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Dan Ariely on our buggy moral code
Humanity is inherently irrational and illogical. In spite of this, however, there exist valid psychological explanations for the whys and hows behind immoral behavior. Subtle stimuli — largely undetectable by most untrained individuals — can drive people to experience lapses in their moral judgment, convincing themselves that cheating, lying and other actions that hurt people are perfectly reasonable. Watch the Ted Talk here
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Stuart Brown says play is more than fun
Anyone hoping for a career in education — regardless of whether or not they opt to study psychology — should consider Stuart Brown's lecture essential viewing. No matter one's age, the pleasures to be found in playtime provide the brain and body alike with everything needed to forge ahead healthily and productively. Imagination and improvisation cultivated in leisure time leads to an improved performance once individuals need to apply their skills to working. Watch the Ted Talk here
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Richard Dawkins on our “queer” universe
No matter how many explanations for scientific phenomena and advances crop up, the world just seems that much more unknowable and bizarre. Perhaps that explains why people tend to cling to their beliefs, even long after they've been undeniably debunked. The influential, controversial Richard Dawkins explains that humanity must break away from its tendency to stick with what's known and understood if it hopes to ever unlock as much potential as possible. Watch the Ted Talk here
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Why Do People Defend Unjust, Inept, and Corrupt Systems?
Why do we stick up for a system or institution we live in—a government, company, or marriage—even when anyone else can see it is failing miserably? Why do we resist change even when the system is corrupt or unjust? A new article in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science, illuminates the conditions under which we’re motivated to defend the status quo—a process called “system justification.” System justification isn’t the same as acquiescence, explains Aaron C.
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Ian Dunbar on dog-friendly dog training
Psychology students curious about animal behavior will certainly find this peek into the popular pets' inner workings a nice little intellectual treat. Empathy sits at the center of forging a healthy, loving and mutually beneficial relationship with a dog. Learning such a valuable lesson in the service of a canine companion holds the potential to carry over into one's interaction with other people as well. Watch the Ted Talk here
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Al Seckel says our brains are mis-wired
Thanks to his extensive work in neurosurgery and cognitive science, Al Seckel possesses an intimate understanding of the brain's over-reliance on perception. Because of this biological tendency, humans are susceptible to believing what illusions tell them. Be sure to watch the video of this lecture rather than simply reading the transcript, as the fantastic visuals greatly highlight how this phenomenon works — and gives people exactly what they want to see. Watch the Ted Talk here
