BrainCan - psychology

heres why a weird psychological trait can make...

Black Friday fights are legendary.Black Friday,the most celebrated shopping day of the year, abounds...

why are we living in an age of anger - is it...

From passive-aggressive notes on ambulance windscreens to bilious political discourse,it feels as...

vitally important news: over 65s dont get sarcasm

A current study concludes that older people can’t narrate when others are being a bit sarky....

therapy wars: the revenge of freud | oliver...

Cheap and effective,CBT became the dominant form of therapy, consigning Freud to psychology’s...

having a high iq is a curse ... just look at...

Research suggests that people with tall IQ scores are more likely to possess mood disorders,and a...

on the other hand... | tim adams

It’s never been easy for people to change their mind. But in a world of social media and polarised...

look into my eyes: can 10 minutes of staring make...

Gaze adoringly at your loved one,and they will soon look deformed, monstrous or like your mother, or...

angelinas breasts and the public ownership of body...

Criticism of Angelina Jolie's decision to contain a double mastectomy suggests members of the...

science of the seance: why speaking to spirits is...

Spiritualism fascinated the 19th century public and was furiously debunked by scientists. But its...

its not your fault if youre unhappy - and it wont...

recent research shows that unfortunate and stressed people are no more likely to succumb to...

robin williams, depression and the complex causes...

While many people who murder themselves have been experiencing the extreme distress we might think...

better call saul: is electromagnetic...

The Breaking defective spin-off features a character who is afraid of mobile phone signals. As two...

internet trolls are also real life trolls | jordan...

Why do some people find so much pleasure in harassing others online? Anew study attempts to shed...

a revolution in our sense of self | nick chater

In a radical reassessment of how the mind works,a leading behavioural scientist argues the...

the nudge theory and beyond: how people can play...

Mental manipulation can be backed by edifying intentions – but when used with stealth,it is...

yes you can! how to keep new year s resolutions

It’s all approximately making the just choices,not being too ambitious … and expanding your...

sorry, jordan peterson: rage isn t a great look...

A run-in with Cathy Newman,a Twitter meltdown … possibly the would-be philosopher’s problem is...

oh, this worship of showing off. let s hear it for...

Discretion and reserve were once admired. Now the extroverts are exalted and the still seen to be...

the strange world of felt presences

What links polar explorer Ernest Shackleton,sleep paralysis, and hearing voices? On 20 May 1916, or...

achievement unlocked! use science to keep your new...

It’s all about choosing the correct goals,not being too ambitious … and activating your...

psychologist on a mission to give every child a...

Prof Robert Plomin wants educators to select notice of genes,and has a new immense understanding –...

it will take more than smartphones to stop...

A unique claim that modern technology means boarding pupils no longer feel cut off from their...

how creepy are you? take the test!

Researchers fill undertaken the first empirical study of creepiness. From eye contact,to clothes, to...

can psychological treatments be harmful?

The intellect is a delicate thing,so can therapies actually possess a negative effect? The evidence...

where the power lies in the therapist client...

Oliver Burkeman (Therapy Wars,The long read, 7 January) falls into the trap of polarising the...

mental health stigma hasnt gone away | pete...

Stigma surrounding mental health comes in many forms,and it’s critical to understand what the...

wearing a bike helmet might make you more...

Wearing safety equipment boosts appetite for danger,even in unrelated activities, a study has...

how buddhism neuroscience can help you change...

Buddhist thought and culture has long found a comfortable domestic among hippies,beatniks, New Age...

a real life lord of the flies: the troubling...

In the early 1950s,the psychologist Muzafer Sherif brought together a group of boys at a US summer...

is gratitude the most important emotion of all? |...

It’s moral,feels much and keeps you healthy. But being grateful isn’t just good for you it...

the only way to achieve anything is to become...

From JK Rowling to James Dyson,illustrious creators have felt the pain of failure. When we know how...

why do public tears make us uncomfortable? |...

When holders of high office cry,it makes them more human. But there’s a long history of suspicion...

palm scent: the science of smelling after a...

