Psychology news

Psycho thrillers: five movies that teach us how the mind works

24-04-2016 17:43

Power, violence, death and reality … the movies can teach us plenty about life’s big issues. From the Godfather to Groundhog Day, five psychologists pick the films that tell us what makes humans tickTen days ago in London, the Hungarian director László Nemes hosted a preview screening of his film, Son of Saul. He explained that if people didn’t want to stay for the Q&A afterwards, that was fine; he wouldn’t take personal offence. The audience giggled po

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The Voices Within: The History and Science of How We Talk to Ourselves by Charles Fernyhough – review

24-04-2016 12:00

Hearing voices can be as much a sign of creativity as madness, according to an intriguing new psychological study“What shall I say about this book? Why do I like it?” This, were I to put into words what passed through my mind, was roughly what I said to myself before beginning to write this review. Hovering somewhere in the space between these thoughts, another voice, inaudible to anyone but myself, asked: “How about coffee? Or maybe wine? Yes? No, better stick to coffee.&rdquo

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Why are we so bored?

24-04-2016 07:00

We live in a world of constant entertainment – but is too much stimulation boring?It amazes me when people proclaim that they are bored. Actually, it amazes me that I am ever bored, or that any of us are. With so much to occupy us these days, boredom should be a relic of a bygone age – an age devoid of the internet, social media, multi-channel TV, 24-hour shopping, multiplex cinemas, game consoles, texting and whatever other myriad possibilities are available these days to entertain

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Heads or tails? Are you smarter than your MP?

24-04-2016 07:00

It’s a simple enough equation, but when we asked not many of our MPs got it right. Here’s your chance to see how you measure upAre you clever enough to be an MP? To find out, simply answer the following question: if you toss a coin twice, what is the probability of getting two heads? (I know we’re talking about MPs here, but you can assume that no skulduggery is afoot and both coin tosses are fair.) The answer, when you are ready, is below.Get it right? Perhaps you’re too

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