Society Archives

Stop Seeking Validation in Pursuit of Happiness

Do you worry about what other people think of you, looking for ways to gain social approval? How does striving for external validation erode your happiness? Seeking validation makes you unhappy by pushing you to act in ways that don’t support what you really want. Many of “your” goals are actually an attempt to gain approval from others, and the way you judge yourself depends on how you perceive others’ reactions to you. When you put so much weight on others’ opinions, you erode your own happiness because chasing external validation breeds self-contempt and prevents you from pursuing things that

Will Humans Move to Another Planet? Hawking’s Take

When resources run out on Earth, will humans move to another planet? Should they? What did famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking think? In his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking discusses space colonization. His conclusion was that humans need to colonize outer space because humans are running out of space on Earth, and because humans are at risk for extinction otherwise. Here’s why Hawking said humans should colonize space.

Are We Still Evolving? Yes—Perhaps Faster Than Ever

Are we still evolving as humans? Why did Stephen Hawking predict that human evolution will soon accelerate? Before he passed away, Stephen Hawking wrote that he believed humans were going to soon enter a new stage of evolution. Hawking believed that humans will move past the slow, Darwinian evolution phase and will speed up their evolution through genetic engineering. We may even become superhumans one day. Here’s what Hawking had to say about the future of evolution.

Colonize the Moon? Stephen Hawking’s Argument

Is it possible to colonize the moon? How could it be done? Famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking thinks that, not only can we colonize the moon, but that we should. Hawking said in his book Brief Answers to the Big Questions that humans are quickly outgrowing Earth, and they need to colonize outer space or they will go extinct. Here’s how moon colonization could work.

Technology and Productivity: Help or Hindrance?

How does technology hinder, rather than help, productivity? What other negative effects does technology have on people’s lives? Most people think that technology and productivity go hand in hand. This is most likely because there are numerous apps and programs out there designed to help you be more productive, fight procrastination, stay on schedule, etc. However, Ryder Carroll, the author of The Bullet Journal Method, says that technology is actually doing the opposite. Here’s how technology is holding us back.

Are We Living in a Quick-Fix Society?

Do you tend to rely on quick fixes when faced with a problem? Or do you try to root out the core, underlying issue? There’s little argument that we live in a quick-fix society focused on attaining immediate results at the expense of future losses. We’d rather take a pill to avoid the pain now than put efforts towards identifying and rooting out its underlying cause. While quick-fix solutions are alluring and convenient, they don’t solve the underlying problem. Further, they often exacerbate it in the long term. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of relying on quick fixes.

Games People Play: Review and Critical Reception

What is Eric Berne’s Games People Play about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Games People Play is Berne’s 1964 classic about the many ways that we habitually relate to one another through “games.” These aren’t fun, harmless social games, though—they’re subtle, largely unconscious patterns that harm us and our relationships. Here’s our review of Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne.

The Problem With Deference to Authority

What is a culture of deference? Why is too much deference a bad thing? A culture of deference is characterized by high deference to authority. This is most evident in communication. People in highly hierarchical cultures tend to use mitigated speech or make indirect statements when speaking to authority. In its extreme, deference can be problematic because it downplays the significance of the message. Here is how a culture of deference can jeopardize communication.

Money Flexing: Why You Shouldn’t Flash Your Wealth

Can money buy respect? Do you respect people who have luxurious cars or expensive houses? According to Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money, money flexing with status symbols won’t buy you respect. People may be in awe of your sports car or your Rolex, but they’re admiring the item, not you. Here’s why you should only buy something expensive if it’s for you, not to flex on others.

Are We Living in the Age of False Knowledge?

Are we living in the age of false knowledge? How did the advent of the internet contribute to the spread of false knowledge? In the internet age, false knowledge is spreading like wildfire. People consider themselves experts because they have easy access to information, but they never gain a deeper understanding of it. Here’s how the advent of the internet has given rise to the age of false knowledge.