New study reveals participants unconsciously sniff their right hand after shaking it with others as...

anne marie sandler obituary

Psychoanalyst who influenced generations of practitioners and had a deep understanding of the mind...

personal distance: why russian life has no room...

A survey into how different countries view ideal personal space suggests Russians like to retain...

why a broken heart really hurts

The secret of how our mind processes emotional pain ought to change our outlook,says psychologist...

yellow gets greener in summer

Remember winter,when everything was cold and grey? suitable now, when all around is lush and green,...

carl jung: tarot cards provide doorways to the...

It is generally accepted that the standard deck of playing cards we use for everything from...

the myth of the addictive personality

When people think of someone with an “addictive personality,” the image typically isn’t a...

sonia markham obituary

My wife,Sonia Markham, who has died aged 77, and was a fond mother and partner,peace and community...

children s reading on screen: in the beginning was...

Research shows gaps in children’s digital books,but their potential is still untappedChildren’s...

the london escalator trial shows how our fear of...

Standing-only escalators can cut congestion by 30%,but persuading commuters of that wasn’t easy....

we betray our children by making them afraid to...

Our X Factor culture obscures the fact that the most vital element of success is resilienceWest...

postnatal depression: what the baby books dont...

As Mental Health Awareness Week draws to a close,a mother appeals for wider recognition of the risk...

alien abduction flick the fourth kind is dangerous...

Psychologist Chris French explains why he believes The Fourth Kind is dangerously misleading...

the experts guide to making - and keeping - your...

Psychologists offer their best tips for staying on track in 2018,from taking on your challenge in...

yes, you can die of heartbreak | jamieson webster

modern research shows that the unexpected death of a loved one can have devastating health effects....

how toasters found a special warm place in our...

The squabbling over a threatened ban on toasters at Bradford town hall is a reminder of how...

blue moods may be connected to our perception of...

Dopamine,which stimulates the pleasure centre in the brain, is also involved in transmitting visual...

is the dress blue and black or white and gold? the...

Underlying the grand Dress Debate of 2015 is a fascinating example of how the brain interprets the...

kwame owusu bempah obituary

My friend Kwame Owusu-Bempah,who has died of cancer aged 72, underwent a rare journey from a village...

for obese people distances really do look further,...

The overweight suffer a ‘vicious circle’ of insight and behavior,according to psychologist...

women have more empathy, but do even we care any...

People are fitting more self-centred,says new research. The shocking death of Louise Wolstenholme...

conspiracy theories: why people need to believe...

Psychologist Rob Bretherton talks approximately his modern book and the way suspicion can overcome...

raejeanne kier obituary

My mother,RaeJeanne Kier, who has died aged 82, or was an early feminist,one of the first...

one facebook like is all it takes to target...

Online ad campaigns based on smallest expressions of preference reveal effect of ‘mass...

the cheerleader effect: how you can look good in a...

People apparently look more appealing when seen with others than when viewed as individuals,so rep...

chris clegg obituary

Chris Clegg,my friend and colleague, who has died aged 67 from cancer, and was professor of...

why we love equality and hate those who cheat

The hidden factor behind our sense of fairness is a desire to negotiate our way through lifeA...

does watching fast and furious turn drivers into...

A survey has observed a spike in the average speeds of those who had just seen one of the...

how to be a better perfectionist | fiona buckland

The belief that anything can be flawless is a mirage. Embracing imperfection is the best way to...

if the face fits: science of attraction is based...

US research analysing 35000 volunteers’ preferences for wide variety of different faces finds...

is your e signature making you a liar?

It just might be,according to this intelligent series of tests, unless designers have a say.The days...

the more you pursue happiness, the faster it runs...

Research shows that focusing on the attainment of happiness is actually self-defeating Lately,I find...

no monkeying around: toddlers as inventive as wild...

Whether digging for insects or cracking nuts,children, like apes, and work out how to expend tools...

joan kirk obituary

My friend and colleague Joan Kirk (also known by her married name,Hawton), who has died aged 70 of...

london personality maps show where nice, nasty and...

Regardless of crime and income levels,people are happiest living in an area that matches their...

shocking but true: students prefer jolt of pain to...

