Random thoughts and musings
At the Nature Reserve in Lewes, England, dogs are required to stay on their leashes. This popular spot for hiking and dog walking has seen a significant decline in native wildflowers and grasses, making the area look worn and damaged. This situation has drawn attention to the need for restoration efforts. Wildlife manager Dylan Walker … Read more
The Birth of a Movement Alright, folks, let’s dive into this incredible story about a grassroots movement that’s all about spreading good vibes. It all started with two amazing women, Cerve and Justianiano, who decided to take a simple idea and turn it into something that’s now touching thousands of lives. Meet the Founders: Cerve … Read more
Anna Kendrick’s (of Pitch Perfect fame) recent relationship is a good case study to understand gaslighting. Recently she was the guest on a popular podcast called Armchair Expert where she talks about her experiences. If we look at certain statements that she makes we can learn a little more about what it’s like to fall … Read more
What goal types are most effective for encouraging performance and happiness in children? In this study, two personality variables and three experimental conditions were investigated. Those with a high motive to achieve success performed better and reported higher satisfaction and happiness than those with a high motive to avoid failure. In addition, those with a … Read more
Gratitude is a lot of things. Gratitude is a personality trait, a mood, and an emotion. As an emotion, gratitude is a feeling of happiness that comes from appreciation. While in a grateful mood, grateful emotions are more likely be present. Those with a more grateful personality are more likely to experience grateful moods and … Read more
“Children who were rated 1-point higher on a 3-point self-control scale were 26% less likely to be overweight as adolescents.” Multiple factors determine a child’s weight status, of whether they are healthy or overweight. This study assessed whether self-control was one of those factors. 844 children were watched from age 9 to 15. Those who … Read more
How does grit affect your ability to reason, think and ultimately succeed at your goals? Discover the science behind grit and how it can improve your life satisfaction. Grit is the ability to persevere over long periods of time in the face of significant challenge – the ability to stay interested in the same idea, … Read more
In this study, the specific reasons why grittier spelling bee finalists reach higher rounds was assessed. The observation that grit correlates with spelling bee performance had already been made. Grit was found to predict two behaviors which in turn lead to increased performance – more practice, and better practice. More practice is self-explanatory – the … Read more
Across six studies, the authors of this article create and then attempt to prove the predictive validity of a shorter version of their previous, 12-item Grit Scale. In study one, using data from an older study, the 12-item grit scale was successfully shortened into the 8-item grit scale (Grit-S). In study two, using an online sample of … Read more
Teaching difficult students can be taxing – suggesting that emotional health and perseverance (e.g. grit) may predict teacher performance in poor neighborhoods. In this study, Teach For America teachers, who are required to teach in mostly poor neighborhoods, were assessed for 4 qualities: grit, life satisfaction, optimism, and performance. Performance was objectively assessed by averaging the academic gains of … Read more