All About Psychology Newsletter
What’s Your Chronotype? Old School Psychology Homework. Pearls Before Breakfast. Being A People Pleaser.
A very warm welcome to the latest edition of the All About Psychology newsletter—the official newsletter of All-About-Psychology.com, a website providing comprehensive information and resources for psychology students and educators since 2008.
What’s Your Chronotype?
Discover how knowing your chronotype - whether you're a morning person or a night owl - can improve your performance in everything from academics to decision-making. This insightful article by Professor of Psychology Dr. Cindi May explores how aligning your tasks with your body’s natural rhythms can boost mental sharpness and even help you avoid scams. A must-read for anyone looking to optimize their day! Read the article in full here.
Old School Psychology Homework
The following is taken from a footnote in Chapter 1: The Scope of Psychology in The Principles of Psychology by William James (1890).
Nothing is easier than to familiarize one's self with the mammalian brain. Get a sheep's head, a small saw, chisel, scalpel and forceps (all three can best be had from a surgical-instrument maker), and unravel its parts either by the aid of a human dissecting book, such as Holden's Manual of Anatomy, or by the specific directions ad hoc given in such books as Foster and Langley's Practical Physiology (Macmillan) or Morrell's Comparative Anatomy, and Guide to Dissection (Longman & Co.).
That’s my weekend sorted! 😂
Pearls Before Breakfast
Pearls Before Breakfast was the title of a Washington Post article by Gene Weingarten, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 2008. The question at the heart of Weingarten's piece was whether one of the world’s greatest musicians, Joshua Bell, would be noticed playing the violin near a D.C. Metro stop during rush hour. Or, as Weingarten more poetically put it, 'In a banal setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?’
No one knew it, but the fiddler standing against a bare wall outside the Metro in an indoor arcade at the top of the escalators was one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made.
In addition to asking his readers what they thought would happen, Weingarten also sought the opinion of Leonard Slatkin, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, who stated: 'Let's assume that he is not recognized and just taken for granted as a street musician... Still, I don't think that if he's really good, he's going to go unnoticed. He'd get a larger audience in Europe... but, okay, out of 1,000 people, my guess is there might be 35 or 40 who will recognize the quality for what it is. Maybe 75 to 100 will stop and spend some time listening.
So What Happened?
Joshua Bell played for three-quarters of an hour in which time 1,104 people went by. Of those people only seven stopped to listen for at least for a minute.
A Poor Life This
Concern over the costs of our fast-paced lives is one major issue raised by this engaging story. However, as this famous verse by William Henry Davies (first published in 1911) attests—and as Weingarten alludes to in his article—it would be wrong to assume that this concern is something new.
What is this life if full of care We have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep, or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this, if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
For me, the most thought-provoking aspect of the Pearls Before Breakfast article, was this passage:
There was no ethnic or demographic pattern to distinguish the people who stayed to watch Bell, or the ones who gave money, from that vast majority who hurried on past, unheeding. Whites, blacks and Asians, young and old, men and women, were represented in all three groups. But the behavior of one demographic remained absolutely consistent. Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch. And every single time, a parent scooted the kid away.
In the words of Angela Schwindt, “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”
Psychology Q&A
Question submitted to the All About Psychology Q&A page. Followed by an answer submitted by Jennifer.
Is my tendency to constantly seek approval and accommodate others a sign of being a people pleaser, and if so, how can I better understand and address this behavior?
Being a people pleaser often stems from a desire for validation, acceptance, and avoidance of conflict. Here's a psychological perspective on understanding and addressing this behavior:
Understanding People Pleasing Behavior: People-pleasing behavior typically involves prioritizing the needs and desires of others over one's own, often at the expense of personal boundaries, well-being, and authenticity. It can manifest in various ways, such as excessive agreeableness, reluctance to assert oneself, and fear of disappointing others.
Root Causes: People-pleasing behavior can have roots in early childhood experiences, such as receiving conditional love or approval based on compliance with others' expectations. Additionally, societal norms and cultural expectations may reinforce the belief that self-sacrifice and altruism are virtuous traits.
Impact on Mental Health: While people-pleasing behavior may initially seem altruistic, it can have detrimental effects on mental health and overall well-being. Constantly prioritizing others' needs over one's own can lead to feelings of resentment, low self-esteem, and burnout. It can also perpetuate patterns of codependency and enable unhealthy dynamics in relationships.
Recognizing Signs of People Pleasing:
Some common signs of people-pleasing behavior include:
Difficulty saying no or setting boundaries
Feeling guilty or anxious when asserting oneself
Seeking external validation and approval
Avoiding conflict at all costs
Neglecting one's own needs and desires
Addressing People Pleasing Behavior:
Recognizing and addressing people-pleasing behavior requires self-awareness, self-compassion, and intentional effort. Here are some evidence-based strategies to consider:
Develop Assertiveness Skills: Practice assertive communication techniques, such as expressing your needs and boundaries clearly and respectfully.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries around your time, energy, and resources, and communicate them assertively to others.
Practice Self-Compassion: Cultivate self-compassion by treating yourself with kindness and understanding, especially when you feel the urge to prioritize others' needs over your own.
Challenge Core Beliefs: Examine and challenge any underlying beliefs or assumptions that contribute to people-pleasing behavior, such as the belief that your worth is dependent on others' approval.
Seek Support: Consider seeking support from a therapist or counselor who can help you explore the root causes of people-pleasing behavior and develop healthier coping strategies.
Embracing Authenticity: Embracing authenticity involves aligning your actions and choices with your own values, needs, and desires, rather than solely seeking approval or validation from others. It's about honoring your true self and living in alignment with your own truth, even if it means risking disapproval or conflict.
While it's natural to want to please others, prioritizing their needs at the expense of your own can have negative consequences for your mental health and well-being. By recognizing the signs of people-pleasing behavior, understanding its underlying causes, and implementing evidence-based strategies to address it, you can cultivate greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and authenticity in your relationships and life.
Psychology Q & A is open to everyone and is designed as a space for those with an interest in psychology to both give and receive help. So, if you have a psychology-related question, feel free to ask! And if you believe you can answer any of the questions posted, I encourage you to share your insights. Please note that any content generated by psychology Q & A is provided for informational purposes only. It does not signify that I endorse the material provided or the views expressed. None of the information within psychology Q & A should be considered a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Halloween T-Shirts for Psychology Fans
CLICK HERE to check out a spooktacular collection of T-Shirts especially designed for Halloween loving psychology students and teachers.
Words to Reflect On
Until next time, I’ll leave you with a quote from 1896 by American lawyer, writer, and orator Robert G. Ingersoll.
For the most part we inherit our opinions. We are the heirs of habits and mental customs. Our beliefs, like the fashion of our garments, depend on where we were born. We are molded and fashioned by our surroundings.
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