Psychology Archives

Elizabeth Gilbert: Big Magic Is the Realm of Creativity

How does Elizabeth Gilbert define “Big Magic”? Is creativity a prerogative of the lucky few or can anyone learn to be creative? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert argues that creativity is not just a domain of a few brilliant professional artists, but rather an enriching way of life anyone can adopt at any time. If you embrace, creativity, she says, you’ll experience “Big Magic”: a mystical or spiritual force of creativity that brings joy and purpose. In this article, we’ll explore four keys to a good relationship with your creativity and “Big Magic” or Creative Sorcery.

Castes in America: Echoes of the Past

Why has there been an increase in the number of suicides and drug-related deaths amongst middle-aged, white Americans? Could the castes in America be part of the reason? When the caste system that mistreats people of color in America was established hundreds of years ago, we couldn’t have predicted the repercussions it would have on the future of white Americans. In her book Caste, Isabel Wilkerson explores how the modern focus on diversity and equality is pushing white Southerners to the edge. Continue reading to learn about the unintended consequences of the castes in America.

The Lake Wobegon Effect: Check Your Ego

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Lake Wobegon Effect

What is the Lake Wobegon effect? How do you check this tendency? The Lake Wobegon effect is the tendency to like yourself so much that you overestimate your capabilities and become excessively self-confident. You can check this tendency by focusing on being more objective when thinking about yourself, your decisions, and anything you are attached to. Read on to learn more about the Lake Wobegon effect.

Your Mind Is the Gateway to Universal Consciousness

What exactly is Universal Consciousness? Is there a way you can connect to the universal, all-encompassing mind? According to Joseph Murphy, Universal Consciousness is the “life force” that created and continues to manage the entire universe. You are already connected to the Universal Consciousness through your subconscious mind. Through this access, your subconscious mind orchestrates interactions and creates experiences that line up with your habitual conscious thoughts, expectations, and beliefs. These results reflect both how you feel about yourself and what you expect to experience in your life. In this article, you’ll learn how your subconscious mind aligns your life

Authority Bias: How Leaders Gain Blind Trust

A man in a business suit pointing and showing an adaptive leadership style

What is authority bias? How do you control the impact of the tendency? Áuthority bias is the tendency to blindly obey and adhere to the beliefs and instructions of authority figures. This tendency makes us vulnerable to manipulation by bad leaders. You can control the effect of this cognitive tendency by being careful when appointing leaders and taking time to verify the soundness of the decision of an authority figure. Read on to learn more about authority bias.

Ostrich Effect Bias: Why People Avoid Negativity

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Ostrich Effect Bias

What is the ostrich effect bias? How dangerous is denial syndrome? The ostrich effect bias is the tendency to avoid negative information and refuse to accept that objective truth exists because it causes pain. This bias is dangerous because it can lull you into believing that a situation is better than it really is, which causes things to deteriorate further. Read on to learn more about the ostrich effect bias.

How to Access Your Subconscious Mind: Relax & Drift

Is it possible to access the contents of your subconscious mind? How does your conscious mind interfere with your ability to access the subconscious? Your subconscious mind is more accessible when you’re relaxed or asleep because your conscious mind is not interfering. When you’re awake and alert, you can’t help but think about and judge everything around you, blocking your access to the subconscious. In this article, you’ll learn how to access your subconscious mind through relaxation.

What Does “Virtue Signaling” Mean?

What does “virtue signaling” mean? Do you think it’s immoral to publicize your virtue? The term “virtue signaling” has slowly been creeping its way into everyday vernacular and media dialogue. Virtue signaling is the act of publicly behaving in a way that makes you look as noble as possible. Here is why true virtue is done in secret.

Why Soft Sciences Are Flawed and Available Solutions

Why Soft Sciences Are Flawed and Good Solutions

What are soft sciences? What is the problem with social sciences? Soft sciences are academic disciplines that seek to interpret human and societal behavior using qualitative analysis for which strictly measurable criteria may be impossible to establish. The problem with soft sciences is that the desire to achieve the level of precision in hard science has led to excessive complexity and the overuse of statistical models that ignore real elements of human behavior such as biases and vices. Read on to learn more about the problems with soft sciences and how they can be fixed.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Know Your Abilities

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Kruger Effect

What is the Dunning-Kruger effect? How dangerous is the Dunning-Kruger bias? The Dunning-Kruger effect is the tendency of poor performers with excessive self-regard to greatly overestimate their abilities and project themselves as more capable than they really are. This cognitive bias leads people to overstep their circle of competence and get bogged down by ventures or responsibilities they are not ready for. Read on to learn more about the Dunning-Kruger effect.