We lie to ourselves all the time. We tell ourselves that we are better than average -- that we are more moral, more capable, less likely to become sick or suffer an accident. It’s an odd phenomenon, and an especially puzzling one to those who think about our evolutionary origins. Self-deception is so pervasive that it must confer some advantage. ...
Date Posted: December 28, 2011
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My work with couples over the years has convinced me that any two people can connect on any combination of levels. Let's face it: some people form relationships in which the Mojo works in all areas, while other pairs have it going on in some areas ...
Dec 28
GOIn childhood, rituals like regular schedules for meal, bath, and bed times are a healthy part of behavioral development. But combined with oral and tactile sensitivities, such as discomfort at the dentist or irritation caused by specific fabrics, ...
Dec 28
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Small rituals can build strong memories. I spent Sunday afternoon watching little girls dance with their fathers. It was a yearly father-daughter affair and I was playing in the band. The kids were having a great time doing allemande lefts, ...
Dec 27
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Holiday Greetings from all of us at Psychology Matters Asia. This is the time of the year when people come together to rekindle their relationships. Although in Asia Christmas is not that big a part of the culture, it is still an opportunity to ...
Dec 24
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People have long tried tricks to aid their memories. One of the most useful of these so-called mnemonic devices, I’ve found, involves associating names with word pictures or with other people you know well. I was just at a party, for example, and ...
Dec 24
GODo others' emotions infect you, or are you the carrier? Why is it a more intense experience watching a scary or thriller movie with others than by oneself? How can a charismatic speaker seemingly "infect" an entire crowd with emotion, and how is ...
Dec 24
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New research shows that the antidepressant reduces fear in adult mice by increasing brain plasticity. Once adult lab mice learn to associate a particular stimulus—a sound, a flash of light—with the pain of an electric shock, they don't easily ...
Dec 23
GOA documentary of the Cottage Studio in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada where those with serious mental illnesses may pursue art. The artists had the opportunity to prepare for and hang a show of their work at an opening at a commercial gallery. The ...
Dec 23
GOImagine you're a hockey goalie, and two opposing players are breaking in alone on you, passing the puck back and forth. You're aware of the linesman skating in on your left, but pay him no mind. Your focus is on the puck and the two approaching ...
Dec 22
GOWith the share of married adults at an all-time low in the United States, new research by demographers at Cornell University and the University of Central Oklahoma unveils clues why couples don't get married - they fear divorce. Among ...
Dec 22
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Like any skill, creativity needs to be nursed. As writer and stylist Erin Loechner said, “You get what you give.” The more time you spend actively engaging your creativity, the greater your chances of producing exciting and inventive ideas and ...
Dec 21
GOHumans have evolved to become the most flexible of the primates and being able to live in lots of different social settings sets us apart from non-human primates, suggests research by University of Oxford and the University of Auckland. A ...
Dec 21
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If in doubt, give them what they want. A study published this year suggested people prefer receiving what they asked for, rather than a surprise gift.
Don't bundle your gifts. Gift receivers rate a single high-value gift more positively than a ...
Dec 20
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New evidence shows the calming power of reminiscing about happy times
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