Human Psychology

9 Things from Human Psychology that Help You Understand the Surroundings

Psychology allows people to better understand how the body and mind can work together. This knowledge can help in making decisions and avoid stressful situations. Psychology can also help in time management, setting goals and living effectively. Among millions of psychological studies, there are 9 psychological research findings that can help you better understand the people in your world.

Human Psychology

1. Humans have similar emotional expressions

Wherever you are, a smile is a smile. In the research on the nature of human's emotional expressions, Ekman and Friesen (1986) found that facial expression that correspond to basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, and fear are very similar throughout the world. From nomads far away in the South Pacific to the rich people who drink tea in Manhattan, how we express emotions is just the same.

2. You have more in common with pigeons.

In several studies that have been conducted to examine the nature of behavior, BF Skinner (1953) made a series of experiments involving dogs, carp, pigeons, mice to humans. In this case, every living thing receives certain stimuli or stimulants that make certain reactions. Certain stimulants cause dogs, carp, pigeons, mice to humans to carry out certain actions with certain consequences.

3. The more expensive you pay someone to do something trivial, the smaller he will like it.

In a series of studies relating to cognitive dissonance, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) found that people who (a) were involved in trivial assignments for no apparent reason, (b) told other students that they liked the assignment, and (c) paid $ 1 to do the work reportedly liked the job more than participants in the same study but were paid $ 20. When someone is poorly compensated for an unpleasant job, they tend to convince themselves that they really enjoy the work thereby reducing their own level of cognitive dissonance.

4. Ordinary people (like you and me) can obey strangers to the point of killing other humans.

In a series of studies on the psychology of obedience to authority, Stanley Milgram states that under certain conditions, most adults with normal psychological and mental ability are able to kill others - especially if they are directed to do so by some authoritative figures who appear credible and if the context is framed as "for the good" (Milgram, 1963).

5. Emotional intelligence is often more important than cognitive intelligence when it comes to success in life.

Our society indeed places great importance on academic intelligence and talent. In fact, in several behavioral and life domains, based on a large number of studies, success is predicted by emotional intelligence rather than cognitive intelligence (Mayer & Salovey, 1997).

6. People tend to be better to others when the room is fragrant.

In a study of volunteerism, Liljenquist et al. (2010) conducted a study involving participants (a) sitting in a room that had not been cleaned or (b) sitting in a room that had just been cleaned and air freshened. Participants were then offered to read Habitat for Humanity. The participants in the fragrant room were more likely to want to read the book. Participants were also reportedly interested in volunteering at the organization.

7. We are often wrong in giving reasons for our actions.

In a series of studies, Nisbett and Wilson (1977) stated that people have no problem justifying their actions. In reality, these people are completely unaware of the true cause of their behavior. For example, participants who watch films with constant loud noise from the aisle like the film much less than participants who watch the same film without being given loud noise. When asked why they did not like the film, no one mentioned the noise as the cause.

8. Your personality has almost no role in what you do.

Research on personality relationships in predicting behavior states that, your personality tends to contribute only at most around 9% to your behavior (Mischel, 1968).

9. We are not as good as we thought!

Most people will refuse to help people in need if it makes them late (Darley & Batson, 1973).


Also read : Mental Health