Psychology Archives

The 3 Advantages of Mindfulness for Your Relationships

How to Visualize the Life You Want to Have in 3 Steps

How does mindfulness improve romantic relationships? What are the advantages of mindfulness? David Richo’s relationship advice from How to Be an Adult in Relationships is rooted in the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, the practice of witnessing the present without evaluating, judging, or trying to influence it. When you’re mindful, you simply notice what you’re actually experiencing right now. To learn more about how you can benefit from practicing mindfulness, keep reading.

Procrastination & Emotional Regulation: The Surprising Connection

How do negative emotions affect procrastination? How can you use emotional regulation to overcome procrastination? In The Procrastination Cure, Damon Zahariades considers possible psychological sources of procrastination. He presents several models of how a task that stirs up strong emotions or triggers negative thoughts can lead you to procrastinate. Keep reading to learn about the psychological roots of procrastination, emotional regulation’s role in defeating the habit, and how negative self-esteem stalls tasks.

First Impressions: How to Use the Halo Effect to Your Advantage

What’s a great way to make a good first impression? How might you connect with people better if you knew what they care about? Peter D. Andrei says the key to rhetoric is understanding how people think. He discusses several cognitive biases in the context of persuasive communication. One of these is the halo effect, and he explains how to use the halo effect to your advantage. Continue reading to learn Andrei’s strategies and see how they might help you communicate more persuasively.

How to Build Up Confidence by Proving Yourself Wrong

Are you lazy, unskilled, or hard to get along with? How can you prove yourself wrong about any of these beliefs? Behavioral science expert Grace Lordan urges you to make and implement a plan to transform yourself into the person you want to be. She discusses how to recognize and address internal obstacles by getting confident about your abilities and potential. Read on to learn how to build up confidence in yourself and your dreams.

Understanding Body Language: Learn the 5 Key Categories

Why is understanding body language important? What are the main categories of body language? In a world where words are only part of the story, understanding the language of the body is crucial. Communication experts Allan and Barbara Pease unveil the secrets of nonverbal cues in their groundbreaking book, The Definitive Book of Body Language. Read on to discover the five main categories of body language, according to Allan and Barbara Pease.

How to Use the Contrast Effect Bias to Be More Persuasive

What made John F. Kennedy such an effective communicator? How might you use the same techniques? If you want to influence people, you must understand what makes them tick. In How Highly Effective People Speak, Peter D. Andrei shows how to take advantage of cognitive biases to persuade people. One of these is the contrast effect bias. Continue reading to see how using the contrast effect in your communication is one of the most effective ways to improve your rhetorical skills.

What Causes Procrastination? The 3 Psychological Culprits

What causes procrastination? Why is it so hard to take the first step to get to work? In The Procrastination Cure, Damon Zahariades offers several reasons why people procrastinate. We’ve compiled these reasons into three categories: your brain prefers immediate rewards, fear and negative self-esteem get in the way, and you’re scared to take the first step. Let’s look at these causes of procrastination to get a better idea.

How to Use the Availability Heuristic to Make Your Message Stick

Does it feel like, when you speak, what you say goes in one ear and out the other? Would you like to communicate messages that people will remember? The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that has a dark side and a bright side. Peter D. Andrei accentuates the positive and shows how to make the most of it. He shares strategies to take advantage of the availability bias: use compelling narratives, convey simple messages, and employ imagery. Keep reading to learn how to use the availability heuristic to make your communication unforgettable.

How to Become More Resilient: 3 Tips for Bouncing Back

Do you get discouraged? Does it stop you from trying again? What if you could turn that around? Setbacks are unavoidable. How you react to them is up to you. You can train yourself—not only to bounce back—but to turn one step backward into two steps forward. Behavioral science expert Grace Lordan shares three ways to do that. Keep reading to learn how to become more resilient and move forward in strength.

Why Nonverbal Behavior Matters & How to Interpret It

Why is learning how to read nonverbal behavior important? How can you correctly interpret nonverbal cues? In The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease, the authors emphasize that up to 80% of how others perceive us is based on our nonverbal behavior. They argue that this makes it crucial to understand and interpret nonverbal cues correctly. Read on to learn about nonverbal behavior and how to interpret it, according to Allan and Barbara Pease.