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Laurie Santos: A monkey economy as irrational as ours
This lecture blends evolutionary biology, genetics and psychology together into one intriguing glimpse at yet another bizarrely familiar intersection between human and monkey behavior. In spite of humanity's vast intelligence, many of the same quirks and irrationalities also crop up in its simian relatives (and ancestors). For example, monkeys do possess their own unique economic system — and Laurie Santos points out that some of their least effective patterns parallel the decisions that led to today's financial crisis. Mastersdegree.net Watch the Ted Talk here
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Daniel Goleman on compassion
Daniel Goleman's main thesis is clear and simple — humanity needs compassion in order to survive. He explores issues of brain and social science alike to understand why some people just don't reach out to help others in need. Though an incredibly complex study, one of the many facets he notes is the correlation between willingness to display empathy and compassion and time constraints. Mastersdegree.net Watch the Ted Talk here
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More HIV Testing for Teens?
Yesterday was World AIDS Day, and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more can be done to prevent HIV in teenagers. In a policy statement, the AAP advocates for 16 to 18-year-old teens who live in an area where more than 0.1% of the population is HIV positive should be tested routinely for HIV. Psychological scientist Anthony Lemieux agrees. In this interview, she explains why it’s a good idea for teens to get tested.
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Stefana Broadbent: How the Internet enables intimacy
Much ado is made over the role technology plays in interpersonal relationships, and psychologists spend quite a bit of time on understanding how the latest trends have impacted the human mind. This quick talk by a respected ethnographer, Stegana Broadbent, challenges many of the preconceived notions regarding communication breakdown at the hands of the internet. She argues that it actually results in the opposite effect, as people frequently use it to grow even closer, even faster than ever. Mastersdegree.net Watch the Ted Talk here
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Philip Zimbardo prescribes a healthy take on time
One's perception of time, the infamous Philip Zimbardo argues, directly impacts broad concepts such as success and contentment. A sharpened ability to deeply consider the past, present and future when making decisions could very well lead to heightened productivity and an increased sense of satisfaction. One must also understand the role temptation plays before committing to anything in the long term, and the lecturer uses the failed "virginity pledge" as an effective example. Watch the Ted Talk here
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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
