Psychology Archives

What Makes Something Go Viral? 5 Reasons Ideas Catch On

What makes something go viral? Why do some ideas catch on when others don’t? Economist Robert J. Shiller contends that narratives drive behavior far more than we might realize. He outlines five factors that contribute to the widespread dissemination of economic narratives: memorable visuals, emotional resonance, influential endorsers, holistic explanations, and a human-centric focus. Continue reading to understand these virality factors that apply to narratives of all kinds.

Stock Market Speculation & the 2 Types of Psychological Anchors

What causes stock market speculation? How do psychological anchors influence investors? Stock market speculation is influenced by psychological anchors, both quantitative and moral, which ground an investor’s decisions even more than recent news about company performance. Taking a look at how these anchors work gives insight into why certain stocks grow and when. Let’s take a look at how quantitative and moral psychological anchors and how they influence stock investors.

How the Caregiver-Infant Interaction Teaches Coping Skills

What effect does the caregiver-infant interaction have on a child? What’s the role of the caregiver in supporting infant development? Caregiver-infant interaction is the primary way that an infant learns how to handle stress, and good interactions lay the foundation for healthy coping skills later on in life. Understanding how this works can make you a better caregiver. Discover how caregiver-infant interaction impacts an infant’s experience of stress and comfort.

What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder? A Case Study

What causes antisocial personality disorder? Why do some people become sociopaths or psychopaths? Antisocial personality disorder is often caused by early childhood experiences of trauma and neglect. Seeing where this comes from helps you to understand the disorder better. Discover the causes of antisocial personality disorder with this case study and analysis from The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog.

The Consequences of Infant Neglect and Lack of Physical Affection

What are the consequences of infant neglect? How does a lack of physical affection impact development? Infant neglect, such as the deprivation of touch, prevents a baby from developing a healthy stress response system and can even stunt physical development. Understanding how this works gives you great insight into a baby’s needs. Learn from this case study about the importance of physical touch and care for infants.

Responses to Trauma: A Case Study on Sexual Abuse in Children

What are some common responses to trauma? What can we learn from a deep dive into the effects of childhood trauma? Responses to trauma vary depending on the associations you make surrounding the traumatic experience. By looking at an example of this, we can see how trauma impacts behaviors. Read on to learn about how the brain forms associations with trauma via this case study.

Narrative-Based Economic Forecasting Methods (Robert Shiller)

What if economists collaborated with psychologists and sociologists? How could they benefit from spending more time on social media? In Narrative Economics, Robert J. Shiller argues that human beliefs and actions, rather than numbers and statistics, ultimately drive economic outcomes. From this perspective, he suggests that we adopt new approaches that broaden our understanding of economic events and help us make better predictions. Read more to learn about Shiller’s proposed narrative-based economic forecasting methods.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Personality: A Lifelong Social Outcast

How many childhood friends did Sam Bankman-Fried have? On what rare occasion did he wear a suit? In his recent biography Going Infinite, Michael Lewis provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Sam Bankman-Fried’s life. Lewis writes about the time before Bankman-Fried became a crypto mogul, explaining why he spent his life as a social outcast. Read more to understand Sam Bankman-Fried’s personality.

Rising Strong by Brené Brown: Book Overview & Takeaways

Do you sometimes lash out or get angry at small things? How can emotional setbacks help you grow? In Rising Strong, Brené Brown says that the key to fulfillment is pursuing wholeheartedness, a way of life that fosters self-worth. Yet emotional setbacks such as heartbreak and loss can prevent you from being brave and cultivating meaningful relationships. Read below for a brief overview of Rising Strong.

How to Overcome Barriers to Change & Achieve Your Goals

What does overcoming barriers to change look like? How can you avoid pitfalls when setting new goals for yourself? Overcoming barriers to change means working against procrastination, instant gratification, forgetfulness, and lack of focus. If you learn how to define and deal with these barriers, you’ll be closer to achieving your goals. Read on to learn how to overcome common barriers to change.