Allow me to commence this post by posing a question: Do you judge attractive people to be nicer or smarter than less attractive people? (Now, I know people have different taste, but let's assume, for the purpose of this hypothetical situation at least, that we generally find the same people to be attractive the world over.) Most of you might say, "Of course not. Physical beauty has little to do with traits like kindness and intelligence. Studies show, however, that thanks to human perception, they're more entwined than we think.  People have a tendency to judge beautiful people as sharing a variety of psychological characteristics based solely on their looks. Beautiful people are perceived not only as nicer, but more successful.  One study in 2014 found that viewers judged an attractive person who smiled as happier than a smiling person with an unattractive face.  It's mind-boggling to think that people would assign so man...

There's a quote I saw somewhere a few years ago that has stayed firmly embedded in memory: "To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world." Think about it. There are roughly 7 to 7.5 billion people on earth. Unless you're Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Kim Kardashian, or some other famous politician or celebrity, you -- like me -- are merely a speck of matter on this vast, overpopulated planet. Luckily, each and every one of us has a special place in someone's heart. We're all the center of someone's universe, whether it's that of our kids, partner, friends, or all of the above. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be loved by a few people and remain largely obscure to the general population than be in the shoes of celebrities and politicians, many of whom are reviled by people from all corners of the world. There's a reason why people go through an intense grieving process when they lose...

As you probably already know, Kim Kardashian was recently robbed at gunpoint and robbed of millions of dollars in jewelry in Paris. Reports say she was quite shaken up after the incident. As it turns out, a costume company named Costumeish sought to make hay of the ordeal with its "Parisian Heist Robbery Victim Costume Kit," complete with a fake ring, gag, white robe, black wig, sunglasses, and two-foot rope. The $69.99 item was pulled following backlash received on social media and on the retailer's website. The company's vice president said this is the first time it has yanked a product from the site, even though Costumeish has sold several other offensive costumes in the past. It doesn't surprise me that so many people were up in arms over this tasteless effort on the part of Costumeish to capitalize on Kim Kardashian's traumatizing experience. I can't stand her and will never understand why she and her family get so much media attention. Stil...

Really? Is this what the world's come to? Sources say that TIME Magazine is asking readers whether Kim Kardashian or Caitlyn Jenner should be chosen as the publication's person of the year. Among the other names being floated around are Republican presidential candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump, technology gurus Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg, and actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Viola Davis. That a respected magazine like TIME would even consider Kardashian and Jenner for the coveted issue is beyond comprehension. What have these people done to be deemed worthy of the honor? All Kim is known for is stirring up family drama and getting naked. In Jenner's case, the former Olympic champion revealed to the world her sex change, which garnered extensive media coverage earlier in the year. Why doesn't TIME feature those who are truly deserving, like one of our brave men or women in uniform, someone who devotes his life to helping charities, and so on? Instead, we'...

In case you didn't watch the MTV Video Music Awards last night, I'm here to fill you in on something Kanye West said that has both the entertainment and political arenas -- not to mention Facebook and Twitter -- buzzing. The hip hop artist and producer -- otherwise known as Kim Kardashian's husband -- declared his intent to run for the presidency in 2020. Now, I don't know if this is yet another publicity stunt in the same vein as the ones the Kardashians have become notorious for over the years, but Kanye West isn't the least bit qualified to run for office. Now that the anti-politician movement continues to pick up steam, we may see more and more Washington outsiders make a bid for the White House. Currently, we have three businesspeople in the presidential race, the most notorious of which is Donald Trump. But who's to say that more entertainers won't throw their hat in the ring? From Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger, we've seen several ...

People who idolize celebrities and go so far as to have plastic surgery in hopes of looking just like them are beyond ridiculous. Being a fan is one thing. But facial reconstructive surgery is, in my opinion, going one step too far. There have been reports in the news of girls going under the knife to look like Kim Kardashian and other celebrities.  But it gets worse. Some girls have had surgery to look like Barbie dolls, anime characters, and other inanimate idols! I understand impressionable children wanting to look like people or cartoons they look up to, but some people continue adulating them well into their 30s and 40s.  I think it's important for everyone to build a personal identity. As much as we may want and aim to be or resemble Lebron James, Taylor Swift, or Wonder Woman, we'll never be them. You are you -- and that's good enough. Embrace who you are. No one else in the world looks or acts just like you. (Even twins have different views, taste...

