News: Shorts

Deceptive by Design

Next time you have to make a decision, take a look at how you’re sitting. A new study shows that expansive postures, which we unconsciously assume when we sit in high chairs or at large desks, make us feel more powerful—and therefore more likely to cheat and lie, including when we drive. In one experiment, people driving cars with larger seats were more likely to double-park than those in smaller seats. (Researchers accounted for the fact that luxury cars have larger seats, suggesting posture, not wealth, was to blame.)

Why Am I So Tired?

A link between fatigue and inflammation helps explain the mystery of persistent weariness and exhaustion, a recent review suggests. Inflammation may interfere with the habit-forming circuitry in the brain, making even everyday tasks feel as if they require more effort. But exercise can help curb fatigue, so refraining from physical activity may actually make ongoing fatigue more difficult to shake.

Spare the Rod

Is it OK for parents to spank a child if they are otherwise warm and caring? No, a new study suggests. Children who are spanked tend to develop aggression and other problems, and maternal warmth does not seem to prevent such behavior.