Monthly Archives: February 2011

Shots, Ski Trips, and the Power of Anticipation

You’re sitting in a doctor’s office.  The nurse comes in to tell you that you have to get three shots, but you’ll need to wait a half an hour before someone can come administer them.  He leaves the room, and … Continue reading

Posted in Cognitive Psychology | 1 Comment

Can babies read your mind?

Mind reading is sometimes considered as a mysterious, all-mighty powerful and supernatural ability, glorified by the Hollywood movies, televisions and people’s fantasy. Here I am not talking about that kind of mind reading. I am focusing on the day-to-day mind-reading … Continue reading

Posted in Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology | 1 Comment

Educational applications: moving too fast?

These days there is a lot of talk about “educational applications” of research in psychology. More than ever before, funding organizations (like the National Science Foundation) are putting the pressure on researchers to do work that can tell us how … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Elements of style: How science informs fashion design

How do people judge fashion design?  Fashion experts are notorious for using vague criteria, saying things like “I know it when I see it.”  This kind of response implies that good design can’t be analyzed objectively.  In a recent interview, … Continue reading

Posted in Sensation & Perception | 18 Comments

Out of my mind: the tendency to ruminate about the past may have upside

Think about a time when you did something that you really regretted… Now try to stop.  When we think about something that happened to us in the past, the emotions that were originally elicited by that event come rushing back.  … Continue reading

Posted in Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology | 4 Comments

Super Flop: Why did Groupon’s joke fall short?

Right before, during, and after the Super Bowl, Groupon ran three different ads for their online coupon site.

Watch this one and see what you think.

Immediately after these aired, twitter and other news sites were abuzz with disdain for the tasteless nature of the ads.  Why did these ads fall short? Continue reading

Posted in Cognitive Psychology | 4 Comments

Don’t read this article and drive

Does your best friend put on makeup and eat barbecue (weird right) while driving? Do you shake your head, disbelieving and worried, when she tells you, “But I’m great at multitasking! I’ll be fine!” Could she be right? It’s possible.

Posted in Cognitive Psychology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The most powerful substance known to rat.

For rats, the most alluring substance isn’t alcohol, heroin, or cocaine: it’s not a drug at all, in fact, it’s an artificial sweetener called saccharin. What’s saccharin? Saccharin is a non-caloric sugar substitute that has been used in many low-calorie … Continue reading

Posted in Biological Psychology | 5 Comments

Why Do Early Experiences Continue to Influece Our Relationships?

How often do you think about your early experiences with your parents? Perhaps you’re thinking: not all that often. Although you might not think about those formative years, they continue to influence you even in adulthood.

Posted in Developmental Psychology | 1 Comment

Are You Normal? It Depends.

We all have personality quirks.  But occasionally, a person may behave so eccentrically and erratically that they cannot function in regular life situations.  It might seem easy to identify a person who behaves oddly.  They might be chronically suspicious of … Continue reading

Posted in Clinical Psychology, Personality Psychology | 6 Comments