Psychology Archives

Impossible Expectations & the Planning Fallacy: How to Get Real

How well do you predict what it will take to reach your goals? Do you give up when you fail to make the progress you expect to make? When we set goals, we also tend to set impossible expectations about reaching them. Then we get discouraged when we don’t hit certain benchmarks along the way. The tendency toward unrealistic expectations connects to a cognitive bias called the planning fallacy. Read more to learn about setting impossible expectations and the planning fallacy.

Elements of Myth: Roland Barthes on Form and Concept

What makes myths powerful? What’s the relationship between myth and meaning? Roland Barthes says that the images, objects, and stories we’re confronted with throughout the day are myths that contain subtle messages that subconsciously shape the way we view the world. He discusses the two basic elements of myth: form and concept. Read more to understand these basics of myth that inform how it’s used to shape society.

What Is Memory Distortion & How Does It Happen?

What is memory distortion? Can we change our memories? In Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson say that one way we overcome cognitive dissonance is through memory distortion. This is when we falsely remember information and events to put ourselves in a good light. Continue reading to learn more about memory distortion.

How to Become a New Person Through Neuroplasticity

How to Build Faith in Yourself and Change Your Life

Do you want to shed your old personality and become a new person? How can you break free from your old ways and begin to think and act in alignment with the vision of the person you want to be? According to Joe Dispenza, our brains have the capacity for neuroplasticity. This means that you have the power to totally rewire your personality and become a whole new person. To do that, you have to ingrain new patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior. With this in mind, here’s how to become a new person, according to Joe Dispenza.

Self-Observation: 2 Reasons to Monitor Your Thoughts & Feelings

Do you want a better understanding of why things are the way they are? How can you intentionally ignore unwanted circumstances? Vadim Zeland claims that self-observation has two major benefits. First, it helps you understand why you’re experiencing your version of reality instead of the version of reality that you want. Second, it breaks the feedback loop that perpetuates your current version of reality. Read more to learn how observing your thoughts and emotions helps you weaken unwanted circumstances and reclaim your emotional energy.

Roland Barthes: Myth’s Creation, Function, & Dangers

What’s a myth? How is a myth made and used? Are myths dangerous? According to 20th-century French philosopher Roland Barthes, myth is all around us. In Mythologies, he discusses the process of mythmaking. He identifies the basic components of myth and explains what function they have in society. He also warns that myths can pose certain dangers. Continue reading to understand Barthes’s take on myth.

What Is Mel Robbins’s 5 Second Rule & Why Is It Important?

What is Mel Robbins’s 5 Second Rule? How can you use the Rule to take control of your life? In The 5 Second Rule, Mel Robbins explains how you can assert agency over your life by just counting down from five to one over the course of five seconds and acting when you reach one. This method is helpful for those who overthink and hesitate on tasks. Keep reading to learn more about Mel Robbins’s 5 Second Rule and how it can help you.

Self-Justification Examples: How We Excuse Our Wrongs

What are some examples of self-justification? Why do we want to protect ourselves from cognitive dissonance? Rather than admitting wrongdoing or accepting contradictory beliefs, most people find ways to justify their actions to themselves and others. According to Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson in their book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), this process is called self-justification. Keep reading to look at self-justification examples to better understand the psychology behind it.

How Do Habits Form and Become Second Nature?

What exactly are habits? What role do habits play in your life? How do habits form? Habits are thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that you engage in regularly. Your habits are the foundation of your personality because they represent your way of being and acting in the world. Therefore, changing your life requires changing your habits. Keep reading to learn how habits develop and how they become second nature.

How to Recognize Propaganda: 3 Tell-Tale Features

How pervasive is propaganda? How can you tell when a message is manipulative? Propaganda is all around us. It might be a song, an image, an advertisement, or a headline. In Mythologies, Roland Barthes explains how myth is basically propaganda. He warns against its influence, so it’s important to know it when you see it. Keep reading to learn how to recognize propaganda and keep from being deceived and used.