Psychology Archives

Understanding Poverty on a Psychological Level

How can we better understand poverty? What is the mindset you should adopt to reduce poverty? Many people misunderstand the nature of poverty, thinking it’s just a lack of resources when it’s actually a psychological issue. In When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert observe that this misunderstanding is compounded by a belief that we’re better than the people we’re trying to help. Check out Corbett and Fikkert’s general advice on developing the right mindset to understand poverty.

What Is Material Poverty & Why Is It Hard to Escape?

Why Socioeconomic Status and Depression Are Linked

What is material poverty? Why is material poverty so hard to overcome? In When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert assert that people get trapped in material poverty because they develop a negative worldview that leads to bad decisions. Broken systems also don’t help them escape this cycle. Keep reading to learn why this type of poverty attracts the most vulnerable people.

Human Progress: Steven Pinker Explains What It Means

What is human progress? Can it be defined objectively? What’s “better”? Psychologist Steven Pinker believes that humanity is on the path of progress. But, exactly what that means can be hard to pin down. He tackles the definition in his book Enlightenment Now. Keep reading to learn what human progress is, according to Pinker.

How to Let Go of Anger and Reclaim Your Peace

Why does anger make us behave in such uncharacteristic ways? How can you release anger in a peaceful and non-explosive way? People generally deal with anger by either suppressing it or releasing it through explosive outbursts. Of course, neither of these approaches is healthy. Angry outbursts can cause you to lash out and say things you don’t mean, while suppressed anger can cause you to behave in a passive-aggressive way. In this article, you’ll learn how to let go of anger in a constructive and non-violent way.

How to Help Children With Anxiety: 5 Tips for Parents

Want to know how to help children with anxiety? What does the research say? What should parents know? Children today are being bombarded with worries that preceding generations didn’t face. While anxiety disorders in children and teens have been on the rise for 15 years, the Covid-19 pandemic disruption exacerbated an already alarming situation. Keep reading for five things to do if you want to help children cope with an anxiety disorder.

What Is the Hyperactive Hive Mind & What Feeds It?

What is the hyperactive hive mind? What causes this mindset? Cal Newport’s book A World Without Email describes the term “hyperactive hive mind workflow” (HHMW). This is where all members of an organization are in constant, frantic, and often unnecessary communication. Let’s look at the four factors that create and drive the hyperactive hive mind workflow.

How to Become the Best Version of Yourself

What does it mean to be the “best version of yourself”? Do you feel like you’re living up to your full potential? Everybody wants to be the best version of themselves, but few people can confidently say that they are being the best they can be given their resources, talents, and circumstances. At the heart of not living up to our “best selves” is self-sabotage—making decisions that we know, if perhaps unconsciously, have the capacity to reduce our happiness and success. Here are six pieces of advice on how to become the best version of yourself.

What Causes Childhood Anxiety? (+Behavioral Symptoms)

Wondering what causes childhood anxiety? What sources of stress do today’s children face? What behavior should parents look out for? More children are grappling with mental health issues due to factors like rising gun violence and pandemic stress, made worse by earlier puberty and 24/7 access to the internet. However, there is a lack of professional resources to identify and help children suffering from anxiety. Read on for an overview of what causes childhood anxiety in today’s society and what the symptoms are.

Why World Happiness Data Should Make Us Smile

Can happiness be measured? If so, what do the measurements tell us about the state and trajectory of happiness in the world? Steven Pinker believes that the world is getting better, and happiness is part of that. By sharing world happiness data, he shows that happiness levels are up and that the statistics on mental illness and loneliness look better than we might imagine. Read more to learn why Pinker is optimistic when it comes to world happiness.

The Simulation Heuristic: Undoing the Pain From the Past

Do you dwell on “what might have been”? Is it possible to undo the past by rewriting painful memories? Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky sought to understand how people deal with the past. At the root of this exploration were Kahneman’s thoughts about how people avoid feelings of regret and the mental permutations they go through in order to cope with regret in the present. Continue reading to learn about Kahneman and Tversky’s simulation heuristic.