The Archive - Psych 101
Richard Lazarus’ Appraisal Theory: How Thoughts Shape Emotion and Stress
This article aims to delve into Lazarus' study, summarizing its key concepts, research methods, findings, and the implications for our understanding of emotions.
Double Ignorance Is Not the Dunning–Kruger Effect
Explore the key differences between the Dunning–Kruger effect and Double Ignorance. This article breaks down why loud incompetence differs from the quiet absence of knowledge.
Confirmation Bias: Why We Find What We’re Looking For
We trace the scientific origins, dissect the cognitive and neural mechanisms that sustain confirmation bias, survey real-world consequences in a digital age, and examine the latest evidence on how (and how not) to debias ourselves.
What is Pareidolia? Why We See Faces in Clouds
Discover what pareidolia is and why we see faces in clouds and objects. Learn the science, psychology, and cultural meaning behind this fascinating pattern-recognition phenomenon.
What is the Theory of Constructed Emotion
Discover the Theory of Constructed Emotion, a ground-breaking perspective by Lisa Feldman Barrett that challenges traditional views on emotions. Learn how emotions are dynamically constructed by the brain, shaped by culture, language, and past experiences, and why emotional granularity is key to mental well-being.
Mood Management Theory: An Exploration of Media, Emotion, and Self-Regulation
Discover Mood Management Theory (MMT) and how media influences our emotions. Learn how people use movies, music, social media, and video games to regulate their mood. Explore research-backed insights, modern applications, and key criticisms of MMT in today’s digital world.
Objective vs Subjective: Clear Definitions, Differences & Examples
Discover the difference between objective vs. subjective perspectives in psychology. Explore major studies, cultural influences, and real-world applications.
What Are Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) Questions?
Discover the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), its origins, and its role in exploring intuition and reflective thinking. Learn how CRT questions reveal cognitive biases, practical applications, and recent developments in psychology and decision-making.
Confirmation Bias Explained: Why We Notice What We Already Believe
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that supports what we already believe. Here’s how it works, why it matters, and how to challenge it without pretending anyone is perfectly objective.
Criticisms of Cognitive Dissonance Theory: What It Explains, and What It Overstates
Discover the major criticisms of cognitive dissonance theory, from theoretical ambiguities to cultural and methodological challenges. Learn how recent advancements in neuroscience and psychology are reshaping its relevance and applications.
The Stroop Effect Explained: Why Your Brain Reads Before It Thinks
Examines the Stroop Effect’s theoretical foundations, experimental designs, neural mechanisms, and wide-ranging applications, while delving into contemporary research and critiques of the phenomenon.
The Science Behind Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset: Understanding the Key to Personal and Professional Success
Discover the science behind Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory, how it contrasts with a fixed mindset, and its transformative impact on learning, career growth, and personal development.
What is a Schema in Psychology?
Learn about schemas in psychology—mental frameworks that shape how we perceive and process information. Explore types of schemas, their role in memory, attention, and problem-solving, and their impact on social interactions and mental health.
Divergent Thinking: A Comprehensive Definition
Divergent thinking is a fundamental cognitive process in psychology, defined by its capacity to generate multiple unique solutions or ideas from a single problem or stimulus.
Déjà Vu Explained: Memory, Familiarity, and the Brain’s False Alarm
Déjà vu, which translates to "already seen" in French, is a psychological phenomenon where an individual feels an overwhelming sense of familiarity with something that is objectively new
The Cocktail Party Effect Explained: How Selective Attention Helps You Hear in Noise
How does your brain pick out one voice in a noisy room? The cocktail party effect reveals how attention, memory, hearing, and context help us follow conversation through the chaos.