In the part 1 of the science of changing habits you learnt that stress management is important for changing habits.

This weeks article is by Jona Leher and discusses research on willpower.

Not surprisingly researchers believe willpower underpins successful change. That’s why willpower (we call it stamina) is the focus of our  our ASPiRE resilience workshops.

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DRINKING alcohol makes people feel better because it produces the same chemicals in the brain as exercising and laughing, a study has proved for the first time.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/science-proves-alcohol-is-fun-20120112-1pxj7.html#ixzz1jMvpmH81

AUSTRALIAN researchers have accidentally discovered that taking folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements can prevent memory loss in people over 60.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/folate-b12-prevent-memory-loss-20120112-1pxkb.html#ixzz1jMtcaiDD

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. While you are more likely to do something if you plan it in advance, research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), shows that partnering up or planning with someone can really boost the likelihood of sticking to your resolutions. This finding suggests that ‘buddy schemes’ could make a big difference to people following dieting plans, health programmes and could be integrated into government well-being initiatives.

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/18931/if-you-plan-then-youll-do-but-it-helps-to-have-a-friend.aspx

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to depression, according to UT Southwestern Medical Center psychiatrists working with the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. It is believed to be the largest such investigation ever undertaken.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/usmc-lvd010512.php

Oxytocin, the “love hormone” that builds mother-baby bonds and may help us feel more connected toward one another, can also make surly monkeys treat each other a little more kindly.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/du-wo010512.php

Stating that you don’t care if you land a partner who is “hot” or “sexy” is relatively commonplace. But what people say they want and what they actually want are often two very different things when it comes to romantic attraction.However, a new methodology that measures people’s implicit, split-second responses gets around this problem. Research from Northwestern University and Texas A&M University measures whether people’s implicit preferences actually predict how much you like the hotties.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/nu-ysy010512.php

In a series of experiments, researchers closely monitored physiological reactions and eye movements of study participants when shown combinations of both pleasant and unpleasant images. Conservatives reacted more strongly to, fixated more quickly on, and looked longer at the unpleasant images; liberals had stronger reactions to and looked longer at the pleasant images compared with conservatives.

See http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uon-tbo010412.php

Confronting an abusive boss is easier said than done: employees coping with the stress of abusive treatment prefer to avoid direct communication even though it would be the most effective tactic in terms of emotional wellbeing. This has been shown in a new study from the University of Haifa, published in the International Journal of Stress Management (American Psychological Association). “Abusive supervision is highly distressing for employees. Our study shows that the strategies being used by employees to cope with the stress caused by such behavior do not lead to the most positive outcomes,” said Prof. Dana Yagil, who headed the study.

http://newmedia-eng.haifa.ac.il/?p=5668

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits. While you are more likely to do something if you plan it in advance, research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), shows that partnering up or planning with someone can really boost the likelihood of sticking to your resolutions. This finding suggests that ‘buddy schemes’ could make a big difference to people following dieting plans, health programmes and could be integrated into government well-being initiatives.

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/18931/if-you-plan-then-youll-do-but-it-helps-to-have-a-friend.aspx