How That Holiday Song Becomes An Inescapable Earworm
There's a reason why certain songs get stuck in our brains, scientists say. They interrupt the musical patterns we expect with surprises that we can't help but notice.
human behavior
The Physics And Psychology Of 'The Wave' At Sporting Events
You may love or hate "the wave" as it sweeps through spectators at baseball, football and soccer games. But physicists say the synchronized action shows how humans are like particles.
Invisibilia: He Mocked Celebrity, Then Came To Crave It Himself
This week the NPR program Invisibilia talks with a guy who despised our mindless worship of celebrities. So he devised an elaborate prank. It succeeded in ways he never would have anticipated.
Cosplayers Use Costume To Unleash Their Superpowers
A shy woman becomes a brave warrior princess. A man calls on Captain America to help him lose 45 pounds. In costume role play they become part of a community where they can transform themselves.
Invisibilia: Do His Sunglasses Keep Him From Seeing The Light?
Cass Frankenstein started wearing sunglasses to protect himself from bullies. Decades later, he still wears them. Some friends and relatives say that holds people at bay. But he says it's worth it.
She Offered The Robber A Glass Of Wine, And That Flipped The Script
NPR's Alix Spiegel, co-host of the podcast and program Invisibilia, tells the story of a robbery that was halted when a woman decided to respond to the threat in an unexpected way — with kindness.
Don't Do What I Do: How Getting Out Of Sync Can Help Relationships
When someone's angry we tend to get angry in return. But responding in an unexpected way is a valid tool in psychotherapy, and it can help make everyday relationships work better, too.
How A Danish Town Helped Young Muslims Turn Away From ISIS
Muslim youths in Denmark were leaving to join ISIS in Syria, feeling they were being persecuted in Europe. Then the police in Aarhus responded in a completely unexpected way: They apologized.
Personality Tests Are Popular, But Do They Capture The Real You?
It can be a lot of fun taking those back-of-the-magazine personality tests. But tests may be less fun when they are used by employers to make big life decisions on hiring and job performance.
Invisibilia: Is Your Personality Fixed, Or Can You Change Who You Are?
A man committed a horrible crime. Then he decided he no longer wanted to be a bad person. It is possible to change our personalities, psychologists say, even though we like to think they're innate.