A new experiment suggests the function of guilt is both to punish the self and encourage us to make amends.
A new experiment suggests the function of guilt is both to punish the self and encourage us to make amends.
At school my good friend Dave and I used to sit together in Biology classes. One day we were there as usual trying to get our heads around the metamorphosis of tadpoles, or something similar.
We were perched on high stools next to high wooden lab benches, the kind with generations of pupil’s engravings underneath the varnish. Good solid science benches.
After the death of Albert Ellis this week, the papers were filled with obituaries for one of the grandfathers of cognitive therapy.
This week in psychology…
After the death of Albert Ellis this week, the papers were filled with obituaries for one of the grandfathers of cognitive therapy. Presciently, though, Prospect Magazine managed to get the last ever interview with him before he died. This article has a nice balance: the author’s personal experience of therapy along with insight into Ellis’ personality, his therapeutic method and his final days – still teaching students right up to the end.
There’s more insight into what Ellis’ therapy was all about over at moritherapy in a nice piece entitled ‘don’t should on yourself’
Continue reading “Last Albert Ellis Interview | Cannabis Risks | Seinfeld Tip”
Although it’s a pretty simple effect, it’s one of the best visual illusions I’ve seen.
Yesterday I got into an argument over this visual illusion (via MindHacks). Although it’s a pretty simple effect, it’s one of the best visual illusions I’ve seen. First the woman goes around one way, then suddenly, for no apparent reason, she switches. Impressive – once you see it.
The argument started out over whether the graphic itself is reversing its direction (it’s not) and ended up at the very doors of perception:
Top 10 list of what you can learn practically from the psychological research discussed here recently.
People love to give each other advice. The web is full to bursting with all types of pseudo-psychological advice about life. The problem is, how much of this is based on real scientific evidence? Well, here on PsyBlog we’ve got the scientific evidence. So here’s my top 10 list of what you can learn practically from the psychological research discussed here recently.
Continue reading “10 Practical Uses For Psychological Research in Everyday Life”
It’s a drive, like hunger or thirst and it feels uncomfortable whenever we hold two ideas or beliefs that conflict with each other…
It’s the 50th anniversary of cognitive dissonance. The well-known social psychologist Elliot Aronson explains the term in this NPR podcast:
“It’s a drive, like hunger or thirst and it feel uncomfortable whenever we hold two ideas or beliefs that conflict with each other […] If I think I’m a smart, competent, moral person and I do something stupid, I try to convince myself it was the smartest thing I could have done.”
Aronson is promoting his new book with the fabulous title: “Mistakes Were Made, But Not by Me.” There is also an excerpt from it describing classic research into cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive decline with age is not the whole story: recent research is suggesting older adults are more likely to notice positive emotional stimuli.
Cognitive decline with age is not the whole story: recent research is suggesting older adults are more likely to notice positive emotional stimuli like happy faces in addition to experiencing less anger and regulating emotions more effectively.
As we get older lots of depressing things start happening to our brains. We can’t simultaneously manipulate as many items as we once could. We find it more difficult to retrieve memories. Our attention degrades, and so on. Essentially our brains are slowing down, just like the rest of our bodies. But, in this discouraging picture, there is one ray of hope: our emotions.
There’s a new article on Psychology Today called ‘Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature’ which should start a few conversations.
There’s a new article on Psychology Today called Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature which should start a few conversations. And end a few marriages.
I won’t comment any further other than to provide you a few excerpts, link to the article and ask you to vote (down at the bottom) on whether you would go along with any, some, all or none of this.
Continue reading “Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Us?”
Almost 4 in 10 gay men and 1 in 8 lesbians and bisexuals have been the targets of violence.
Think we live in a civilised society? Think again.
Research to be published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence shows that prejudice against minority sexual orientations still fuels violence and crime. The most comprehensive study to date found that in a US sample of 662 gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, almost 4 in 10 gay men and 1 in 8 lesbians and bisexuals have been the targets of violence or property crime because of their sexual orientation.
New research dispels the well-worn stereotypes that computer gamers having no social skills and girls avoid violent games like Grand Theft Auto.
New research dispels the well-worn stereotypes that computer gamers having no social skills and girls avoid violent games like Grand Theft Auto.
A new study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, surveyed 1,254 children from the US. It asked how often children played computer games, which games, and what they got out of it (Olson et al., 2007).
The results revealed:
Continue reading “Myths Dispelled: Gamers Have Friends, Girls Like Grand Theft Auto”
People think sex sells. Advertisers know it, TV and film producers believe it and the internet was built on it.
People think sex sells. Advertisers know it, TV and film producers believe it and the internet was built on it. But does sex really help sell products, or is it just one of those expressions ad execs use so they can wile away an afternoon choosing models?
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