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The Psychology of Exile
When I was in middle school, one of the assigned readings was a story called “The Man Without a Country.” It was written by Edward Everett Hale in 1863, and told the story of a young American army lieutenant, Philip Nolan, who is tried for treason along with Aaron Burr. During the trial, he angrily denounces his country, declaring his wish to never hear mention of the United States again, and the shocked judge complies: He sentences Nolan to spend the rest of his life in exile, aboard U.S. warships, where he will hear no word of life in America. I found this story very sad at the time, and still do.
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Inner Speech Speaks Volumes About the Brain
Whether you’re reading the paper or thinking through your schedule for the day, chances are that you’re hearing yourself speak even if you’re not saying words out loud. This internal speech -- the monologue you “hear” inside your head -- is a ubiquitous but largely unexamined phenomenon. A new study looks at a possible brain mechanism that could explain how we hear this inner voice in the absence of actual sound.
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Homeownership, the Key to Happiness?
The New York Times: If trying to buy an apartment in New York City has been making you miserable, consider this: actually getting that home may not make you happy.
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What is talent – and can science spot what we will be best at?
The Guardian: My interest in the science of talent has a personal backstory. By the age of three, I'd had 21 ear infections and after an operation to remove fluid from my ears, it took me an extra step to process speech. To help me catch up with my peers, I was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder. I repeated third grade. I was sent to a special school for children with learning disabilities. I was fed a steady stream of low expectations. One day, when I was 14, everything changed. A new teacher took me aside and asked me why I was still in special education. With no prior expectations – seeing only the child in front of her – she took notice of my boredom and frustration.
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‘Active’ Student Engagement Goes Beyond Class Behavior, Study Finds
Education Week: Some warning signs are easy to spot: It's well-established that the kid goofing off in the back of the classroom, who plays hooky and turns in homework late, is disengaged, and at a higher risk of falling behind and eventually dropping out of school. But where are the red flags for the student who sits quietly, answers when spoken to, and politely zones out? A new study, published online in the journal Learning and Instruction, probes how more subtle facets of student engagement can be harder to flag, but just as critical for their long-term academic success.
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Why You Give Too Much
Prevention: Ahh, a night alone. You could just head home after work, pour yourself a glass of pinot anything, and catch up on this season of Mad Men. But your partner’s suit for tomorrow’s reception is at the dry cleaners and his prescription is still at the pharmacy. If you’re already reaching for your shoes, don’t beat yourself up: a new study in Psychological Science says we’re more likely to make impulsive sacrifices in close relationships. And if you have low self-control, you’re even more likely. Read the whole story: Prevention
