Have you ever wondered why people do the things they do? This list of 8 surprising psychological facts about human behavior will give you some insight into human nature and how we tick as individuals.
Fact 1: People would rather be lucky than good
This is called an attribution error, which occurs when people don’t understand that success has a lot to do with luck and opportunity, so they think it’s about being good at what you do. It makes sense, then, that some people are still convinced they can strike it rich on lottery tickets or by betting on horse races.
Fact 2: The vast majority of us are biased when it comes to race
According to a 2011 study from MIT, 89 percent of people in America are biased towards white people. Not black, not Asian... But white. As far as racial bias goes, it doesn’t get much higher than that. That’s why it was surprising when research from Tufts University suggested that we may actually be just as biased against our own race as we are against other races. In fact, according to Tufts psychologist Dr.
Fact 3: Most human beings are terrible at statistics
It’s estimated that 50% of Americans believe more than half of all crime is committed by strangers. In fact, over 80% of crimes are committed by people you know. This helps explain why we aren’t more vigilant about locking our doors or even getting suspicious when certain friends want to borrow money. We just don’t comprehend how often it happens.
Fact 4: We're all looking for someone like us
We want to be understood, appreciated, and loved by those who are similar to us. So we gravitate toward others with whom we have something in common. We don't feel comfortable around people who don't share our interests or values, because it makes us uncomfortable when people act in ways that seem strange or unpredictable to us.
Fact 5: People want to believe they will live forever, even though no one else does
Researchers say that when people are asked how long they think they will live, they dramatically overestimate their future lifespan. According to a survey by researchers at Harvard University and Sichuan University in China, an overwhelming majority of Americans—84 percent—expect to be alive at age 90 or older. The problem is that the average person who lives to age 65 can expect to reach only age 83.
Fact 6: Birdbrains have more friends
Narcissists (narcissism is often a sign of low self-esteem) have lots of friends and acquaintances, but not many real friends. A 2013 study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that people who are easily manipulated, oversensitive to criticism, and lacking in compassion aren’t as popular as they think they are: Friends see them as overly needy, obnoxious, and rude. You know those people who always tell you what they think you want to hear? Yeah, no one likes them.
Fact 7: Listening leads to influence
People tend to like you more if you are a good listener. It’s true! Research shows that one way to be more persuasive is to actively listen during a conversation with another person. Remember, people, tend to like and trust those who show interest in what they have to say, so focus on learning about your counterpart before speaking up. You might be surprised by how much respect you gain from others when you genuinely listen!
Fact 8: Superstitions can actually increase performance
There is some truth to those who can't perform under pressure and says that superstitions improve performance. In a study conducted at the England's University of Hertfordshire, researchers found that participants who exhibited superstitious behavior in a sports setting also performed better. The researchers concluded that these players put their game on autopilot because they were focusing too much on trying not to mess up, which caused them to make more mistakes.