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Are We Genetically Inclined To Be Materialistic?
NPR: People tend to hate to lose stuff they already own. This trait, known as the endowment effect, is likely handed down to us by evolution, since it is visible cross-culturally as well as in
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When Charitable Acts Are ‘Tainted’ by Personal Gain
We tend to perceive a person’s charitable efforts as less moral if the do-gooder reaps a reward from the effort, according to new research. This phenomenon — which researchers call the “tainted-altruism effect” — suggests
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Editing Your Life’s Stories Can Create Happier Endings
NPR: The 4-foot-tall monster terrified my nephew so much that he ran deep into the toy store. And on the way back out, he simply couldn’t face the statue. He jumped into his mother’s arms
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These Scientists Studied Why Internet Stories Go Viral. You Won’t Believe What They Found
Fast Company: A few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal profiled Gawker editor Neetzan Zimmerman, whose job is to post content that’s poised to go viral. Zimmerman does his job quite well. His posts generate
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As dating apps grow in popularity, people still feel some stigma
The Washington Post: Online dating: More and more people are doing it, but no one wants to talk about it. On the record, that is. A recent Pew study found that 11 percent of American adults
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Alarm Clock Sets Off A Real Wake-Up Call
NPR: I mean reality always has its uses. This is Roy Baumeister, president of the Society for the Study of Motivation, who for many years has tracked how psychologists view reality. Well, the assumption for