The secret to a better dating profile
Plus, discrimination and stress
BRAIN WAVES
Storytime. Stories are powerful. They make you laugh, make you cry, and provide insight into our messy world. But can they help you fall in love? A study set out to understand how stories might affect a person’s romantic interest. In three experiments, researchers showed people dating profiles that were either simple lists of facts about a person or full-blown stories. For example, one profile included simple facts like, “The person plays the guitar, studies economics and likes to travel.” But the narrative version, written by the research team, described how the person’s grandfather had given them a guitar when they were seven, and then music became an essential part of their lives. Sometimes these stories included photos, too. The results? The more narrative profiles consistently sparked more empathy, and that translated into more romantic interest. In other words, as study author Gurit Birnbaum put it: “We are fascinated by stories, yet we write our dating profiles like shopping lists.”
The stress of stress. Experiencing discrimination can take a toll on a person’s mental health, and it turns out that even anticipating the experience can be harmful. A study set out to understand how expecting discrimination—not just experiencing it—affects people day to day. Researchers followed 341 U.S. adults for 10 days, tracking when they anticipated discrimination and how they felt afterward. People expected discrimination about one of every five days. This was especially the case for those from marginalized groups. And when discrimination actually happened, those who had been bracing for it felt more stressed and reported a higher number of physical symptoms, like headaches and fatigue. Put simply, we don’t just react to stressful events, we react to the possibility of them, too. “There’s been some debate about whether anticipating stress can help people prepare,” said lead author Lydia Ong. “But what we found is that, in this case, it actually amplified the stress response.”
The cost of charisma...Charismatic leaders can inspire devotion and give people a powerful sense of meaning. They can also make us vulnerable. Listen to learn more.
WHY WE CHOKE UNDER PRESSURE — AND HOW TO STOP
You spend hours studying for the big test, practicing for the concert, prepping for the job interview. You feel ready. But when that big moment finally arrives...you choke. Why does this happen, and how can we keep our own minds from sabotaging us? Check out our latest video on our new YouTube channel to find out.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
How to Change the World: Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, says the answer is counterintuitive..
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Everett Miller’s Story: At 15, Everett was about to steal a shirt at the mall when a girl saw him and whispered, “It’s not worth it.” He stopped, and decades later, he still thinks about that moment.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
MIND GAMES
What goes up, but does not come down?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, then what is the day after tomorrow?
The answer: the 27th
MOMENT OF JOY
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