Cognitive
Why So Many of Us Experience a Midlife Crisis
June 28, 2015
Young people, it turns out, are overly optimistic, expecting significant increases in life satisfaction, rather than anticipating the slide down the U-curve. Young adults typically believe that they’ll “beat the average” — that they’ll be the lucky ones who end up with a top job, a happy marriage, and healthy children. Neuroscientists believe that overoptimism is based on biased information processing in the brain, which makes it difficult to correct overly rosy expectations in the young...
June 28, 2015
Young people, it turns out, are overly optimistic, expecting significant increases in life satisfaction, rather than anticipating the slide down the U-curve. Young adults typically believe that they’ll “beat the average” — that they’ll be the lucky ones who end up with a top job, a happy marriage, and healthy children. Neuroscientists believe that overoptimism is based on biased information processing in the brain, which makes it difficult to correct overly rosy expectations in the young...
Well-Known Trick To Boost Attention Works
June 28, 2015
A recent study, though, suggests that concentrating on something for a long period of time actually makes it ‘disappear’ from the mind. Professor Alejandro Lleras, one of the study’s authors, likens it to wearing clothes. Over time we get used to the sensation of clothes touching our skin and don’t notice them. The same is true when we work on a task or problem for any length of time, he says: “Constant stimulation is registered by our brains as unimportant, to the point that...
June 28, 2015
A recent study, though, suggests that concentrating on something for a long period of time actually makes it ‘disappear’ from the mind. Professor Alejandro Lleras, one of the study’s authors, likens it to wearing clothes. Over time we get used to the sensation of clothes touching our skin and don’t notice them. The same is true when we work on a task or problem for any length of time, he says: “Constant stimulation is registered by our brains as unimportant, to the point that...
The Type of Smile That Helps Start New Relationships
June 27, 2015
People feel emotionally close to others displaying this type of smile. A ‘Duchenne smile’ is a powerful way of striking up a new relationship, a new study finds. People are highly tuned to the Duchenne smile, which involves upturned lips and crinkly eyes. And they can easily spot a fake smile, which tends to involve only the mouth and not the eyes.
June 27, 2015
People feel emotionally close to others displaying this type of smile. A ‘Duchenne smile’ is a powerful way of striking up a new relationship, a new study finds. People are highly tuned to the Duchenne smile, which involves upturned lips and crinkly eyes. And they can easily spot a fake smile, which tends to involve only the mouth and not the eyes.
Social Networks and Personal Bankruptcy
June 25, 2015
This article examines the role of social networks in a household's bankruptcy decision. Social networks may affect a household's bankruptcy decision in many ways: they could provide information about the required paperwork, recommend an attorney, reduce the stigma associated with bankruptcy, or increase awareness of its benefits. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), I exploit county and racial variation to identify network effects. My empirical strategy asks whether being surrounded...
June 25, 2015
This article examines the role of social networks in a household's bankruptcy decision. Social networks may affect a household's bankruptcy decision in many ways: they could provide information about the required paperwork, recommend an attorney, reduce the stigma associated with bankruptcy, or increase awareness of its benefits. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), I exploit county and racial variation to identify network effects. My empirical strategy asks whether being surrounded...
Be Confident, Not Arrogant: How Not to Cross That Thin Dividing Line
June 24, 2015
Whether an associate at a private firm, junior in-house counsel, or a fledgling prosecutor, it is difficult to navigate the field between confidence and arrogance. And indeed, the border between the two is quite thin. While applicable generally, navigating this line is especially tricky for lawyers, particularly litigators, who are supposed to be assertive and zealously represent the interests of their client. That being said, understanding the difference between confidence and arrogance is critical...
June 24, 2015
Whether an associate at a private firm, junior in-house counsel, or a fledgling prosecutor, it is difficult to navigate the field between confidence and arrogance. And indeed, the border between the two is quite thin. While applicable generally, navigating this line is especially tricky for lawyers, particularly litigators, who are supposed to be assertive and zealously represent the interests of their client. That being said, understanding the difference between confidence and arrogance is critical...
