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‘Situations Matter: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World,’ by Sam Sommers
The Washington Post: Most of us consider ourselves to be objective, consistent people who make decisions that reflect our core principles, no matter what the situation. In “Situations Matter,” psychology professor Sam Sommers throws this
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A New Study Shows How to Boost the Power of Pain Relief, Without Drugs
Placebos reduce pain by creating an expectation of relief. Distractions relieve it by keeping the brain busy. When combined, they make for a potent pain reliever, a study shows.
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Study of the Day: Religion Boosts Patience, Has Practical Benefits
The Atlantic: Faith doesn’t just assuage fears about the afterlife. Research published in Psychological Science shows that it fuels self-control too. PROBLEM: Religious believers are often called on to exercise self-control. Christians, for instance, are
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Fighting willpower’s catch-22
ScienceNews: Willpower comes with a wicked kickback. Exerting self-control saps a person’s mental energy and makes the next desire that inevitably comes along feel more compelling and harder to resist, a study of people’s daily
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Thinking Outside the Box — Literally
The Wall Street Journal: Just how potent is the metaphor “thinking outside the box”? To find out, researchers built a literal box out of PVC pipe and cardboard — 5′ cubed. Roughly 100 test subjects
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How to Increase Willpower and Follow Through With Resolutions
The Atlantic: Many people who made New Year’s resolutions are likely struggling with them now. Some may have already given up. Others are just letting the whole thing slide. The fact is that the act
