Posts

Overcoming Stereotypes: The Role of Intellectual Humility and Brilliance Orientation in Education and Work

Image
Recent research has shown that our perceptions of intelligence and ability can have implications for learning, inclusiveness and diversity in educational and professional settings. This article reviews a paper by Porter & Cimplian (2023) and a paper by Muradoglu et al. (2023), each offering unique insight into this issue. 1. The Impact of Intellectual Humility on Learning The research by Porter & Cimplian (2023) emphasizes the importance of intellectual humility – the ability to admit confusion, ignorance and mistakes – in the learning process. Their research shows that environments that emphasize intellectual prowess often discourage the expression of intellectual humility. Another important finding was that math emerged as the subject in which students struggled most to express intellectual humility, more than subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology. How does express itself? Think about a typical math class, where students often feel uncomfortable asking questions

New Insights into Teaching Strategies: John Hattie's “Visible Learning: The Sequel”

Image
John Hattie, is an education scientist at the University of Melbourne. He is well known in the education world for his 2008 book Visible Learning . The follow-up to this book, Visible Learning: The Seque l, was recently published. Below you can read a little more about Hattie's work.

The impact of ChatGPT on our lives: findings and reflections

Image
Who these days is not concerned with the question of how AI systems, such as ChatGPT, will change our work and life? For example, many people have already experimented with ChatGPT and many enjoy using it. Some think that AI will take over large parts of our work in the future, while others are skeptical. Here are some recent findings I've come across and some reflections.

The pursuit of wealth, fame and beauty can make you unhappy

Image
The American Dream, the belief in the possibility that everyone in the US, regardless of background, can achieve success through hard work and determination, has always attracted attention. But what does "success" mean? Is it wealth, fame and beauty – the so-called extrinsic goals ? Or is it perhaps the pursuit of personal growth, relationships, health, and giving to the community – the intrinsic goals ?

Discomfort as a sign of personal growth

Image
The process of personal growth is often accompanied by the experience of discomfort. This is because it usually means stepping outside of our comfort zone. For example, when we learn a new skill, it can feel uncomfortable because it is unfamiliar and we may make mistakes. So discomfort is often a natural part of learning and growing. We can tend to see it as a necessary evil that comes with learning. It can also lead us to learn and grow but prefer to get out of the way.

The thought gap: we think more about each other than we think

Image
Human interactions are complex and often characterized by misunderstandings and misinterpretations. A well-known phenomenon is the liking gap , which is the phenomenon that we tend to underestimate how much others like us. This can lead to unnecessary feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. In this article, I discuss a related concept, the thought gap, based on an article by Cooney et al. (2021) . What is the thought gap, and what does it mean for our daily lives and professional interactions?

The power of continuity in organizational change

Image
I read about an interesting approach to organizational change that fits well with progress-focused working and that emphasizes continuity in organizational change.

Top 6 Most Harmful Beliefs

Image
I have previously written about how irrational beliefs can be harmful  and also how they can be difficult to change due to some systemic and psychological obstacles . But beliefs can change and believing they cannot change can cause us to stop talking honestly about our beliefs, creating polarization and making progress more difficult. With that in mind, here I am sharing my top 6 harmful beliefs plus a brief explanation of why they are so dangerous in my eyes. Hopefully, these thoughts will provoke further reflection.

The essence of meaningful work: making a positive contribution

Image
Work occupies a central place in our lives, not only because it provides a livelihood, but also because it can be a source of personal fulfillment and social recognition. Meaningful work contributes to our general well-being and can have a significant impact on our mental health. In this article I discuss a new paper by the Finnish psychologist and philosopher Frank Martela about what is now the core of meaning in work.

Controlling leadership does not work, read how it can be done differently

Image
Last week, three people told me that they had considered resigning, in all cases because of a controlling management style of their supervisor. The first person shared that his boss was blunt and then claimed that as a manager you just have to be “a bit of a jerk”. The second person described how his supervisor was constantly coercive, controlling and suspicious to the frustration of several people on the team. The third person complained that her supervisor did not involve her and her colleagues in important decisions and always presented them with fait accomplis. Although they had not finally decided to resign, all three of them were seriously considering it.

Communicating more effectively with SSG: succinct, specific and generous

Image
I came across an interesting article on Fast Company. The article explains the so-called SSG method for effective communication , developed by David Rock , co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute. Rock focuses on applying neuroscientific insights to leadership and organizational development. He has authored several books, including Your Brain at Work and Quiet Leadership, and is a pioneer in the field of neuroscience and leadership.

