Confessing embarrassing information is often better than withholding it. Research finds that people distrust withholders of details more than they dislike revealers of unsavory information.
Dogs Examine Eyes First When Deciphering Facial Expressions
By Sarah D. Young for Consumer Affairs Humans may not be the only ones who consider eyes to be the window to the soul. A new study out of the University of Helsinki found that dogs, just like humans, focus most closely on the eyes when deciphering facial expressions. The study, published recently in the science…
Read MoreChildren’s Lies Are a Sign of Cognitive Progress
By Susan Pinker for the Wall Street Journal Child-rearing trends might seem to blow with the wind, but most adults would agree that preschool children who have learned to talk shouldn’t lie. But learning to lie, it turns out, is an important part of learning in general—and something to consider apart from fibbing’s ethical implications.…
Read MoreDogs Show Empathy During Play
By Virginia Morell for Science Now Laugh and your best friend will probably join in. Her face will also instantly mimic your mirthful expression. Scientists call this emotional contagion (it also happens when someone yawns), and regard it as a basic form of empathy—the ability to experience what someone else is feeling. But humans aren’t…
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