15 psychological secrets, the knowledge of which helps a person to be effective

Man is the whole Universe with its mysteries and secrets. Psychologists are sure that knowledge of these secrets will allow a person to live, study, work and relax more rationally. We have collected in one review 15 psychological secrets that will be useful to everyone.

1. Features of text perception

People read text faster in wide columns but prefer narrow ones.

Although most people prefer to read text that is divided into relatively narrow columns, it actually reads much faster if the text spans the full width of the page.

2. Rule "7 plus or minus 2"

Seven plus or minus two.

Surely, some have heard of the rule "7 plus or minus 2". Psychologists say that short-term human memory can only store 5 to 9 items of information at a time.

3. Decision making

Most decisions are made subconsciously.

While everyone likes to think that they carefully control and deliberate their decisions, research shows the opposite: most everyday decisions are actually made subconsciously. There is a very good reason for this: Every second, the human brain is bombarded with more than 11 million individual pieces of data, and there is no way to consciously process them.

4. Reconstruction of memories

People reconstruct their memories.

Because people experience their memories as a "mini movie" that "plays around in their head," everyone tends to think that memories are stored somewhere in memory as whole data files, like a video on a computer hard drive. However, it is not. Every time a person remembers something, he reconstructs the situation in his mind. This leads to the obvious conclusion that no two memories are the same. Memories also change over time and can influence each other.

5. Multitasking

People can't multitask.

Many people believe they can do many things at the same time. Unfortunately, this is a misconception, since people are not good at multitasking. At least not in the sense that is often implied. You can, of course, do work and chat with a friend at the same time. But the brain will be focused on one thing.

6. Choice

People want more choice than they can handle.

During the study, tables with 6 varieties of jam and 24 varieties were installed in supermarkets. Although they tried much more often where there were 24 varieties, they bought more often from tables with 6 varieties.

7. Dreams

A person is "in the clouds" 30% of the time.

It turns out that almost everyone is a dreamer. According to scientists, every person fantasizes about something at least 30% of the time.

8. External psychological influence

This psychological effect is known as the "third person effect". Although everyone acknowledges the influence of advertising and other influences on choice, almost everyone rejects this for themselves. In fact, many advertisements subconsciously influence moods, attitudes, and desires.

9. Brain and sleep

The brain is no less loaded during sleep.

The brain is just as active during sleep as it is during wakefulness. Although no one knows why this is so, scientists have hypothesized that at night the brain organizes information and makes new associations.

10. Collective decision

Collective decision is evil.

The "groupthink" effect states that large groups of people tend to make decisions based on hyper-emotionality.

11. The result does not always live up to expectations.

The result does not always live up to expectations.

Unfortunately, any person's perception of a future event tends to be overly exaggerated. In most cases, the waiting process is more exciting than the event itself.

12. It takes an average of 66 days to form a habit.

A habit takes an average of 66 days to form.

We all have habits, both good and bad. But it is worth remembering that it is worth doing something for 66 days, and it becomes a new habit.

13. The more people, the less the desire to compete.

The more people, the less the desire to compete.

One study found that students score much higher on tests when there are fewer people in the classroom. Psychologists explained this phenomenon as follows: the fewer people who compete for something, the greater the motivation to complete the task, since the chances of winning are higher.

14. Repetition is the mother of learning

Repetition physically changes the brain.

Every time the brain receives or processes information, there are electrical impulses between neurons. This strengthens old bonds and leads to the formation of new ones. As a result, the brain physically changes and grows.

15. 10 minutes of heightened attention

You can maintain a high level of attention for just 10 minutes.

No matter how teachers call for attention in the classroom, the concentration of attention will still dissipate after about 10 minutes, even if the topic is of interest to the person listening to it.