© 2018 – 2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_4225c754736f614aee38585050f499a8 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } How do children learn the secret of good communication? It can’t be too easy, because the world is rife with misunderstandings and crossed signals. Too often, people go through the motions...
© 2008 – 2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_74de783b4312e7f533d0c00c9213a11e .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } Babies learn to communicate through eye contact, gestures, and affectionate touch. But when it comes to grabbing a baby’s attention — and helping a baby “crack the code” of spoken language...
© 2019-2023 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_123080fe53fd65fde3cfcb19ca46a4c3 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } What are the effects of violent video games? Do they contribute to the development of aggression? Do they increase a child’s risk of behavior problems? Researchers have debated these question for decades, and...
© 2020-2022 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_a1a5a8b1c48178a6784cf8ca467d244e .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } Are little kids hopelessly selfish? Many people assume so. But scientific research suggests otherwise. Like adults, children experience the warm glow of giving. And it’s a motivating force for good. Psychologists call it...
© 2008 – 2022 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_622afbc083ade .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } The Strange Situation procedure: The original test of the infant-parent bond We hear a lot about “secure attachment relationships.” But what exactly do researchers mean by this term? Psychologist Mary Ainsworth first...
© 2010-2022 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved #author-byline-block_622e931487c60 .author-byline-text{ font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); } We often hear claims that video games can have bad effects on a player’s well-being, particularly if gaming becomes excessive or compulsive. But video games have also been linked with positive effects, including...
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved A mother’s voice has special power. It can provide comfort — and improve outcomes — for babies hospitalized in the NICU. It can shape the way infants process language in the brain. And it can help children cope with pain and stress....
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Yes, newborns spend most of their time sleeping and eating. But babies are more than mere survival machines. At birth, they are primed and ready for social input, and our loving care has profound effects on their development. Decades ago, people underestimated...
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Families are better off when teenagers communicate openly with their parents. But how do we inspire better communication? An experimental study shows the way: We need to provide kids with crucial signals of active, supportive listening. Not only does it make kids feel better. ...
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Far from being social oafs, many bullies are confident, popular, and socially-savvy. So what’s missing? Empathy, moral engagement, and a sense of responsibility towards others. According to an old stereotype, people bully others because they have poor self-esteem and lack basic social...
© 2018 – 2021 GWEN DEWAR, PH.D., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Is childhood rebellion inevitable? Not really. Most kids are ready to be cooperative. But they recognize limits to our power: They resist when they perceive us as trying to control their personal lives. So what’s the solution? Be fair-minded. Listen...
