Category Archives: Social Psychology

Articles on the study of individuals in the social context.

Psychologists Say: Think Twice about Moving In Before Marriage – Infographic

In the United States, the divorce rate is higher than ever. In fact, over the past 50 years it has nearly doubled and there seems to be no end in sight. Some argue that a lack of religion is the cause, while others say that the internet age is to blame. According to Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist from The University of Virginia, couples that live together before getting married are much more likely to get a divorce than couples that wait until their wedding day to become housemates. Continue reading →

Daniel Pink: The Surprising Science of Motivation

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In a brilliant talk, Daniel Pink highlights the huge disparity between “what science knows and what business does.” He makes the case that bigger financial incentives can narrow focus, reduce creativity and are successful only when the goal of a particular task is straightforward and does not require cognitive skill. He contrasts this with the incredible results that intrinsic motivators can produce, and argues for a new business approach that focuses on autonomy, mastery and purpose.

The Science Behind What Motivates Us to Get Up For Work Every Day [Psychology] (lifehacker.com)
Harnessing Good Stress (psychologytoday.com)
How to Measure Drive – Daniel Pink Gives a Motivation Founded Keynote to Push People to Excel (TrendHunter.com) (trendhunter.com)
Series Of Good Dan Pink Videos To Use With Students (larryferlazzo.edublogs.org)

Is Your Job Killing You? – Infographic

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Stress is an inevitable part of day to day life and the workplace is just one of its many sources. But even so, you can learn to keep stress levels in check. There have been numerous studies which confirm that stress on the job can wreak havoc on your general health. In fact, frequent headaches and heart palpitations are signs that your job could be slowly killing you.

People who are chronically stressed are more likely to develop heart disease, insomnia, digestive problems, obesity and a decline in mental health. Chronic stress has been linked to depression, anxiety and memory problems. Do not be afraid to take a few days off from your job if you feel that you have been working too hard and are too stressed out. Coming back to work when fresh in body and mind can make all the difference. Continue reading →

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity? (Video)

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A profound talk by Sir Ken Robinson on human intelligence and the pressing need for an education system worldwide which nurtures childhood creativity. He argues that schools today are geared towards stigmatizing wrong answers (which subsequently restricts creativity and freedom of expression in students) and makes the point that creativity is something we slowly unlearn as we get older and become molded by the “rules” of general society.

Cognitive Appraisal | Why An Apology Isn’t Always Enough

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Let’s pretend, hypothetically, that you’ve acted like a supreme jerk with someone who knows you well. Quite rightly, your spouse, significant other or friend isn’t having any of it and calls you out. Whereupon, after a little reflection, you realize the error of your ways and apologize unreservedly.

Then, on the cusp of receiving absolution, your friend or lover dredges up a long forgotten infraction from the pre-disco era and revisits it detail-by-detail. What the heck just happened? This common experience has deep roots in the origins of modern psychology beginning with the “father of modern psychology” himself…

William James

William James is most famous for a wildly counterintuitive hypothesis that turned out to be wrong. (Demonstrating that—regardless if you’re a psychologist, economist, or even a motivational speaker—if you want to be considered a thought leader, it’s more important to be counterintuitive than to be right.) Continue reading →

Pamela Meyer: How to Spot a Liar (Video)

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In this video expert lie-spotter Pam Meyer shares both scientific research and her personal insights on the issue of deception, including why we lie and how to spot a lie. Studies claim that on any given day the average person is lied to between 10 – 100 times, and that strangers lie 3 times within the first 10 minutes of meeting each other. Meyer explains that lying is a cooperative act, and that the power of a lie stems from our willingness to believe it.

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William James