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The Psychology of Throwing in the Towel
Aren’t we supposed to admire Rep. Anthony Weiner’s persevering spirit in the face of adversity? Lesser men would be crawling under a rock with such revelations about their personal frailties and sexual oddities. The American tradition, from Ben Franklin to Horatio Alger to Rocky Balboa, is to value grit and determination. The fact is, it’s hard to cheer for giving up, throwing in the towel. So it’s no wonder this never-say-die attitude has made such an appealing plot line for dime novels and Hollywood. But is it really good psychology? Or might there be times when it really is better to simply walk away?
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Income Disparity Makes People Unhappy
Many economists and sociologists have warned of the social dangers of a wide gap between the richest and everyone else. Now, a new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, adds a psychological reason to narrow the disparity - it makes people unhappy. Over the last 40 years, “we’ve seen that people seem to be happier when there is more equality,” says University of Virginia psychologist Shigehiro Oishi, who conducted the study with Virginia colleague Selin Kesebir and Ed Diener of the University of Illinois. “Income disparity has grown a lot in the U.S., especially since the 1980s.
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Reclaiming Our Sense of Self in a Globalized World
The Huffington Post: The word "globalization" rings in most people's ears as a signal of our advancement, the recognition of our limitless ability to create and have -- beyond measure -- anything we want. A Delta advert on the subway reads, "A larger network makes a smaller world." So our world appears smaller, and not only does it fill us with a feeling of extended opportunity, but we assume that it is in our best interests. But is it really in our best interests? What are the true impacts of globalization, from an ecological, economic and, more importantly, psychological perspective? In short, what is the psychological impact of globalization on our sense of self?
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Gray Matters | Which is Better: A Glass Half-Full or Half-Empty?
Yahoo: In 1988, singer Bobby McFerrin encouraged an optimistic viewpoint in his hit song "Don't Worry Be Happy." Monty Python's song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," from their 1979 film Monty Python's The Life of Brian , also suggested a chipper attitude. Winston Churchill famously said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." But optimism may have a downside, suggests a new study,"Hope Over Experience: Desirability and the Persistence of Optimism," conducted by Cade Massey and Joseph P. Simmons from Yale University and David A.
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When Golfers Overthink: The Science Behind the Choke
The New York Times: Golf may be a four-letter word, but the curse of the game comes in five letters: choke. It is largely an unspoken word in golf, one rarely uttered on broadcast television. It has little favor in the recreational golf world as well. Any number of euphemisms spring up to describe evident failure under pressure — a putt is said to have been misread or a chip misjudged — but in the back of every golfer’s mind is a tacit understanding of what has happened. It was those five letters. And we have all been there. Read more: The New York Times
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Positive self-talk may improve athletic performance
Journal and Courier: Before Purdue University swimmer Wyatt Hodges steps into a pool for a race, he reminds himself of a few key instructions. "Keep my arms forward," he said. "Push through." He's rehearsed these and other instructional phrases repeatedly in his head to the point where they've become a sort of prayer or mantra. The mental cues help him stay focused -- pushing out any distracting thoughts about his opponent, anxious thoughts about the race or random thoughts that pop into his head. Read more: Journal and Courier
