Psychology
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Georgia prison system engages in deception as crisis builds
A leading expert on prison conditions and solitary confinement, Craig Haney, was brought in to study the unit, and he described the SMU as "one of the harshest and most draconian" solitary confinement facilities he had ever seen. … "The atmosphere inside E Wing was bedlam-like, as chaotic and out of-control as any such unit…
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Enter the ‘ether,’ where scammers weaponize your emotions
Anthony Pratkanis, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, co-wrote a source book for fraud fighters. “We’re looking at it from the outside, and we may not see all the little details and trappings that create that powerful situation for the targeted victim,” he said.
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Two WA men were arrested in mental health crises. Only one survived
Across the country, jails have become “the default placement” for people in mental crisis, said Craig Haney, a University of California, Santa Cruz, psychology professor. “In worst-case scenarios, that can have fatal consequences,” because mentally ill people “oftentimes react badly to the oppressive nature” of jail environments, Haney said.
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You Might Have Perfect Pitch And Not Even Know It, Study Suggests
“What this shows is that a surprisingly large portion of the population has a type of automatic, hidden ‘perfect pitch’ ability,” said Matt Evans, a Ph.D. student at UC Santa Cruz who led the study, alongside Psychology Profesor Nicolas Davidenko. Forbes also featured this study in their daily news quiz.
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You can (probably) sing better than you think
Popular Science covered research by cognitive science Ph.D. Candidate Matt Evans and Psychology Professor Nicholas Davidenko that shows a surprisingly large portion of the population has a type of automatic, hidden 'perfect pitch' ability. Additional coverage in Earth, Cosmos, and Yahoo News.
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Harsh Florida law sees more Black kids tried as adults than white kids
The Miami Herald interviewed Psychology Professor Craig Haney about the possible impacts of a Florida law that has seen more juveniles tried as adults. “For young people who are in the process of development and haven’t fully learned social skills … this is an experience that damages their maturation,” Haney said.
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What we know about the shooting of an Uber driver in Ohio and the scam surrounding it
Anthony Pratkanis, an emeritus psychology professor, spoke to the Associated Press about the increasing prevalence of so-called "grandparent scams" in the past decade and explained how these scams typically work.
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Confirmation Bias In Policing And The American Nightmare
Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Haney joined KALW radio show Your Legal Rights for a discussion of confirmation bias in prosecution.
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Near-total isolation of juvenile girls at the ACJ raises concerns of illegal solitary confinement
Pittsburgh City Paper interviewed Psychology Professor Craig Haney about the increased risks of solitary confinement for juveniles.
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For Gen Z, an Age-Old Question: Who Pays for Dates?
The New York Times interviewed Distinguished Psychology Professor Campbell Leaper about his 2016 research that found an association among men between the idea that men should pay for dates and hostile views toward women.
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Why your dog helps you relax more than your friends do
Assistant Teaching Professor of Psychology Hannah Raila spoke with National Geographic about her recent research that documented how people who interacted with their dogs after a stressful experience had a greater boost in mood and a greater reduction in anxiety than those who tried to destress by coloring or just through the passage of time.
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Fentanyl Crisis and Mental Health Issues Drive 2022 Increase in Deaths in Riverside County Jails
Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Haney spoke with Black Voice News about the mental health crisis in jails. “We don’t have a functioning, adequate public mental health system in the United States,” said Haney. “As a result, people suffering from mental health problems often end up in the criminal justice system.”