Hot MedFax

We'd like to think it doesn't matter -- or happen -- but we all exclude people, from time to time. But would you exclude someone based on his facial cues? People are often excluded from social groups. As researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland report, whether uninvolved observers find this acceptable or not may depend on the facial appearances of those excluded, according to newswise.com. The exclusion of cold and incompetent-looking people is more likely to be accepted. Social exclusion - at school, work or among friends - is usually a painful experience for those affected. This behavior also often has a considerable effect on third-party observers: Bullying and ostracism with the aim to hurt the victims are seen as particularly unfair and morally unacceptable. However, in some cases, social exclusion is also perceived as justified. Groups are, for example, more likely to ostracize people who cause trouble or arguments in order to restore the h...

When was the last time you asked your family who misplaced the remote?  Did you ask them as a group, or one by one?  If you did it at the dinner table, chances are you would get a different answer than if you asked each member individually. Apparently, it's easier to tell a lie (and not be caught) if you're asked in a group setting. According to newswise.com, a study that examined deception in groups found that, if you want the truth, talk to people one at a time. Scientists found that, in most of their studies, participants were interviewed separately. This raised concerns because how people respond in a group may be different from how they respond when alone. "My interest into group deception developed as a result of my interest in collaborative memory, group dynamics and deception detection," says Dr. Zarah Vernham from the University of Portsmouth in the UK "In particular, I am interested in collective interviewing and the novel cues to deceit t...