-
10 Courses With a Twist
The New York Times: Why are so many nonmajors taking “Introduction to Computer Science” at Harvard or “Introductory Oceanography” at Cornell? Why is Temple Grandin’s livestock course at Colorado State always filled, and not just with students at home on the range? Some professors can make a subject sing, and their courses are not just a credit but an event. “I’ve wanted to take it since freshman year,” Rhyann Dozier, a Virginia Tech senior, said of “World Regions,” taught by John Boyer, whose high-octane style and throwback vibe channels Will Ferrell, turning lectures into performances. ... Prepare to take on your demons in this freshman psychology seminar. Dr.
-
The truth about little white lies: Why they’re actually more dangerous than you think
Scientific American: “Could switching to Geico really save you 15 percent or more on car insurance? Was Abe Lincoln honest?” So intones the Geico commercial spokesperson, followed by faux vintage film footage of Mary Lincoln asking her husband, “Does this dress make my backside look big?” Honest Abe squirms and shifts, then hesitates and, while holding his thumb and forefinger an inch apart, finally mutters, “Perhaps a bit,” causing his wife to spin on her heels and exit in a huff. ...
-
Cognitive Motor Skills Start to Fall Before Age 25
Today’s college graduates may enter the workforce with a lot of naiveté about business protocol and negotiation skills, but their technical prowess is arguably unprecedented. These are individuals who grew up with the Internet and the advent of smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi, Twitter, and online multiplayer games. They’re the people you turn to when you need to develop a social media strategy or a new app for your customers. But the technical skills that millennials bring to the office are not only generationally based, a new psychological study shows. People over 24 years of age have already reached their peak cognitive motor skills — including those used to learn new computer skills.
-
Anatomy of a Memorable Lunch
It’s about 11 in the morning, and I’m already thinking about lunch. I’m at my desk in my downtown office, so I have lots of options. I could go to that new sandwich place around the corner, where I know they make a great turkey club. Or I could walk up the street and get one of those big salads, which would be satisfying and healthy. Or I could just run downstairs to the snack bar and grab a yogurt and some pretzels. It’s a tough decision. It’s also a common decision, one that many of us confront every day. Our choices have implications, not only for how much we enjoy lunch today, but also for longer term goals like fitness and health. But how do we choose?
-
Wie man einen Lügner erkennt (How to recognize a liar)
ORF Austria: Haben Sie schon mal einen Profi-Pokerspieler im Moment des Turniergewinns gesehen? Bei uns Normalverbrauchern würde all die Anspannung sichtbar abfallen, und wir würden jubeln angesichts des Batzen Geldes, den man als Sieger einstreift. Doch im Gesicht der Pokerspieler passiert: nichts. Sie sind so darauf trainiert, ihre Emotionen zu verbergen, dass ihre gefrorene Mimik auch im Moment des Triumphes nicht aufzutauen vermag. Auch das Umgekehrte, das Vortäuschen von Gefühlen, ist alles andere als einfach. Wie Leanne ten Brinke von der University of California, Berkeley, herausgefunden hat, muss ein versierter Lügner seine Gesichtsmuskeln gut im Griff haben.
-
Fast and slow lessons for marketers
The Guardian: The idea of consumers making fully reasoned decisions is finally being debunked. Events like the financial crisis and fresh research have successfully challenged the idea that rationality is at the heart of our choices. The most prominent thinker in this area is psychologist Daniel Kahneman. His book, "Thinking, Fast and Slow", has now sold over a million copies in the UK. He's demonstrated that our mind has two systems of thought. System 1 is a fast, automatic and intuitive process over which we have little conscious control. System 2, which corresponds with our idea of rational reasoning is slow, deliberative and effortful.
