Psychology Archives

Cultural Leadership Styles: Egalitarian & Hierarchical

Three people business leaders with political clout standing side by side

How do leadership styles differ across cultures? Why is it important to understand a culture’s approach to leadership when working internationally? According to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer, leadership styles differ drastically across cultures. If you’re a manager, Meyer argues that it’s your responsibility to adapt your leadership style to what your subordinates are used to. But even if you’re not, knowing how leadership works in different cultures can help ensure you give a good impression and don’t offend anyone. In this article, we’ll look at how Meyer divides cultural leadership styles into two extremes (egalitarian and hierarchical) and present

How to Cope With Chronic Worrying

Is your mind constantly overwhelmed by worrisome and racing thoughts? How can chronic worrying affect your mental and physical health? Chronic worrying is a toxic mental habit that wears out your mind and can even sabotage physical health. Chronic worry is also dangerous because when you worry about something for a long time, you can actually draw it into your life. Here are some tips on how to deal with chronic worrying.

Strategy Versus Tactics in Decision-Making

What is the difference between strategy versus tactics in the context of decision-making? Which approach is more effective? David Epstein, the author of Range, insists that strategy is more important than tactics. In the past, tactical decision-making was the norm, but in the modern-day, abstract and strategic thinking are replacing the tactical approach. Here’s why strategy matters more than tactics.

How to Rewire Your Negative Thinking Patterns

Do you often catch yourself ruminating about the bad experiences from your past? Why do people tend to focus more on the negative and take the positive for granted? People don’t choose to develop negative thinking patterns—they’ve simply developed the habit of dwelling more on the bad experiences in their lives. Psychologists refer to this tendency as negativity bias. Research shows that you’re hardwired to notice and dwell more on negative events than on positive ones. In this article, you’ll learn how negative thought patterns develop, and how you can rewire your mind for positivity.

Angela Duckworth’s Grit Test: Does It Work?

Is Angela Duckworth’s grit test in Grit actually useful? What are some criticisms of the grit test? In her book Grit, Angela Duckworth put together a grit test to measure where you are on the grit scale—in other words, to see how gritty you are. However, many psychologists have critiqued her test for a number of reasons. Here is Angela Duckworth’s grit test and its critiques.

Challenge Negative Thoughts by Focusing on the Facts

How to Avoid Negative Thoughts and Embrace Positivity

Is your mind overwhelmed by negativity? Do you often find yourself slipping into negative thinking cycles, ruminating about the past, or imagining the worst-case scenarios in the future? When you are in a negative state of mind, it’s pretty much impossible to slip out of it and attune yourself to a more positive frequency on demand. If you want to think and feel more positive, you need to make a conscious effort to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Here is how reflecting only on the facts can help you challenge your negative cognitions and see that

Match Quality: How Kids Can Choose Fulfilling Careers

What is “match quality”? How can you tell if an activity is a good fit for you or not? How does match quality relate to choosing a career? In psychology, “match quality” refers to whether or not an activity is a good fit for someone. While growing up, it’s important for children and teens to have the freedom to try and experiment with a broad range of activities so they can discover which one has the best match quality for them—this will help them choose a more fulfilling career later in life. Here is how match quality can help kids

Erin Meyer: The Key Characteristics of Asian Thinking

How do Asians think about and view the word? Which aspects do they tend to focus on? Which ones do they de-emphasize? According to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer, Asians are “dialectical thinkers.” Dialectical thinking focuses on the big picture and the relationships between the different elements rather than the elements themselves. In this article, we’ll discuss how Asians think, according to cultural communication expert Meyer.

Maxwell Maltz: How to Improve Your Self-Image

What exactly is self-image? What can you do to improve your self-image and get closer to the type of person you want to be—your ideal self? Your self-image defines who you are, how you express yourself, and how you act in any given situation. To improve your self-image, you first need to think about the type of person you want to be. Next, you need to replace your negative thoughts and feelings about yourself with positive ones. In this article, you’ll learn how to improve your self-image and program your mind for success.

Dialectical Culture: Thinking in Contradictions

What is dialectical thinking? Which cultures tend to think dialectically? In dialectical cultures, people tend to focus on the overall situation. Instead of focusing on individual elements, they emphasize the relationships between individual elements. Dialectical thinking focuses on the big picture and the relationships between the different elements rather than the elements themselves (which is the prerogative of analytical thinking). According to Erin Meyer, the author of The Culture Map, the dialectical way of thinking is most prevalent in Asian countries. In this article, we’ll look at how dialectical cultures think, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.