New research from the University of Illinois says that surprises are the perfect recipe for influencing social change. According to this study, “Surprise, Recipes for Surprise, and Social Influence,” surprises make for memorable, stimulating experiences, but they also prompt people to change their thoughts and even influence them to take…
According to new research, older people rely on schematic memory, which may have troubling consequences. More specifically, this study “Differentiating True and False Schematic Memories in Older Adults,” says that as people age, they typically rely on schematic memory, which helps them remember the basics of an event—however, because they…
We’re often told to trust our intuition and “go with our gut.” Why? Where did this saying come from? Well, it’s actually quite literal: when we find ourselves in an uncomfortable or potentially troublesome situation, we get “butterflies,” or a nervous feeling in the “pit of our stomach.” In this…
New research says all it takes is a quick examination of an individual’s face to read their emotions—no body language or movement needed. More specifically, this study “Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion,” which is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found…
Do you have a tested and true strategy for getting your way? Say you’re in a heated discussion with your boyfriend or you’re talking a possible raise with your boss. In any regard, someone is going to come up with the short stick. And you want to do what you…
I like to think I’m good at reading people and picking up on certain energies. I can walk into a room and sense if the majority of people are stressed, happy, excited, content. I can talk to someone for a few minutes and determine if they’re more or less a…
A year or so ago, I went to the movies with some friends to see The Purge: Election Year. For those of you who haven’t seen this movie, it’s pretty disturbing and unsettling. The whole series is about an annual “purge,” in which all criminal activity is legal for 12…
Parents often worry about their kid’s behavior and performance in school—especially when they reach the teens. This is typically the time when kids fall out of their routines, and as a result, their academic success hangs in the balance. In hopes of keeping them on the right track, parents oftentimes…
Have you ever witnessed a friend become increasingly aggressive during a night out? As their bar tab grows, so does their aggression and hostility. They get into a silly (but heated) argument with another friend or better yet, a random person minding their business in the corner. And before you…
Have you ever listened to the same song over and over and over again? Maybe it’s your first time hearing it, and you love it so much that you can’t resist playing it a few more times. Or maybe it’s a classic that’s been around for decades and every now…
Some people spend hours with their eyes glued to their computer or TV screen and hands glued to the keyboard or controller in front of them—and others turn on their game console once every few days or weeks. In either regard, many believe that the effects of playing video games…
Recent research finds a link between high levels of everyday physical activities and higher gray matter density in older individuals. In simpler words, this new study “Accelerometer Physical Activity is Associated with Greater Gray Matter Volumes in Older Adults without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment” says that taking part in…
