Jeff Mann 
If you’re like me you love discovering new words in books, in everyday conversation. Expanding your vocabulary just feels… nice. Like you’ve done something good for your brain. And having new words in your linguistic armory is a useful tool whenever you want to explain concepts that are hard to do in more mundane, common …
Read moreHow to pronounce aesthetic (and other tricky words)
Thumbsucking is a common, perfectly normal behaviour in babies and infants which most of us grow out of. But what does it mean when thumbsucking continues into adulthood? We take a dive into the psychology of adult thumbsucking and the causes, consequences and side effects. First off, let’s take a trip back to the womb…. …
This is my highly subjective, opinionated list of the most highly overrated things in 2023. Society and politics 1) A formal education Do you really need a college degree to get on in life these days? Well, if you want to become a surgeon, YouTube videos aren’t going to win over 8 years at med …
Is reading subtitles good for your brain? Short answer, yes. Reading subtitles while you’re watching TV or a movie has multiple cognitive benefits; strengthening reading skills, boosting comprehension and attention to detail, and improving memory. Subtitles are back in fashion Subtitles are experiencing a renaissance. According to a recent survey 80% of 18-25 year olds …
From gaslighting partners to abusive mothers, here are some of the best portrayals of narcissists in the movies: Movie classics about narcissists 1) Citizen Kane (1941) A landmark of movie history, Oscar Welles wrote, directed and stars in the lead role of narcissistic newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane. Kane embodies every symptom of what modern …
What’s the most important aspect of learning a foreign language? Some say learning grammar is the foundation. Others stress the importance of reading, writing or listening to unfamiliar words and phrases. And of course, speaking the language is fundamental if you want to be fluent in conversation. But arguably, under-pinning all of these elements, focussing …
Read more12 unusual ways to learn foreign vocabulary words fast and effectively
Film-makers routinely use colour to exploit the emotions of their audiences If you like movies you may have noticed that certain film genres always seem to share the same shades of colour; warm reds for romances, de-saturated tones for apocalyptic dystopias, blue cold-tones for horror movies. The list goes on. This doesn’t happen by accident. Colour …
Read moreHow Hollywood uses colour to manipulate our emotions
Here are 3 reasons why people cling to their beliefs, even in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence What is it that causes people to stick to their guns no matter what you say to them or whatever evidence you present? You would like to think that as intelligent beings, humans would gravitate towards common sense, rather than …
Read more3 reasons why you’ll never win an argument with a Scientologist
Some of our most common assumptions about body language are just plain wrong Body language reveals all – or so some ‘experts’ would have you believe. The truth is, body language is riddled with ambiguities, exceptions and opportunities for misunderstandings. There are countless studies you can read on the ‘science of non-verbal communication‘. But becoming fluent in body language is …
Maverick philosopher Frederick Nietzsche had some rather unconventional views about love and marriage When it comes to relationship advice, no matter where you look, you’ll find the same tired tips, endlessly recycled by self-help books, lifestyle magazines, friends and relatives. So what do you do when you’ve exhausted all the tried and trusted advice? Where …
Read more6 controversial takes from Nietzsche on love and relationships
In the 1970s, scientists discovered a colour that seemed to exhibit an almost magical calming effect Alexander Schauss, a psychologist from Tacoma, Washington, specialised in the field of colour theory. In the late 1970’s he began a series of experiments to test what the effects of different colours might have on human behaviour. His experiments revealed that one particular colour had an amazing effect. …
Research suggests the contempt facial expression is the single most reliable indicator of a troubled relationship In 1967, Paul Ekman, a young psychology researcher took a plane journey to one of the most remotest places on earth. He arrived in Papua New Guinea to study the Fore people, a Stone Age, pre-literate society who, up until 1950, …
Read moreThe contempt facial expression: why is it so harmful in relationships?