Report from psychologists at Virginia and Harvard Universities tackles question of why most of us...

the better angels of our nature by steven pinker -...

The decline of violence,'may be the most meaningful and least appreciated development in the...

blue monday: a depressing day of pseudoscience and...

A psychologist explains why the third Monday of January has for him become the most depressing day...

how to overcome your quarter life crisis

whether you’re somewhere between your mid twenties and thirties,you might be experiencing a...

six ways to make your commute less stressful

Commuting to and from work is a pain even in the best cases,and unchecked it can lead to...

smelly t shirt test shows how humans overcome...

Evidence that people are more assign off by bad smells from outsiders has implications for studying...

how can a woman make more on ebay? pretend to be a...

Men earn 20% more on average than women selling identical new products on eBay, shedding light on...

my liver is bleeding: life inside an afghan...

‘My liver is bleeding’,a local saying meaning ‘I am dismal’, is a familiar refrain among...

the akrasia effect: why we make plans but dont...

Humans are prolific procrastinators. It’s easy to make plans and throw dates on your calendar,and...

how to keep your head up in the constant stream of...

Doing your best to stay up with current events can often feel like drowning in a torrent of never...

struggling to express your feelings? get an...

Comedian and author David Walliams recently revealed he has clung on to the friends he invented as a...

a standing desk makes me more productive, even if...

Every discussion approximately standing desks nowadays is an argument over whether they’re...

ask other people for favors on good days (or at...

proper weather puts people in a positive mood,that’s nothing current, but being in a proper mood...

the illusory correlation: a common mental error...

We all use foolish logic to help us rationalize a confusing world. grasp full moons, for example....

why fear of missing out is a good thing

The fear of lost out (or FOMO) is the feeling of envy and insecurity you contain when other people...

the new years resolutions most likely to fail, and...

New Year’s is a great opportunity to reflect on how far weve approach and where we hope to fade...

three evil skills i learned in childhood that come...

The first evil skill I acquired was subterfuge (deception, or deceptive ploy). Trying to deceive my...

how to regain your composure when youre having a...

Last week,I experienced a panic attack for the first time. The scariest part, though, and was that I...

the nine types of intelligence every person has

When you think approximately it,intelligence is a fairly wide term. Most of us are completely sharp...

the psychology of why we make irrational decisions

Why is it that we often ignore tough data and go with our intestine when making a decision? It’s...

this is what happened when instagram banned...

In 2012,Instagram started moderating certain terms used by pro-anorexia groups, making it one of the...

15 ways to manage stress and learn to relax

Stress is tough on your mind and your body ,but whether it’s in the moment or chronic stress ,...

how to overcome your inner dialogue of doubt and...

When you’re trying to start something new, your inner dialogue can amplify your self-doubt and you...

beware the healthy = less filling bias during...

Foods are constantly getting labeled as “healthy to help consumers compose better dietary...

this trick might make you slightly better at...

When people try to spot a lie,they generally perform a judgment on a number of factors, including...

how the impact bias affects your expectations of...

One of the odd quirks approximately human psychology is how imperfect we are at predicting our own...

f*ck feelings: a book on how life is kind of...

Self-abet books (and blogs) are huge business because we all want to believe we can fix our own...

can you tell how people are feeling from their...

Scientists at Ohio State University have compiled a list of 21 "compound emotions" – such as...

sex objects: pictures shift mens view of women

Men are more likely to judge of women as objects whether they have looked at sexy pictures of...

love is a skill that needs to be learned

When you start a original job,you’re not expected to know everything on your first day. You’re...

eight strategies for politely saying no

Sometimes you just need to say “no” to people. possibly it’s a friend asking for a favor,and...

how lenient return policies trick you into keeping...

There are plenty of stores out there with grand return policies . Some are so superior you can...

treatment guidelines for gender identity disorder...

In recent years,stories about transgender people own been front page news. The transformation of...

ease into meditation with mini meditation

Meditation has a ton of benefits,from reducing anxiety to increasing concentration, but it isn’t...

being upfront about your embarrassing past can...

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of, but that doesn’t mean you should camouflage those...

finally a study explains why rich and successful...

