The left brain vs. right brain myth - Elizabeth Waters
AdultsHumanNeuroscienceScience...The human brain is visibly split into a left and right side. This structure has inspired one of the most pervasive ideas about the brain: that the left side controls logic and the right side controls creativity. And yet, this is a myth, unsupported by scientific evidence. So how did this idea come about, and what does it get wrong? Elizabeth Waters looks into this long held misconception.
How to Recount Your Dreams
AdultsPsychologySocietySpirituality...We often wake up from a dream with a powerful urge to tell those around us about what happened. But our listeners are also liable to feel restless and bored during our narration of the dream. The issue takes us to the heart of the challenges of communication.
Why We Only Learn When We Repeat
AdultsHumanPsychologyEducation...Our education system is based on the idea that we can learn things once, and that they'll then stay in our minds throughout our lives. That's far too optimistic. Our brains are like sieves. If anything is going to remain in them, we need regular reminders of what really matters. Fascinatingly, religions always understood that.
The Dangers of the Good Child
AdultsHumanPsychologySociety...Good children don't cause problems; they always do what others expect. They seem to be on track. But there are real problems with people who never have a chance to be a little bad.
What to Do About Being Clumsy
AdultsPsychologyRelationshipsSociety...Being clumsy is one of the most humiliating of scenarios. We need to learn to make friends with our 'inner idiot'.
Why people think they see ghosts
AdultsPsychologySpiritualityScience...Even though there is no scientific evidence that ghosts exist, you may not be crazy if you see one.
The Problem With Perfectionism
AdultsHumanPsychologySelfWe aim for perfection without a correct idea of what perfection might demand from us. To strengthen our resolve, we need to improve our picture of what sacrifices any achievement will demand.
How to Be Charming When Talking About Yourself
AdultsLanguageSelfSociety...It's sometimes assumed that talking too much about ourselves is rude; and asking questions of others is polite and charming. But the distinction is not quite so simple. There are far better and worse ways of speaking about ourselves. We end up charming when we dare to reveal our vulnerabilities to others.
Who am I? A philosophical inquiry - Amy Adkins
AdultsPhilosophyPsychologySelfThroughout the history of mankind, the subject of identity has sent poets to the blank page, philosophers to the agora and seekers to the oracles. These murky waters of abstract thinking are tricky to navigate, so it's probably fitting that to demonstrate the complexity, the Greek historian Plutarch used the story of a ship. Amy Adkins illuminates Plutarch's Ship of Theseus.
How Your Brain Helps You Lie To Yourself
AdultsHumanPsychologyMental HealthA new study aims to find out why and how we avoid information we don't want to hear-- and how we can stop doing it.
A psychologist debunks the claim that fidget spinners help kids focus
AdultsGadgetsPsychologyMental Health...Fidget spinners are everywhere these days. You can buy them on any street corner for a few dollars, and both kids and adults are obsessed with them. The companies that make these hot new gadgets claim they help relieve stress and anxiety and can help kids with ADHD focus. David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist from the Child Mind Institute, shares his thoughts on spinners.
How do focus groups work? - Hector Lanz
AdultsBusinessMarketingPsychologyFocus groups have been widely used by organizations and individuals to find out how their products and ideas will be received by an audience. From the usage of household products to a politician's popularity, almost everything can be explored with this technique. But how are focus groups put together? And how did they come about in the first place? Hector Lanz explains how focus groups work.
Using GPS to Get Around Is Making Us Dumber
AdultsHumanScienceTechnology...GPS services have made getting from point A to point B a lot easier, but what effects does this have on our brains?
Can you solve the pirate riddle? - Alex Gendler
AdultsMathPsychologyProblem-Solving...It's a good day to be a pirate. Amaro and his four mateys - Bart, Charlotte, Daniel, and Eliza have struck gold - a chest with 100 coins. But now, they must divvy up the booty according to the pirate code - and pirate code is notoriously complicated. Can you help come up with the distribution that Amaro should propose to make sure he lives to tell the tale? Alex Gendler shows how.
What Happens To Child Prodigies When They Grow Up?
AdultsHumanPsychologySociety...Children who develop remarkable skills at an early age are often knowns at prodigies, but what happens to these kids once they grow up?
Why You're Attracted To Certain People
AdultsBiologyRelationshipsPsychology...Love is a beautiful thing, but what causes it? Well, it might all just be in your head.
Being A Jerk May Not Be Your Fault
AdultsPsychologySocietyHumorLaughter may be contagious, but did you know rudeness is too? Is there a way to stop bad attitudes from spreading?
Why The Popular Kids Don't Stay Cool
AdultsCulturePsychologySociety...Some people in high school engage in risky behavior, such as drinking and smoking, in an attempt to be cool. Does this pay off long term? Join Tara as she reports on new research showing that being popular in high school might be bad in your adulthood!
Why humans are so bad at thinking about climate change
AdultsGlobal WarmingHumanPsychology...The biggest problem for the climate change fight isn't technology - it's human psychology.