Psychology - Page 2 of 4

Confirmation Bias: why some facts ring truer than others

In order to cope with the vast amount of information we encounter every day, our brains are constantly using ‘shortcuts’ to simply our actions and decisions. One of these tricks is to rely on information that strengthens our previously held beliefs. Unfortunately, this can lead to thinking errors as we overlook important, often pertinent evidence. This is known as …

You’re more of a conformist than you think

Asch Conformity experiment - why hipsters look alike

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 …

10 classic parenting fails (and how to avoid them)

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. …

How to get more done by daydreaming

Mind wandering - day dreaming - benefits

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 …

What science says about hooking up with your ex

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 …

Money really can buy happiness – but only if you spend it right

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. …

3 ways food messes with your brain and emotions

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 …

6 psychological benefits of family meals

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 awe in nature makes you kinder, scientists say

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 …

Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why you’re not as smart as you think you are

“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 …

These are quite possibly the 9 best psychology studies…. ever

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 …