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Want To Solve The World’s Most Heated Disagreements? Bring Your Wallet
NPR: Conflict between Palestinians and Israelis or Republicans and Democrats appears intractable in part because of one fundamental bias: We misunderstand the other group's motives. When Republicans attack Democrats, Democrats think they're motivated by hate, but Republicans believe they're motivated by love and "in-group" loyalty. And vice versa, of course. Everybody and everything has a price — including empathy. That's according to a study published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this year. The research explains why negotiation and compromise sometimes is so difficult, but the also shows that simply getting paid can make people more empathetic.
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‘Me, Myself, and Us,’ by Brian R. Little
The New York Times: There are two types of people in the world, a wit once said: The type who likes to divide people into two types, and the type who doesn’t. Brian R. Little, author of “Me, Myself, and Us,” is a two-typer. But — and this is at the heart of his endeavor — he believes there are many ways in which people can be divided. So his readers learn that there are “person specialists” and “thing specialists”; “high self-monitors” and “low self-monitors”; “internals” and “externals” (that is, people who locate a sense of control within themselves versus those who follow an outside authority).
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When professionalism means betraying a friend
BBC: Q: I have to let several staff members go. I feel awful about it, but it is part of a company-wide redundancy plan. I am not supposed to reveal these layoffs for another few weeks. But I know one person I must let go is about to go under contract for a new home before then. What is my obligation to tell this person, before he risks losing thousands in a contract he might not be able to complete once he loses his job? A: You are caught between your obligations to the firm and your desire to be a compassionate human being. There’s a right answer here — and you’re not going to like it.
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What the ‘marshmallow test’ can teach you about your kids
CNN: The premise is simple: You can eat one marshmallow now or, if you can wait, you get to eat two marshmallows later. It's an experiment in self-control for preschoolers dreamed up by psychologist Dr. Walter Mischel. While the rules of his experiment are easy, the results are far more complex than he ever could have imagined. In fact, what they tell you about your child at age 4 could have repercussions for the rest of their lives. Mischel first administered this experiment, dubbed the "marshmallow test," to preschoolers in the early 1960s. They were brought into a barren room, empty of any distractions except a table upon which sat a very tempting treat: the marshmallows.
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10 Brilliant Strategies For Writing Viral Content
Forbes: There are certain websites, writers, marketers and content creators who seem to rule the internet. Everything they put out there seems contagious, capturing an audience of millions and sparking conversations on social media. These days, unpacking the secrets to viral success has been the mission of researchers, media organizations and businesses alike. After all, infectious content leads to major rewards in the form of readers, subscribers, advertisers, raising awareness for an important issue, brand recognition and financial success. If you’re looking for ways get people talking, check out these 10 strategies from the experts themselves. Read the whole story: Forbes
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Is Obesity a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
There are lots of people of normal, healthy weight who, when they look in the mirror, see a fat person. Many of them know that their perceptions are skewed, because trusted friends and family have testified that they are slender, yet they can’t deny what they see in their reflection and mind’s eye. Such distorted perception is especially common among teenagers, and it has been linked to poor self-esteem and eating disorders. Adolescents who see themselves as overweight are more likely to use diet pills, laxatives, vomiting and extreme dieting to lose their imagined weight.
