Aditya Shukla

A 5-Step Mindfulness Grounding Technique To Ease Anxiety & Why Mindfulness Works

November 28, 2019November 26, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

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While a lot of psychological techniques have a learning curve and take time to make tangible improvements in life, some work within seconds. One of these is the popular 5-step psychological sensory grounding mindfulness technique. It is a widely practiced psychological & self-help “first-aid” technique which aims to stop uncontrolled thoughts, spiraling, mental chaos, growing …

Study Math Better Using Psychology: Tips & Guidelines

November 1, 2019October 31, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

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A number of psychological findings can be used to improve mathematical understanding and mathematical performance. Here is a broad summary of the best math study tips, applications of psychological processes, and learning guidelines. Let’s dive right in. Use scaffolding techniques: It’s a fancy word for getting help & support. But, the help, here, is incomplete. …

Why Fun Improves Learning: Mood, Senses, Neurons, Arousal, Cognition

November 13, 2019October 22, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

Why does having fun make learning better?

There is ample anecdotal evidence that shows listening to a fun lecture or lesson is great for learning. It’s intuitive. Having fun & interactive learning sessions does improve learning on the whole and engender a positive attitude toward learning. It’s one of the reasons why MOOCs are popular. But why does this happen? Why does …

The Bearer Of Bad News Is Disliked, Here Is How You Deliver It

October 18, 2019October 16, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

Giving bad news isn’t a fun activity, especially if you are giving it to someone you know. It’s an uncomfortable spot and it isn’t pleasant for the receiver. People are reluctant to give bad news (the MUM effect) and are eager to give good news. A series of 11 experiments provide evidence for a long-known …

Why Did Humans Evolve Pattern Recognition Abilities?

November 24, 2019October 6, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

How did human pattern recognition emerge? Insights from Evolutionary psychology

Natural selection necessitates economical and reliable brain mechanisms in some environmental contexts. These mechanisms emerge as a response to patterns in the environment or enable us to refine our ability to spot them. Pattern recognition skills sit at the helm of our basic cognitive architecture. Why? How? Now what? A common problem during hunting is …

16 Ways To Train & Increase Your Empathy

October 1, 2019October 1, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

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Empathy is a desirable human trait and it is central to relationships, community well-being, and professional growth. In what people call emotional intelligence – the sensitivity & the skill to regulate, understand, and use emotions – empathy is a necessary force. On some level, empathy is natural. Most people are aware that others have unique …

Stop Negative Thoughts With Cognitive Defusion & Cognitive Restructuring Techniques

October 10, 2019September 26, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

How to stop negative thoughts: Cognitive defusion and Cognitive Restructuring techniques

Everyone has negative thoughts at some point in time. Even psychologically healthy people have a fair amount of negative thoughts about themselves and others. And for those struggling with anxiety and depression, beliefs like “I’m a bad person” and “I am fat and ugly” are common. What are negative thoughts? Thoughts which cause emotional distress, …

People Believe In Astrology To Cope With Stress & Conflict

September 17, 2019August 22, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

It’s fascinating to understand why people believe in astrology. The answer is not so obvious, but it is quite simple. There are many ways to approach astrology: as an alternative world-view, as a relic of the pre-scientific era, as a social reality, as a psychological reality, etc. This post will adopt the 3rd and 4th …

The Effect Of Social Media On Mental Health And Well-being

October 7, 2019August 14, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

The mobile phone scrolling posture – Head down, finger on the mobile screen, and micro-expressions on the face – is an iconic human posture. That’s our social media posture. Is it iconic enough? Yes. 3.3 billion people use social media on their mobile phones (January 2019 stats). This brings us to a new field of …

The Effect of Reading Fiction on The Brain: Do Books Increase Empathy?

November 12, 2019August 8, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

The effect of reading on the brain: Can books increase empathy?

There is some debate on whether reading literary fiction has any effect on the brain. Can reading improve empathy, mentalizing (being aware of one’s and other’s thoughts), and desirable attitudes? Research in this area looks at the theory of mind and social cognition. Let us first understand these terms. Theory of Mind – This framework …

Brain-Based Learning: Theory, Strategies, And Concepts

November 25, 2019August 6, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

One of the strongest applications of research in psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science is brain-based learning. It allows us to leverage research on how the brain learns in creating a new set of guiding principles for learning, teaching, training, and education. What is Brain-Based Learning? Brain-based learning is a paradigm of learning which addresses student …

3 Stupidly Useless, Pointless & Amazing Facts About the Human Brain

August 25, 2019July 23, 2019 by Aditya Shukla

After a series of long & detailed posts, let me share something fun and amusing. Let’s look at 3 amazingly surprising and interesting quirks of the human brain. The word “fact” is used for creating some dramatic influence. A more accurate description would be interesting psychological findings. 1. Side-to-Side eye movements can temporarily boost memory …