Positive Psychology, Well-Being, & Resilience

Awe, the Unknown and Science

Awe, the Unknown and Science

Think of an experience you’ve had that inspires awe – seeing the night sky or a stunning landscape, for example. Part of that feeling is probably a sense of wonder at the ...
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/ / Awe, Media Psychology & Technology, Positive Emotions, Positive Psychology
Mental Imagery Can Enhance Motivation

Mental Imagery Can Enhance Motivation

A lack of motivation can put to ruin the greatest plans – or the smallest ones for that matter. Getting the motivation to do something is a complex process that takes place ...
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/ / Cognitive Psychology, Mindfulness, Motivation, Performance Psychology, Positive Psychology
Feeling Grateful vs. Feeling Indebted

Feeling Grateful vs. Feeling Indebted

"Thanks! I owe you!" Maybe you’ve said that when someone has done a favor for you. Feeling thankful and feeling like you owe someone are related to each other, but it turns ...
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/ / Gratitude, Positive Psychology, Relationships
Your Personality Might Have Implications for Your Cat’s Wellbeing

Your Personality Might Have Implications for Your Cat’s Wellbeing

It’s well-known that parents’ personality characteristics can influence their children. But a new study suggests that the same might also be true of cat parents. In the study, researchers in the United ...
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/ / Animals, Personality, Positive Psychology, Well-Being
Talking About Their Future Selves Improves Preschoolers' Cognitive Skills

Talking About Their Future Selves Improves Preschoolers’ Cognitive Skills

Conversations with adults are a key way that children build cognitive skills. And if you’re looking for something to talk about with the young children in your life, new research suggests a ...
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/ / Children, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Positive Psychology
When Something Bad Happens, Tell a Joke?

When Something Bad Happens, Tell a Joke?

If you use humor as a coping mechanism, you aren’t alone. And even if you are alone, you probably think it’s funny. A new study from researchers in Poland highlights humor’s power ...
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/ / Cognitive Psychology, Emotion-Affective Psychology, Humor, Positive Psychology, Stress & Trauma
The Best Way to Hit Rock Bottom

The Best Way to Hit Rock Bottom

Ask someone to tell you their life story and chances are you’ll get a narrative that, like any good story, has high points and low points. It turns out, though, that how ...
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/ / Meaning, Positive Psychology
Resilience Links Emotional Intelligence and Stress Management

Resilience Links Emotional Intelligence and Stress Management

Emotional intelligence has been increasingly recognized as important over the last several decades, the EQ to go with IQ. The idea being, of course, that all the smarts in the world won’t ...
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/ / Emotion-Affective Psychology, Positive Psychology, Resilience, Stress & Trauma
Unlike Receiving, Giving Never Gets Old

Unlike Receiving, Giving Never Gets Old

When it comes to material goods, people are never quite satisfied with what they have. Eventually, that cool new phone you got for Christmas starts to seem routine. You get a good ...
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/ / Altruism, Positive Psychology
Writing Part of Your Life Story Can Boost Self-Esteem

Writing Part of Your Life Story Can Boost Self-Esteem

How we make sense of events that have happened to us affects how we see our place in the world around us. As I wrote about last year, for example, studies suggest ...
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/ / Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Language, Narrative, Positive Psychology, Self-Esteem