Psychology
Discover facts about psychology. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Psychology
Hedonic treadmill is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.
Hedonic treadmill is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or…
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Pareidolia is the psychological tendency to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulus, usually seeing faces in inanimate objects.
Pareidolia is the psychological tendency to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimulus, usually seeing faces in inanimate objects. Your visual…
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A placebo helped some patients who knew it was a placebo.
A placebo helped some patients who knew it was a placebo. In a small 2010 trial, patients with irritable bowel syndrome were openly given pills without an…
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Evolutionary psychologists argue that human language evolved primarily not to coordinate hunting or build tools, but to gossip about other members of our social group.
Evolutionary psychologists argue that human language evolved primarily not to coordinate hunting or build tools, but to gossip about other members of our…
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A bad purchase can make you want to spend even more.
A bad purchase can make you want to spend even more. The sunk-cost effect appears when money or effort already spent influences whether you continue. Quitting…
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A good-looking face can get credit for unrelated virtues.
A good-looking face can get credit for unrelated virtues. The attractiveness halo is a bias in which one favorable impression influences judgments of other…
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Individuals modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed, completely ruining the validity of many behavioral studies.
Individuals modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed, completely ruining the validity of many behavioral studies.…
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Having an abundance of options requires more cognitive effort and leads to increased anxiety and buyer's remorse.
Having an abundance of options requires more cognitive effort and leads to increased anxiety and buyer's remorse. Every extra option asks you to compare:…
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Higher expectations placed upon individuals lead directly to an increase in their performance, while low expectations result in worse outcomes.
Higher expectations placed upon individuals lead directly to an increase in their performance, while low expectations result in worse outcomes. Expectations…
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Tetris effect occurs when people devote so much time and attention to an activity that it begins to pattern their thoughts, mental images, and dreams.
Tetris effect occurs when people devote so much time and attention to an activity that it begins to pattern their thoughts, mental images, and dreams. After…
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Spotlight effect is the psychological phenomenon by which people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they really are.
Spotlight effect is the psychological phenomenon by which people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they really are. In a study, people wearing…
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Frequency illusion, commonly known as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, is a cognitive bias where, after noticing something for the first time, there is a tendency to notice it more…
Frequency illusion, commonly known as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, is a cognitive bias where, after noticing something for the first time, there is a…
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A disgusted face changes how air enters your nose
In experiments comparing facial expressions, fear and disgust had opposing effects on sensory intake. Fear widened the eyes and increased nasal airflow;…
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Even a grimace helped in one needle-pain experiment
UC Irvine researchers used chopsticks to help participants hold different facial expressions during an injection. Those making a broad smile or a grimace…
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How a weighted blanket can help you sleep
A weighted blanket gives your body steady pressure, a sensation similar to firm, soothing touch. For some people, that pressure feels calming enough to ease…
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Even psychologists' profile photos favor one cheek
A study of 1,230 portraits on psychologist directories found a preference for showing the left cheek. Researchers linked the pattern to earlier work on…
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Female anatomy possesses superior olfaction
On average, women tend to perform better than men on many tests of smell, including detecting faint odors and telling scents apart. That can make a subtle…
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Why average faces look more beautiful
A single face makes every unusual feature stand out. Blend many faces together and those quirks are softened, leaving a more typical-looking face—something…
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When friendly dogs trigger panic
To someone afraid of dogs, a friendly approach can still feel like a threat rushing closer. Fear learning links cues such as barking, size, or sudden movement…
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Why orange juice tastes awful after brushing
Many toothpastes contain a foaming ingredient that temporarily suppresses sweet tastes. Orange juice still brings its usual sweetness, but the balance shifts:…
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Why some adults still sleep with the lights on
A dark room leaves corners and shadows open to interpretation. If your mind is already alert to possible danger, it can turn an unseen coat or creak into a…
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Why sadness can linger far longer than surprise
A surprising event can be explained in a moment; a loss keeps mattering after the first shock. Sadness involves repeatedly processing what changed and what it…
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Why sleeping on your left side may bring nightmares
Sleep position may shape the sensations your mind has to interpret while you dream. Pressure or discomfort from lying on one side can become part of a dream’s…
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Why older adults remember early adulthood most
Early adulthood is packed with firsts—first jobs, first homes, first serious relationships—and those experiences help build a sense of who you are. Events…
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