The Motivation Chemical: How Dopamine Drives and Rewards You

A cartoon of two people affection by the motivation chemical to run after a giant trophy.

Why is dopamine known as the motivation chemical? How does dopamine influence our thinking? Dopamine is called the motivation chemical because it inspires us to think about and focus on future happiness and work towards something. By looking more closely at how this neurotransmitter works, you can understand why you’re motivated in the ways that you are. Consider these explanations of how dopamine works and how it influences motivation.

The Top 3 Disadvantages of Pesticides (Rachel Carson)

A hand holding a dying plant next to a poison bottle, demonstrating the disadvantages of pesticides.

What are the disadvantages of pesticides? Why wasn’t the public properly informed about pesticides in the 20th century? Much of Silent Spring is dedicated to describing the damage done by pesticides to various species. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer, nerve damage, blood diseases, impaired thyroid function, and birth defects. Check out why biologist Rachel Carson worries about the use of pesticides.

Why Asking Questions Is Important: 6 Reasons to Be Curious

A man thinking and wondering in front of a city.

Why is asking questions important? What are some ways to ask questions without overwhelming your conversation partner? If people never asked questions, we’d likely never make breakthroughs. On a smaller scale, questions open opportunities for further discussion that’ll teach you more about other people. Read more about why asking questions is important, from learning new things to avoiding assumptions.

The Fall of the Mughal Empire: The East India Company’s Role

The fall of the Mughal Empire illustrated in a battle between soldiers.

How did the mighty Mughal empire fall? What role did the East India Company play in its demise? While not the direct cause behind the breakdown of Mughal authority, the East India Company benefited from the resulting power vacuum. William Dalrymple explains that the company’s gradual accumulation of control paved the way for the establishment of British rule across India. Keep reading to learn about the dramatic fall of the Mughal empire.

How to Silence Your Inner Critic: 4 Strategies From Julie Smith

A sad man trying to silence his inner critic, with thought bubble of himself pointing at him.

Do you bounce back from criticism? How much do you trust yourself? Do you laugh at (or at least learn from) failure? Dr. Julie Smith writes that your mental health will significantly improve when you silence your inner critic. To do so, she recommends you learn to tolerate negative feedback, build your confidence, become comfortable with failure, and strive to accept yourself unconditionally. Continue reading to get Smith’s four-part guidance on how to silence your inner critic.

Mental Accounting in Behavioral Economics: 3 Examples

An example of mental accounting in behavioral economics as a man looks at charts in a conference room.

Why do people perform mental accounting when it comes to their finances? What are some examples of mental accounting? One of Richard H. Thaler’s arguments against constrained optimization is that people perform mental accounting. Behavioral economics describes this as a cognitive bias that causes people to place different values on money. We’ll focus on three key examples of mental accounting. Let’s take a look at three common examples of mental accounting.

Barbra Streisand’s Film Career: Highlights From Hollywood

An Academy Award statue standing in the middle of two film reels.

In what way does Barbra Streisand prefer her film performances to her stage performances? What insecurity did she have in relation to her first film? Perhaps movies aren’t the first thing you think of when you consider Barbra Streisand’s long career. But, she found success in Hollywood just as she did on Broadway and in the music charts. She writes about her Hollywood acting career in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Read more to learn the highlights of Barbra Streisand’s film career.

Impacts of the National Association of Realtors Lawsuit

Impacts of the National Association of Realtors Lawsuit

What does the National Association of Realtors lawsuit mean for major brokerages? What changes could the verdict realistically bring about? Who stands to benefit if commissions drop? In October, a federal antitrust lawsuit verdict found the National Association of Realtors and other big brokerages guilty of colluding to inflate home selling commissions. Experts forecast a substantial shakeup in the industry. Below we’ll take a look at the National Association of Realtors lawsuit and what it means for brokerages and home buyers alike.