Description: There are concussions in hockey and football. The data on this is getting clearer and clearer. But the question of what this means for those games remains unclear. Can better helmets be made? Can rules against headshots (consistently enforced) reduce the rate and severity of concussion and related head injuries? Research is ongoing. Here… Read more »
Posts By: Mike Boyes
Moving Towards Transplant Fixes for Some Forms of Blindness
Description: The prospect of vision loss is scary and while my parents and grandparents would say things like don’t run with scissors or you cannot have a BB gun (for fear of “putting out an eye”) or make sure you have a good light on when you are reading because “those are the only set… Read more »
Engagement or Connectedness: Which works (matters) for you?
Description: If you have been anywhere near a post-secondary education institution in the past 10 years you cannot have missed overhearing discussions or seeing programs aimed at or investigating student engagement – as in, student engagement in the institute, college or university and/or in their studies. It is considered so important that it is measured… Read more »
Dreams and the Real World? Maybe an Evolutionary Tie-in!
Description: What have you heard about what Psychology has to say about dreams? Well, if you have had an introductory course from me you would have heard me say that theories like those of Freud, that our dreams contain deep life insights and meaning, are not supported by research, especially in terms of dream interpretation… Read more »
Schadenfreude — a Cool German Word and a Fascinating Psychological Construct
Description: Before setting up the article that is the focus of this post let me start by saying that, if you have not run across this before, you should look for some of the amazingly descriptive words the German language has for aspects of the human condition. Some have been borrowed into English (like Wanderlust… Read more »
Rewards and Behavior: Of Pets and People
Description: You may have heard someone somewhere bemoaning their observation that some people treat their pets like they are human beings (sneaking them into restaurants etc.) But, have you heard anyone bemoan the opposite – treating humans like pets (and I am NOT thinking here of consensual dog collar wearing OR examples of abuse). Here… Read more »
Ancient Shamanistic Practices and ‘Modern’ Problem Solving: Being Human
Description: While not trying to be overly dramatic it is possible to say that the 2018 American midterm elections which are occurring in 2 days are the centerpiece in a social climate fraught with uncertainty. There are legions of reporters, supporters, pundits and even a few politicians telling us how we should think about this… Read more »
Is “Fake it ’til you make it” that simple?
Description: Quick! Who is happier, or who is more often happier, introverts of extroverts? Well, consistently research seems to show that extroverts are happier than introverts more of the time. Why do you think that might be? If it is the case that being extroverted or perhaps acting in an extroverted manner makes you happier… Read more »
Diagnosing ‘Trump-like’ Behavior
Description: These days, and with increasing frequency as the November 6, 2018 American midterm elections approach, when people I meet find out I am a psychologist I am often asked some version of a “… so what is with Trump” question or in other words questions about how for “out there” is Trump or is,… Read more »
Morality and Autonomous Vehicles?
Description: You have undoubtably seem or heard the increasing buzz about driverless vehicles and you might think that the one thing you do NOT need if your vehicle has no driver is Psychology. But, think about this – driverless vehicles work the way they do because of how they were designed and a crucial part… Read more »
Books for Success!
