10 Rules That Govern Groups
Much of our lives are spent in groups with other people: we form groups to socialise, earn money, play sport, make music, even to change the world. But although groups are diverse, many of the psychological processes involved are remarkably similar.
Persuasion: The Right-Ear Advantage
If you want someone to comply with a random request for a cigarette, you should speak into their right ear, according to a new study by researchers in Italy.
Marzoli & Tommasi (2009) had a female confederate visit a disco and approach 176 random people asking for a smoke. Clubbers were about twice as likely to hand one over if the request was directed at the right ear, whether or not the clubber was male or female. Whether these findings will hold good for other types of request is unknown.
Why Left to Right Punches Are More Aggressive, Powerful and Shocking
Reading and writing from left to right is a skill so well-practised, so ingrained in language, that it's easy to ignore. Yet, according to some research, the direction in which language flows could have implications that spread into many other areas of our experience.
Consumer Psychology
· How and why we consume and how our beliefs, ideas and senses influence consumption.
Peter Drucker, the management consultant, famously argued that about 80% of all products and services fail or fall well short of targets within six months of launching. Clearly markets have little understanding of what consumers want -- perhaps because people have little clue themselves.
Live Happy with New iPhone Application
· Sponsored post: Live Happy is a new happiness-boosting iPhone/iPod app.
Our happiness levels are influenced by three factors: our genes, our circumstances and what we choose to do every day. While there's nothing we can do about our genes and circumstances are hard to change, we can much more easily control our daily activities.
Can the Unconscious Outperform the Conscious Mind?
· Think or blink? Powerful claims for unconscious thought in complex decision-making are overblown.
In 2005 Malcolm Gladwell published a book called Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. It had an extremely seductive message: that complex decisions are often more accurate when made quickly, unconsciously, in the blink of an eye.
Why Men Prefer Direct Pick-Up Lines
· Both sexes know men prefer a direct approach from woman, but is it just because men can't read the signs?
Men and women's attitudes to relationships have become remarkably similar -- when dating women are now much more likely to make the first move.
Why Group Norms Kill Creativity
· Research shows group members equate creativity with conformity.
Creativity is a much coveted asset for a very simple reason: an idea that transcends orthodoxy has the power to bring wealth, fame and status. Commercial, scientific, educational and artistic organisations, therefore, often talk about how they want to foster creativity.
