World Compliment Day: The Science Behind Praise When was the last time someone gave you a compliment? Do you recall how it made you feel appreciated and recognized? In celebration of World Compliment Day, let’s explore the science behind why compliments feel so good and why we should give more of them. Suzanne van de Groep • February 26, 2018
Tempted to skip your workout today? When you’re super busy, or tired after a long day at work, is the first thing you cross off your schedule your workout? (“I’ll hit the gym tomorrow instead, I promise!”). Well, that’s exactly what you should not be doing… Bianca Westhoff • January 29, 2018
Shy parent, shy child? Not only extreme shyness runs in families, but also an early brain response related to shyness, our family study shows. This finding can inform future research on genetic and environmental factors that play a role in the development of extreme shyness. • January 15, 2018
Brain changes underlying social anxiety: numbers count! In a recent mega-analysis, researchers from Leiden University aimed to clarify the contradictory findings of research into social anxiety disorder. They found that to obtain reliable research results having the largest possible sample size is important. Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam • January 04, 2018
More efficient mental health care using outcome feedback technology With the rising costs of mental health care and large numbers of patients not benefitting from treatment in routine care, there is an urgent need for psychological treatments to become more effective and efficient. Our solution? Bring in technology. Kim de Jong and Jaime Delgadillo • December 21, 2017
A smartphone induced brain-drain Smartphones enrich our lives. But they may also monopolize some of our mental resources when we need them most, without us even realizing! Lisa Schreuders • December 18, 2017
Feeling sleepy, feeling risky? Sleep-deprived? New research shows this can change your behavior in an unexpected way: how many risks you take. Neeltje Blankenstein • December 05, 2017
Like a deer caught in the headlights? BOOM!! You hear the sound of an explosion. The children in your classroom start panicking. You see through the window that the left wing of the school is on fire. How would you respond in such a situation? Verena Ly • November 27, 2017
#MeToo gives people the courage to face the consequences The #MeToo campaign has shown that sexual harassment is much more common than was previously believed. The campaign gives people the courage to share their negative experiences, because they see their friends and acquaintances also having that courage. Gert-Jan Lelieveld • November 20, 2017
