Applying psychology to understand why people are the way they are.
Hatred motivates us to avoid pain. When we experience hatred, we distance ourselves from what causes us pain. So, if you hate talking to people, then ‘talking to people’ is a source of pain for you. Note that “I hate talking to people” is not necessarily the same as “I hate people”. You may be …
As much as well-intentioned people try to create an equal society, it simply cannot happen. People organize themselves into status hierarchies wherever they are. Some people are more valuable and, therefore, higher in status than others. What determines who is valuable/high status and who isn’t? You and I don’t make these rules. It’s not up …
Some people come into our lives and go like nothing happened. Some, when they go, leave a deep void in us. They leave behind an emptiness in us. The closer our relationship with someone, the more it hurts when that relationship ends. The more we miss them when they go. But why does it happen? …
It makes sense to dislike someone when they’ve done something wrong to you. But why would you dislike someone who hasn’t wronged you in any way? You know you have no reason to hate them, but still do. What’s going on? The first thing to know about this phenomenon is that there’s no such thing …
Seeking validation from others means seeking their approval for your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, choices, values, and actions. The desire to seek validation stems from the basic human need to be liked and accepted by others. Since we’re a social species, we have a fundamental need to belong to our herd and be accepted by them. …
When we think of betrayal, we often think of betrayal in romantic relationships and marriages. While such betrayals are obviously very damaging to the victim, the betrayal of friends can be damaging as well. Yet, people don’t talk about it that often. In this article, we’ll discuss the phenomenon of friendship betrayal. Focusing on the …
This article will explore how groups form and disintegrate in the context of the stages of group development. In Human Resources Management, there’s this 5-stage model of group development that was put forward by Bruce Tuckman. I’ve always been interested in group dynamics and group development and behaviour. I found this model useful in explaining …
Why do people commit suicide?What mental states drive people to take such an extreme step? Once, when I was in my teens, I read a newspaper piece about this politician who’d died in a helicopter crash. He was dearly loved by the people of his region and when they heard of his death, many died …
Why do some people sacrifice their lives for others? What’s the psychology behind self-sacrifice? Humans are genetically programmed to seek survival. Having a psychology that promotes self-sacrifice doesn’t make much sense, at first glance. In A Tale of Two Cities, a famous novel by Charles Dickens, two men named Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton fall in …
What is it about fire that fascinates us so much? Why are camping trips so incomplete without fires? Why do people like sitting by the fire and having deep, meaningful conversations? Growing up as a kid, I was always fascinated with fire. I bothered my parents with questions about it. I experimented with it. I burnt …