Simple intervention to foster teachers' growth mindset

Image
It is important for teachers to realize that the mindset of students can influence their performance and growth. Having a growth mindset —the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort—is important for success. However, did you know that the mindset of the teacher can also influence the performance of students? Research by Heyder, Steinmayr & Cimpian (2023) shows that deliberate reflection on teaching can contribute to the development of a growth mindset in teachers.

Acting on your values ​​leads to feeling and functioning better

Image
In this article , I wrote that self-determination theory research shows that when we engage in activities that are in line with our values, we feel and function better. A reader was interested in this and asked me for literature references showing this. You can read my answer here.

Power attracts the wrong kind of people

Image
Brian Klaas, researcher in London and columnist at the Washington Post, has written a book that is very relevant to the times in which we live. The book is called “ Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us. ” It deals with questions such as: Why is it that bad people so often end up in positions of power? How can we ensure that the right good people end up in positions of power? and Does power corrupt or are people with corrupt tendencies just more likely to end up in positions of power?

How well does satisfaction of basic psychological needs predict subjective well-being?

Image
To assess a country's overall well-being, it is crucial to consider both objective factors and material resources. These may include access to healthcare, education, clean water, among other essential services. For further insight into this area of research, please read this . Alongside these objective measures, it is equally important to examine psychological aspects and their impact on individuals' overall well-being and satisfaction. Psychological factors have been found to play a significant role in this regard. In fact, recent studies have explored the relationship between basic psychological needs and subjective well-being across various European countries.

From D-factor to prosocial beliefs

Image
The D-Factor , also known as the Dark Factor of Personality (D), is the following deep-seated belief held by some individuals: in the world we live in, it is justified and necessary to promote one's self-interest at the expense of the interests of others.” This D-factor turns out to be a common factor underlying all sorts of negative traits ( read more ). It has been researched in relation to various social and political phenomena, such as conspiracy theories, populism and responses to global issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Power and Limits of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Image
We regularly get questions about self-fulfilling prophecies, positive thinking, karma and the law of attraction. Do these phenomena really exist? How much value should we place on them?

How we reflect on our life experiences determines whether they make us wiser

Image
Wisdom is invariably associated with life experience, by both laymen and experts. If it is true that wisdom develops through life experience, how does that work? And what kinds of life experiences are involved? Is it about situations in which we find ourselves more or less spontaneously? Or is it about specific situations that we have to look for specifically? Spontaneously? Or specially searched experiences?

Staying Motivated During the Pandemic: The Role of Growth Mindset and Autonomy Support in Homeschooling

Image
The challenges of school closures due to COVID have been significant for many young people. Recent research points to two factors that may support young people to stay motivated with schoolwork during such periods.

Blockchain and crypto: The challenges and opportunities for progress

Image
Progress can occur in various aspects of life, and technology has the potential to drive significant changes, ideally for the better. One technology that has gained attention recently is blockchain. In a previous article , I explored the potential of blockchain as a powerful source of progress.  Despite the challenges faced by centralized financial institutions and some major centralized organizations in the cryptocurrency world, I maintain a positive outlook on the potential of blockchain and crypto to make progress. Even though I am not an expert in this domain and acknowledge its complexity, I am still extremely fascinated and committed to it. Consequently, it may be valuable to re-examine the fundamentals of blockchain and cryptocurrency and explore their potential for driving progress.

Old age does not only come with infirmity

Image
I recently spoke to a person over 50 about all kinds of things she had learned, was learning, and wanted to continue learning. She said she felt that life actually gave her more options now than when she was young. She concluded: Old age doesn't just come with infirmity. That sentence stuck in my head. Read below why I think that sentence holds a lot of truth.

The illusion of powerlessness: Why we have more influence than we think

Image
In a LinkedIn post by Jan Rotmans , professor of sustainability in Rotterdam and author of the book Omarm de chaos , I came across the concept of ' illusion of powerlessness '.

The different effects of the fulfillment and frustration of basic needs

Image
Within self-determination theory , much attention has been devoted for years to the positive effects of supporting basic psychological needs. Somewhat less attention has been paid to the undermining of motivation and functioning through frustration of needs. A new study looks at both.

The cruelty incentive: judging negatively to appear intelligent

Image
We live in a time of great changes in our societies. Organizations must continue to innovate to succeed in a changing society, which requires leaders and managers to foster a culture that fosters creativity and innovation and to continue to explore new ways to innovate and grow. If innovation is also important in your organization, it can be useful to take note of the cruelty incentive .

Can Psychology Explain How Your Mind Works? (Paul Bloom)

Image