Psychology Archives

Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger (Book Overview)

Have you ever reflected on one of your past mistakes and wondered, “What was I thinking?” Why do we make bad decisions in spite of the human capacity for higher-order thinking? In Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger, Peter Bevelin claims that we make significant errors because we tend to think irrationally. He argues that, fortunately, we can avoid major errors by following the wisdom of some of the world’s most rational thinkers. In his book, he collects advice on rational thinking from experts in science, business, and philosophy. Below is a brief overview of Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to

Loving What Is: The 4 Questions to Ask Yourself

What are the Loving What Is 4 questions? What is the purpose of each question? In Loving What Is, Byron Katie recommends asking yourself four questions, which, she claims, will change your life for the better. Specifically, these questions are designed to identify and address distorted and unhelpful thoughts that cloud your judgment and perception of the world. Let’s explore the purpose of each of these four questions.

How to Be Mentally Tough—Navy SEAL Mark Divine’s Advice

Wondering how to be mentally tough? How did Navy SEAL Mark Divine train his mind for mental toughness? What are the benefits? In his book Unbeatable Mind, Mark Divine explains his five-step system for developing a warrior mindset that fosters mental toughness. According to him, you must train your mind and body to be resilient both mentally and emotionally. Read on to learn how to be mentally tough to better manage life stressors, according to Divine’s advice.

ADHD Misdiagnosis: Why and How It Happens So Often

How does an ADHD misdiagnosis happen? How can you avoid making this mistake? ADHD misdiagnoses happen a lot more often than you think. In Driven to Distraction, Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey emphasize that it’s important to rule out other conditions before deciding on an ADHD diagnosis. Here’s why you need to be careful when diagnosing ADHD.

Jumping to Conclusions: The Psychology of Biased Thinking

Do you jump to conclusions? Why do we have a tendency to form conclusions before giving ourselves a chance to think things through? We tend to jump to conclusions about people and situations before we have all of the facts about them. While jumping to conclusions allows us to make quick decisions, it’s not always ideal. In psychology, jumping to conclusions is considered a cognitive bias. Learn about the psychology of the human tendency to jump to conclusions.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Decision-Making 101

What is a cost-benefit analysis? How does the cost-benefit method compare to the pro-con method of decision-making? Cost-benefit analysis is a decision-making strategy intended to weigh the costs of a decision or choice against its benefits. Unlike pro-con lists, a cost-benefit analysis lists the cumulative costs that a decision will incur alongside its cumulative benefits. It thus quantifies the consequences of your decision. Here’s how to use cost-benefit analysis to analyze your decisions.

ADHD Counseling: How Can It Help?

What is ADHD counseling? What forms of therapy can help manage ADHD? Therapy is a common form of treatment for ADHD. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey’s book Driven to Distraction explain how seeking out therapy can benefit people with ADHD in the long run. Keep reading to learn how ADHD counseling can help you.

Why the Pro-Con List Is a Flawed Decision-Making Tool

Three Keys to Making Better Decisions in Life

What is the purpose of a pro-con list? Why is it a bad idea to base your decisions on the simplistic pro-con analysis? The pro-con list is a decision-making strategy where you sort the advantages and disadvantages of a decision in parallel columns. The pro-con list is probably the most common decision-making tool, but it’s also the most flawed one. Here is a look at the disadvantages of pro-con decision-making.

How to Reframe Your Thoughts for More Positivity

Is it possible to control your thoughts? What can you do to prevent negative thoughts from taking root in your mind? Your thoughts shape your reality. Thinking negative thoughts sends you down the spiral of further negativity. However, you have some control over what you think. No matter how dire your circumstances are, you can reframe your thoughts by exploring different interpretations of the situation. With this in mind, here’s how to reframe your thoughts for more positivity.

Logical Decision-Making: Why Are We So Bad at It?

Why do we make decisions that contradict basic logic? What are some examples of illogical decision-making? One of the most common reasons we fail at logical decision-making is that we mistake correlation for causation. If two variables are correlated, it doesn’t mean one caused the other. In fact, causation is less likely. Here’s how mistaking correlation for causation results in misguided, irrational decisions.