Psychology

Psychology

creative nap
Historical geniuses used the "creative nap" to give their minds a boost. Apparently, the "hypnagogic state" can help with problem solving.
placebo effect
The placebo effect is not the "power of positive thinking." The fact that it is getting stronger is not a good development.
When we satisfy our curiosity, the brain has a particular way of rewarding us.
Family reconcilliation
Family relationships are on many people’s minds during the holiday season as sounds and images of happy family celebrations dominate the media. Anyone whose experiences don’t live up to the holiday […]
Just don't expect the apocalypse to look like it does in the movies.
Jean Paul Sartre summed up the existentialist idea of "bad faith" through a waiter who acted a bit too much like a waiter.
A young boy hanging a decoration on a Christmas tree.
For relatives who live far apart, holiday rituals may be the glue that holds the family together.
space sex
Whether NASA likes it or not, humans eventually will be having space sex.
A man walks through the snow listening to music on his headphones.
Just as storylines make sense only when you have the context of the beginning and the end, listeners need to understand the impetus for why the album was even made.
A placebo-controlled study found that oxytocin seems to significantly reduce romantic jealousy among people in intimate relationships.
A young couple discuss a painting.
Successful constructive criticism is as much about mindset as methods.
Personality is not set in stone. If you don’t like some aspect of it, you can work to change it — "fake it till you make it."
Silhouettes of three people watching a screen.
In spreading politics, videos may not be much more persuasive than their text-based counterparts.
uncanny robot
The most technically impressive feats of animation often strike us as eerie instead of impressive, and it’s all thanks to the uncanny valley.
testosterone competition
In tough competitions, men tend to give up early when they feel a low sense of control. Testosterone eradicates that effect.
detransitioners
The results of a recent study suggest that some clinicians might be failing to explore other causes when treating gender dysphoria.
James Bond in Casino Royale
What value does wit hold in genres defined by brute strength?
A hand flipping through a box of old records to illustrate why old people don't like new music.
“They just don’t make good music like they used to.”
Social media addiction
4mins
From Kim Kardashian’s stories to your friend’s Facebook post: social media is designed to keep you jealous.
dream hacking
Scientists want to use dream hacking devices to improve your creativity and memory.
metaphysics
Research shows that psilocybin leads people away from materialism and toward transcendentalism. Apparently, mushrooms teach metaphysics.
Four children gossiping illustrating that gossip is a social skill
Like it or not, we are the descendants of busybodies.
Mimetic desires
5mins
What would you do differently if you listened to your true desires?
isolation
Communication with home will be difficult on long-haul space flights. The longer this isolation goes on, the more detached a crew becomes.