Psychology
How to stop overthinking
Persistent overthinking in the form of worry and rumination can result in a wide range of symptoms such as insomnia, trouble concentrating, and in some cases, this can lead to anxiety or depression. Overthinking starts with a ‘trigger thought’. It’s not the trigger thought in and of itself that causes unpleasant symptoms, It is the…
Read MoreHow to Identify and Deal with Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that can cause you to doubt your memory, opinions, and even your sanity. It’s a tactic some people use to gain power and control over others. Romantic relationships aren’t the only situations where gaslighting can occur. It can also happen (in a parent-child relationship, in the workplace, political & authoritative…
Read MoreThe framing effect: how the way information is framed impacts our decisions
Do you prefer your yogurt with 10% fat or 90% fat-free? Should the label on your disinfectant say it kills 99% of germs, or that it only spares 1% of them? Marketers know which framing will result in more sales. This is called the framing effect: a cognitive bias where people decide on options based on…
Read More10 Ways to Build and Preserve Better Boundaries
Many people know what the word “boundaries” means, but they have no idea what they are. You might think of boundaries as something like a property line or “brick wall” used to keep people out. Boundaries are a way to take care of ourselves. Many of us have a mix of boundaries depending on the situation. For…
Read MoreThe Barnum Effect: why we love astrology and personality tests
What do astrology, aura reading, fortune telling, cold reading, and some personality tests such as the MBTI have in common? They all exploit the Barnum Effect to convince people that the generated statements are personal to them. The statements are so vague, we interpret our own meaning, sometimes feeling in awe of their accuracy. “That’s so me!”…
Read MoreProcrastination is Contagious
Well, maybe it is not a newsflash. I think we all know that you become like those that you hang out with. (Remember when your parents were concerned about you hanging out with a certain crowd in school? Makes sense, doesn’t it?) It has been shown time and again that people adapt their habits and…
Read MoreDeclinism: how rosy retrospection impacts decision-making
“It was better before,” says your friend. “Ha, those were the days,” your reply with a sigh. Declinism is the belief that societies tend towards decline, often linked with rosy retrospection—our tendency to view the past more favourably and the future more negatively. It may seem harmless, but declinism can cloud your judgement and lead…
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