Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. It’s best described as a social science, although specific aspects can focus on anything from biology, to the humanities, to philosophy.

Below are a collection of facts and myths about psychology and social psychology pertaining to individuals, groups, and the collective.

TIP: Check out the YouTube playlist of Crash Course Psychology for a crazy amount of good information.

Humans are Born Selfish, not Compassionate


Are Humans Born Selfish, not Compassionate?

Humans are born both selfish and compassionate; we are hardwired to show compassion to our group and fear to those outside it. It’s genetic self-interest.

We Learn Best by Being Taught


Do We Learn Best by Being Taught?

The best way to learn isn’t “being taught”, its mixing self-directed learning with the roles of student, peer, and teacher in different social settings.

Humans are Hardwired to be Social Beings


Are Humans Hardwired to be Social Beings?

Humans are hardwired to be social beings. We naturally cooperate, care, and compete. From quarks, to cells, to plants, to animals, cooperation is in our DNA.

Money Can Buy Happiness


Money Can Buy Happiness

Money can buy happiness in some ways, and cause unhappiness in others, studies have shown that different types of wealth and income affect happiness and unhappiness in a variety of ways.

The Average Human Has an Accurate Memory


Does The Average Human Has an Accurate Memory?

The average human has a limited short-term memory and a fairly inaccurate long-term memory. This is due to the way we process, encode, and recall memories.

People Can Multitask Effectively


Can Humans Pay Attention to More Than One Thing Effectively?

People can’t multitask effectively. Giving simultaneous attention to tasks, or alternating and dividing attention between tasks, reduces the performance of at least one task.

Thoughts Can “Rewire” Your Brain


Thoughts can rewire your brain.

Thoughts and other stimuli can essentially “rewire” our brain, strengthening useful synaptic pathways and weakening less used ones, this is called neuroplasticity (AKA learning and memory).