Looking for an excuse to read more fiction? Fiction reading can help with understanding others. A recent study shows that children who read more fiction stories are better at inferring what other people are thinking and feeling. Being good at understanding others is important, not just for … [Read more...] about Trouble Understanding Others? Read More Fiction
What is Expertise and How Can You Develop it?
Everybody’s an expert these days. Pest Control Expert, Plumbing Expert, Weather Expert, and so on. But what is expertise, really? A common conception is that experts know more and perform better than those around them. From this standpoint, expertise refers to the knowledge and skills that … [Read more...] about What is Expertise and How Can You Develop it?
Why Overconfidence Occurs and How to Overcome It
Overconfidence happens to all of us. Ever have a plan that just couldn’t go wrong? And then you get a kick in the butt. Ever know that something must be true, only to find out later that you had it backwards? Overconfidence is when you think you are more likely to be right than you actually … [Read more...] about Why Overconfidence Occurs and How to Overcome It
Confirmation Bias: 3 Effective (and 3 Ineffective) Cures
Confirmation bias is a fancy way of describing our human inclination to see what we want to see. In other words, we like to look for and interpret information in ways that confirm our expectations. The language makes it sound like confirmation bias is something only scientists can be afflicted … [Read more...] about Confirmation Bias: 3 Effective (and 3 Ineffective) Cures
Metacognition is Knowing Your Mind
Metacognition refers to what you know about your own thinking and learning. It is the part of cognition that monitors other cognitive processes, and makes adjustments to them. Cognition and metacognition are closely connected. Cognitive scientists study metacognition as an essential aspect of … [Read more...] about Metacognition is Knowing Your Mind
Respect for Arab Crowds
Direct displays of respect can reduce conflict in Arab protests, where a premium is placed on honor. Such displays enable people in potentially volatile crowd situations to accrue honor while avoiding risks associated with violent confrontation. These conclusions are based on studies of Arab … [Read more...] about Respect for Arab Crowds