Publish and prosper: a strategy guide for students and researchers
Publish and prosper: a strategy guide for students and researchers
If you are a graduate student just starting your academic career or a relatively new assistant professor, I highly recommend Nathaniel Lambert’s Publish and prosper: A strategy guide for students and researchers. This is a highly readable – I read it in a single day, and I am a slow reader – accessible, and engaging book in which Lambert offers valuable strategies for enhancing your research productivity. / more
Why do people help strangers when disaster strikes?
keywords:
Boston Marathon / pro-social behavior / altruism / empathy / perspective taking
Why do people help strangers when disaster strikes?
Marc Fucarile, a 34-year old native of Stoneham MA, lost his right leg, nearly lost his left, was peppered with shrapnel, and suffered severe burns when the second bomb exploded at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Shortly thereafter, from his hospital bed, Marc described his situation saying, “There’s more good in the world than there is bad” (LaPierre, 2013). Given his circumstances, this is an extraordinary observation, one that inspires awe and admiration. His perspective tells... / more
Sense-making through science
keywords:
science / religion / threat compensation / control / belief in progress
Sense-making through science
People are sense-making creatures in a world that does not always make sense. This is a problem – although we prefer our world and environment to be orderly and predictable, and an expanding body of research shows that we do not like randomness and a lack of control over life’s outcomes (Kay, Gaucher, Napier, Callan, & Laurin, 2008; Lerner, 1980), our world and our social environment are far from perfectly orderly and controlled. Life in modern society...
/ moreThe soul of all living creatures: what animals can teach us about being human
The soul of all living creatures: what animals can teach us about being human
Do animals have souls? What is the connection between animals and people? Is there a spiritual bond between human and beast? How do animals impact our lives?
Dr. Vint Virga, a distinguished practitioner and leader in veterinary behavioral medicine has written a book that answers many of these questions.
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A funny thing happened on the way to romance: How humor influences romantic relationship initiation
keywords:
humor / relationship initiation / evolutionary perspective / fitness indicator / intelligence / warmth
A funny thing happened on the way to romance: How humor influences romantic relationship initiation
Is a funny pick-up line a good idea, or will it hurt your chances? The role of humor in courtship is a fascinating puzzle that is beginning to receive empirical attention. The current article provides a glimpse at when and why humor might be useful during romantic relationship initiation, and explains how your humor style might affect your success in attracting a potential romantic partner. If you were to list all the attractive qualities that you might... / more
Engagement: A Source of Value, Quality of Life, or Both?
keywords:
workaholic / engagement / time management / harmony
Engagement: A Source of Value, Quality of Life, or Both?
When Romy was a child, her daily schedule was almost as busy as that of many adults. Just like all the other children, she woke up early to go to school, came home for lunch, and took a little break before doing her homework. Afterwards, however, she would not go and play with her friends or watch TV: Romy usually had plans for the rest of the day, ranging from weekly ballet classes and music lessons to tennis. Later, in high school, she worked in a bookshop one afternoon per week and on Saturdays. During the winter, Sundays were reserved for the ski club, which meant getting up at five a.m. to catch the coach that took the whole group to a ski resort nearby. Oftentimes, dance performances or tennis games were scheduled for the weekend, too, and still Romy found time for her friends, for school, and other activities like reading. / more
Not Again! I’m Looking for a Job but I Don’t Know Why It Is Taking So Long!
keywords:
apply / employment / job hunt / job search
Not Again! I’m Looking for a Job but I Don’t Know Why It Is Taking So Long!
Job hunting is probably the type of experience we all have to face more than once in our life time. Intuitively we can think of the things that influence getting a job; we can blame our communicative skills, self-esteem, job skills, etc. We can also intuitively guess which of our characteristics will influence our job search behavior, while we can tell by our own experience what "post-feelings" occur after receiving a rejection. / more
On Scaffolds and Sweet Potatoes
keywords:
culture / evolution / macaques / scaffolding
On Scaffolds and Sweet Potatoes
One of the most simplest things ever made was the scaffold. Thinking about its consequences however has recently opened up a world of possibilities for scientists that might lead to new ways of thinking about culture, the human mind, and their development. / more
The Night of Nancy: Social Psychology and Football
The Night of Nancy: Social Psychology and Football
November 30, Nancy, France: a dark day for European football. What should have been an exciting night of UEFA Cup football, ended in a disaster. The first news reached the Netherlands during the day that certain Dutch folks related to the football club Feyenoord had caused severe riots in the city of Nancy. Feyenoord had warned the French police in advance that problems could occur, and had requested of its own fans to not cause problems because of prior warnings... / more
High Maintenance Interaction
keywords:
exam / interaction / nerd / procrastinate / studying
High Maintenance Interaction
Throughout my academic career, I've come across a variety of nerve-racking pre-exam moments. I remember vividly the various ways my classmates and I handled the last minutes before our final examinations: while some tried to relax and laugh away the tension, others studied until the last second, driving everyone crazy with stressed-out questioning. I'd have to admit to always being part of that latter group. My strategy was to harass the biggest nerd on the subject with all of my uncertainties and loads of questions. I always needed to find answers, but since the matter was crystal-clear to the poor guy I was stalking and he didn't understand any of my vaguely formulated questions, I only got more frustrated and insecure. / more