A new study conducted at the Harvard Business School has found that, when praised for past accomplishments, people tend to perform better at problem-solving tasks. The psychological trick is better known as “best-self activation,” and motivates people to reach the high standards they were once known, but only if they’ve recently been complimented on them. The findings are especially applicable when thinking of employee evaluations. …
A recent study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund and Zoological Society of London has revealed that—between 1970 and 2012—nearly half of the ocean’s fish population was wiped out. The combined effects of overfishing and climate change have been especially damaging to tuna, mackerels and bonitos—reducing their populations by nearly 75%. Facing the stark reality of our dwindling marine life, the WWF is urging governments …
In a new study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Process, researchers from Harvard Business School attribute creativity to an advanced understanding of sarcasm. They found that after participating in a sarcastic conversation, both the quick-witted speaker and the listener performed better in creative tasks. According to the researchers, the increase in cognitive function is due to the critical thinking necessary to …
