How can you quickly and easily make someone act more kind?
mic their behavior. I've posted a number of times before on the power of mimicry to influence others (here, here, here.) This study is interesting because it demonstrates that mimicry doesn't work by only building a bond between the two involved, it makes the person who is mimicked feel better and act nicer to everyone. Recent studies have shown that mimicry occurs unintentionally and even among strangers. In the present studies, we investigated the consequences of this automatic phenomenon in…
1 min read
The Formula That Predicts How Long Celebrity Marriages Will Last
s. John Tierney reports on a formula created by Garth Sundem, author of Brain Trust: 93 Top Scientists Reveal Lab-Tested Secrets to Surfing, Dating, Dieting, Gambling, Growing Man-Eating Plants, and More!. Garth, a self-professed über-geek, has crunched the numbers and discovered a better way to gauge the toxic effects of celebrity. Whereas the old equation measured fame by counting the millions of Google hits, the new equation uses a ratio of two other measures: the number of mentions in The…
2 minutes
8 Powerful Things That Will Inspire You To A Better Life
ght ways to inspire yourself to get to the next level in life, with links to the research behind them: To have meaning in your life you need a story. You need to reflect on how things could have been and why they turned out the way they did. Seeing that things had a direction and a purpose provides meaning. Can't figure out what your long term goals are? Imagine your funeral. To make radical changes in your life you…
1 min read
Does pride make us selfish?
. Via The Science of Sin: The Psychology of the Seven Deadlies (and Why They Are So Good For You): If the proud are the selfish, conceited, arrogant jerks that some believe them to be, then we would expect pride to be linked with lower volunteerism rates. In fact, the exact opposite was the case: The more pride people took in the work they did for their communities, the more hours of volunteer work they reported doing. Impressively, this was…
1 min read
10 Secrets You Need To Know About Sexual Satisfaction, Backed By Research
re's a list of scientific factors associated with sexual satisfaction. Birth control pills make women more likely to pick men who satisfy them less sexually but make them more satisfied with their relationships. What women look for in one night stands and long term relationships is very different. Age difference has a big effect on how sexually satisfied husbands and wives are. Here's a list of what keeps men and women sexually satisfied over time. Here's one you probably knew…
1 min read
How To Increase Willpower: 10 Secrets From Research
me insights about willpower from research, with links to the studies: Practicing a little willpower every day increases self-control over time. For immediate results: tighten your muscles, sit up straight or cross your arms. Or just think about money. Get enough sleep and don't miss meals. More shut-eye will stop you from wasting time on the internet. Skipping breakfast can lead to murder. Context is key. Those around you exert more influence on your behavior than you think. Don't get cocky. Thinking…
1 min read
5 Things You Need To Know About Habits
tips with links to the research that backs them up: You spend 40% of every day on autopilot, just performing habits. The secret to breaking bad habits is to not try to eliminate them but to replace them. You can resist bad habits by avoiding the triggers that make you want to do them. Context is key. The key to new good habits is to do the minimum and be consistent. To make good habits stick, create "if-then" plans…
1 min read
How To Relieve Pain Using Psychology: 10 Tips From Research
me insights on how to relieve pain using psychology, with links to the studies: Clutch some money. Don't curl up in a ball. Sit up straight. Swear. Laugh. Listen to good music. Have a healthy relationship. Look at your body. Don't close your eyes when you get that injection. Look at a photo of a loved one. Better yet, get a massage from a loved one. Try being nice, overall. Pain hurts more if the person hurting you means it and doctors…
1 min read
