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Debunking Four Common Myths of Psychological Science
Under the Cortex takes a skeptical deep dive to explore some the most common myths about psychological science and the brain.
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‘No Regrets’ Is No Way to Live
“No Regrets.” It’s an alluring motto, a handy recipe for success and satisfaction. Reject the pain of looking backward, revel in the pleasure of dreaming forward, and the good life will ensue. Little wonder that this simple maxim transcends political and cultural divides. The Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale —Christian, conservative, mentor to Republican presidents—urged his followers to drop the very word “regret” from their vocabularies. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg —Jewish, liberal, appointee of Democratic presidents—concurred.
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This Is When Uncertainty Can Be Motivating, According to Science
Nearly two years into COVID-19, and we continue to deal with a lot of uncertainty. Are we preparing for the end of pandemic, or will we need to figure out a way to live with it indefinitely? Are we planning a return to the office, or should we just keep working from home? Living with uncertainty can create a steep decline in motivation, especially if you think you have no control, says Ayelet Fishbach, author of Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation. “For some people, the pandemic feels out of our control, even though we can control how likely we are to get sick,” she says.
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Extremism Threatened. Radio “Narratives” Intervened.
Narrative interventions using storytelling may provide impactful solutions for shifting behavioral intentions, beliefs, and attitudes around extremist violence.
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Trump’s Tweets: Telling Truth From Fiction From the Words He Used
Sometimes the words we choose say more than we intend. New research on a fact-checked collection of tweets from former president Donald Trump uncovered telltale word choices when he was being deliberately misleading. [Video Included]
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Thinking About Quitting Your Job? Ask These Six Questions First.
The Labor Department reported on Jan. 4 that 4.53 million people quit their jobs in November, breaking a record set in September and part of an almost year-long trend that has been dubbed the “Great Resignation.” You might be tempted to join them: In July, Gallup found that 48 percent of U.S. workers were actively job-hunting or keeping an eye out for opportunities, a situation the polling organization labeled the “Great Discontent.” As a psychologist, I’ve seen that discontent reflected in my practice. Many of my patients have been doing much more soul-searching about their jobs than before the coronavirus blew up our lives.
