Friday Fun Facts you may not know

As my readers well know, even though this blog centers primarily on how people think, every now and then I like to throw in a tidbit or two concerning key figures and events in American History.

Not only is history my second biggest passion after psychology, but at the end of the day, both subjects are more entwined than most people realize.

Historians aim to understand the rationale behind the decisions that Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and other figures have made, dissecting everything from their upbringing and social relationships to their innermost fears and aspirations.

And while historians delve into these men and women's personalities, psychologists -- for their part -- cannot paint a full picture of the individuals without essential historical facts like when they were born, the places they lived throughout their lives, etc.

The month of February has witnessed countless important events over the past 200 or so years, two of which occurred 37 years apart on the same day -- February 21.

1848 - The death of a former president

On February 21, 1848, John Quincy Adams -- former U.S. president-turned-Congressman -- suddenly collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage as he stood up from his desk in the House of Representatives to defend his no vote on a bill. House members carried him to a bed in the Speaker of the House's private chambers, where he later died.

Adams, the son of former President John Adams, served only one uneventful term as president. Arguably, his greatest contributions to the country came as secretary of state to President James Monroe. Not only did he help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, but Adams played a key role in the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European nations that the Western Hemisphere was closed to further colonization.

Adams is remembered for going head-to-head with Andrew Jackson in the presidential elections of 1824 and 1828, emerging victorious only in the former. He was vehemently against slavery, promoted education, and pushed for a system of internal improvements ranging from roads to bridges.

1885 - Washington Monument dedicated

If you've been to Washington D.C., chances are you've seen the 555-foot-high marble obelisk built as a tribute to America's first president.

After Washington's death in 1799, plans for a memorial were discussed, but none were actually adopted until 1832, the centennial of his birth.

Though the cornerstone was laid in 1848, it wasn't until 1876 -- thanks in part to rancorous political bickering and the bloody Civil War -- that Congress passed legislation appropriating funds for completion of the moment.

The Washington Monument was formally dedicated in February 1885, and three years later it opened to the public. When completed, the monument was the tallest structure in the world; it remains today the tallest building in Washington, D.C.

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...

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