I think we'd all agree that certain topics and people get far too much news coverage these days. In this post, I'd like for everyone to list a few things you feel should be toned down. Here are a few that come to mind: The Kardashians, especially Kim Kardashian and Caitlyn Jenner Bill Cosby Donald Trump Murders and crime in general Riots Race issues What do all these have in common?  They're negative and thus more likely to garner higher ratings. Is it any surprise the news outlets are all over them? Here are a few topics I would love for the media to focus on more: Humanitarian efforts Charities Pets People who have overcome long odds to become successful in their careers Families Other "feel-good" topics Which stories are you tired of, and which ones would you love to see in the headlines more often? Please check out prior posts by clicking here: How to Understand People

I know this is largely subjective, but judging from all the media attention these women get, I'd say they are the cream of the crop right now: 1. Kim Kardashian 2. Taylor Swift 3. Beyonce 4. Rihanna 5. Iggy Azalea If I had asked this question a year ago, perhaps Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj would be on the list, but they don't seem to be in the headlines as much in 2015. The same goes for Lorde, whose ubiquitous song "Royals" was one of 2013's biggest hits. I think we can all agree that Kim Kardashian is the undisputed winner, seeing as how she's in virtually every news story that outlets like E! and Cosmopolitan put out. Taylor Swift, for her part, has earned the 2 spot. Her decision to break from country music and go into pop to appeal to a wider audience has paid huge dividends -- her popularity has soared to new heights, as has her net worth. Beyonce and Rihanna are always making the rounds for one reason or another -- whether it's a new so...

Everytime we turn the TV on, surf the web, or thumb through the pages of a magazine, we get bombarded with stories and pictures about: Kim Kardashian's ass Beyonce walking around in a revealing dress Jennifer Lopez sporting a 20-something's body Don't get me wrong: They're each incredibly attractive, and I can definitely appreciate a woman with some curves.  But is this really all there is to report on these women? Hollywood knows that sex sells. But I think far too much time is focused on beauty and not enough attention is given to brains .  These women are all intelligent in their own right. They're not only actors and/or singers, but entrepreneurs who have started clothing lines, perfumes, etc. I assume they put serious time and effort into such ventures, but unfortunately, the media chooses to gloss these potentially illuminating accounts over for stories about Kim's sex tapes and how J-Lo shakes her booty at concerts. You hardly hear...

Thanks to Kim Kardashian's well-publicized derriere and recent songs courtesy of Nicki Minaj ("Anaconda") and Meghan Trainor ("All About That Bass"), it seems big butts are all the rage these days. But why? Is this a burgeoning movement to convey that a little more junk in the trunk is attractive? Or is it part of an even broader appeal aiming to convince people that curves and a little more meat on the bones is sexy? It seems lately that there's a different story in the news each month about a plus-sized model being showcased in some well-known calendar or magazine. Perhaps this is a sign that society is finally letting go of the notion that a woman isn't attractive unless she's anorexic or very skinny. To think that this has endured for so long is simply mind-boggling. Even when I was in elementary school, I was already eying the most developed girls with the largest assets. Since then, I've maintained my preference for voluptuous wom...

It's hard to believe a new year is upon us. It feels like it was yesterday we were ringing in 2014! We've all had our share of happy moments and challenges this year. My now-wife and I got married in March and saw snow for the first time on our honeymoon to Washington D.C. We also closed on a condo just a couple of days ago, but not before enduring 11 frustrating months that saw two other deals fall through and produced plenty of tears and headaches. Thankfully, after closing, the tears coming down my wife's face were those of joy. We all have something to be thankful for and great moments to look forward to in 2015. Among the highlights of my year was the launch of this blog. Not only has it allowed me to write about topics about which I'm passionate in the realm of psychology, but it's given me the opportunity to meet a host of smart, caring people. I launched the blog toward the end of summer and in that short span of time it has already garnered close ...