Science Archives

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

What is Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink about? What can Gladwell teach you about decision-making? In his book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005), Malcolm Gladwell argues that snap decisions made on the fly could be as good as decisions made through deliberate, rational thinking. Blink delves into how and why we make the gut decisions we do, when it’s unsafe to trust our guts, and what we can do to make all our snap judgments smarter, less biased, and more efficient. Here’s an overview of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.

Blink: The Psychology of Snap Judgments

How accurate are snap judgments? What are the dangers inherent in making snap judgments—sizing up a situation based on superficial information, without much conscious deliberation? Snap judgments can go wrong for a few reasons: First, we can be overly superficial when making a judgment. Second, we can fail to recognize when our conscious and unconscious attitudes don’t match, which leads us to make decisions that are inconsistent with our conscious beliefs. And third, we’re far more susceptible to the effects of priming than we think. Learn about the psychology of snap judgments and how they can go wrong.

The Power of Snap Decisions: Decide, Don’t Think

How do we make snap decisions? In what circumstance is it a good idea to make a snap decision, trusting your gut? Snap decisions are made on the fly—unconsciously, without rational deliberation. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. According to Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Blink, in some circumstances, it’s better to decide on the fly than to deliberate on how to proceed. Keep reading to learn about the power of snap decision-making, why some snap decisions are better than others, and how to make better snap decisions.

Rationalization: The Psychology of Denial

Why is irrationality so uncomfortable? Can knowledge that is not backed by a rational explanation ever be true? Why do we feel such a strong urge to rationalize our decisions and behaviors? Knowledge without a rational explanation is a double-edged sword. This type of knowledge can be the truest, deepest kind, but it can also harbor biases. Because most of us don’t feel comfortable if we don’t know exactly what made us arrive at a particular judgment or decision, we tend to rationalize. But instead of helping us to uncover the truth, rationalizing often takes us further away from it.

The 6 Best Brain Exercises to Improve Memory

Are you having trouble remembering things? What are some brain exercises to improve memory? Forgetting memories is completely normal for humans, but sometimes you want to remember special moments or important skills. Thankfully, Dr. John Medina has six brain exercises to improve memory so you won’t have to worry about forgetting them. Learn more about Medina’s six techniques for memory improvement.

Brain Rules: 12 Book Principles to Know

What is the book Brain Rules about? What are the 12 rules Dr. John Medina describes in his book? In the Brain Rules book, Medina lists his 12 rules that help fulfill three core brain functions: solve problems, function in an unpredictable environment, and operate in near-constant motion. These rules can help you understand how brains work so you can improve your learning and thinking. Here’s a brief overview of the Brain Rules book and its principles.

What Is Sleep Debt and How to Cure It

Do you have trouble falling asleep? What is sleep debt, and how can you conquer it? According to Dr. John Medina in Brain Rules, sleep debt is the amount of sleep you lose versus the amount your body needs. Say you need eight hours of sleep, but you only got six. You have two hours of debt sleep, and it consistently builds up the more sleep you lose. Learn more on what sleep debt is, and a few techniques to get a good amount of sleep.

Long-Term Stress Effects on Memory and Learning

Do you feel consistently overwhelmed or pressured? What are the effects that long-term stress can leave on your life? Long-term stress, otherwise known as chronic stress, is the constant feeling of stress over a long period of time. Not only does this type of stress cause physical effects on your body, but it can leave mental effects as well. Your learning skills and memory can be negatively impacted by the amount of stress you are experiencing. Read on to learn more about long-term stress and how it affects your mentality.

Science Literacy: Why Stephen Hawking Said It’s Vital

What is science literacy? Why might the future of the human race depend on the next generation of scientists? Science literacy is the understanding and knowledge of science. Before he passed, Stephen Hawking wrote that the survival of the human species will depend on future scientists because he believed the only way humans will avoid extinction is by colonizing space. Here’s why science literacy is so important—and how politics get in the way.

Stephen Hawking: God Is Unnecessary

Did Stephen Hawking believe in God? How are Hawking’s views of God similar to that of pantheistic religions? According to the late Stephen Hawking, God is unnecessary because science explains the universe better than religion. However, Hawking didn’t rule out the possibility of God—he said that “God” is the natural laws of the universe rather than a singular being. Here are Stephen Hawking’s ideas about God.