From the moment we are born, we are given alotof information. Our parents speak to us in a language that we eventually understand, we are taught rules that we eventually follow, and we witness memories that become lessons. As we grow up, the language becomes a way of communicating with people around us. We apply the rules we have learned to similar situations, often without question. Our memories shape the world around us....

Who are you? No, really? This is a big question, but it can be answered with just a few words. The list goes on and on. The way that we identify ourselves and think of ourselves influence our mood, our motivation, and what opportunities we are willing to take in life. This is ourself-concept.Let’s break down the definition of self-concept, how it differs from similar concepts, and how psychologists developed multiple theories of self-concept....

There is nothing like the finish line at the end of a marathon, 10-miler, or 5K. You’ve been running for a long time, and you might be sore, but everyone is cheering you on. That extra encouragement gives even the most exhausted runners a boost to run a little faster and complete the race. Social psychologists back in the 1800s took notice of this phenomenon. Did peopleactuallyperform better when they were in front of an audience or with others?...

What if I told you that “clingy” behavior starts to form before a person canspellthe word “clingy?” Psychologists originally created theattachment styles theoryto explain how children become attached (or avoidant) to their parents. As time passes, psychologists have used these attachment styles to understand how people view themselves and their partners in romantic relationships. What Is the Anxious Attachment Style? anxious attachment style Where Does an Anxious Attachment Come From? A child develops an attachment style based on their early relationships with their parents or caregivers....

Have you ever heard someone say their significant other is “afraid of commitment?” It’s a common issue among couples in movies and television. The person is aloof or puts off taking the plunge, even when they are tied down to their significant other. Things don’t always go well if they are paired up with someone who is more “clingy” or needs validation. Clinginess, fear of commitment, and many other common relationship issues may come from how a person was raised....

Do you remember where you were when you heard about the 9/11 attacks? What about when Trump, Obama, or Bush were elected? These memories tend to stick out more than others. We can recall where we were when we got the news of a significant event in history, but the memories before and after that event may be very hard to grasp. Psychologists have a specific name for this type of memory: flashbulb memories....

Do you feel secure in your romantic relationship? Safety and security are the foundation of a successful relationship for many people. Without security, you might be worried that your partner will leave you or that you won’t be able to handle a breakup. Psychologists have discovered that there are four attachment styles. The style in which we are attached to our partner influences how we feel about our relationships, the behaviors we display in the relationship, and even how we pick partners....

Think about a time when you got angry. I don’t mean a time when you just were ticked off at a coworker or annoyed with someone in traffic. Think about a time when you werereallyangry. If you can’t think of one, think of someone who gotreallyangry at you. Anger is a common human emotion, but it can spiral out of control very quickly. Anger over a parking ticket could turn into a broken mirror....

Interested in learning about the Hawthorne Effect for your psychology class, or just because you’re curious? You’ve come to the right place! What Is The Hawthorne Effect?How was the Hawthorne Effect Discovered?Causes of Hawthorne EffectReal-Life Examples of the Hawthorne EffectWhy It’s Important to Know About the Hawthorne Effect What Is The Hawthorne Effect? How was the Hawthorne Effect Discovered? Causes of Hawthorne Effect Real-Life Examples of the Hawthorne Effect Why It’s Important to Know About the Hawthorne Effect...

How does it feel to be a sports fan and see someone wearing a jersey supporting your team? It feels pretty nice, right? Or maybe you’re traveling abroad and see someone in a hat that says they’re from the States or even your hometown. Wow! It’s natural to feel more comfortable or trusting when you know someone similar is around. And what happens when you see someone from a rival sports team?...

Why are some memories more significant than others? This is a big question in the world of psychology and neuroscience. Understanding the way that we process and store memories could reveal important answers about how the brain works, how we form our perception of the world, and how to create a better life for ourselves. But the answers aren’t so simple. Take a look at some different theories:Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Multi-Store Model of MemoryBaddley and Hitch’s Model of Working MemoryCraik and Lockhart’s Levels of Processing TheoryAutomatic Processing TheoryAll of these theories attempt to explain why we remember certain pieces of information and why other information fades away....

When you step back, you might remind yourself that not all fans of that team or people that went to that school are bad people. But your gut reaction might be to roll your eyes at them. Why is this? Why do we feel so much anger toward a group that is outside of our own? Social psychologists, anthropologists, and even economists have an idea. We all possess a cognitive bias known as ingroup-outgroup bias....

Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. Acrophobia is the fear of heights. Trypophobia is the fear of patterns of small holes. (It’s a thing!) These phobias can be simply a nuisance, or they can have a serious impact on our lives. Phobias like claustrophobia or agoraphobia may keep us inside and away from fun activities. They could also prevent us from moving forward in our careers or relationships. Or, these phobias could just be embarrassing....