A colleague sent me this link about a new program that will make you happy and that it is "supported by science."
http://my.happify.com/o/lp32/?fl=1&tmp=&trid=&srid=HRX4AZRF65&c1=RON&c2=300x250&c3=SadBrain I decided to look up some of the books on which the website is based, on Amazon, and peruse the reviews. I was flabbergasted when I saw that the book Hardwiring Happiness had such high reviews: 66% of 279 reviews were for 5 stars! So I thought Wow, let me read the 1 star reviews, must be some unhappy few people out there: and there I found what I expected to find. The book HUGELY oversells the power of imaging studies to promote conclusions that cannot possibly be reached with such studies. We just covered Brainwashed in my critical thinking seminar and it seems that most of what I could access in this book for free on Amazon fell into exactly all the traps that Brainwashed mentions. So how can they find so very many people to write such high praise for this book? I'm flabbergasted. To quote from the Amazon cite: "Hardwiring Happiness lays out a simple method that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures full of happiness, love, confidence, and peace." BTW no review in psycritiques Then we have this guy: Shawn Achor received a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Arts in Christian and Buddhist Ethics from Harvard Divinity School to promote this website based on his best-selling and highly (over???) rated book, Before Happiness. This is also not reviewed in psycritiques but his previous book is, The Happiness Advantage, and it is royally slammed for what it is: sham. Here are a few quotes: "Surely someone the New York Times describes as “A big star . . . a world-famous expert” (back cover blurb) would not mistake a largely correlational and unreplicated body of research for causal mechanisms of critical business outcomes!" and "Positive psychology is often criticized for rushing flimsy correlational research to market and peddling it as causal truth (e.g., Lazarus, 2003). Critics will find the apotheosis of their foil in this book...If Salvador Dali had partnered with P. T. Barnum, they could hardly have produced a more ludicrous, fantastical overstatement of what “more than a decade” of positive psychology research has discovered." HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS????? People are flocking to this junk and loving it and spending lots of $$ on it. I am going to write a book...I am going to put in it every single bit of "Influence" (see Ciadini's work) that I can. I will retire, finally.... Annette The rest of the positive psychology coaches promoting this website don't deserve mention--all of these magic bullet, quick fix authors! Penn & Teller have a fabulous bullshit! episode on self-helplessness. Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Visiting Professor, Ashoka University, Delhi, India annette.tay...@ashoka.edu.in Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego tay...@sandiego.edu ________________________________________ From: Annette Taylor Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2015 3:53 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: illusion Thanks to Miguel Roig who sent me the picture that immediately showed itself to be a razor blade! I don't know if the image I am attaching here will show up but turn it around by 90 degrees. Then imagine a bit of foreshortening and a bit of converging lines at the distance so that the lower part seems to have a larger end than the farther end. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Visiting Professor, Ashoka University, Delhi, India annette.tay...@ashoka.edu.in Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego tay...@sandiego.edu ________________________________________ From: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) digest [tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu] Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 10:00 PM To: tips digest recipients Subject: tips digest: November 07, 2015 TIPS Digest for Saturday, November 07, 2015. 1. Illusion? 2. Re: Illusion? 3. Re: Illusion? 4. Re: Illusion? 5. RE: Illusion? 6. RE: Illusion? 7. Re: Illusion? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Illusion? From: Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 18:39:14 -0600 X-Message-Number: 1 Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone see the figure-ground illusion? I have attached the picture JIm retired from FGCU Jim Matiya Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Illusion? From: Beth <beth.ben...@gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 20:15:56 -0500 X-Message-Number: 2 Are we all too embarrassed? Okay, I'll try to overcome pluralistic ignorance. Don't see a figure-ground illusion. Beth Benoit Plymouth State University New Hampshire Sent from my iPhone > On 7 Nov 2015, at 7:39 pm, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > see the figure-ground illusion? > > I have attached the picture > > > > JIm > retired from FGCU > > Jim Matiya > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: beth.ben...@gmail.com. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47290-13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aa...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > <illusion.docx> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Illusion? From: Christopher Green <chri...@yorku.ca> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 20:34:39 -0500 X-Message-Number: 3 By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I try to force the white into figure here. Chris ....... Christopher D Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 43.773759, -79.503722 chri...@yorku.ca http://www.yorku.ca/christo > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > see the figure-ground illusion? > > I have attached the picture > > > > JIm > retired from FGCU > > Jim Matiya > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: chri...