One can’t live mindfully without being enmeshed in psychological processes that are around us. – Philip Zimbardo, psychologist One of the reasons I find psychology so fascinating is that it’s so relevant to everyday life and plays a role in almost every aspect of our daily experiences, from our interactions with others to the way we think about ourselves to how we perceive the world around us.
I recently finished reading The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study. The Longevity Project looks at participants of a longitudinal study begun by Lewis Terman, a Stanford University psychologist who, in 1921, selected about 1,500 bright students to follow. The participants, all born around 1910, were studied over several decades. The book examines various traits, life experiences, and habits of the Terman participants and how these affected (Read entire post…)
Introverts are people whose energy and attention tend to be drawn inward. Introverts are often introspective and can sometimes spend too much time in their own thoughts. However, contrary to popular opinion, introverts are not necessarily shy or averse to socializing (although they certainly can be). Here is a list of top ten myths about introverts. Along these lines is an excellent article by Susan Cain, author of the blog Quiet. Cain outlines some of (Read entire post…)
I read a fascinating article last month on people who are “short sleepers.” The article, entitled “The Sleepless Elite” (published in The Wall Street Journal), discusses the rare individuals who need only a few hours of sleep (5 or 6—or perhaps less) per night. These short sleepers are able to function well without the need for naps or caffeine. The article mentions research that points to a gene variation as a possible explanation for what (Read entire post…)
In their article entitled “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right,” researchers Elizabeth Dunn, Daniel Gilbert (author of the bestselling book Stumbling on Happiness), and Timothy Wilson examine ways we can better use money to increase happiness. The fact is that money can buy happiness to a degree, but not as much as we might think—and whether it does depends on how it’s spent. Here are the main points: (Read entire post…)