Need for Cognition: A personality trait of hungry brains
“Need for cognition” is a personality tendency describing how much people engage and love to engage in effortful cognitive activities like thinking. If one loves …
Why is it hard to make friends as an adult? And what can you do about it?
First, let’s look at how many friends people have. Because, you might just have an expected amount of friends and not know it. Others can …
How to define who you are: Self-worth and Identity
Who am I? This is a question many people ask, and they try to answer it at multiple levels. The most common are their name, …
The Loneliness Loop: Understanding the science to break it and make friends
People go to extreme lengths to counter loneliness. They hug clothes in a closet, talk to themselves and toys, fall in love with an avatar …
Social Capital: Everything you need to know
Social capital is a collection of people networks and relationships connected by shared norms/ideas, values, and behavior that facilitate co-operation & growth. These networks are …
How to counter pseudoscience; it’s not about the evidence
People try to make sense of their experiences. Some of that sense-making is pseudoscientific. The Sense-making fulfills psychological needs. That creates an emotional attachment to …
Collective Narcissism: Proud Groups & Nationalism make us toxic
The world is in political upheaval, and people are rebelling against excessively proud groups of people that dominate or exude elitism. Many people have become …
Self-construals in social psychology: Finding the self in society
An interesting theory in psychology called the self-construal theory describes how we place ourselves in society. The self as a concept is quite vague, and …
Procrastinating with your Phone? Here’s why & how to stop it.
Most of us procrastinate, and more often than not, we choose our phones over important pending work. Why do we do that? Why do we …
How to use Social Media Mindfully during COVID-19 lockdowns
Lockdowns and social distancing have virtually eliminated our opportunities to socialize, and that’s a change we have to deal with for the greater good of …
Social Detoxing and Solitude: Alone, Lonely, or Aloneliness?
Many people disconnect from social activities and seek solitude to improve their well-being. This “Social detox” is a common lifestyle choice when things get overwhelming. …
How Empathy Fails Us: In-group/Out-group Negativity & Emotional Burn-Out
Empathy is generally regarded as a valuable skill in managing and nurturing social and professional relationships. It’s central to helping others and improving social dynamics. …
People Believe In Astrology To Cope With Stress, Uncertainty, & Conflict
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 …
How Social Media affects Mental Health, Behavior, & Wellbeing
The psychology of social media (research summary) Social media allows a way to manipulate how you present yourself. Many choose to show an overly positive, …
The Effect of Reading Fiction on The Brain: Do 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 …
Pro-Environmental Behavior: Herd Mentality Motivates, Money Does Not
There are several ways to influence and persuade people, and the need of the 21st century is to use that to motivate pro-environmental behaviors. Environmental …