Persuasion is often more effectual than force. — Aesop If you’ve ever used social media, you have probably tried to change someone’s opinion on something–and probably done so in vain. Facebook feuds, Twitter storms, back-and-forth email exchanges, in all of these cases, it can be quite difficult to change another person’s opinion. But did you know…
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. — Bertrand Russell What are some topics or activities that you’re unwilling to admit you enjoy? Enjoyment is a fundamental human experience – and one of the most sought out. But, when you say you enjoy something, what does that say about you? Why might there…
This week, I’m excited to bring you something unique for Everyday Psych: a personal interview with one of psychology’s most esteemed and influential psychologists, Dr. Richard Nisbett. Dr. Nisbett discovered some of the most interesting findings in social psychology, conducting research on people’s ability to introspect, on what ‘intelligence’ actually is, and how people from…
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. — Maya Angelou If you could ask a genie to improve just one of your personal traits, there’s a good chance you’d wish for more courage. Indeed, in one study, researchers examined the major religions and…
The greatest deception humans suffer is from their own opinions. — Leonardo da Vinci Today’s post complements research I recently discussed on the podcast, Water Cooler Talk Podcast, where I applied psychological research to why people continue to resist wearing masks, why people avoid facts that could be helpful, and other (fascinating!) topics. Here’s a…
Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are kings of this world. — Thomas Carlyle Today’s post is cross-listed with one I wrote for Psychology Today, where I and a social psychology professor, Andy Luttrell, write about people’s strong opinions — why we have them, what they are, and how we can change them….