background preloader

Forer effect

Forer effect
A related and more general phenomenon is that of subjective validation.[1] Subjective validation occurs when two unrelated or even random events are perceived to be related because a belief, expectation, or hypothesis demands a relationship. Thus people seek a correspondence between their perception of their personality and the contents of a horoscope. Forer's demonstration[edit] On average, the students rated its accuracy as 4.26 on a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Only after the ratings were turned in was it revealed that each student had received an identical sketch assembled by Forer from a newsstand astrology book.[2] The sketch contains statements that are vague and general enough to most people. In another study examining the Forer effect, students took the MMPI personality assessment and researchers evaluated their responses. The Forer effect is also known as the "Barnum effect". Repeating the study[edit] Variables influencing the effect[edit] Recent research[edit]

brain explorer The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord, immersed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Weighing about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms), the brain consists of three main structures: the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brainstem. Cerebrum - divided into two hemispheres (left and right), each consists of four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal). – closely packed neuron cell bodies form the grey matter of the brain. Cerebellum – responsible for psychomotor function, the cerebellum co-ordinates sensory input from the inner ear and the muscles to provide accurate control of position and movement. Brainstem – found at the base of the brain, it forms the link between the cerebral cortex, white matter and the spinal cord. Other important areas in the brain include the basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventricles, limbic system, and the reticular activating system. Basal Ganglia Thalamus and Hypothalamus Ventricles Limbic System Reticular Activating System Glia

Curious case of free speech in Bangladesh | Opinion One after another curiosity-arousing stories on Bangladesh’s current state of free-speech kept on coming in the recent months. There was news where we learnt about editors of websites and newspapers being summoned by authorities. Talk show hosts were asked to explain their conversations with guests. And very recently, a young Jahangir Nagar University lecturer named Ruhul Khandakar got serious punishment for his Facebook status. Some of the above news may make people from other parts of the world shiver. For us, the reaction is much more muted, since our country’s record of protecting free speech is not that stellar. It deserves mention that I absolutely have full faith and respect for the Bangladeshi government agencies, authorities, and of course, on the country’s judiciary. I did read what that young lecturer of Jahangir Nagar University wrote in his Facebook status while in Australia on an educational leave. There was another recent news item that appeared quite bizarre to me.

Lucid Dreaming/Induction Techniques This page describes a number of lucid dream induction techniques. It is recommended that you be able to recall at least one dream per night in order to maximize the effectiveness of these methods. Preliminary Knowledge[edit] Certain elements are common to many of the lucidity-inducing techniques discussed later in this chapter. Sleep Interruption[edit] An element shared by many of the techniques is sleep interruption. Sleep interruption is a natural part of the MILD technique (described below) which trains you to arise immediately after your dreams end. Sleep Continuity[edit] If you have trouble initially falling asleep, avoid drinking water for about an hour before going to bed. If you still have difficulty getting to sleep, try reading about lucid dreaming just before going to sleep. Reality checks[edit] A reality check is a test you can perform to see if you're dreaming or awake. So here are some reality checks. Choose a few reality checks which you will do regularly. Techniques[edit]

Stop Calling My Daughter a Princess | Carla Molina I believe labels can be powerful in both harmful and empowering ways. This is especially true for young children who are developing an inner dialogue with themselves, one they'll live with for the rest of their lives. As a mother of daughters, I choose my words with great care. I want to use words that will encourage an appreciation for their bodies, a deep sense of self-worth and an overwhelming sense of being wholly loved. My kids hear everything. A perfect example is when a stranger says hi to my daughters while we're out running errands. Shy, in and of itself, is not a negative label but when people use it to describe my children, they're using it in a negative fashion. It's easy for me to identify the irksome language other people use to label my children. Every night I kiss my girls and whisper sweet nothings in their ear. I've explained to my daughters how what and who we surround ourselves with plays a big part in influencing us.

Lucid dream A lucid dream is any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. In relation to this phenomenon, Greek philosopher Aristotle observed: "often when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream".[1] One of the earliest references to personal experiences with lucid dreaming was by Marie-Jean-Léon, Marquis d'Hervey de Saint Denys.[2] Skeptics of the phenomenon suggest that it is not a state of sleep, but of brief wakefulness.[15][16] Others point out that there is no way to prove the truth of lucid dreaming other than to ask the dreamer.[17] Lucid dreaming has been researched scientifically, with participants performing pre-determined physical responses while experiencing a lucid dream.[18][19] Scientific history[edit] Philosopher Norman Malcolm's 1959 text Dreaming[22] had argued against the possibility of checking the accuracy of dream reports. Hearne's results were not widely distributed. Initiation[edit] REM sleep.

Related: