Psychology Archives

Rolf Dobelli: What Is the Swimmer’s Body Illusion?

What is the “swimmer’s body illusion”? Is a swimmer’s physique the result of training (nurture) or the gift of genetics (nature)? The swimmer’s body illusion is a cognitive bias where you attribute a trait or characteristic to a certain activity, and not the other way around. For example, you might look at a professional swimmer’s toned body and think you can gain that same appearance by swimming. However, these individuals are so good at swimming because they already had that kind of body. Here’s why this effect occurs and how not to fall prey to it.

Understanding Social Comparison Bias

What is social comparison bias? Why do we constantly compare ourselves to others? Social comparison bias is the feeling of competitiveness and dislike towards someone who is perceived to be better than you. According to Rolf Dobelli, the author of The Art of Thinking Clearly, social comparison bias forms from group membership. Keep reading to learn about social comparison bias.

Association Fallacy: Connecting the Unconnectable

What is association bias? Why does association bias occur? Association fallacy (or association bias) is the brain’s tendency to make connections where none exist. This phenomenon is a defense mechanism: making associations allows you to evaluate risk when making decisions. Keep reading to learn about association fallacy, why it occurs, and how to overcome it.

Heuristic Psychology: Cognitive Errors & Biases

What are cognitive errors? Why does the brain make these errors, and how can you override them? Humans have evolved to pay attention to the most memorable or flashy information that comes up, rather than the most pertinent or helpful. The more conspicuous and repeated a piece of information is, the more you’ll believe it. Although it saves the brain’s resources (it takes less time and energy to accept the flashiest information), it results in cognitive errors—faulty ways of thinking that are often inaccurate and/or irrational. Here are some of the most common cognitive errors that result from the brain’s

Connecting With Others: We Need Others to Be Happy

Why do they say that “human is a social animal”? And if so, why do so many of us suffer from loneliness? Humans are social animals—we need interactions with other humans to make us happy. Science confirms this adage: Loneliness has been proven to deteriorate health and even reduce lifespan. Here’s why connecting with others is vital to mental health.

The Reason for Unhappiness & How to Overcome It

What is the root cause of human unhappiness? Why do so many people feel unhappy despite having everything they need? According to Dalai Lama, the root cause of human unhappiness stems from misunderstanding—many people don’t really understand where their emotions—both positive and negative—stem from. The solution, he counsels, is to educate yourself both about your emotions and the circumstances that give rise to them. Here is what Dalai Lama has to say about the main reason for unhappiness and what to do about it.

The 37% Rule: How to Know When to Settle

What is the 37% rule? How can employing the 37% rule help you make better decisions? The 37% rule is designed to solve something mathematicians call an “optimal stopping problem”—something we often encounter in daily life when faced with a series of options. The 37% can help you settle down and commit to the opportunity in front of you if you don’t know what opportunities will be available in the future. Here is how the 37% rule settle on a decision and signal when to stop searching for something better.

The Importance of Acknowledgment in Communication

What role does acknowledgment play in communication? How do you acknowledge the speaker’s message without interrupting their turn to speak? Acknowledgment is an extremely important part of human communication, and it’s one that we often overlook. Recent research in the field of linguistics has put renewed focus on “backchannels,” a listener’s short interjections that acknowledge a speaker’s message without ending their turn to speak. Here is why acknowledgment is the key to smooth communication.

The Importance of Spirituality

Do you practice spirituality? Is it true that people who practice spirituality tend to be happier than those who don’t? There is a strong positive correlation between practicing spirituality and happiness. Studies have shown that those who have spirituality or religion in their lives tend to be happier and less depressed and anxious than those who don’t. Keep reading to learn about the importance of spirituality.

Make Better Decisions With Computer Algorithms

Three Keys to Making Better Decisions in Life

Why is it so difficult to make decisions? Do you often regret your decisions, thinking you should have known better? Decision-making is a cognitively taxing process, especially when the future is uncertain and the stakes are high. But it doesn’t have to be this way. According to Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, humans already have all the tools to make smart decisions. In their book Algorithms to Live By, they explain how to make better decisions using computer algorithms. Let’s take a look at four algorithms intended to help you make better decisions.