Rolf Dobelli: What Is Social Proof?

Rolf Dobelli: What Is Social Proof?

What is social proof? Is it always a good idea to follow the crowd? Social proof is a psychosocial phenomenon whereby people copy others’ behavior before participating in that behavior themselves. This tendency had survival value in the past: If everyone ran away, you ran too because there was probably a predator nearby. However, in modern times, most of our decisions are not life-or-death decisions, and following the crowd can often lead you astray. Here’s why, in modern times, social proof can often do more harm than good.

Rolf Dobelli: The Art of Thinking Clearly—Overview

Rolf Dobelli: The Art of Thinking Clearly—Overview

What is Rolf Dobelli’s The Art of Thinking Clearly about? What logical fallacies does Dobelli explore in the book? The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli is an introduction to the most common logical biases and thinking errors. Logical fallacies affect everyone and are extremely difficult to avoid. Rolf Dobelli encourages readers to improve their decisions by learning how to recognize the fallacies and how to work around them. Below is a brief overview of the key themes.

Crash Course: What Is Transactional Analysis?

Crash Course: What Is Transactional Analysis?

What is Transactional Analysis? Why do humans crave recognition? What are the three ego states? Transactional Analysis is a psychoanalytic theory and a method of analyzing social interactions. At its heart is the concept of the three ego states: the adult, the child, and the parent. Keep reading to learn about the Transactional Analysis theory and how to use it to analyze interactions.

The 3 (Often Overlooked) Benefits of Small Talk

The 3 (Often Overlooked) Benefits of Small Talk

Do you find small talk awkward and uncomfortable? What are the benefits of small talk? What makes small talk different from friendly conversations? In his book Games People Play, Dr. Eric Berne analyzes human social interactions in order to better understand why people act the way they do. One subject he went into detail on was that of small talk. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of small talk.

Morgan Housel: Why Money Is Happiness

Morgan Housel: Why Money Is Happiness

Why do they say “money can’t buy you happiness”? Did you know that statement is fundamentally wrong? In his book The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel explains that money buys you control over time, which is the key driver of happiness. When you have control over how you spend your time, you can spend it on things that bring your happiness. Here’s why money is happiness if used responsibly.

Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis Theory: Explained

Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis Theory: Explained

What is Eric Berne’s transactional analysis theory? What was Berne’s goal in developing his theory? In his book Games People Play, Eric Berne explains his approach to understanding social interaction: Transactional Analysis. Berne’s goal wasn’t just to analyze human interactions, but to discover destructive patterns so people can realize what games they’re playing (intentional or not) and improve their relationships with others. Let’s take a look at the key tenets of Berne’s theory.