The Top 10 Psychology Studies. The end of 2010 fast approaches, and I'm thrilled to have been asked by the editors of Psychology Today to write about the Top 10 psychology studies of the year. I've focused on studies that I personally feel stand out, not only as examples of great science, but even more importantly, as examples of how the science of psychology can improve our lives. Each study has a clear "take home" message, offering the reader an insight or a simple strategy they can use to reach their goals , strengthen their relationships, make better decisions, or become happier. If you extract the wisdom from these ten studies and apply them in your own life, 2011 just might be a very good year. 1) How to Break Bad Habits If you are trying to stop smoking , swearing, or chewing your nails, you have probably tried the strategy of distracting yourself - taking your mind off whatever it is you are trying not to do - to break the habit.
You may also have realized by now that it doesn't work. J. J. M. J. Every Day vs Every Once In Awhile. One of my Secrets of Adulthood is: What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. I’ve been surprised how often this “secret” comes in handy. Exercising — I have a friend who thinks she’s a regular exerciser because every several weeks, she goes to the gym for two hours. Nope! Having enough time to read — I used to think, “I love to read, it’s my favorite thing to do!
Of course I make time to read.” But when I really examined my schedule, I realized I needed to clear out more time to read; day after day, it was getting shoved aside. In his fascinating book, House Lust, Daniel McGinn notes that market researchers use the term maximum-use imperative to describe the fact that people will often buy something to accommodate a use that they need only rarely. Along the same lines, I’ve noticed that when making decisions, I tend to give too much thought to what I do once in a while and not enough weight to what I do every day.
Why does this matter for happiness? Focus. Focus on the Red Dot and give us a like if the blue circle disappeared. This is a practical demonstration of the word 'focus'; when you focus on a thing, the remaining thoughts and objects should disappear. Making Sense of Dreams.