Social Psychology - Reflectd - bringing psychology studies to life

The Self is Not a Private Project: The Hidden Cost of Self-Focus

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:12:44 +0000

Modern psychology sometimes treats the individual mind as if it exists in a vacuum. Thoughts are analysed in isolation. Emotions are framed as personal deficits. Distress becomes something happening inside the person. But this view is historically naïve. Philip Cushman’s classic article Why the Self Is Empty (1990) reminds us of something uncomfortable: the way […]

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Is Stress Itself Harmful? A Closer Look at the TED Talk by Kelly McGonigal “How to Make Stress Your Friend”

Simon Moesgaard — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:30:32 +0000

When Kelly McGonigal’s TED Talk went viral back in 2013, many walked away with a striking message: “Stress only harms you if you believe it does.” It’s a compelling idea — the notion that the mind can reshape the body’s stress response. A decade later, the talk has surpassed 50 million views across platforms. With […]

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Why Intrinsic Motivation Beats Rewards: Lessons from a Danish Study on Work and Well-Being

Simon Moesgaard — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 14:49:56 +0000

Intrinsic motivation fuels satisfaction and performance — control suppresses both. I stumbled upon my 10-year old thesis. Since it’s still relevant, I want to share the findings with you, and at the same time, acknowledge the theory of Self-Determination (SDT) by Deci & Ryan. It investigates the role of self-determination (intrinsic motivation) in work motivation […]

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The 100% Deal When It Comes to Making Long-Lasting Change

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 14:03:18 +0000

Did you already drop your New Year’s Resolution? It might be too early to drop it, so what is going on? We want to see change in our lives but have difficulties changing ourselves. This article is a reminder to myself that making changes demands sustained focus, continuity and effective habits. As a therapist, I […]

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Can’t See the Forest for Trees? Studies Show The Mental Benefits of Engaging With Nature

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 22:53:37 +0000

Our culture has too often talked in terms of conquering nature. This is about as sensible as for a caddis worm to talk of conquering the pond that supports it, or a drunk to start fighting the bed he is lying on. – Mary Midgley (1978) Have you taken a forest bath lately? You might […]

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How to Give the Best Gifts, According to Psychological Research

Simon Moesgaard — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 21:16:11 +0000

What should you look for when buying a gift? This article tries to answer that question. A new paper, based on a survey of existing research, suggests that some gifts are great to give but not to receive. Scroll down and learn more from the infographic. The authors state that when we buy gifts, we are likely to focus […]

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Study: Your Generousity Creates More Generousity and Empathy in Others

Simon Moesgaard — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 19:48:46 +0000

Human beings are social beings. The tendency to behave, talk and walk like others is what we call conformity, which has been documented in various studies. It is believed that sociality is a product of evolution, meaning that we have had better chances of survival in groups than we have had on our own. We may react strongly to social exclusion because we […]

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Don’t Fear Responsibility Because ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’

Simon Moesgaard — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:11:07 +0000

When we hold others responsible, we expect something from, and in order to expect something from others, we must trust and believe in them. We have to believe that they are capable of doing what we expect. I think we expect something from others for one obvious reason in particular. That is, we ultimately depend on […]

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Social Effectiveness Therapy Beats Social Anxiety, Study Shows

Simon Moesgaard — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:01:19 +0000

At some point in our lives, we all experience symptoms of anxiety. Public speaking or other unfamiliar situations can provoke natural feelings of anxiety. When these natural feelings turn into excessive anxiety and worry, they might be classified as an anxiety disorder. In DSM-5, social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is defined as a pronounced and persistent fear of scrutiny […]

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Does Your Pursuit of Self-Esteem Damage You?

Simon Moesgaard — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 17:55:00 +0000

How do we increase our self-esteem, and how do raise children with high self-esteem? Many self-help books try to answer questions like these. So, the pursuit of self-esteem is a central preoccupation in our modern culture. Self-esteem is a popular topic within psychology. Some psychologists believe that self-esteem is a universal human need (see Allport, Baumeister, Maslow, and Rogers). […]

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