Social

Psychologists have been trying to wrap their heads around how our minds and bodies experience emotion for many years. Multiple theories have tried to explain the role of arousal, cognition, and behavior. But until recently, they have been disproven and replaced with other theories. The most recent theory regarding the body and mind’s recognition of emotions … Read more

If there is one thing that I’ve learned from studying psychology, it’s that people are fascinated by it. All of us want to know a little bit more about why people do the things they do. We want to be able to explain the behaviors of our friends, family, partners, and colleagues. In fact, we … Read more

Social learning theory is the idea that people and other animals can learn from the example of others. This means that, when we can see what others around us do and observe the consequences of those actions, we then expect that we will receive similar consequences if we imitate those actions. If you see someone … Read more

Sheep. Complicit. Doormat. There are a lot of negative connotations associated with conformity, especially in the United States. Individualist societies push back on “going along with what everyone is doing.” And yet, we conform more than we think. According to studies like the Asch Line Study, humans have a natural tendency to conform. The Asch … Read more

Would you give someone a deadly electric shock? Would you follow orders to commit a violent crime against an innocent person? Would you support an unjust cause, just because you are told to? People rarely see themselves as violent or capable of committing violent acts. People rarely see themselves on the wrong side of history. … Read more