-
People Love Your Sarcasm, Really
The Wall Street Journal: When Richard Laermer walked into an eyeglass store in Paris, he was surprised to find fewer than 10 frames for sale, each displayed on top of its own large pedestal. He looked for another room or some sign of a second floor. But that was it. A clerk stopped dusting. “Hmmm?” he asked. Mr. Laermer says he couldn’t resist his reply: “Don’t mind me,” he told the clerk. “I’m sure I’ll find something in the 30 seconds it will take to look over your inventory.” Mr. Laermer was shown the door. Does sarcasm have a place in polite conversation? ... Sarcasm has many uses, depending on the degree of sharpness.
-
The secret of extreme heroes: They don’t overthink
The Washington Post: We grow up being taught to look before we leap and think before we act, especially in dangerous situations. In its booklet on dealing with “active shooters,” the Department of Homeland Security lists confrontation as the “last resort,” after, among other things, taking note of the nearest exits and locking yourself in an office. Police tell us not to confront someone “armed and dangerous.” And our spouses and other loved ones tell us, “don’t be a hero.” ... If you stop to contemplate whether to act when the danger actually confronts you, you probably won’t, the study suggests.
-
Square Root of Kids’ Math Anxiety: Their Parents’ Help
The New York Times: A common impairment with lifelong consequences turns out to be highly contagious between parent and child, a new study shows. The impairment? Math anxiety. Means of transmission? Homework help. Children of highly math-anxious parents learned less math and were more likely to develop math anxiety themselves, but only when their parents provided frequent help on math homework, according to a study of first- and second-graders, published in Psychological Science. Read the whole story: The New York Times
-
Identity Is Lost Without A Moral Compass
Pacific Standard: What defines a person? Is it their memories? Their hobbies? Look deeper, argue a pair of researchers—into the soul, so to speak. According to a new study, kindness, loyalty, and other traits of morality are what really constitute someone's being.
-
Why Introverts Make Great Entrepreneurs
The Wall Street Journal: Imagine a typical entrepreneur. A quiet, reserved introvert is probably not what first came to mind. Aren’t entrepreneurs supposed to be gregarious and commanding—verbally adept and able to inspire employees, clients and investors with the sheer force of their personality? No wonder the advice for introverts who want to be entrepreneurs has long been some form of: “Be more extroverted.” Now, though, business experts and psychologists are starting to see that guidance is wrong.
-
A New Study Says Daycare Doesn’t Make Kids Aggressive
Parents: If you’re worried that your little tyke is picking up some bullying behavior from daycare, relax: A recent study has found that the amount of time kids spend in daycare has little effect on aggressive behavior. The study, published in Psychological Science, interviewed parents of 939 Norwegian children, aged 6 months to 4 years, who attended non-parental child care. Each child’s aggression (tendency to hit, push, and bite) was reported by their teacher. It was found that as the length of time a child remained daycare increased, the impact on aggression actually decreased. Read the whole story: Parents
