DAVID M. DUNNING, MD

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In this study, researchers looked at how people's political beliefs influence their interpretation of numerical data in scientific evidence, particularly in the context of gun control. They found that when the data supported participants' political views, they came to correct conclusions more often—about 74% of the time—compared to when the data did not align with their views, even though their numerical skills did not necessarily improve their interpretations. This is important because it shows that people's biases can lead them to accept conclusions based on their beliefs rather than objective reasoning, which affects how they process important information. Who this helps: This helps patients and the general public by highlighting how biases can distort understanding of scientific research.

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This study looked at how mental health and social factors affected whether teenagers in England followed COVID-19 social distancing rules. Among 205 adolescents surveyed, those who were more generous and kind (prosocial) showed better adherence to social distancing, while mental health issues like anxiety and depression did not significantly impact their compliance. This matters because it helps us understand the importance of social behavior and peer influence on following health guidelines during a pandemic. Who this helps: This helps public health officials and educators understand how to encourage teens to follow safety measures.

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This study looked at how different brands of lissamine green (LG) strips and various application techniques affect eye staining. Researchers compared four types of LG strips and tested four methods of applying them on 22 participants. They found that using two applications of the LG strip, one minute apart, led to the strongest staining in the eye, while one brand, GreenGlo, resulted in darker stains than the others. Who this helps: This research benefits eye care professionals and their patients by providing insights on the most effective staining methods for eye examinations.

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This study examined how people decide to help others in real-life situations by looking at two main factors: the benefits for both the person giving help and the person receiving it, and the costs to the helper. Researchers found that when people feel that helping is beneficial and not too costly, they are more likely to assist; for instance, those who tend to be more agreeable or empathetic are generally more willing to help. Understanding these motivations is important because it highlights individual differences in personality and how they influence real-world helping behaviors. Who this helps: This benefits both patients in need of assistance and healthcare providers aiming to encourage compassionate care.

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This study focused on improving X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs), which produce powerful beams of X-rays. Researchers successfully demonstrated a new method that creates regular, ultra-short X-ray pulses, similar to how optical frequency combs work; this means they can produce organized bursts of X-ray light. This advancement will enhance studies on fast processes in materials and enable new types of experiments that need synchronized X-ray pulses. Who this helps: This benefits researchers in materials science and medical imaging.

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This study looked at how much people believe in their own understanding of science and found that those with a moderate amount of science knowledge tend to be the most overconfident. Specifically, people with this intermediate knowledge were more likely to give wrong answers instead of admitting they didn’t know something, and they also had the most negative views about scientists. This is important because it shows that having some knowledge can lead to greater overconfidence, which might affect how individuals engage with scientific information and experts. Who this helps: This helps educators and scientists better understand how to communicate with the public.

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This study looked at how young children (ages 3 to 8) can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic event and tested a new type of therapy called cognitive-focused therapy. Researchers found that about 8.6% of children showed signs of acute PTSD one month after trauma, and that number increased to 10.1% after three months. The therapy was effective, with 84.6% of children no longer showing PTSD symptoms after completing it, compared to only 6.7% who received standard treatment. Who this helps: This helps young children suffering from PTSD and their families.

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This study looked at whether teaching teenagers how to "decenter," or view their thoughts and feelings from an outside perspective, can help reduce anxiety and depression. The researchers worked with 114 teens (ages 16-19) from schools in the UK and Ireland, dividing them into two groups: one received 5 weeks of decentering training, while the other did light exercise and cognitive training. The results, which will help understand if decentering can be effectively taught to young people, could lead to better mental health interventions for adolescents. Who this helps: This research benefits teens experiencing anxiety and depression.

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This study looked at how mindfulness programs might help improve mental health and cognitive skills in young people under 19 years old. It analyzed data from 66 studies with over 20,000 participants and found that these programs slightly reduced anxiety and improved focus and behavior, with improvements ranging from 0.12 to 0.35 in effectiveness scores. However, the overall evidence is of low quality and not strong enough to fully support the widespread use of these programs for all young people. Who this helps: This research benefits educators and mental health professionals working with children and teens.

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This study looked at the impact of a mindfulness training program in schools on teacher mental health and the overall school environment. Researchers found that after participating in the program, teachers reported less exhaustion and felt more accomplished, with improvements in school leadership and respect among students. Specifically, the training helped reduce burnout scores by an average of 0.22 and improved school climate based on respect by 0.26, but the benefits didn’t last long-term. Who this helps: This benefits teachers and school administrators.

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This study looked at whether mindfulness training helps young people age 11 to 16 improve their emotional control and mental health, especially during stressful times like the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers found that the mindfulness training did not lead to better control over emotions or reduce mental health issues compared to a separate educational approach, with no signs that it helped protect against the mental health effects of the pandemic. This matters because finding effective ways to support young people's mental health during challenging times is crucial. Who this helps: This helps young people and their mental health professionals.

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This study looked at the impact of school-based mindfulness training (SBMT) on student mental health compared to standard school teaching. Researchers found no significant differences in mental health outcomes, such as depression and well-being, between the two groups after one year, with very small effect sizes (0.005 for depression risk and 0.02 for well-being). However, SBMT was likely cost-effective, meaning it could be a reasonable option for schools to consider despite not showing clear benefits over usual methods. Who this helps: This research helps educators and school administrators in deciding on mental health programs for students.

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This research looked at how some people tend to make quick decisions without enough information, a behavior called "jumping to conclusions" (JTC). The studies found that those who jumped to conclusions made more reasoning errors and were often overconfident in their beliefs, even when they were wrong—96% showed higher confidence despite making mistakes in decision tasks. This is important because it shows that JTC can lead to misunderstandings and poor decision-making, not just in patients with schizophrenia, but in the general population as well. Who this helps: This helps both patients and anyone looking to improve their decision-making skills.

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This research studied how people's thinking skills and emotions influence their acceptance of false political beliefs. In two studies involving 298 and 251 participants, researchers found that individuals with lower cognitive skills were more likely to believe in political misinformation, regardless of their political views, while emotional attachment to their political party affected the acceptance of false beliefs. The results highlight a growing trend where strong feelings about politics lead people to believe in and defend misinformation. Who this helps: This helps voters and policymakers understand the psychological factors behind political misinformation.

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This research looked at how people's feelings about scientists influenced their concern for COVID-19 and their actions to prevent its spread. The findings showed that people who liked scientists were more worried about COVID-19 and took more steps to protect themselves, while those who had negative feelings or were overly optimistic about unproven treatments, like hydroxychloroquine, were less likely to follow safety measures. This matters because improving people's attitudes towards scientists can lead to better public health outcomes during pandemics. Who this helps: This helps patients and the general public by encouraging safer behaviors during health crises.

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This paper studies "decentering," a mental health technique that helps young people distance themselves from their negative thoughts and feelings. The findings show that increasing decentering skills can lead to significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, with improvements linked to lower severity of these mental health issues in adolescents. This matters because adolescence is a key time for mental health development, and strengthening decentering can provide effective treatment and prevention strategies. Who this helps: This helps patients, especially adolescents dealing with anxiety and depression.

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This study looked at how the “illusory truth effect” works, which is when people believe something is true simply because they've heard it before. Researchers conducted seven studies with nearly 2,200 participants and found that this effect persisted regardless of individual differences in thinking ability or style. This is important because it suggests that everyone is equally influenced by repeated exposure to information, which can impact how misinformation spreads. Who this helps: This helps everyone, especially the general public navigating news and information.

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This study looked at how accurately optometry students and experienced eye care practitioners can grade redness in different parts of the eye. The researchers found that over 50% of students and 40% of experienced practitioners could grade within 0.5 units of the average, while fewer than 20% showed closer accuracy within 0.1 units. The findings suggest that using a 0.5 grading scale is best for assessing eye redness, allowing practitioners to detect important changes more effectively. Who this helps: This helps eye care practitioners and their patients by improving the accuracy of eye examinations.

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This study looked at how the consistency of the way tasks are presented can affect people's confidence in how well they think they're performing. Researchers found that when tasks are presented in a consistent manner, people tend to feel more confident, even if their actual accuracy doesn't improve. For example, individuals may believe they are doing better simply because the tasks feel easier, leading to overconfidence without a corresponding increase in correctness. Who this helps: This helps patients and people who take assessments by highlighting the importance of understanding confidence levels in relation to actual performance.

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This study looked at how people feel obligated to trust strangers, even when they have no prior relationship and might worry about being taken advantage of. Researchers found that people often choose to act kindly and cooperatively with complete strangers to foster goodwill, which is crucial for forming lasting relationships. This is important because it shows that social obligations can encourage positive interactions, even among people who have just met. Who this helps: This helps everyone, including patients and doctors, by promoting trust and cooperation in new encounters.

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This study reviews advancements in a type of light source that produces extremely short pulses of light, known as attosecond pulses. Researchers found that new methods for generating these pulses could increase their energy significantly, up to five million trillionths of a joule, and their duration to just 50-100 attoseconds, making them three times more efficient than existing technologies. These improvements not only enhance our ability to study fast processes at the molecular level but also provide tools for controlling these processes, which is crucial for fields like chemistry and biology. Who this helps: This benefits scientists researching complex molecular interactions and may lead to breakthroughs in medicine and technology.

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This study looked at how donations from grateful clients help veterinary schools, specifically focusing on North Carolina State University. The research found that financial support from these donations has become essential due to decreased government funding, helping to fund research, scholarships, and improvements to facilities. This is important because it allows veterinary colleges to continue providing high-quality education and care despite funding cuts. Who this helps: This helps veterinary students, faculty, and animal patients.

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This research looked at how beginners tend to become overly confident in their abilities after only a small amount of experience. In studies involving tasks like diagnosing fictional diseases, participants quickly moved from being realistic about their skills to overly confident, even when their actual performance didn’t match that confidence. For example, young adults felt very confident about their financial knowledge after minimal experience, but their actual understanding grew much more slowly. This is important because it shows that beginners might overestimate their skills, which can lead to poor decision-making. Who this helps: This helps beginners in education and training, as well as educators and trainers who need to be aware of overconfidence issues.

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This study explores how people can make moral decisions even when they feel confused or disconnected from their beliefs. It found that moral reasoning has different roles, and the support of social groups is more important than the individual's reasoning alone. This matters because it highlights the importance of community in making ethical choices rather than putting all the pressure on individuals. Who this helps: This helps everyone, especially those struggling with moral decisions and the communities that support them.

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This study examined how incorrect self-assessments can affect people's health, education, and work lives. The authors noted that understanding how people misjudge themselves is important and that many researchers are interested in this topic. They highlight that creating programs to help improve how people judge their abilities can be beneficial but also quite complicated. Who this helps: This benefits patients, students, and employees looking to improve their self-awareness and performance.

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This study looked at how to improve the health of women, newborns, and children in Nigeria, where maternal and infant death rates are very high. Researchers found that civil society organizations (CSOs) believe more funding and involvement in health policies is needed, and they highlighted the importance of holding the government accountable for health commitments. By increasing support for advocacy and ensuring that policies are properly implemented, health outcomes can significantly improve. Who this helps: Patients, particularly women, newborns, and children in Nigeria.

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This study looked at how positive self-affirmations can help people feel better when facing threats to their self-esteem. Researchers found that individuals who practiced self-affirmations felt less defined by their threats and showed reduced defensiveness, indicating they viewed their challenges in a broader context. For instance, self-affirmed participants saw their threatened qualities as important but not all-consuming, which helped them cope better. Who this helps: This benefits patients dealing with self-esteem issues and mental health professionals guiding them.

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This study looked at how people understand their own traits and those of others, specifically focusing on "causal trait theories," which are ideas about why certain personality traits are linked. Researchers found that people often think their own traits are related in the same way that they believe traits are related in others. In fact, they found that when people think about traits in themselves, they create more connections based on varied experiences, whereas they rely more on limited views when considering others. This is important because it shows that our understanding of personality is shaped more by our own experiences than by how we view others. Who this helps: This helps psychologists and counselors who work to understand personality better.

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This study looked at how people tend to claim they know things that don't really exist, a behavior known as overclaiming. Researchers found that when people think highly of their own knowledge, they are more likely to make up or claim knowledge about things that are impossible, like fake financial concepts or fictional places. For instance, boosting someone's confidence in their geography knowledge led them to falsely claim they knew made-up locations. Who this helps: This information helps educators and trainers understand how to better address misconceptions and improve teaching methods.

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This study looked at how people assess their emotional intelligence (EI), which is important for good management. It found that those who are the least skilled in EI often do not realize they have a problem, even when they receive direct feedback about it. For example, the lowest performers tended to dismiss feedback and show less interest in improving, while the best performers wanted to learn more about improving their EI after receiving feedback. Who this helps: This helps managers and organizations by highlighting the need for better feedback systems and support for low performers.

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The research looked at how people make decisions and whether they recognize the impact of their surroundings on those choices. The study found that while individuals can often identify the factors that led them to a decision, they usually do not realize how much the context around them—like the environment or situation—affects their thinking. This matters because understanding these influences can help improve decision-making processes in various fields. Who this helps: Patients and doctors making important health decisions.

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This paper discusses how researchers study how accurately people can assess their own abilities and behaviors. It highlights that while many studies focus on one measure—called the correlation coefficient—to evaluate this accuracy, this method can be misleading. The authors call for more varied methods to measure self-assessment, suggesting that different approaches might reveal different psychological insights. Who this helps: This helps researchers and psychologists who study self-perception and personal insight.

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This study looked at why people tend to trust strangers more than expected, especially in situations where they won't meet again. The researchers found that individuals often trust others out of a sense of respect rather than an expectation of receiving something in return. In six experiments, it was shown that when people feel the need to show respect, they are more likely to take risks and trust others, and if respect is not a factor, their willingness to trust decreases significantly. Who this helps: This benefits everyone who interacts with others, especially in social and economic exchanges where building trust is crucial.

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Researchers studied how people perceive distance to threatening objects compared to neutral or disgusting ones. They found that people felt threats, like an aggressive person, were physically closer than things that grossed them out, like a repulsive person. In their experiments, threatening stimuli were perceived as being nearer, even when controlling for things like excitement or familiarity. This matters because it shows how our feelings can shape our perception of our environment and potentially our actions in dangerous situations. Who this helps: This helps patients dealing with anxiety or phobias, as well as professionals in psychology and safety training.

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This research looked at how people predict behaviors of individuals compared to groups. The studies found that when thinking about a single person, people are likely to believe that individual will act more altruistically (like donating to charity) than they think a group of people would. For example, people thought a random student would be more likely to give money than the entire student body might be. This difference matters because it highlights how our perceptions of individual actions are often more optimistic, which can affect how we understand social behaviors and norms. Who this helps: This benefits psychologists, sociologists, and educators who study behavior patterns.

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This study looked at how high-intensity terahertz (THz) radiation affects human epithelial and embryonic stem cells. The researchers found that exposure to this THz radiation did not change how the cells stuck together, grew, or developed, meaning the cells seemed to manage any potential effects of the radiation. This finding is important because it shows that under certain conditions, cells can tolerate exposure to this type of radiation without damage. Who this helps: This helps researchers who are studying the safety of using THz radiation in medical and scientific applications.

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This study explored how people's current feelings and social interactions shape their choices in the moment, alongside how past experiences and future expectations do. The researchers found that immediate influences, like feelings of trust, significantly impact decision-making more than previously understood. For example, they argue that how someone feels right now affects whether they choose to trust another person, rather than just focusing on potential future outcomes. Who this helps: This benefits psychologists and individuals navigating social relationships.

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This study looked at how people's confidence in their performance on intellectual tasks, like logical reasoning and financial decisions, can become overly inflated, especially among those who don't perform well. Researchers found that people who approached tasks in a consistent way rated their performance highly, even when they were consistently wrong. For example, those who followed a wrong rule with consistency rated themselves nearly as confidently as those who were correct, highlighting that their systematic approach led them to overlook better solutions. Who this helps: This research benefits educators and trainers by helping them understand how confidence in performance can be misleading, especially for struggling learners.

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This study looked at how people assess their own potential compared to how they assess others' potential. The researchers found that individuals are more likely to value their own potential—often overestimating it—while they require more evidence when judging the potential of others. For example, participants needed stronger proof of someone else's potential than they did for themselves, which can lead to biases in self-evaluation versus evaluation of others. Who this helps: This helps patients who may benefit from more balanced self-assessment and feedback in therapeutic or counseling settings.

