Scientific Gossip (39-1a)
Contains 100% gossip from concentrate
Compelling Research
A new theory casts doubt on the large body of psychological research into obsessive-compulsive behavior. Luc Pontrain of Oxford University suggests that studies of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder subjects may be flawed because an unusually large percentage of the researchers themselves exhibit obsessive-compulsive behavior, possibly skewing their results.
Experiments in Alcoholism
New experiments will attempt to build on the finding that depressed people rarely resort to uncontrolled alcohol use, but that alcoholics often get depressed. George E. Valliant of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston performed the original analysis, which he reported a decade ago at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Dominique Moulin of The University of Caenna is conducting a series of experiments in which depressed people are encouraged to drink heavily. Moulin is making no predictions about the experiments' outcome.
No Middle Down Under
What rights do native peoples have to the land they once occupied? The question is provoking hostile argument on five continents. In an effort to break the deadlock over aboriginal land rights in Australia, Dr. R.R. Smith and his colleagues visited the Outback last month, and were set upon by angry crowds, dogs and politicians, thereby suffering broken bones, rent clothing, and bullet and knife wounds. Smith is the founder of Non-Extremists for Moderate Change (NEMC), an organization whose goal is expressed by its name. In every country except Finland, NEMC members have been greeted with scorn, projectiles, violent attack, and police arrest.
One-Night Standoffs
Men and women use entirely different standards when they consider a one-night stand, according to research performed at Arizona State University and published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The reactions to Kendrick's work have been quite varied. Social psychologists and evolutionary psychologists are excited by the study. In stark contrast, a survey of more than 4,000 scientists in other disciplines and more than 4,500 laypersons failed to find even one who was surprised at the finding.
Help for Shy Talkers
A simple computer device will soon help shy people make easy conversation. The Random Idea Generator is a palmtop device that randomly suggests a new conversational idea every thirty to ninety seconds. The device is based on psychological studies performed by Leipzig psychologist I. G. Weinmann. Weinmann found that most polite chatter consists of unconnected ideas gently tossed into the conversation at random intervals.
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