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 … Read more
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 more
“The seemingly straightforward task of judging one’s knowledge may not be so simple” In just a few decades, the wide web has grown from a user-base of zero to nearly half of the planet. Over 3 billion people now have instant access to more knowledge and information than in any other point in history. One downside, however, to the information revolution is the spread … Read more
To most people, the idea of taking part in a psychology experiment doesn’t sound like a load of fun. Who would want to be a guinea pig and have scientists meddling with your mind? Well, think again. Sometimes scientific research can have some unexpected rewards and perks for the participants. Here are nine psychology studies that you would find hard … Read more
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 more
Why do our brains associate the colour red with attraction and desire? If you’re single and in the dating game, it’s incredibly important to make a good first impression. Whilst you can’t change your personality overnight, or make yourself taller, you can influence your date’s opinion of you by other means, such as your appearance. … Read more
The verb ‘to be’ distorts our perception of reality Simple changes in your speech and writing can have transformative effects on the way you perceive the world and how others perceive you. This communication hack from an obscure, but influential Polish aristocrat should certainly get you thinking. Alfred Korzybski Alfred Korzybski, a Polish emigre to the USA, was a … Read more
Stanley Milgram shocked the world with his infamous social psychology experiments on obedience The villain of the Harry Potter book series, Lord Voldemort, used a thought altering spell to persuade others to obey his commands. Real world villains throughout history have not had this advantage. Nevertheless many have instilled a similar level of obedience in their underlings, often … Read more
Saying thank you can bring a range of positive psychological and physiological benefits We’d all like to have a little – or a lot more happiness in our lives. It’s hard, though, to figure out what can make us happy. And the first things you might think of, such as more money, a new car, or … Read more
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 … Read more
Research shows that we’re more likely to make better moral decisions in the morning than later in the day Did you ever notice that we seem to try harder to be “good” during the day than we do at night? While daytime activities are more positive and productive, at nighttime, we like to blow off … Read more
Here are 4 psychological tricks supermarkets use to make you spend more Ever wondered why almost all supermarkets have nearly identical layouts? This isn’t a coincidence. It’s the result of cunning psychological experimentation and meticulous planning. If you want to know the science of supermarket persuasion, read on… 1) You get paralyzed with too many choices … Read more