@yorku.ca. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > <illusion.docx> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Illusion? From: Carol <devoldercar...@gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 19:35:44 -0600 X-Message-Number: 4 Me neither. I tried squinting, turning it upside down, and blurring my vision. I need at least a hint. > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:15 PM, Beth <beth.ben...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Are we all too embarrassed? Okay, I'll try to overcome pluralistic > ignorance. Don't see a figure-ground illusion. > Beth Benoit > Plymouth State University > New Hampshire > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 7 Nov 2015, at 7:39 pm, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an >> example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone >> see the figure-ground illusion? >> >> I have attached the picture >> >> >> >> JIm >> retired from FGCU >> >> Jim Matiya >> >> Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a >> listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of >> which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia >> >> >> :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) >> --- >> >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: beth.ben...@gmail.com. >> >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 >> >> (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) >> >> or send a blank email to >> leave-47290-13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aa...@fsulist.frostburg.edu >> >> <illusion.docx> > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: devoldercar...@gmail.com. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=47291 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47291-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: Illusion? From: Stuart McKelvie <smcke...@ubishops.ca> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 02:47:48 +0000 X-Message-Number: 5 I, too, do not see an ambiguous figure with two interpretations. Why does Jim not ask his student what is supposed to be there? Stuart From: Christopher Green [mailto:chri...@yorku.ca] Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:35 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Illusion? By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I try to force the white into figure here. Chris ....... Christopher D Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 43.773759, -79.503722 chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca> http://www.yorku.ca/christo On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com<mailto:jmat...@hotmail.com>> wrote: Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone see the figure-ground illusion? I have attached the picture JIm retired from FGCU Jim Matiya Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> <illusion.docx> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: smcke...@ubishops.ca<mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb72e3&n=T&l=tips&o=47292 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: Illusion? From: Jim Clark <j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 02:49:23 +0000 X-Message-Number: 6 Add me to those who do not see a reverse figure! Jim Jim Clark Professor & Chair of Psychology University of Winnipeg 204-786-9757 Room 4L41A (4th Floor Lockhart) www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark<http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark> From: Stuart McKelvie [mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca] Sent: November-07-15 8:48 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: [tips] Illusion? I, too, do not see an ambiguous figure with two interpretations. Why does Jim not ask his student what is supposed to be there? Stuart From: Christopher Green [mailto:chri...@yorku.ca] Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:35 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] Illusion? By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I try to force the white into figure here. Chris ....... Christopher D Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 43.773759, -79.503722 chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca> http://www.yorku.ca/christo On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com<mailto:jmat...@hotmail.com>> wrote: Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone see the figure-ground illusion? I have attached the picture JIm retired from FGCU Jim Matiya Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> <illusion.docx> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: smcke...@ubishops.ca<mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb72e3&n=T&l=tips&o=47292 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca<mailto:j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=47294 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-47294-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47294-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Illusion? From: Steven Hall <mrstev...@gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 18:56:24 -0800 X-Message-Number: 7 More like an example of closure to me. But if I try hard I can see an "A." (I blacked out the other stuff.) The head still lingers in my "top down" mind. Steven Hall Butte College CSU-Chico mrsteve2u2gmail.com ​ --- END OF DIGEST --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: tay...@sandiego.edu To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=47299 or send a blank email to leave-47299-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=47313 or send a blank email to leave-47313-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu