Turns out, the rich really are ifferent. But not necessarily in he ways we assume.
Though economically privileged, people from upper-class backgrounds consistently display deficits in empathy, social engagement, generosity and sensitivity compared to those from the lower classes. The differences in behaviour are so marked that even unschooled observers are able to detect a person’s socioeconomic background based on 60 seconds of interaction.
The findings, published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science, have researchers concluding that wealth comes at considerable personal cost – and that being poor isn’t without its rewards.
“There’s this sense among people that all problems reside in the lower classes,” says report co-author Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley. “While some of that is true – they are more prone to diseases of every kind, and suffer health problems because of the difficulties in their lives – the research also points to all these wonderful strengths: greater empathy, greater altruism, greater sensitivity to others and greater attunement to the social world.”
PsychologistPhilip Zimbardo asks, “Why are boys struggling?” He shares some stats, suggests a few reasons — and asks for your help! Watch his talk, then take his short 10-question survey. http://on.ted.com/PZSurvey
Over at BigThinkDominic Basulto gives us food for thought in his article about the current generation of toddlers who are embracing digital technology at an astounding pace.
According to a recent survey from BlogHer/Parenting, nearly 25% of toddlers will have used a smartphone by age 2. Not only that, nearly one-third of toddlers will have used a laptop or digital camera by the time they enter pre-school. Thanks to their Generation Y moms, these toddlers will be the first generation that grew up completely digital. Now that the early development of our children will be increasingly measured by digital milestones (my baby’s first text message!), what does that mean for the future of K-12 education?
When toddlers are using iPads instead of children’s books to learn how to read, when pre-schoolers are using smart phones as the default way to stay in touch with their busy parents, the U.S. educational system needs to grow and evolve so that it reflects our children’s new developmental patterns.
A new drug to prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease could be tested on patients within six years according to researchers at Lancaster University.
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, which affects 750,000 people in the UK, with numbers expected to more than double by 2050. One in three people over 65 will die with dementia.
Professor David Allsop and his team at the Centre for Ageing Research, School of Health and Medicine, at Lancaster are part of a multi-million pound international research project which aims to find a cure.
He said: “When the disease is diagnosed now, the damage is already done. Proteins accumulate in the brain as senile plaques or fibres which interfere with the normal function of nerve cells. We are developing treatments based on inhibiting the protein fibres from accumulating so Alzheimer’s could be treated much earlier. A drug to prevent Alzheimer’s could be tested in humans in 5 to 6 years.” [continue reading…]