The Art of Writing a Persuasive Fact Section
June 23, 2015
Young lawyers spend much of their time researching statutes and case law to develop legal arguments about legislative intent, public policy, or the plain language in a statute. We draft carefully cited arguments on developing legal doctrines. We distinguish the other side’s cases. This work is important—critical for any decent brief—but as young lawyers we may be undervaluing the importance of the fact section. By and large, the judge will be familiar with the law. But the fact section is unique...
June 23, 2015
Young lawyers spend much of their time researching statutes and case law to develop legal arguments about legislative intent, public policy, or the plain language in a statute. We draft carefully cited arguments on developing legal doctrines. We distinguish the other side’s cases. This work is important—critical for any decent brief—but as young lawyers we may be undervaluing the importance of the fact section. By and large, the judge will be familiar with the law. But the fact section is unique...
A Win Win Negotiation Case Study Using Mind Mapping Negotiation Skills
June 23, 2015
Here is a win win negotiation case study using mind mapping, a negotiation skills you should consider adding to your negotiation and conflict management strategies. * * * In a meeting with the brothers, O’Dell created a mind map with the family business located at its center. Working together, the three men added branches to the map (working on a computer with a large monitor) that included the business’ interests, assets, and liabilities. A branch about commercial real-estate holdings,...
June 23, 2015
Here is a win win negotiation case study using mind mapping, a negotiation skills you should consider adding to your negotiation and conflict management strategies. * * * In a meeting with the brothers, O’Dell created a mind map with the family business located at its center. Working together, the three men added branches to the map (working on a computer with a large monitor) that included the business’ interests, assets, and liabilities. A branch about commercial real-estate holdings,...
Checkmate: Early Moves Define Negotiation Outcomes
June 23, 2015
The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas recently published Don Philbin’s article entitled “Checkmate: Early Moves Define Negotiation Outcomes” in its newsletter. In his article, the Chair of the Texas Bar’s ADR Section discusses the insight predictive analytics can provide to negotiators. According to Mr. Philbin, negotiations typically follow predictable social conventions and, much like chess, the first few moves are likely to set the board. In addition, advanced analytics suggest: Anchoring...
June 23, 2015
The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas recently published Don Philbin’s article entitled “Checkmate: Early Moves Define Negotiation Outcomes” in its newsletter. In his article, the Chair of the Texas Bar’s ADR Section discusses the insight predictive analytics can provide to negotiators. According to Mr. Philbin, negotiations typically follow predictable social conventions and, much like chess, the first few moves are likely to set the board. In addition, advanced analytics suggest: Anchoring...
Why Good People Do Bad Things AND How To Stop Them
June 21, 2015
How to stop people carrying out unethical behaviours. People who anticipate temptation are less likely to do bad things, a new study finds. The research also found that when people thought unethical behaviour reflected poorly on them, they also resisted. Dr Oliver Sheldon, one of the study’s authors, said: “People often think that bad people do bad things and good people do good things, and that unethical behavior just comes down to character. But most people behave dishonestly sometimes,...
June 21, 2015
How to stop people carrying out unethical behaviours. People who anticipate temptation are less likely to do bad things, a new study finds. The research also found that when people thought unethical behaviour reflected poorly on them, they also resisted. Dr Oliver Sheldon, one of the study’s authors, said: “People often think that bad people do bad things and good people do good things, and that unethical behavior just comes down to character. But most people behave dishonestly sometimes,...
What Your Brain Is Doing When You Think It’s Doing Nothing
June 21, 2015
Now UCLA research has found that in quieter moments, the brain is preparing to be social. Professor Matthew Lieberman, who led the study, said: “The brain has a major system that seems predisposed to get us ready to be social in our spare moments. The social nature of our brains is biologically based.” The study had people performing some judgements while looking at pictures.
June 21, 2015
Now UCLA research has found that in quieter moments, the brain is preparing to be social. Professor Matthew Lieberman, who led the study, said: “The brain has a major system that seems predisposed to get us ready to be social in our spare moments. The social nature of our brains is biologically based.” The study had people performing some judgements while looking at pictures.
