Tune Your Subliminal Biases toward Optimism
On the cover of this month’s Scientific American Mind, Elaine discusses how we can tune our mind to notice the bright side of ambiguous events and bolster our resilience to stress and anxiety.
Are you an Oscar or an Elmo?
Whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, a new book reveals that you can learn a lot from attempting the opposite attitude.
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Rainy Brain Sunny Brain Podcast
What is optimism? .. and pessimism. Elaine Fox conversation with George Miller for Blackwell’s bookshop…
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Can you train yourself to be an optimist?
New Scientist asked Elaine why some people see the glass as half empty, and what techniques science offers us to change that perspective…
Do you see the glass half empty?
“There are many things we can do to change… you create new pathways in your brain to think more positively – and literally change the way you think.”
Tunnelling Underground
The Inaugural Royal Society podcast features an interview with Professor Elaine Fox who discusses her paper on the genetic basis for looking on the bright side and 2007.
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Looking on the bright side of life is in the genes
Whether a glass is viewed as half full or half empty depends on your genes, claim scientists. Professor Elaine Fox said: “People who carried one form of the serotonin transporter gene tended to look on the bright side of life, and selectively avoided negative material. Meanwhile, those who carried the other version showed a complete absence of this protective bias.”
Have you got the happy gene?
Piece on AOL online about Biological Psychiatry paper on “for better and for worse” genes
Today Programme
Pressure groups are scaremongering about the effects of mobile masts and wi-fi on health, the charity Sense about Science says. Elaine Fox, who helped with Sense’s research discusses whether there is any evidence that these devices cause harm.
Tucson Citizen: Shelf Life
Book reviews from Larry Cox.
The Joy Cardin Show
Elaine Fox proposes a slightly different definition of optimism, saying that optimists are those who feel they have control over their lives.
It’s Your Health Network
Elaine talks about how to overcome pessimism on the Lisa Davis Show.
Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain
There now seems to be scientific evidence that, like Monty Python’s Life Of Brian, it really does pay to “Always look on the Bright Side Of Life.”
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Review of Rainy Brain Sunny Brain
Fox constructs an elegant narrative from neuroimaging results, her clever psychology experiments, and the interaction of genetics and environment. One can even learn, she promises, to be less pessimistic…
Podcast – Training the Brain for Happiness
There’s new data on the complicated genetic basis of depression and happiness.
El compromiso es un elemento clave de la felicidad – La Vanguardia
En Una mente feliz (Temas de Hoy), consciente de que nuestra forma de ver el mundo y de interactuar con él modifica el modo en que este nos responde…
How to Make Optimism Work for You
Elaine Fox, author of an informative new book on the science of optimism, “Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain,” says positive thinking is not the main thing about optimism…
Book club: Rainy or sunny brain?
Elaine discusses optimism and pessimism on Irish television’s breakfast show.
Watch Elaine’s TV appearance →
How to rewire your brain to be more optimistic
Where scientists once thought that having a sunny outlook, or a rainy one, was set in stone on the day we were conceived, the latest research suggests that genes play only a 30 percent to 40 percent role in our outlook.
The perils of positive thinking
Chad Concelmo explores the downside of happiness.
Back to the Future star Fox backs ‘happiness’ research
A HOLLYWOOD star met an Essex Uni professor after reading her research on the science of being positive.
Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
The New York Daily News reviews Michael J Fox’s documentary about optimism.
Psychologists find gene that helps you look on the bright side of life
Those unfortunate enough to lack the ‘brightside gene’ are more likely to suffer from mental health problems such as depression. Guardian report on Elaine’s “optimism gene” study…
The happy gene that makes you a smiley, more positive person
Daily Mail article about Elaine’s Biological Psychiatry paper on “for better and for worse” genes.
Phone mast allergy ‘in the mind’
Mobile phone masts are not responsible for the symptoms of ill health some blame them for, says a major UK study led by Professor Elaine Fox of the University of Essex.
Cell-Tower Emission Risks Probed
Among researchers who study the effects of electromagnetic emissions from mobile phones and towers, the prevailing wisdom is that it’s too early to conclude that they are harmless to humans…
Even You Can Become an Optimist
Optimists generally are more successful at most things in life – from business to personal relationships – than pessimists.
Post-Olympic Blues? 10 Ways To Achieve ‘Personal Life’ Best
With a little practise, you’ll be able to enjoy some serious life highs of your own, without the help of London 2012, says the professor of cognitive psychology from the University of Essex.
How to retrain your rainy brain
Research into the ‘optimist gene’ shows that you can always be on the sunny side.
Guardian Science Weekly Podcast
Do optimism and pessimism shape our destiny? Professor Elaine Fox discusses her book Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain which explores the science of optimism and pessimism.
Make your ‘rainy brain’ sunnier
Why do some people flourish, seemingly resilient to all that life throws at them, while others are vulnerable and at risk of serious problems like anxiety and depression?
Read Elaine’s article for CNN →
The John Murray Show
Elaine is interviewed and tests the audience for optimism or pessimism. You can listen to a podcast of the show by clicking the link below and scrolling down the page. Elaine’s optimism test appears at the top of the page.
The evolutionary origins of optimism
Positive feeling evolved to make us do critical tasks — but new findings suggest it can also help us live longer.
Literary Festival 2012: Science in the Media
Professor Elaine Fox appears with other guest speakers Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Professor Pedro Ferreira, Mark Henderson.
Further information and podcast →
Rainy Brain Sunny Brain Review
Overall, it is a fascinating and interesting study that really leaves you with new knowledge, and, dare I say, optimism.
Happy gene research puts Elaine in the spotlight
Imagine receiving a call from American TV producers asking if you would mind genetically testing the well known actor Michael J Fox to see whether he has a gene that will make him optimistic…
Read in Wyvern (University of Essex Magazine) →
‘Happiness’ gene helps you look on the bright side
New Scientist report on Elaine Fox’s “optimism gene” study.
Sunny side up
FOR some people in this world, the glass always seems to be half-full. For others it is half-empty. But how someone comes to have a sunny disposition in the first place is an interesting question…
Breakthrough on Stress
Scientists at the University of Essex, led by Elaine Fox, have made a breakthrough in understanding what makes people vulnerable to stress. Elaine is interviewed by Heart FM on biases and stress reactivity.
