Age-Old Money Matters: Positivity in older adults leads to balanced investments

The economic and psychological term known as “sunk-cost fallacy” is a bias that leads someone to make a decision based solely on a previous financial investment. For example, a baseball fan might attend every game of the season only because he already purchased the tickets. But not everyone would force themselves to brave the pouring rain for a single game in one season simply because they previously paid for the seats.

Cold and Lonely: Does Social Exclusion Literally Feel Cold?

When we hear somebody described as “frosty” or “cold”, we automatically picture a person who is unfriendly and antisocial. We are taught at a young age that metaphors are meant to be descriptive and are not supposed to be taken literally. However, recent studies suggest that these metaphors are more than just fancy literary devices and that there is a psychological basis for linking cold with feelings of social isolation.

The Power of Peter Piper: How alliteration enhances poetry, prose, and memory

From nursery rhymes to Shakespearian sonnets, alliterations have always been an important aspect of poetry whether as an interesting aesthetic touch or just as something fun to read. But a recent study suggests that this literary technique is useful not only for poetry but also for memory.

We’re Only Human

Wray Herbert's popular blog "We're Only Human" is now available in audio format. "We're Only Human" also appears in Scientific American Mind and on Newsweek.com. Take a listen as Wray Herbert explores the latest and greatest in psychological research.