How Nurture Affects Nature
November 15, 2017
Policymakers often debate the merits of programs to change decision-making and behavior, wondering if they have enough bang for the buck. Now there is research showing that the choices people make affect us all the way down …
Why “Just Say No” Programs Don’t Prevent Alcohol Misuse
September 21st, 2017
Youth programs with a “just say no” approach to preventing substance use have proven largely ineffective. Researchers have known this for over a decade, but now studies are helping to explain why. Alcohol misuse results from a …
Should you give your child a time-out? It depends
July 27, 2017
One of the hardest parts of being a parent or teacher is dealing with behavior problems. Tantrums, aggression, and oppositional behaviors are painful for everyone involved, and when they are persistent, they increase a child’s risk of …
What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us: Toxic Chemicals, Science, and Policy
June 21st, 2017
Environmental protection is the subject of heated debate these days. In February of this year, President Trump signed an executive order to roll back the clean water rule, which limits corporations’ ability to pollute about 60% of …
How to prevent obesity? Look to anti-smoking efforts
May 25th, 2017
Almost half of deaths in the U.S. are caused by our decisions to engage in unhealthy behaviors like poor food choices and alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use. So it should be easy to improve health, right? …
An ounce of prevention for depression and anxiety
April 20th, 2017
A shocking third of Americans have been affected by clinical depression or anxiety in their lifetimes. That high number suggests that mood disorders, which were once thought of as personal problems, may be more accurately thought of …
