Since the discovery of DNA profiling in the mid 1980’s, there have been over 300 criminal exonerations in the USA alone. That’s over 300 innocent people imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. Studies in the USA have also shown that approximately 73% of these convictions incorporated eyewitness testimony as the primary piece of evidence in their respective cases. Continue reading
A Bird In The Hand Illusion
Dan Gilbert: Why Are We Happy? Why Aren’t We Happy? (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTO_dZUvbJA
In this video Dan Gilbert talks about our psychological immune system and posits the idea that we can be happy even when we do not get the things we want. How can we be happy when our desires are not being filled? “Because happiness can be synthesized” Gilbert claims.
Related articles
- Dan Gilbert: Why We Make Bad Decisions (Video) (whatispsychology.biz)
How Reliable is Eyewitness Testimony?
In 1984, Maryland USA, Kirk Bloodsworth was given the death penalty. His conviction was based solely on 5 eye-witnesses who all claimed to have seen him commit a horrific crime. After 9 years on death row, he was exonerated by DNA evidence. He was innocent. Continue reading
Top Psychology Schools in the USA – Infographic
The consistent growth of the field of psychology has resulted in the initiation of a number of degree programs. Accredited degrees are offered by the best psychology schools in the United States, which are famous for their top quality education and proficient faculty. Some of the top schools which have been paving the way for psychology to become a key part of the curriculum of tertiary level institutions are Stanford University, the University of California, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University and the University of Michigan. Continue reading
Kathryn Schulz: On Being Wrong (Video)
In this video Kathryn Schulz explains that while “we all know that the human species, in general, is fallible,” our abstract appreciation of human fallibility goes out the window if we are personally questioned or challenged. Schulz claims that we get stuck in the feeling of being “right” due to (1) error blindness and (2) the fact that we are educated from a very early age that the way to succeed in life is to never be wrong. She goes on to show the dangers of such a mindset, and suggests that we can improve ourselves simply by embracing our fallibility.