Hecateh
|
The power of positive thinkingSceptics and those that need scientific evidence are being provided with proof AGAIN that our minds are stronger and stranger than we think. Just because something isn't fully understood and can't be 'proved' yet doesn't mean it isn't so. See htis from the new scientist, backing up so much of the self help stuff.
| Quote: | Psychologists and neuroscientists are fascinated by the power of the subconscious over our conscious thoughts and behaviours, but it is unclear just how strong these effects are, and whether, as the self-help books claim, they can be harnessed in any useful way. Two studies suggest that the subconscious can indeed have some profound effects.
In 1998 psychologists Ap Dijksterhuis and Ad van Knippenberg at the University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, asked half a group of volunteers to carry out a simple mental exercise that involved imagining the mindset of a typical university professor. The other half imagined a football hooligan. All then had to answer some general-knowledge questions. The professor group got 60 per cent of their questions right, while the hooligan group got only 46 per cent.
Focusing on the body rather than the mind, John Bargh and his colleagues at New York University asked their volunteers to do a mental task involving words relating to old age, such as "wrinkled", "grey" and "bingo" (see Pigeonholed). A second group were shown words unrelated to old age. The researchers then said the experiment was over and secretly recorded the time each participant took to walk down the long hallway to the exit. Those with old age on their mind took significantly longer to walk down the corridor.
So it seems that a just a few moments' thinking time can prime you to perform either better or worse than normal at both mental and physical tasks. Maybe some of those self-help gurus are onto something. |
|
Hecateh
|
The second bit I find extra fascinating as they weren't even asked to imaging themself as being old, just used words associated with age
| Quote: | | volunteers to do a mental task involving words relating to old age, such as "wrinkled", "grey" and "bingo" (see Pigeonholed). A second group were shown words unrelated to old age. The researchers then said the experiment was over and secretly recorded the time each participant took to walk down the long hallway to the exit. Those with old age on their mind took significantly longer to walk down the corridor. |
How must it affect us when we keep repeating fear and failure thoughts to ourselves.
|
Nannyp
|
Okay....give me some words to visualise tomorrow so that I feel well again :D
|
Hecateh
|
But you already do this Kathy
You don't dwell on feeling rotten you get on with what you can do and look after yourself when you can't so despite the limitation of your life you get on the best you can.
If you just thought about being ill and saw yourself as in ill person and a victim you would be feeling far worse.
|
Nannyp
|
Poo and here was I hoping for a miracle ce soir 
|
angelfruit
|
| Nannyp wrote: | | Poo and here was I hoping for a miracle ce soir |
Love the new avatar by the way - who is the cutie?
|
Nannyp
|
Thanks Dawn, it's me at around 3 I think :D
|
angelfruit
|
What a little stunner - though quite a perplexed expression .... I wonder what you were thinking at the time it was taken?
|
dingsy
|
| angelfruit wrote: | | What a little stunner - though quite a perplexed expression .... I wonder what you were thinking at the time it was taken? |
"Let me get at these chickens!" 
|
angelfruit
|
| dingsy wrote: | | angelfruit wrote: | | What a little stunner - though quite a perplexed expression .... I wonder what you were thinking at the time it was taken? |
"Let me get at these chickens!" |
|
Nannyp
|
I have to say, life was quite perplexing back then! It's okay now though.........I put up with perplexing until I was around 40, and then I began to make sense of it
|
angelfruit
|
| Nannyp wrote: |
I have to say, life was quite perplexing back then! It's okay now though.........I put up with perplexing until I was around 40, and then I began to make sense of it |
I'm happy for you .... I guess most of us will be perplexed for quite a while ...
|
|
|
