PsycHacks

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be experienced. One of the corollaries of this position is that reducing reality to the rationally comprehensible -- while potentially intellectually comforting -- diminishes the experience of that reality. The fact of the matter is that the universe has no obligation to "make sense" to us, and certain things must just be accepted for what they are. #life #mystery #wisdom

Explore the intriguing dynamics of the sexual marketplace likened to a bustling harbor. Discover how perceived value shapes attraction and influences the choices of men and women. Uncover the roles each gender plays and how this impacts their options in relationships. It's a fascinating look at the unspoken rules that govern our interactions in romantic settings.

There are two general ways to approach dating: you can hunt or you can fish. It's good for men and women to know how to do both. However, in general, the higher your sexual marketplace value, the more likely hunting will be a successful strategy for you, and vice versa. In this episode, I will briefly delineate the differences between the two approaches. One is not necessarily better than the other, though they are quite distinct in their approach to mate selection. #dating #hunting #fishing

Men and women are different. And one of the most relevant of those differences for dating is the fact that men and women prioritize different things in sexual selection. One of the fallacies that I see both sexes operating under in the modern dating scene is assuming that what one is attracted to is also what will attract the opposite sex. This causes both men and women to signal the "wrong things" in the sexual marketplace. I'll discuss further in this episode. #dating #sex #gender

The "fear of commitment" is generally a judgment leveled by women at men when their invitation to relationship is rejected. However, while there are likely some men who are legitimately fearful of commitment, this is not the case for the vast majority of men, most of whom understand the importance of duty and teamwork. In this episode, I will explain -- using examples from my own life -- what is really going on when a man turns down an invitation to relationship. #commitment #dating #relationships

The fundamental romantic misunderstanding is the misunderstanding that tends to trip people up most often in the context of their romantic relationships. Very simply: it is the state in which one's attraction due to circumstances has been mistaken for one's attraction to a specific individual. This basically happens when you positively respond to the circumstances around a person, as opposed to the person himself or herself. I'll discuss why this is a problem, and what to do about it in today's episode. #romance #dating #relationships

It's easier than you think to get people to like you more. Unfortunately, in attempting to do so, most people are actively decreasing attraction. Don't be like most people! In this episode, I'll discuss both what this simple trick is and why it works on others. The magic is that the increase in attraction generally occurs beneath the threshold of awareness -- which means that this trick works, whether they like it or not. Watch the episode to learn more. #attraction #relationships #dating

This will be my first attempt at Storytime, in which I share a lesson gleaned from my personal life experience. In this episode, I'll relate the story of how I thwarted an attempted mugging while I was walking in the Chinese countryside. The takeaway is the psychological power of "half-ness," which exercises a fascinating influence on men. Hope you enjoy! #storytime #mugging #half

This is not a very popular view, but danger and uncertainty are essential components of continual self-improvement. In this episode, I'll discuss the concepts of "responsible danger" and "predictable uncertainty" -- both why they are useful and what they might look like. The idea is to use danger and uncertainty with intentionality to expose yourself to the challenge and novelty necessary for constant growth and personal development. #danger #uncertainty #growth

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who wrote extensively on the subject of happiness. He was fundamentally a hedonist, who is someone who believes that people are motivated to avoid pain and secure pleasure. However, the ideas of pleasure and hedonism have been largely misunderstood by contemporary audiences. In this episode, I'll discuss some of the things Epicurus actually said on these subjects, and how they can help us all to be happier. #happiness #pleasure #hedonism