Psychology Archives

The Fear of Money Is the Biggest Obstacle to Wealth

Does thinking of and handling money make you nervous? Why do people fear money, fear spending it, or fear not having enough? The fear of money haunts many people. After all, money is core to survival, impacts virtually every part of our lives, and is the difference between freedom and freefall. So, the fear of money makes sense. But if you want to change your financial situation, you need to overcome your fear of money and develop a healthy relationship with it. Here is how the fear of money impairs your financial progress.

The Psychology of Commitment and Relationships

Does committing to one relationship make you happier—or more anxious? Why do relationships require so much time commitment? In the book The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz explores the connection between commitment and relationships. He argues that, just like in other areas of your life, you will be happier with limited choices rather than seeking the freedom to be with whomever you want, whenever you want. Here’s an overview of Schwartz’s ideas about relationships.

Why Do We Remember Certain Things But Not Others?

Why do we remember certain things but forget others? What makes an experience memorable? According to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, there are two psychological factors that make an experience memorable: 1) the peak-end rule and 2) novelty and unexpectedness. Once you understand the psychology behind memorable moments, you can engineer small, everyday moments to stand out in your memory just as much as special moments. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a moment memorable, and how you can engineer memorable moments on demand.

Why We Have Different Levels of Sexual Sensitivity

What determines a person’s sexual responsiveness? Why are some people more sensitive to sexual stimuli than others? We all have different levels of sexual sensitivity: some people are more responsive to sexual stimuli than others. How sensitive a person is to stimuli in the environment determines their sexual needs. According to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, this boils down to the sensitivity of the Sexual Excitation System (SES) vs. the Sexual Inhibition System (SIS). Keep reading to learn about the two systems’ role in sexual sensitivity.

Focused Thinking vs. Diffuse Thinking (+Examples)

How does your brain work? What’s the difference between focused thinking and diffuse thinking? A key theme of the book A Mind for Numbers is that alternating between modes of thinking (focused thinking and diffuse thinking) can help you learn new things and problem-solve effectively. To understand how to do this and why it works, you first need to understand a few things about how your brain works. Keep reading to learn about the two modes of thinking.

The Peak-End Rule: What Makes a Memory

What is the peak-end rule? How does the peak-end rule determine what you remember about an experience? The peak-end rule states that when people reflect on an experience, they tend to ignore the duration of the experience. Instead, they focus on two key parts: 1) the emotional peaks—the moments of strongest positive or negative emotion, and 2) the end of the experience. Here is why the peaks always stand out in memory, blurring the rest as background.

2 Theories of Sexuality: Four-Phase and Triphasic

What does science have to say about human sexuality? What are the most notable theories of sexuality? Sex educator Emily Nagoski identifies two models that made an impact on our conceptualization of human sexual response: the four-phase model and the triphasic model. We’ll explore both of these models below.

Modes of Thinking: How to Switch to Solve Problems

What are the two modes of thinking? Can you deliberately alternate between them? Your brain naturally alternates between two modes of thinking: focused thinking and diffuse thinking. You can learn to switch between these two modes in order to solve problems. Read more to learn when and how to alternate between modes of thinking.

Clarify Your Values Before You Set Your Goals

What are your values in life? In other words, what’s most important to you? Why is it important to define your core personal values? Your values are like a compass—they show you a clear path forward and guide every decision you make as you work toward your goals. If you’re unclear about your values, you won’t be able to make decisions that move you in the right direction, resulting in frustration and a lack of fulfillment. Here’s why it’s important to clarify your values before you embark on a goal.

7 Habits: Dependence, Independence, Interdependence

Which does your culture value more—independence or interdependence? What paradigm do you think is more effective? According to Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, modern culture overvalues independence and devalues interdependence. His sequence of the seven habits is meant to guide practitioners from dependence through independence to interdependence. Read on to learn about the journey from dependence through independence to interdependence through the lens of The 7 Habits.