Hidden Motives: Recognizing the Elephant in the Brain

Hidden Motives: Recognizing the Elephant in the Brain

How can you determine the true motives behind behaviors? How can you become less selfish and purer in your own motives? In The Elephant in the Brain, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. They call these selfish motives the “elephant in the brain.” If we learn to recognize these “elephants,” we can improve our individual behaviors and our social institutions. Continue reading for some tips on recognizing hidden motives in yourself and others.

6 Hormones That Make You Happy: Keys to Wellbeing

6 Hormones That Make You Happy: Keys to Wellbeing

What are the hormones that make you happy? How do these hormones affect your wellbeing? Hormones that make you happy, or neurochemicals, dictate your overall sense of wellbeing, including how motivated you feel to complete your goals and which good (or bad) habits you adopt in daily life. The Art of Impossible author, Steven Kotler, says generating all six types of hormones that make you happy is the key to living a more fulfilling life. Read on to learn the different types of hormones that make you happy and their impact on wellbeing, according to Kotler.

Debunking the Left Brain/Right Brain Myth

Debunking the Left Brain/Right Brain Myth

Are there really right-brained and left-brained people? What are the characteristics associated with right- and left- brain dominance? In pop psychology, people are described as either left-brained (analytical and orderly) or right-brained (creative and imaginative). However, this distinction doesn’t actually have any basis in neuroscience. The left brain/right brain myth has long been debunked, although we still use these terms to describe personality and thinking style. Here’s why the left brain/right brain theory is moot.

The Link Between Social Interaction and Mental Health

The Link Between Social Interaction and Mental Health

How does a lack of social connection affect your mental health? Why is it important to maintain social connections throughout life? Psychological research increasingly shows that social connection is important for your psychological well-being. Strong social connections are a better predictor of long, happy lives than social class, intelligence, or genetics. Keep reading to learn about the link between social interaction and mental health.

Psychology: Where Do Emotions Come From in the Brain?

Psychology: Where Do Emotions Come From in the Brain?

Where do emotions come from in the brain, according to psychology? Do emotions come from a specific brain region? According to neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotions cannot be linked only to a certain part of the brain, like your amygdala. Rather, Barrett has found a more complex explanation for how your brain processes emotion. Keep reading for Barrett’s groundbreaking explanation of where emotions come from in the brain.

How Our Brains Learn: The Key to Mastering New Skills

How Our Brains Learn: The Key to Mastering New Skills

How do our brains learn new things? Why does knowing how our brains learn help you master new skills quickly? According to Steven Kotler, elite performers achieve seemingly impossible feats because they consistently perform at the peak of their capabilities and push themselves to exceed their potential. Kotler argues that understanding how our brains learn is the key to unlocking high-performance habits. Keep reading to find out how our brains learn, including how to learn more effectively, according to Kotler.