Psychology Archives

The Top 4 Myths About Happiness: Debunked

What is happiness to you? Do you think happiness is the natural state for humans? Are your beliefs about happiness rooted in reality? People have many misguided beliefs about happiness. These widely held beliefs trap us in vicious cycles that actually increase—rather than decrease—our suffering. In this article, we’ll explore four common myths about happiness, and debunk them with human psychology rooted in empirical evidence, rather than cultural misconceptions.

How to Maximize Happiness: Put Faith in the Unknown

What Is the Secret to Living a Happy Life?

Do you know what makes you happy in life? How do you know whether a certain choice or decision will make you happy in the end? You never know for sure whether a certain path is going to make you happy in the end. According to Brian Christian and Thomas Griffiths, the authors of Algorithms to Live By, computer science has the answer to this dilemma: to maximize happiness in your life, pursue whatever opportunity has a chance to be the greatest. Here is why to maximize happiness, you need to put your faith in the unknown.

Why Are Habits Important? They Influence Everything

What exactly is a habit? Why are habits important? A habit is an action repeated over time until it becomes automatic. Habits influence everything—from our purchasing decisions to social movements. Continue reading to learn why habits are so important and influential.

Many Lives Many Masters Review: Are Its Claims Valid?

Why is the book Many Lives Many Masters controversial? Are its claims true? In 1981, the course of Dr. Brian Weiss’s career changed dramatically when one of his therapy patients, “Catherine,” suddenly recalled details of her past lives while under hypnosis. Weiss wrote about his experience with Catherine in his book Many Lives Many Masters. In the decades since the book’s publication, many have grappled with its claims. Continue reading for our Many Lives Many Masters review.

ACT: Translating Values Into Goals

How do you set goals for ACT? How do goals relate to values? Goals are the actionable components of values in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Knowing your values isn’t sufficient for you to live a fulfilled life—you also have to take effective action, or action aligned with your values. In order to take effective action, you have to translate your values into achievable goals. In this article, you’ll learn how to translate your values into action via goal-setting and action plans.

How Advertisers Exploit Your Purchasing Habits

How do advertisers manipulate customers into buying their products? How do they use cues to trigger purchasing habits in your subconscious? In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains how advertisers influence customers to buy their products by learning about and manipulating their purchasing habits. They achieve this through sales promotions, rearranging shelves, or tracking your habits online. Continue reading to learn how advertisers use the psychology of habit to sell more products.

Algorithms to Live By: Review and Critical Reception

Is Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths’ Algorithms to Live By worth reading? What is the key message to take away from the book? In their book Algorithms to Live By, Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths make the case that computer science, a field that’s typically seen as highly specialized, actually contains a wealth of practical knowledge we can use to improve our lives. The authors argue that by utilizing the same strategies as computers, we can process tasks with blinding efficiency and quickly come up with creative solutions to complex problems. Here is our review of Algorithms to Live By:

Committed Action: Putting ACT Into Practice

What is committed action in ACT? What does it mean to act with commitment? Committed action is the final principle in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Committed action happens when we consistently take actions that align with our values—even when we fail. This final principle will give you all the tools you need to achieve psychological flexibility, enabling you to adapt to difficult situations and take effective action to build a rich and meaningful life. Keep reading to learn about the two components of committed action: fortitude and commitment.

Algorithms to Live By: Book Overview

What is Brian Christian’s and Tom Griffith’s book Algorithms to Live By about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Algorithms to Live By is an instruction manual for life: a collection of unconventional wisdom drawn from the field of computer science. Computers and humans share many of the same problems, and the same solutions that have allowed us to optimize the field of computing may be the ticket to optimizing our own lives. Below is a brief overview of Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions.

How to Clarify Your Values With ACT

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What are values in ACT? How do values differ from goals? In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (aka ACT), values are the principles that govern how you want to act. Unlike goals, values are never accomplished. Rather, values involve continuous behavior—they guide your choices and decisions according to the kind of person you strive to be. Keep reading to learn about the ACT method for clarifying your values.