A study by Golle, Mast & Lobmaier (2013) shows how emotional expressions of happiness influence the judgment of attractiveness. Continue reading
Category Archives: Behaviors
Posting Facebook Status Updates Fosters a Sense of Connectedness and Reduces Loneliness
According to Deters & Mehl (2013), Facebook has 800 million active users of whom more than 50% visit the site every day. In other words, Facebook has become a big part of many people’s lives, and people increasingly use Facebook to communicate with family and friends. Continue reading
Posted in Internet
Sleep is Important for Memory and Learning Potential, Study Shows
When we sleep, we undergo different stages of sleep. The deepest stage of sleep is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It has been called so because it can be recognized by rapid, random eye movements. This stage of sleep normally occurs in the early hours of the morning. This particular stage has been linked to dreaming, but it may serve basic functions as well. Continue reading
The Dynamics of Materialism and Loneliness

Will possessions make us happier?
Pieters (2013) did a longitudinal study of more than 2,500 consumers over a period of six years. The author wanted to identify the association between materialism and loneliness. Continue reading
The Zeigarnik Effect: The Tendency to Complete Things That Were Left Incomplete
We like to finish what we have started. When we leave things incomplete (e.g., a puzzle), we tend to feel bad about it. This is the so-called Zeigarnik Effect. Continue reading
Posted in Behaviors
How Materialistic Aims Influence Psychological Well-Being
Kasser and colleagues (2013) state that often materialistic goals and values are prioritized in contemporary industrialized countries. As a result, money, wealth and possessions are valued relatively more than the fulfilment of psychological needs. Continue reading
Posted in Behaviors, Psychology, Shopping
Rituals Make Food More Tasty and Decrease Consumption
Rituals have throughout human history been enacted to mark life events. Rituals are systematized sequences of behaviors that prepare us for something to happen, and they often include repeated and unusual behaviors. They influence how people experience what comes next (Vohs et al., 2013). Continue reading
Multitasking Reduces Taste Perception and Increases Food Consumption
Van der Wal & van Dillen (2013) emphasize that people in modern Western societies devote less and less attention to their meals. This fact is supported by reports that have shown that we eat about half of our meals in front of a television. Continue reading
Posted in Behaviors, Eating Behaviors
Tagged consumption, experiment, fast food, food, multitasking, overeating