Have you ever wondered why cliques are so strong and close together, even if some of the members don’t like each other?
You know your favourite colour, your birthday, and what foods you prefer, but wouldn't it be interesting to learn psychological facts about yourself and how your mind works? Well you’re in luck! It’s always fun to learn new things, and this article will teach you 7 psychological facts about yourself that you probably didn't already know! Keep reading to find out!
1. YOU CAN’T MULTITASK
This is one of the psychological facts about yourself mentioned in a few previous articles. Many people believe they can do more than one thing at a time, but studies show that the mind can only attend to one task at a time, with the exception of a few physical tasks such as walking. You may be able to shift from one task to another very quickly, but it’s impossible to focus on more than one task at a time.
2. YOU DON’T LIKE READING TEXT ONLINE
It’s true. You’re reading this article right now, but you’d prefer reading it on paper. Text on screen is hard on the eyes and tires them very quickly. Unless the information is interesting or in an easy to read font, your eyes and brain lose focus very quickly and you’re more likely to skip over the text.
3. WHEN YOU READ YOU ANTICIPATE
Are there ever times when you read aloud and you end up saying a word that isn't there? It’s because you anticipate the upcoming letters and say them before you actually see them. For example, you’d probably read and say, “The little children play outside,” but the actual text would say, “The little children played out and about.” When our minds put words together such as “children play outside,” we anticipate it, it’s not until after we actually read it that we realize it says something other than what we’re used to such as, “children play out and about.” Try reading this: I pledge allegiance to the flag to the United States of Amsterdam. Many of you caught it, but some of you said “America” because that’s what your mind expected to see. Cool, isn't it?
4. SYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITY BONDS YOUR GROUP
Did you know that doing things together bonds your group together? Have you ever wondered why cliques are so strong and close together, even if some of the members don’t like each other? It’s because they sit together, eat together, laugh together, and move together in time! Research shows that when people do things at the same time, they are more socially attached, more likely to make personal sacrifices for that group, and desire to be around members of that group.
5. YOU PERFORM WORSE UNDER TOO MUCH STRESS
This is a psychological fact you should keep in mind! If you’re under tons of stress, your brain does not perform optimally. You actually perform worse! That’s why it’s so important to take a day off before a big test! Give yourself a break for the good of your health and your work.
6. YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO BLAME PEOPLE RATHER THAN THE SITUATION
Did you know that when undesirable events happen, humans are more likely to blame another person rather than the circumstance? If you’re late for a meeting, you’re more likely to blame the driver rather than the construction on the way. Because the mind works this way, it’s important to remember it, and take into account when you encounter these situations
7. THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS IS MOTIVATING
Lastly, the illusion of progress is extremely motivating! According to research, if you believe that you’re progressing toward a goal, you move faster toward achieving that goal. Example 1: You go to IHOP and you’re given a card with 10 empty boxes representing how many times you've visited. On the 10th visit you get a free meal. Example 2: You’re given a card with 12 boxes and 2 already marked. Studies show that even though you need to visit 10 times with either card, people are more likely to complete the card with the 12 boxes faster, because of the illusion of progression. Now that you know this, you could make up some strategies that’ll help motivate you and push you toward productivity!
