Wise Decisions....

The Explainer: Hidden Traps in Decision-Making

New research reveals a personality trait that can make you a better decision-maker

In the personal context, making good decisions is the difference between having the life you want and forever wondering what could have been.<p>In the political one, it's the difference between war and peace, prosperity and want. In the business world, it's what separates seven-figure paydays from …

The trick to persuading people you’re right, according to experimental psychology

It’s an old trope that humans don’t like change—especially when it comes to their opinions. Ancient Greek philosophers complained about the masses refusing to heed their advice. Scholars spearheading the scientific revolution in the 17th century bemoaned their predecessors’ stubbornness. And today, …

5 cognitive biases that are killing your decisions

It’s hard to accept that what holds us back from reaching our potential is all in our head.<p>While it may be a bit of a cliche, we really are our own …

175 Reasons Why You Don't Think Clearly

Cognitive biases impact all your perceptions and decisions. All of them.<p>Professionals like to talk with pride about how they make “data-driven” decisions. They express faith in logic and disciplined analysis. Many scoff at others who confess to trusting their gut and going with their …

The dark side of the brain: Too much emotional intelligence is a bad thing

A new study suggests that profound empathy may come at a price<p>Recognizing when a friend or colleague feels sad, angry or surprised is key to getting along with others. But a new study suggests that a knack for eavesdropping on feelings may sometimes come with an extra dose of stress. This and other …

Science Just Discovered a Dead Simple Trick to Boost Concentration

Actually, some types of multitasking might be a good idea after all, according to the latest research.<p>You've probably heard that multitasking will rot your brain. I've written plenty of posts on the subject myself. Here's one saying that doing two or more things at once makes you as dumb as being …

Science can help you reach enlightenment — but will it mess with your head?

A Navy SEAL, broad-chested and strongly built, floats peacefully on the water, as his recent deployment to a war-torn country becomes a distant …

Your brain as laboratory: The science of meditation

The idea that meditation is actually a form of research is gaining respect<p>Meditation has surged in popularity in recent years, from a fringe interest to a mainstream trend championed by therapists, scientists and celebrities. As part of this shift, misconceptions and dismissals have given way to …

SBA Offers Tips for Wise Decision-Making

Sponsored By:<br>Blank<p>YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – As you manage your business, you will be faced with important decisions that may impact the future of your …

Decision Tree Analysis, a great decision making tool incl. template and example

This article describes the <b>Decision Tree Analysis</b> in a practical way. After reading you will understand the basics of this powerful <b>decision making</b> and</b> …

Want to be a better critical thinker? Here’s how to spot false narratives and “weaponized lies”

This weekend on <i>Face the Nation,</i> White House chief of staff Reince Priebus defended US president Donald Trump’s declaration that the American press is “the enemy.” “Certainly we would never condone violence,” Priebus said. “But I do think we condone <i>critical thought</i>.”<p>Add Priebus to a long list of …

How to escape the overthinking trap: stop judging yourself

The despair from comparing ourselves with others is the original fake news. We need to develop a new relationship with our thoughts<p>Before Christmas I took a young relative to a jazz concert. The thought of it ruined his whole day. He scuffed around the house like an alt-right voter at a refugee …

The potential benefits of mental distractions for the aging brain

<i>This is part of a series on aging well.</i><p>Focus, focus, focus. This mantra for success is drilled into us from childhood all the way up to our working years. In older adults, however, there may be an upside to a wandering mind.<p>Mental distractions may help reinforce memory in adults 60 and older – but …

Social media loves echo chambers, but the human brain helps create them

In the week since Donald Trump’s victory, debate has raged over the role played by social media in the US election. Both Trump and his campaign’s digital director have partially credited social networks for his win, and Mark Zuckerberg has been under huge pressure to tackle the proliferation of …

Decision-making: Primitive reward-driven behaviors may bias the information people choose to sample: Pavlovian approach, like confirmation bias, may underlie behaviors that seem irrational

Pavlovian approach, like confirmation bias, may underlie behaviors that seem irrational<p>The way people make decisions often seems irrational. One …

The strange psychology of stress and burnout

You shouldn’t underestimate the positive power of having a degree of stress in your life. Identifying the tipping point, where stress turns to burnout, is the key.<p>As a neonatal nurse, Jennifer Welker learned to thrive under stress.<p>Rather than allowing the pain of handling a sick infant to affect …

4 Decision Making Strategies That Will Give You Instant Peace of Mind

<b>Editor’s note</b>: this is a guest post from Stephen RoeIt’s maddening, isn’t it?When friends or family have a big decision in front of them, they nearly …

5 Signs You're About To Make a Bad Career Decision

, Women@Forbes<p>Most of the choices we make every day are simple and straight-forward: what to wear to work, what to eat for lunch, whether to go to sleep at a reasonable hour or stay up watching Netflix. They don’t cause much stress or inner conflict.<p>Career transition points, on the other hand, can …

Hard of hearing? It's not your ears, it's your brain

The reason you may have to say something twice when talking to older family members at Thanksgiving dinner may not be because of their hearing. …

Do brain-training exercises really work?

<b>(CNN) —</b> A battle has been brewing over whether brain training really works, leaving consumers stuck in the middle, scratching their heads.<p>Many experts believe that brain-training programs are a waste of money. They roll their eyes at the idea that using such computerized programs can improve …

Undecided Voters "Brain-Science Guide" to Making Up Your Mind

The following is a simple, unbiased framework, rooted in brain science, to help undecided voters make their decision during this election year.<p><b>Why It's So Hard To Choose</b><p>Difficulty in making a decision is the natural result of several factors all converging at once.<p>When we feel we MUST make a choice …

Dan Ariely’s advice for decision making: Understanding our minds

In this interview with Dan Ariely, the author of 'Predictably Irrational' and 'The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty' discusses our mental frailties …

Decision making: too hot, too cold or just right?

<b>Question:</b> I was on the fast track in a big corporate job in Chicago, but once I got a taste of what that life was going to be like, I realize I don’t …

Making Your Choice: Breadth Vs. Depth

Decision making processes in humans is both incredibly special and flawed. Every time we are faced with making a decision, a myriad number of potential calculations goes through our heads in order to create our desired outcome. Even when we don't decide, we are still making choices about where we …

The Best Headspace for Making Decisions

Anger is not the best way to approach a big choice—but neither is happiness.<p>Let’s say you’re making a hard choice, one that could impact your life significantly. Every time you think you've settled on something, the other option tugs you back to its side. You end up where you started: It's a …

Game Theory Reveals the 4 Personality Types of Decision Making

According to a new study, 30% of you reading this sentence have jealousy issues.<p>Published in the journal Science Advances, the study concludes that …