-
Why willpower matters – and how to get it
The Guardian: In the smart restaurant of a very smart hotel in the West End of London, Roy F Baumeister, eminent American social psychology professor, orders a lunch of fish and chips, and then decides not to
-
‘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
-
The Upside of Dyslexia
The New York Times: The word “dyslexia” evokes painful struggles with reading, and indeed this learning disability causes much difficulty for the estimated 15 percent of Americans affected by it. Since the phenomenon of “word
-
Language as a Window into Human Nature
Steven Pinker shows us how the mind turns the finite building blocks of language into infinite meanings. Watch here
-
Science on Swearing
Timothy Jay knows enough about curse words to make any seven-year-old jealous. The Boston Globe has called him the “Doctor of dirty words,” and he frequently appears in news stories — like this one from
-
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