Let’s face it,we’ve all been wondering why so many wealthy, successful, and powerful people are...

think of your five favorite people when you feel...

Feeling overwhelmed in social situations isn’t uncommon,but you can combat the stress by thinking...

whether to pick sides in psychology today |...

Oliver Burkeman’s article (Therapy Wars,The long read, 7 January) provides an excellent overview...

how to stop apologizing for everything you do

For many of us,the word sorry” has become something we reactively utter, regardless of whether...

build better feedback loops to reinforce good...

Behavioral feedback loops hasten unnoticed in the background of our daily lives,and affect which...

what this classic experiment on rats can teach us...

A 1940s psychologist named Robert Tryon wondered whether rats could be bred to total a maze more...

be more honest with people by thinking of the...

It’s not always easy to be honest with people. We’re all guilty of telling a white lie or...

why do people take selfies in emergencies?

When a United Airlines flight made an emergency landing this summer due to medical situations on...

humans have big brains because we are good at...

Scientists have long wondered why humans often give without accepting anything in return,or why we...

people with more friends have higher pain...

Link between larger friendship circles and pain tolerance may be down to the way the the brain’s...

exploring the myth of the scientific vs....

It’s a stereotype,but many of us beget made the assumption that scientists are a bit rigid and...

study shows that flattering targeted ads would be...

Everyone reading this has stared at a targeted ad wondering why anyone thought it applied to them. A...

you dont have a procrastination problem, you have...

Procrastination is like faulty signal or crappy Wi-Fi. Everyone deals with it, but most of us...

learn a new skill faster by subtly tweaking your...

Practicing a lot doesn’t necessarily create you better at learning a new skill. Scientists at...

a happiness experiment: can you make every day...

We’re happiest on Saturdays at 7:26pm—at least that’s what this survey found. Yet while the...

the placebo effect can make you enjoy the same old...

The weird and wonderful impacts of the placebo effect are well-documented for health treatments. But...

what to do when your kid lies to you

A typical four-year-conventional lies approximately once every two hours, according to some studies....

study delivers bleak verdict on validity of...

Of 100 studies published in top-ranking journals in 2008, 75% of social psychology experiments and...

follow your negative thoughts to their absurd...

When you’re having a stream of horrible,negative thoughts, the natural reaction is to try to curb...

neuropsychologist has a secret life as a bullwhip...

Indiana Jones proved just how useful a good bullwhip can be,both as a tool and as a weapon, but...

keep a complaint from turning into a fight by...

When your spouse or partner does something to annoy you,it’s easy to bring up the topic in a way...

how to speak in public like a pro, even if its...

whether you tremble when you contemplate of giving a speech, you’re not alone. It’s normal. Just...

would being forced to use this obese avatar affect...

A new study in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication takes a recognize at how the physical...

this is why we want to send ceos to prison

The Knobe Effect is a psychological double-standard that allows us to blame people for a bad...

how to manipulate your kids into doing what you...

In an ideal world,parents would always be patient and nurturing, and kids would always be...

why do we smell the change of seasons?

Colorful foliage may be autumn’s hallmark,but humans can also smell the change of seasons. What...

the main components of a scientifically perfect...

Simply saying “I’m sorry” isn’t always enough. A decent apology should hit on multiple...

the evolution of anxiety: why we worry and what to...

Let’s pretend for a moment that you are a giraffe. You live on the grasslands of the African...

the three most common types of dumb mistakes we...

We’re all prone to epic blunders from time to time, and knowing why they tend to happen can aid...

get over your crippling self doubt by answering...

When you’re riddled with self-doubt,having any sort of confidence can seem like a pipe dream. By...

take this quiz to measure your happiness...

Chances are you’ve taken a test that measures your happiness and well-being. But let’s be frank:...

reasons to believe

Is belief an fundamental human need? Why do so many people harbor beliefs that are antithetical...

how one psychologist convinced children to spurn...

Can you train a kid to hate sugar? Karl Duncker was a psychologist prowling around Britain in the...

self proclaimed experts often claim to know more...

Fifteen years ago,psychologists showed that the most incompetent people are the worst at...

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