The Fundamental Four

Believing in false things sometimes makes sense. Free will appears to be such a construct.

Gratitude

The Link Between Gratitude and Trust

Sandeep Gautam on February 12, 2017

A new study sheds light on how gratitude leads to increased trust via positive emotions.

A new study sheds light on how gratitude leads to increased trust via positive emotions.

Flow

Promoting Flow

Sandeep Gautam on September 15, 2015

Self-regulatory focus of promotion and prevention lead to different associated emotions like joy-sadness and anxiety-contentment. An effort is made to link the same with the concept of flow as espoused by Mihaly.

Self-regulatory focus of promotion and prevention lead to different associated emotions like joy-sadness and anxiety-contentment. An effort is made to link the same with the concept of flow as espoused by Mihaly.

Creativity and intelligence, though related, are opposites on a continuum. The same type of dichotomy exists between psychosis and autism and the underlying processes are surmised to be similar.

Research shows that striving for extrinsic goals, like wealth and fame, comes with a big downside in terms of diminished positive mental health and curtailed happiness.

Happiness

Negative Emotions, Anyone?

Sandeep Gautam on March 4, 2015

In a recent post Todd claimed that intentionally creating or prolonging negative emotions/states may be healthy; I present a counterpoint.

In a recent post Todd claimed that intentionally creating or prolonging negative emotions/states may be healthy; I present a counterpoint.

Leadership

Good at Task, Bad at People?

Sandeep Gautam on June 13, 2014

Two anti-correlated large-scale functional networks in the brain underlie the traditional task vs. people orientation amongst leaders.

Two anti-correlated large-scale functional networks in the brain underlie the traditional task vs. people orientation amongst leaders.

Intelligence

Experts: Born or Made?

Sandeep Gautam on March 15, 2014

A response to the insinuation that ability is the end all and be all of expert performance.

A response to the insinuation that ability is the end all and be all of expert performance.

This post makes a case for balancing the four major goals of life: happiness, success, meaning, and integrity.

Myers-Briggs

MBTI, ABCD and the Fundamental Four

Sandeep Gautam on October 25, 2013

MBTI or Jungian personality typology resonates well with the ABCD model and the fundamental four polarities governing personality as delineated by Theodore Millon.

MBTI or Jungian personality typology resonates well with the ABCD model and the fundamental four polarities governing personality as delineated by Theodore Millon.

Intelligence

Personal Intelligence

Sandeep Gautam on August 9, 2013

A review of Scott Barry Kaufman's 'Ungifted: Intelligence redefined"

A review of Scott Barry Kaufman's 'Ungifted: Intelligence redefined"

Personality

The (RDoC) Matrix Reloaded!

Sandeep Gautam on July 27, 2013

Unveiling a 4 x 4 Matrix of emotional/ motivational/ personality constructs that is hoped will serve as a Periodic Table for Psychology.

Unveiling a 4 x 4 Matrix of emotional/ motivational/ personality constructs that is hoped will serve as a Periodic Table for Psychology.

Bias

To Promote, Prevent, Be Congruent or Discrepant

Sandeep Gautam on July 21, 2013

How promotion and prevention regulatory focus lead to different kinds of emotions.

How promotion and prevention regulatory focus lead to different kinds of emotions.

Motivation

To Avoid, Approach, Perform or to Learn?

Sandeep Gautam on July 16, 2013

An attempt to synthesize motivational constructs like approach/ avoidance motivations and performance/ learning orientations.

An attempt to synthesize motivational constructs like approach/ avoidance motivations and performance/ learning orientations.

Education

A Different Kind of SWOT for Psychological Disorders

Sandeep Gautam on July 9, 2013

Four major systems are proposed based on genetic/neural and behavioral data: Self-learning; world learning; opportunity maximizing; and threat mitigation systems. Perturbations from normality of these systems lead to major psychological disorder clusters.

Four major systems are proposed based on genetic/neural and behavioral data: Self-learning; world learning; opportunity maximizing; and threat mitigation systems. Perturbations from normality of these systems lead to major psychological disorder clusters.

Fear

Basic Emotions and Basic Psychological Disorders

Sandeep Gautam on July 8, 2013

We need a valid and useful taxonomy and classification system for mental illnesses.

We need a valid and useful taxonomy and classification system for mental illnesses.

Unconscious

Your Unconscious Calls The Shots

Sandeep Gautam on May 12, 2013

A review of Leonard Mlodinow's 'subliminal' focusing on how our unconscious mind rules our behaviors.

A review of Leonard Mlodinow's 'subliminal' focusing on how our unconscious mind rules our behaviors.

Cognition

The 4 Fundamental ICN’s/Stances

Sandeep Gautam on February 6, 2013

There are four stances you can take towards the animate as well as the inanimate world and surprisingly there are four major brain networks that underlay and correlate with each of them.

There are four stances you can take towards the animate as well as the inanimate world and surprisingly there are four major brain networks that underlay and correlate with each of them.

Why we choose to do something goes beyond maximizing our hedonistic happiness and well-being. Factors like purpose in life or relationship happiness also play a major role.

To Label or Not to Label, that is the question: Whether it’s nobler in the mind to suffer the taunts and stigma of same-age bullies, or by defying the label given by the insensitive society, and not taking a pill, end it!