Loretta Graziano Breuning's Blog, page 15
February 10, 2013
Every Break-up Has a Lesson
Primates are incredibly picky about who they mate with. The fieldnotes of a primatologist sound weirdly similar to the lyrics to a country-western song. Our common neurochemistry helps make sense of our frustrating romantic ups and downs.
Relationship Lessons from Apes
The field notes of a primatologist sound like the lyrics of a country western song. A biology textbook sounds like a soap opera script. We have inherited the brain structures that keep animals focused on promoting their genes.
December 16, 2012
Excitement and Calm In Just the Right Mix
With sincere gratitude to my readers, I wish you just the right blend of excitement and calm in the holiday season and the new year.
December 8, 2012
Five Ways to Boost Your Natural Happy Chemicals
You can stimulate more happy chemicals with fewer side effects when you understand the job your happy chemicals evolved to do. Here's a natural way to stimulate each of your happy chemicals, and avoid more unhappy chemicals.
November 6, 2012
Clear the Decks For a Fresh Start
Six weeks ago, I challenged myself to clear off my desk. I did it! Self-acceptance was the key, since my desk is full of reminders of past frustrations and disappointments. I re-wired myself to feel caught up and let go of feeling behind.
October 25, 2012
How Baboons Choose Their Leaders
Baboons have curiously familiar ways of winning support. They share meat after a hunt. They groom the fur of influential troop-mates. They fight lions while their troop-mates climb a tree and watch. Patronage works. A baboon becomes alpha when his alliance is capable of overpowering the reigning baboon’s alliance.
October 9, 2012
Partisan "Science"
Most social scientists are liberal. Their research on the “conservative world view” sifts for evidence of fear and greed while ignoring these human weaknesses in liberals. They produce "data" on liberal empathy and tolerance and ignore those virtues in conservatives.
How Psychologists Promote Greed
When laboratory subjects exhibit spiteful behavior, psychologists call it an "urge for fairness." They imply that feeling deprived justifies vengeful behavior. Instead of rationalizing our mammalian urge for the one-up position, we need to understand the reality of it.
September 17, 2012
How to End the Distraction That Saps Your Productivity
An un-distracted mind is the key to productivity. Distractions are easy to avoid when you have a habit, and hard to avoid when you have to think about it. Here's a strategy for building anti-clutter habits.
August 22, 2012
Why It’s Always High School In Your Brain
The traits linked to “popularity” in high school are eerily similar to the traits that promote reproductive success in mammals. Life often feels like a high school cafeteria because the brain builds its mental model of the world in adolescence.
