An open-access digital library of research-based information and reflections on psychology, wellness, and culture

Category: Psychology

  • The Truth about Judgement
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    The Truth about Judgement

    We all have judged and been judged. Yet the common assumption is that when someone judges you, they’ve thought carefully about who you are. That the criticism reflects an honest assessment, or at least, a genuine attempt at understanding. But sadly, it rarely does. (Related: Honesty Doesn’t Make Your Judgement a Fact) The Psychology of…

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  • Why Do We Prefer Older Times When They Were Not Actually Better?
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    Why Do We Prefer Older Times When They Were Not Actually Better?

    The vacation photos look perfect, and it may be the most heart-swelling memory with loved ones. Or you totally enjoyed the alone time, figured things out. Next time we go on a trip, and the car gets pulled over. “That time was so much better.” We sigh. But was it true? There was a delayed…

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  • Why Do Our Memories Actually Reflect the Present?
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    Why Do Our Memories Actually Reflect the Present?

    There’s a version of my past I’ve told so many times it feels like a fact. The details are consistent. The emotional logic holds. I know exactly where the turning points are, which moments were formative, which ones I’d rather not examine too closely. It feels like evidence of cringeness. Yet the record of something…

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  • Our Own Labor Makes It Worthier Than It Actually Is
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    Our Own Labor Makes It Worthier Than It Actually Is

    Have you ever looked at a slightly crooked, self-assembled coffee table and felt a wave of profound pride? If so, you have experienced the IKEA effect. This psychological phenomenon explains why we place a disproportionately high value on products we helped create, regardless of the end result’s objective quality. The Origin Although it sounds corporate, the…

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  • Unmet Expectations Are More than Just What You Want
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    Unmet Expectations Are More than Just What You Want

    Expectation can feel neutral, like an honest read of what’s likely to come, or like a personal standard that fits your narrative. The pain of unmet expectations, therefore, is not just about an outcome. It feels like a loss, grieving the reality, or in some cases, a part of identity. There Is Real Science Behind…

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