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This research looked at how people predict their own and others' future performance and found that friends or peers are often better at making these predictions than the individuals themselves. Specifically, when predicting others, people largely focus on past achievements, whereas when predicting their own future performance, they tend to rely more on their aspirations or hopes. For example, participants were more realistic about others' chances of success, leading to better predictions; in one study, the difference in prediction accuracy was noted as peers tended to avoid being overly optimistic. Who this helps: This helps patients and individuals trying to improve their performance in various areas, such as education or work.

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This study looked at how having legs of different lengths affects the movement of the pelvis and spine while walking. Seven men walked barefoot with added height to simulate leg length differences of 1, 2, and 3 centimeters. The results showed little change in how their pelvis and spine moved, suggesting that their bodies adjusted in other ways to compensate for the leg length differences. Who this helps: This information benefits doctors and health professionals who treat patients with leg length discrepancies.

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This study looked at how people of different ages value immediate rewards versus rewards that come later, focusing on their feelings and emotions. It found that older adults tend to be less eager for immediate gains compared to younger people, especially when considering future money they could earn. Specifically, as people got older, their preference for immediate rewards decreased, likely because of better emotional well-being. Who this helps: This benefits older adults and those who work with them in planning for financial decisions.

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This study looked at whether giving carprofen, a pain-relief medication, to dogs after surgery for a knee injury would help them recover better during rehabilitation. Researchers tested 35 dogs and found that, while all the dogs showed improvement in their movement and muscle size over time, those given carprofen did not do any better than those who did not receive it. This matters because it suggests that carprofen may not be necessary for enhancing recovery in dogs after this specific type of surgery. Who this helps: This helps veterinarians and dog owners understand that carprofen may not be needed for recovery after knee surgery in dogs.

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This study looked at how people perceive the distance of things in their environment based on how much they want those things. The researchers found that people see desired objects, like a water bottle or money, as being closer than items they care less about. For example, participants were more likely to throw a beanbag closer to items they wished for, showing that the desire affects how they judge distance. This matters because it shows that our desires influence our perceptions, which can impact how we act in our everyday lives. Who this helps: This helps patients, especially those in need of resources or motivation.

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This study looked at why people often think others are less trustworthy than they really are. Researchers found that when people choose to trust others, they are more likely to remember when that trust is broken, but they usually don’t learn when someone would have been trustworthy. In tests involving videos of people, participants consistently rated others as less trustworthy than they actually were, but those who received balanced feedback about trustworthiness had a more accurate view. Who this helps: This helps everyone, especially those looking to build better relationships, such as friends, coworkers, and clients.

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This study looked at how self-affirmations, or positive reminders of one's value, affect how people react defensively when faced with criticism or threats. Researchers found that affirmations work best when given before a person encounters a threat, with one experiment showing that pre-emptive affirmations significantly reduced defensive reactions. In cases where affirmations were given after the threat, they only helped if the person hadn't already decided to be defensive. Who this helps: This helps anyone who may deal with criticism, like patients receiving feedback about their health or teachers giving students assessments.

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This study looked at the effects of deracoxib, a pain medication, on dogs undergoing tough rehabilitation after surgery for a torn knee ligament. Researchers compared 30 dogs that received deracoxib to those that did not and found no significant differences in lameness, muscle recovery, or movement range, except for slightly better movement in deracoxib dogs before surgery. This finding matters because it shows that deracoxib may not provide benefits during rehabilitation for this specific type of surgery. Who this helps: This helps veterinarians decide on pain management strategies for dogs after surgery.

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This study looked at how wearing foot orthoses (supportive shoe inserts) and dental appliances (devices for correcting teeth alignment) together affects balance and stability in individuals. The researchers tested seven participants and found that their postural sway, or balance, improved when they wore the orthoses alone, showing the best results in that condition. Overall, wearing any combination reduced sway, but the most notable improvement occurred with foot orthoses alone. Who this helps: This benefits patients with balance issues, particularly those who may have stability problems related to dental alignment or foot conditions.