Category: Thoughts and Feelings
Emotion, cognition and the machinery underneath both. What the evidence says about how we think, what we feel at work, and the biases that shape decisions we believe we made rationally.
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You Should Talk to Strangers. Science Says So.
Research by Nick Epley and Juliana Schroeder demonstrates that people systematically underestimate both how willing strangers are to talk and how much they themselves benefit from those conversations. We are crap at predicting how it feels to talk to strangers We nearly all typically predict that talking to strangers will be awkward […]
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A 90-Minute Walk in Nature Measurably Changes the Brain Region Associated With Depression
Rumination (repetitive, self-focused negative thought) is one of the strongest psychological risk factors for depression and anxiety. A single 90-minute walk in nature significantly reduced both self-reported rumination and neural activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the brain region associated with depressive thought patterns. Urban walkers showed no such change. The effect […]
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Psychological Capital: The HERO Within
Psychological Capital (PsyCap) is a higher-order positive psychological resource comprising Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO). It is linked with improved performance, wellbeing, engagement, and reduced cynicism, making it one of the more robust and practically useful constructs in organisational psychology. Psychological Capital Psychological Capital, or PsyCap, is a concept developed primarily […]
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Gratitude: The Psychology Behind Appreciation at Work
Gratitude is a multifaceted psychological construct involving both cognitive and affective dimensions, distinct from mere thankfulness or politeness. Research consistently links gratitude to improved wellbeing, prosocial behaviour, and stronger relationships, but its effects depend heavily on whether it arises authentically or is institutionally mandated. Gratitude is not what most people think it […]
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Predictive Coding and the Predictive Brain: A Deep Dive
Predictive coding proposes that the brain is not a passive receiver of sensory information but an active prediction machine, constantly generating top-down expectations about what it will encounter and updating those expectations only when prediction errors demand it. Predictive Coding: How we experience the world Drawing on the work of Karl Friston, […]
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Introduction for the Workplace
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third-wave cognitive behavioural therapy developed by Steven Hayes. It’s organised around six core processes. Unlike traditional CBT, ACT does not attempt to change or eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings; instead, it aims to develop psychological flexibility, the ability to be present, open up to experience, […]
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The Predictive Brain: A Powerful Reframe for Leadership and Self-Awareness
The brain is a prediction machine: it constantly anticipates the world and updates based on what it perceives. Embracing this model can reframe how leaders understand stress, emotions, and interpersonal friction. Leaders can develop more adaptive and compassionate responses by recognising their brain’s predictive nature. Emotional intelligence and mindfulness can help recalibrate […]
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Connection Is Not a Preference. It Is a Biological Requirement.
Human beings are not merely social by preference, we are social by our biological design. Social pain activates the same neural circuits as physical pain, but social connection is a salve for many of our woes. We are biologically wired to be social Matthew Lieberman’s neuroscience research shows that the brain’s default […]
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Dual Process Theory: A Simple Summary
Dual process theory loosely says that humans have two types of thinking. Type 1 is unconscious, quick, makes use of shortcuts, is a bit sloppy but is relied upon most of the time. Type 2 is intentional, calculated and often more accurate, but it takes effort and is slow. Dual Process Theory […]
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Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions – A Simple Summary
Robert Plutchik’s wheel of emotions visualises the mapping and relationships between emotions, showing them as a range of colours might like a colour palette for paint. Plutchik’s Wheel Robert Plutchik identified eight primary emotions (joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, and anticipation). He suggested that these emotions are actually four pairs […]
