Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

Couple Communication: Bridging the Gap

What makes for healthy couple communication? What are some communication tips that can repair misunderstandings in romantic relationships? According to John Gray, the author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, almost all relationship problems can be attributed to errors in couple communication. The fundamental reason these errors happen is that men and women essentially speak a different emotional language. Keep reading for John Gray’s advice on how to improve couple communication.

Tetlock’s Forecasting Styles: Foxes and Hedgehogs

What are the foxes and hedgehogs in the context of forecasting? How do they differ in their approach to making predictions? In his book Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction, Phillip Tetlock distinguishes between two forecasting styles: foxes and hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are the big-picture thinkers and foxes are analytical and detail-oriented. Read about foxes and hedgehogs, as it relates to forecasting.

Men and Women: Intimacy Differs by Gender

Do men and women express intimacy differently? How can you recognize and work through these differences? According to John Gray, the author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, both men and women display intimacy in cycles. Understanding and not obstructing your partner’s intimacy cycle is key to an emotionally fulfilling relationship. Read about men and women’s intimacy cycles.

The Butterfly Effect Theory: Small Changes, Big Effects

What is the butterfly effect theory? What are its implications for science? In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the idea that small changes in the initial state of a non-linear system can have drastic effects on its later state. The concept is usually illustrated with a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil and thereby setting off a tornado in Texas. Keep reading to understand the butterfly effect theory.

How to Foster Lasting Relationship Fulfillment

Do you feel unfulfilled in your romantic relationship? What can you do to foster relationship fulfillment on both ends: yourself and your partner? According to John Gray, the author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, the main reason people lack fulfillment in a relationship is that they aren’t expressing their needs effectively. This is especially the case for women because they expect their needs to be heard without having to explicitly state them. Here is how to foster lasting relationship fulfillment in three steps.

Availability Heuristic Bias: The Trap of Prior Knowledge

What is the availability heuristic bias? How does it influence behavior and decision-making? The availability heuristic bias is the tendency to make snap judgments and decisions based on what we already know. This psychological tendency is just one of a number of cognitive heuristics that sabotage critical thinking and, as a result, compromise the validity of our decisions. Keep reading to learn about the availability heuristic bias and its role in behavior and decision-making.

Men and Stress: Warning Signs and How to Respond

How do men behave when stressed? How do men with stress respond differently from women? Men with stress respond in a manner that is typically different from women. While women seek release by talking it out, men tend to withdraw and mull it over in private. Keep reading to learn why men respond to stress by withdrawing, and how to support them through this period.

The Challenge of Measuring Forecast Accuracy

How do you measure forecast accuracy? What are some challenges in evaluating whether a forecast is correct and to what degree? Given all the ways our brains can work against us, forecasting accurately is incredibly difficult. But evaluating an existing forecast’s accuracy in the first place presents difficulties of its own. Read about the difficulties of measuring forecast accuracy.

Groupthink Psychology: The Wisdom of the Crowd

What is groupthink psychology? How does it affect decision-making within a group of people? Why is groupthink dangerous? In psychology, groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when the desire for group harmony overrides people’s critical thinking and autonomy. When groupthink takes hold, group members no longer challenge each other’s assumptions. Keep reading to learn about groupthink psychology.

A Black Swan Event: Unpredictable or Improbable?

What is a black swan event? Are black swan events truly unpredictable or just highly improbable? A black swan event is an extremely rare and unpredictable event or occurrence that has major negative consequences. The concept is based on the idea that someone who has only ever seen white swans would naturally assume that all swans are white and would therefore be completely unable to predict the existence of a black swan. Keep reading to learn about the concept of a black swan event.