sternberg (2023) published “Intelligence is not the ‘entire repertoire of knowledge’, but rather the repertoire of adaptive knowledge: Commentary on Ackerman (2023).” in American Psychologist. Here’s the edited abstract and article: