Psychology
Do your clothes affect your psychology? TLDR; yes – read on to find out exactly how How much thought do you really put into your clothing choices? Most of us think about clothing into silos – casual threads, formal clothes, Friday night outfits – but did you know that the innocent act of donning a … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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. … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 more
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 … Read more
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