Ten Interesting Things About Human Behavior

By Suzanne L. Davis

Ten Interesting Things About Human Behavior is a short, lighthearted look at 10 things human beings do, why we do them, and their significance in our everyday lives. What should we make of the talking heads on cable TV who argue about the cause of TV violence on children's behavior - whose explanation is correct? Why are reality TV shows, some of which portray contestants as pathetic and dysfunctional, so popular?

Questions like these usually provoke different answers from different people, each of whom may attribute his or her answers to "common sense." One person argues that "of course children mimic violence they see on TV - my kids do" while another attributes it to "poor parenting - because my kids don't." Which is it, and why?

Research psychologists try to answer these questions as best we can. This book is a brief look at the answers to 10 aspects of human behavior - answers derived from controlled behavioral research that is designed to test various theories about behavior. Certainly, there is more to human behavior than the 10 things I chose for this short book. And there are hundreds of primary sources and research reports that describe the research findings in more depth. They're out there if you'd like to read more.

But for those who are new to the field of Experimental Psychology, 10 Things may pique your interest in learning more about the subject. And for those "armchair psychologists" out there who'd like a quick read about the most fascinating creatures on the planet - human beings - I think you'll like it, too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzanne L. Davis
• Release date: Sep 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465926654

Suzanne L. Davis

Suzanne L. Davis received her PhD in Social Psychology at The University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a consultant and author who studies the most fascinating creatures on the planet: human beings. Suzanne writes about how people think and behave in everyday life, because sometimes there is brilliance in the ordinary. She is the author of "Ten Interesting Things About Human Behavior" and also the author of "Me or Whatever," a work of experimental psychological fiction about a Gen-Xer who barely survives the 90s.

Book preview

TEN INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Suzanne L. Davis, PhD

Third Edition

Published by Suzanne L. Davis at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Suzanne L. Davis

Smashwords Edition License Notes:

Thank you for downloading this free e-book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied, and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. Thank you for your support.

For everyone who asked me what I was going to do with a degree in psychology.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

CHAPTER 1: YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDES BY CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR.

CHAPTER 2: HUMAN BEINGS CAN BE INCONSISTENT. AND THAT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL.

CHAPTER 3: MOST PUBLIC DEBATES ABOUT THE CAUSES OF BEHAVIOR GET IT WRONG.

CHAPTER 4: READING THE SUBTLETIES OF BODY LANGUAGE TELLS YOU LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, ABOUT A PERSON.

CHAPTER 5: TABLOIDS AND REALITY SHOWS CAN MAKE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES.

CHAPTER 6: REWARDS AND PUNISHMENT WORK WONDERS, BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK IT.

CHAPTER 7: DON’T PUT YOUR AVERAGE JOE ON THE SPOT AND EXPECT A GOOD OUTCOME.

CHAPTER 8: WE USE A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN WE JUDGE OURSELVES RELATIVE TO OTHERS.

CHAPTER 9: AIRLINE TRAVEL BRINGS OUT WEIRD, AND OFTEN DOWNRIGHT RUDE, BEHAVIOR.

CHAPTER 10: OUR BRAINS TURN OFF OUR BEHAVIOR WHEN WE DREAM.

AFTERWORD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REFERENCES

FREE SAMPLE CHAPTER OF ME OR WHATEVER

FOREWORD

Ten Interesting Things About Human Behavior is a short, lighthearted look at 10 things human beings do, why we do them, and their significance in our everyday lives. How do we resolve psychological conflict that occurs when our behavior violates our attitudes? Why are we so quick to blame others for their behavior while offering excuses for our own? What should we make of the talking heads on cable TV who argue about the cause of TV violence on children's behavior? Why are reality TV shows, some of which portray contestants as pathetic and dysfunctional, so popular?

Questions like these often provoke different answers from different people, each of whom attributes his or her answers to common sense.

Research psychologists try to answer such questions as best we can. This short book is a look at the answers to 10 aspects of human behavior - answers derived from controlled behavioral research that is designed to test various theories (and competing theories) about behavior. Certainly, there is more to human behavior than the 10 things I chose for this book. And there are hundreds of primary sources and research reports that describe the research findings in more depth. They're out there if you'd like to read more. But for those who are new to the field of experimental psychology, 10 Things may pique your interest in learning more about the subject. And for those armchair psychologists out there who'd like a quick read, I think you'll like it, too.

Finally, I want to say a special thanks to those who offered constructive feedback on the first edition of 10 Things. There have been no substantive changes to 3rd Edition, but I have clarified a few points in response to reader suggestions.

CHAPTER 1: YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDES BY CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR.

When I was teaching and presented this principle for the first time, I got a lot of blank stares. Then came the questions...

Isn’t it the other way around? Don’t my attitudes influence how I act?

That’s ridiculous! I have a strong value system and I always live by it! "Are you saying that people are fickle and can’t