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Martin Seligman on positive psychology
Because psychology and psychiatry plunge into the ugliest depths of human behavior, most people tend to associate the disciplines with mental illness and unrest. While this is certainly a major component of both fields, by no means should it be considered the only one. As Martin Seligman asserts, today's psychological climate possesses the knowledge to build people up in a manner far more effective and permanent than those ultimately empty self-help "guides." Watch the Ted Talk here
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Jim Fallon: Exploring the mind of a killer
For psychology students interested in the criminal justice sector, this particular TED Talk provides plenty to pique their intrigue. Jim Fallon uses both science and personal history to deeply dissect the complex genetic and neurological factors that contribute to homicidal impulses. However, some of the biological components do frequently require traumatic events to trigger. Watch the Ted Talk here
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Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory
Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahnman pioneered the study of behavioral economics, making note of some bizarre disparities between how different elements of the human brain process emotions. This lecture focuses mainly on the "cognitive traps" the mind sets for itself — a phenomenon most people never even realize in their lifetimes. Both the "experiencing self" and the "remembering self" impact perception, memory and personality in unique ways and shape individuals for good and for ill alike. Watch the TED Talk here
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Oliver Sacks: What hallucination reveals about our minds
Mainstream society tends to associate hallucinations and delusions with the drug-addled and the mentally ill, but in reality they stem from many different sources and provide some amazing insight into how the brain works. Charles Bonnet syndrome, for example, involves the visually impaired "seeing" some incredibly vivid images that aren't there. Neurological anthropologist Oliver Sacks has studied this phenomenon and discusses his interesting findings regarding perception, cognition and brain activity. Watch the TED Talk here
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Lost in the Shopping Center
You go to the mall to buy one pair of jeans and leave with your jeans plus new shoes, a pretzel, and a couple of magazines. Sound familiar? Watch Marc Fennell of Hungry Beast explain how store design can encourage impulse buying — and why Ikea shoppers in particular tend to overbuy. According to Alan Penn of University College London, Ikea really is designed like a maze. You can read more about Penn’s research from Daily Mail and the Telegraph. If you’re looking for tips on orienting yourself and escaping from maze-like buildings, Laura A.
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Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others
The highly regarded psychiatrist Viktor Frankl formulated many of his revolutionary ideas while incarcerated in a concentration camp. In this illuminating lecture, he adroitly summarizes his main points regarding humanity's never-ending quest for an overarching meaning of life. He argues that overestimation and idealism nurtures the best in people, likening the phenomenon to landing an aircraft. -MasterDegree.net Watch the TED Talk here
