Emily Kitazawa, Author at Shortform Books

First-Time Parents: The Most Important Thing to Know

What is most important for first-time parents to know? What advice can you learn from research in parenting? As a first-time parent, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of parenting advice available to you. However, author Alfie Kohn’s Unconditional Parenting book takes a simple approach to effective parenting: showing your children unconditional support, acceptance, and understanding. If you’re a first-time parent looking for proven advice, keep reading to learn Kohn’s unconditional parenting technique.

Can Emotional Stress Make You Sick? Absolutely

Why can emotional stress make you sick? What’s the connection between emotion and illness? What are the long-term effects of emotional stress? Most people recognize that having emotional stress is an unpleasant experience, however, not everyone realizes that it can actually make you sick. The author of How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett, explains how emotional stress can make you sick, according to psychology and neuroscience. Read on for Barrett’s explanation of why emotional stress can make you sick.

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.

Poor Parenting Skills: Here’s What Not to Do

Which parenting skills are potentially harmful to children? How does mainstream advice teach poor parenting skills? In Alfie Kohn’s book, Unconditional Parenting, he argues that mainstream parenting advice has several potentially damaging effects, even leading to poor self-esteem and depression in children. Kohn’s technique of unconditional parenting aims to make children feel more loved and accepted by their parents. Read on to find out why society may have taught you poor parenting skills and learn Kohn’s solution.

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.

3 Good Parenting Skills Every Parent Should Know

Which good parenting skills do the greatest parents use? Of all the good parenting skills, which are most important to know? In Alfie Kohn’s book, Unconditional Parenting, he advocates for “gentle” or unconditional parenting which doesn’t rely on a system of rewards and punishments. Rather, Kohn advises that good parenting skills consist of unconditional support, acceptance, and trying to understand your children’s perspectives. Keep reading to learn the three good parenting skills every parent should know, according to Kohn.

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.

How Emotions Are Made: Lisa Feldman Barrett’s Answer

Looking for an overview of Lisa Feldman Barrett’s book How Emotions Are Made? What are Barrett’s key takeaways about emotions in psychology? In her book, How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges the status quo relating to our psychological understanding of emotions. Barrett’s concepts of emotion, while controversial, give new insight into how emotions are made in the brain—and her answers might surprise you. Keep reading for an overview of the key concepts in How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett.

How to Be a Parent: Alfie Kohn’s 3 Guidelines

Want to know how to be a parent in today’s ever-changing world? What should you know to be a great parent? Author Alfie Kohn argues that mainstream parenting has several potentially damaging disadvantages, including poor self-esteem and depression in children. In Unconditional Parenting, Kohn presents a new approach built on unconditional support, acceptance, and understanding. Keep reading to learn Kohn’s advice about how to be a parent in today’s world.

Social Positive Reinforcement: The Surprising Benefits

What are the benefits of social positive reinforcement in the brain? Why is it easier to achieve goals when you receive social positive reinforcement? According to Steven Kotler, the world’s elite performers are able to achieve seemingly impossible goals thanks to some surprising habits. Kotler’s book, The Art of Impossible, explores the neurobiology behind the success of elite performers and explains why social positive reinforcement is a primary building block for success. Read on to learn the surprising benefits of social positive reinforcement, according to Kotler.