In the 1950’s Solomon Asch undertook a series of landmark experiments that revealed the extent to which conformity rules our lives The original experiment In the aftermath of World War II, a Polish social psychology researcher was trying to find the answer to a very simple question about human behavior –Would a person agree with their friends and colleagues, even if they knew that these …
There’s no universal instruction manual for parenting. Whilst there are thousands of books and websites to advise you the ‘right’ way to raise your child, every parenting situation is unique. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take stock of your own parenting approach. Some of the most common, seemingly harmless practices can encourage behavioural problems and even interfere with learning and development. 1. …
Committing to a relationship is not for the faint-hearted. So how do those annoyingly perfect couples manage to make it work so well?. Thankfully, science is starting to reveal the habits and behaviours that encourage relationships to flourish. So to supercharge your relationship in 2016 here are 18 incredibly simple to implement relationship hacks you can put into practice NOW! …
What prompts us to share on social media and why do we share the things we do? Science has started to figure this out. Why we share We all do it… A lot! Possibly because of it’s ease, sharing on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram has become a commonplace habit. One of the key factors for sharing something online …
Daydreaming, wool-gathering, zoning-out, everybody does it. But it’s a guilty pleasure, universally considered to be a waste of time, the realm of the slacker, an enemy of productivity. Recent research, however may change our perspectives. A wandering mind, it appears, is actually associated with widespread activation of the brain, allowing you to make creative insights and form new connections between disparate ideas …
Hooking up with your ex, or relationship churning, is is on the rise. Psychologists say it’s a worrying trend. According to research, staying in touch with a romantic partner after a breakup can disrupt emotional recovery and sometimes lead to even more conflict, including verbal and physical abuse. Breaking up in the digital age In the age of social media, splitting up has become …
They say it can’t buy you love, but can money buy you happiness? The money-happiness relationship is far from straightforward. In some cases, ie people living on very low incomes, researchers have found a very strong correlation between money and happiness. Other studies suggest that for wealthy people, money itself does not seem to be a source of happiness at all. …
Read moreMoney really can buy happiness – but only if you spend it right
Food is just as important for our mental well-being as it is for our physical health For millennia healers have advocated food as medicine, but now, mental health professionals are starting to realise that a healthy diet of fresh, unprocessed foods can also bring psychological, as well as physical benefits. Eating a variety of fresh foods, consuming fewer …
Our own facial expressions play an essential part in understanding other people’s emotions Human learn to show emotions through facial expressions very early in life. Babies learn how to express happiness and sadness by mimicking their caregivers’ expressions. Sharing smiles and eye contact forms a huge part of the bonding process between parent and child. …
Read moreFacial feedback theory: how Botox makes you less empathetic
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
Family mealtimes may be going out of fashion, but studies indicate there are multiple benefits to eating together If there is one tradition that spans all cultures, it is a sit-down meal with family and friends. Family meals give parents a chance to teach their children the skills and rituals that help integrate them into the …
Experiencing the awe of nature makes us more kind and generous In the Urban Dictionary the word awesome is defined sarcastically, but perhaps quite accurately, as “something Americans use to describe everything.” Despite this lexical fall from grace, the meaning of awesome has loftier origins. The word stems from the 16th century and means “filled with awe“. So what exactly …
Read moreExperiencing awe in nature makes you kinder, scientists say
