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Things aren’t always what they seem, influenced not only by physical perspectives but also by our internal states. For instance, viewing an object from one angle can present a completely different “picture” than another, much like how a joyful mood makes the same situation seem more positive than when we are sad. Lighting plays a … Read more

Think of a narcissist.  Maybe you think of Ted Bundy. Or Kanye West. Or your boss. The “narcissist” label tends to be given to evil characters. It also tends to be given to big personalities and charismatic individuals. But this tends to paint an inaccurate picture of the typical narcissist and their behaviors.  But there … Read more

“If you’re on this page, it’s probably because you’re researching a Generalized Other in psychology. Have no fear because we will cover everything you need to know about it! What Is Mead’s Generalized Other? George Herbert Mead was a philosopher and sociologist who helped create the ideas of socialization, symbolic interactions, and “The Generalized Other.” … Read more

In Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters, he writes, “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known.” This sentiment will sound familiar as you learn about Lewin’s Field Theory. You might be familiar with the idea that our behaviors are influenced by our surroundings, right? Well, imagine diving deeper into … Read more

In the early 1900s, a German high school teacher named Wilhelm Von Osten thought that the intelligence of animals was underrated. He decided to teach his horse, Hans, some basic arithmetics to prove his point. Clever Hans, as the horse came to be known, was learning quickly. Soon he could add, subtract, multiply, and divide … Read more

Sleep helps the body with everything from memory storage to weight loss. Optimizing your sleep can significantly improve both your physical and mental well-being. Ensuring you go through the sleep stages correctly is essential. What Are Sleep Stages? The 4-5 stages of sleep are different types of sleep in which our bodies perform certain functions … Read more

We show our emotions through our facial expressions. We smile when we are happy and frown when we are angry. This is one of the ways we communicate our feelings to others. But did you know it might also work the other way around? Our facial expressions can influence our emotions.  This is the main … Read more

Social psychology revolves around a handful of great debates, including free will vs. determinism and reductionism vs. holism. One of these debates is nature vs. nurture.  One of the main ideas of the nurture side of this debate is “tabula rasa.” Empiricists, or those who believe that nurture influences our thoughts and behaviors, believe that … Read more

Not all experiments in psychology involve humans; nevertheless, those utilizing animals often aim to shed light on human behavior. Harlow’s Monkey experiments had a significant impact on psychology, and despite being considered controversial, they remain influential to this day. What Are Harlow’s Monkey Experiments? Harlow’s Monkey experiments looked at the influence of parental guidance and … Read more

What happens when you get scared? Maybe you scream. Maybe you jump. Maybe your heart starts to beat fast, and your palms get sweaty. You might not be able to think straight. You may not be thinking at all. Here’s another question. Which of these reactions happens first? Evaluating your bodily functions or thoughts when … Read more