Posts from the ‘Conditioning’ category

The Overjustification Effect

Money, fame, and prestige – they dangle just outside your reach it seems, encouraging you to lean farther and farther over the edge, to study longer and longer, to work harder and harder. When someone reminds you that acquiring currency while ignoring all else shouldn’t be your primary goal in life, it feels good. You retweet it. You post it on your wall. You forward it, and then you go back to work.

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Catharsis

The Misconception: Venting your anger is an effective way to reduce stress and prevent lashing out at friends and family. The Truth: Venting increases aggressive behavior…

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Extinction Burst

The Misconception: If you stop engaging in a bad habit, the habit will gradually diminish until it disappears from your life. The Truth: Any time you…

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Placebo Buttons

The Misconception: All buttons placed around you do your bidding. The Truth: Many public buttons are only there to comfort you. You press the doorbell button,…

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