Psychology Archives

Norman Doidge: The Brain That Changes Itself (Book Overview)

What is Norman Doidge’s The Brain That Changes Itself about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge explains that the brain is plastic, meaning it can change its own structure and connections in response to stimuli. This contrasts with the long-held belief that the brain is hardwired from an early age. Below is a brief overview of Norman Doidge’s The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph From the Frontiers of Brain Science.

Cognitive Shortcuts in Advertising: Most Common Examples

How to Build a Latticework of Mental Models

What are cognitive shortcuts in advertising? How are they used to influence consumer decision-making? According to Drew Whitman, cognitive shortcuts are an effective marketing strategy for convincing consumers to buy products spontaneously. In his book Ca$hvertising, he offers examples of common advertising techniques that rely on cognitive shortcuts. Keep reading for some examples of cognitive shortcuts in advertising, according to Whitman.

Chunking Information for Students: Improve Your Memory

What does “chunking information” mean? Why is it helpful for students? Chunking means grouping together connected ideas so you can remember them better. Jade Bowler explains this concept in her book The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need so students can take advantage of this studying technique. Find out why chunking information for students can boost your studying practices.

What Is Abusive Behavior? How to Recognize the Signs

What is abusive behavior? How do abusers subtly manipulate and intimidate their victims? Abuse isn’t just physical—it can also be emotional and verbal abuse that many victims might not recognize at first. But Lundy Bancroft’s book Why Does He Do That? will teach you how to spot abusive behavior from a mile away. Bancroft breaks up abusive behavior into two categories, which we’ll look at below.

Amy C. Edmondson: Psychological Safety’s Importance

What is Amy C. Edmondson’s definition of psychological safety? What are the benefits of psychological safety? According to Amy C. Edmondson, psychological safety in the workplace means workers feel encouraged to speak up and make mistakes without fear of reprisal. Her book The Fearless Organization explains how a psychologically safe work culture is superior to a fear-driven one. Let’s look at what psychological safety is at work.

How to Organize Your Home & Free Up Mental Energy

How does your brain keep track of your stuff? How can you work with your biology to better organize your things? In his book The Organized Mind, neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin discusses how to externalize and sort information to make various mental processes easier. Similarly, he suggests that you use the power of externalization and sorting to track your stuff. Keep reading to learn how to organize your home in a way that frees up more mental energy, allowing you to focus on other tasks and make better decisions.

Ryan Holiday: The Power of a Quiet Mind

How do you still an agitated mind? What exactly is meant by quieting your mind? When your mind is quiet, you can process information faster, reason more rationally, and solve problems more effectively. In his book Stillness Is the Key, Ryan Holiday likens this state—which he calls “stillness” to the state of satori in Buddhism. Keep reading to learn about the power of a quiet mind, according to Ryan Holiday.

The Importance of Willpower: How Much Does It Really Matter?

How important is willpower? What difference does it actually make in our lives? Daniel Goleman emphasizes the importance of willpower in his book Focus. However, some disagree that it’s a major factor in our lives. Read more to learn both sides of this debate.

How to Cope With Negative Inner Dialogue

Is your inner dialogue too loud and negative? Do you often judge and scold yourself for not living up to some made-up standards? We all have moments when our inner dialogue spirals into a negative tirade, judging, blaming, and putting us down. One way you can counter self-accusations is to distance yourself by using second-person pronouns. Here’s how to cope with negative inner dialogue by using the pronoun-replacing strategy.

The Art of Seduction: The 9 Types of Seducers

What are Robert Greene’s nine types of seducers in The Art of Seduction? Which types are more common among men, and which ones among women? In his book The Art of Seduction, Robert Greene describes nine types of seducers, each with a distinct seduction style. Greene says Types 1 and 2 are specifically female and male types, respectively. The other types can all apply to any gender. Below, we’ll define Greene’s nine seducer types, using his labels for them, and we’ll describe each one’s seductive quality.