New year, new me. Vision boards, journaling, affirmations, you name it. Manifestation techniques have grown popular the last few years, but does it truly increase luck and chances for success? Yes, it works Manifestation is not some sort of witchcraft, but it’s a way to “brainwash” yourself to believe that. At its core, manifestation is essentially rewiring your brain so that it filters out all the negative and feeds it with the positive. It’s the equivalent to using the Goog

What does it feel like to be watched as you work on something? Does it feel pressurising? Do you feel stressed? Does that make you want to do better to show to the person that you are able to do the job you are doing well? If your answer to the last question is yes, that is the Hawthorne effect in action!  …Well, somewhat.  Based on the known definition of the effect, this would be a correct example of the effect. However, due to some reasons which we will explain later on in

We’ve all probably heard of two of the four stress responses; fight  or flight —the body’s instinctive reactions to danger. But have you ever been in a situation where your body seems to betray you instead?  Maybe, you freeze up during a presentation, your mind going blank. Or perhaps, in a simple interaction with a teacher, you try to smile, but your face feels tense—and you’re now stuck with an award smile plastered on your face, eye twitching. That’s your nervous system in

Psychology is the study of human behaviour. It explores why we think and feel the way we do. What motivates us to behave in the way we do? Why do people of similar backgrounds behave differently from one another? In 1943, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow published a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation”, where he attempted to explain what motivates us to pursue our different needs.  In this article, we will explore the theory commonly known as Maslow’s hierarchy of n

You, assuming you’re human, have probably (maybe unconsciously) apologized to an object before sometime in your life; whether that’s to your stuffed animal for pushing it off the bed, or to a door for slamming it too hard. But what is the reason behind such actions? Let’s state the obvious. Some may just be apologizing to objects out of habit. Our social norms have whipped humans into shape – on a daily basis, we are expected to behave politely and in a proper manner. So it’s

Have you ever gotten your fortune told by someone, and felt that the readings of the fortune teller were extremely accurate to you? Or perhaps you have read your horoscope reading for a day and thought that it fits you exactly? These are all cases of the Barnum effect in play! In this article, we will explore what exactly this effect is about and how this effect occurs. We will also explore the impacts of this effect on our decision-making and how being aware of it happening

There’s a strange comfort in seeing yourself as the one who’s always hurt—if you’re always the victim, you’re never responsible—because...

We all know the feeling. You sit down, your desk tidy, hair tied back, study material laid out in front of you. You feel so ready, the...

The tallest, ever-growing, vibrant red poppy—in theory, should be revered in a field of green. But in reality, it’s often the first to be...

Secondhand embarrassment, self-awareness, and why a 3-year-old video of yourself can ruin your whole day. Let’s start with a familiar...

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings towards their captors or...

In 2024, a disconcerting study emerged: students who utilised ChatGPT or other forms of generative AI to write their assignments reported...

No, you’re not losing it—your inner monologue might just be your superpower. You ever catch yourself saying “okay, you got this” before...

In psychology, there are several approaches to treating patients who need help managing their mental health. One such therapy is known as...

Memory is crucial to how we construct meaning in our lives—it forges our identity and anchors us in time and space. Yet, this phenomena...

“You can have this treat now, or have two when I get back to the room.”  Sound familiar? Yep, we’re delving into the efficacy of the...

From the playground to the classroom to social gatherings, there is often an unspoken pressure to fit in with those around us. We...

Have you ever wondered how our brains are able to learn new information? How are we able to memorise all the content for our school...

Have you ever wondered why teenagers are commonly known for their rebellion? Why are most teens in TV dramas difficult to talk to, to the...

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term referring to the mental discomfort or anxiety felt when individuals hold conflicting...