Psychology

Which term best describes rewarding successive approximations of a target behavior? This article looks at shaping and how it works to modify behavior, including examples of shaping and how it's done.

Psychopaths are known for being manipulative and exploitative. According to research, they have the ability to detect vulnerability in others based on the way they walk. This fuels their exploitative skills and helps psychopathic criminals pick their victims.

A prominent cognitive scientist invites you to take a proverbial "red pill" and explore his theory of "conscious realism." But be warned—you may never see the world in the same way again.

Advertising in unavoidable in today's day. So how does it impact us? Advertising is a form of manipulation that effects our brain activity and mental well-being through forms of persuasion and conditioning.

Late in the 19th century a peculiar affliction struck lumberjacks in New England.

All of us have some degree of perceived power and it shapes how we deal with ourselves and our outward relationships.

This article discusses how psychopathic traits could be beneficial in a corporate setting for business and capitalism.

This article discusses how psychopathic traits could be beneficial for the individual who wants to achieve their own personal goals.

This article discusses what psychopathy is and whether psychopathy can be beneficial in certain contexts. Learn the definition of psychopathy and psychopathic traits.

Meditation has not always been readily available in the West, yet in recent decades it has become popular and accessible both in lay and religious circles. The scientific community has caught up and research on meditation has been growing steadily since the end of the 20th century.

We usually evaluate risk emotionally when what’s required is a rational assessment of danger.

Choreology or movement notation is an unusual but very effective, non-verbal approach to increase self awareness in a non-verbal, non analytic way.

The treatment of mental illness has undergone an astonishing transformation since ancient times. During the Renaissance mental illness was thought to be from demonic possession. The Age of Enlightenment ushered in the humane treatment of the mentally ill. Where are we today? Also, new videos added.

What does machine learning and evolution have in common? More than you may realize...

Our ability to judge people's characters is not as objective as we think; the human brain possesses primitive, limbic circuits, and our opinions are based entirely on the way that people speak to us and make us feel. Use this to your advantage, and anyone you meet will love you and want to help you.

There are many tests for measuring intelligence. They mostly measure your ability to solve and think through problems. Ultimately, IQ scores are used for educational placement and evaluating job applicants. This article is about an alternative method of viewing intelligence. New videos included.

High status, keeping up with the Jones's, improving one's position in the pecking order, in business, or in social circles, is an intense desire for many. It could be the basis of ambition, but in our time, it might also be a deadly trait as mega-wealth drives inequality.

The decisions we make and the actions we take are a vital part of what makes us human. Life is about making complicated choices, and yet, there are people out there that want to prevent you from being independent. They want to control your every action and zap away any shot of freedom.

Sometimes people have a strong memory of something happening and are surprised to find out that their recollection doesn’t match up with the historical record. It's called the Mandela Effect.

Feeling an irresistible urge to click on this article? Well, you are not alone. Many of us seem to crave for novelty, new information and can't stop scrolling or reading social media feeds.

Need some help with your memory? Studying not going so well? Here I'll show you how to improve your memory with tips, tricks, and lifestyle changes.

Find out the meaning of crossed legs. We'll take a look at several common variations, both sitting and standing.

This article discusses lucid dreaming, provides instructions to help individuals achieve lucidity in dreams, and offers two practical applications of the lucid dream state for proficient lucid dreamers.

The movie Fatal Attraction led to widespread discussion about Borderline Personality Disorder. This resulted in increased awareness but also increased misunderstanding of the disorder.

This article explains many facts associated with dreaming, the physiological and psychological components. It recounts the history of scientific studies, and many little known facts are included. Nightmares and lucid dreaming is also discussed. The difference between men and women’s dreams is expl

What is the meaning of clasping the hands? A look at the variations of this commonly seen pose, including its possible genetic component.

Adaptors in nonverbal communication have an effect on how we view others and how they view us. A look at self, alter, and object adaptors, including when they're usually seen and what triggers them.

Rubbing the hands together can mean two different things depending on the speed of the movement. Learn about this bit of body language: when its usually seen and what it suggests.

It takes a lot of effort to avoid doing what should be done; distractions have to be found and not acted upon.

The idea that criminals share certain physical characteristics was developed by an Italian physician in the 19th century.

About 40% of the population experiences some type of childhood trauma. Experiencing traumatic events in childhood can have adverse consequences on adulthood, and in some cases may lead to abusive behavior.

Empathy may be confused with sympathy or with compassion, but it is more than that. Empathy is a process which combines cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components. In this article, I will attempt to explain what empathy is, what it isn't and how it may sometimes be learned.

Do you need help focusing? Here are some real and effective ways you can implement to improve your concentration and sustained selective attention.

"Mansplain" is a new buzzword in regards to the sometimes awkward communication challenges between men and women. It refers to the way in which men seem to sometimes talk down to women. But the explanation for the behavior may lie in the cognitive sciences, instead of the social sciences.

Platonic touch, despite its benefits to physical and mental health, is not as common in Western culture as it should be. This article discusses touch deprivation at a societal scale in addition to the specific benefits of touch.

Psychology research often presents surprising findings regarding how the mind works, how we think about ourselves and others and how we interact with the world. This article discusses several of these results.

many social psychology experts question if social media is actually making us less social and even lonely.

We engage with difficult questions about personal value in society.

This article discusses Body Dysmorphic Disorder (Body Dysphoria, Body Dysmorphia), which involves extreme distress over an imagined or barely noticeable physical defect, often resulting in extreme plastic surgery and multiple plastic surgery procedures.

Duck's model of relationship breakdown explains the stages we all go through when experiencing a breakup. An advantage of this model is that it can be used to prevent breakups from happening entirely, but some argue that the model does not apply to everyone.

The Social Exchange theory claims that romantic relationships will last if the rational calculation of cost and benefit seems worthwhile. However, can we really use such economic terms when discussing romance?

This article looks at the body language of the hands on the hips posture, including a breakdown of its components and what they suggest about its meaning.

The article explains why we assume other people's negative behavior is due to personal factors or internal to them, while we explain our own negative behavior based on our situation or external to us.

A look at the arms behind the back pose with or without a wrist or arm clasp.

The filter theory offers an explanation as to how we narrow potential romantic partners to choose someone who is right for us. It is considered a useful tool to help us avoid making the wrong decisions, but just how well can it be applied in real life?

Narcissism has been increasing since the 1970's yet the increase in college students since 2002 has been drastic and could have serious consequences.

This article looks at the hands behind the head position. What do its elements suggest about what it means and why someone might be doing it?

Subliminal messages are perceived by the unconscious brain. There is not as much subliminal messaging happening in the US now as previously reported, but there could be subtle messages that are received unconsciously. Messaging has probably been used by or political operatives, yet it may not work.

Musings on the dawning of the Age of Aquarius

Have you ever wondered why you choose the romantic partners you date? According to the matching hypothesis, people date those of similar attractiveness to their own.