https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-unethical-psychological-hacks/answer/Natalie-Engelbrecht-1?srid=4qnf

What things do people say that make you roll your eyes?

Quora User, Quora's kawaii cosplayer

Answered Jun 27

“I love you.”

No, I swear this isn’t a cynical answer about how love doesn’t exist. Hear me out.

I scroll through Instagram, and often I see “dedications”. Basically, they go like this:

OMG! You’re my favorite person ever, so cool, so cute, so pretty! I love you!!!! Best friends forever! Hope we get closer!

Alright, if you do these “dedications” for someone’s birthday, or simply to show your affection for them occasionally, fair enough. That’s cool.

But then it gets out of hand. “Dedication” for “dedication”. And these “dedications” are incredibly cookie-cutter and pretentious. “I love you” is a phrase so carelessly tossed around, in an attempt to validate someone so they will validate you back.

It’s so pathetic, seeing such a supposedly sacred phrase used so lightly. No, you don’t love them. You like them. You think they are good people. But you don’t love them.

Stop lying to them.

What is the smartest comment that you have heard a child make?

Ana Maria Piza, Freelance Simultaneous Interpreter (1996-present)

Answered Jun 24 · Upvoted by Michelle Callard-Stone, PhD Behavioral Psychologist

One day I was walking through the mall with my 8 year old daughter, and for some reason I was trying to explain that people do not like our current president very much and that he is not the best we’ve had (we are from Costa Rica… but apply as needed). She kept walking quietly for a minute and then said: “Mom, Presidents should start as presidents of small towns and ask the people how are they doing their work so they can learn and make changes. Then slowly become presidents of bigger towns until they are ready to be in charge of a whole country”. My relatives think SHE should run for president. Me… I am still in awe.

How do I ask someone their name when they already know me by name?

Peter T Mayer, Quora Writer, Founder of A Group Selfie Collage App, Family

Updated Jul 5

There is this dad at my daughter’s school whom I’ve met several times.

The first time we met, we introduced ourselves and since then we've talked with each other several times.

The problem is that I never remembered his name, yet he remembered mine.

He always verbalized my name every time we met, but unfortunately I could not do the same so I got stuck with the generic “Man”.

Any time we met, I said: “What’s going on, Man? How are you? Good to see you.”

At one point it became awkward so I decided to ask his name, but I didn't want to say, “Sorry, I forgot your name” because that would have implied that I never knew it all along, so I decided to go with a different approach.

The next time I talked with him at my daughter’s school, midway through I looked at him and said:

“You know, my wife and I have been discussing about how to pronounce your name properly. We just don’t seem to agree and I don’t like to mispronounce anybody’s name. Can you pronounce it for me exactly as your mom pronounces your name?”

The guy looks at me with eyes wide open and says:

“Joe”

It's probably better to just say that you forgot.

What one habit made your disturbed life calm and soothe?

Actually, you all can tell more than one habit.

Matteo Pentassuglia, An original Quoran teenager.

Updated Jun 19

Each and every morning my alarm goes off at 6.30am.

I wake up, drink a cup of fresh water, make a coffee and head out on the balcony with a good book in my hands.

While I’m there, I get the precious chance to experience the world while it is awakening: 
Roads are empty,
most people are still sleeping,
birds are enjoying an early, undisturbed flight.

And it is in this very moment of peacefulness that I gain the most important thing of the day: perspective.

There’s something magical about those early hours, but the perspective they let you obtain is definitely the number one solution for most of your problems.

You are awake. 
You have the beautiful possibility to experience a whole new day on our Earth.
It’s still early, and you’ve got time. Time to think about your life, your goals and your direction. Time to reflect on what you did and what’s still left to do.

Wake up a little bit earlier, make yourself a steamy cup of coffee, grab a good book and I promise your whole life will start to change, one day at a time.

Have you ever hit rock bottom? What did it teach you?

Loy Machedo, Founder & CEO (2017-present)

Answered Jun 25

MONEY IS EVERYTHING - When you have tons of money, you have everything - friends, relatives, love, respect, career - everything

FAILURE IS GOOD - Teaches you a lot of lessons in life, filters the fake people out of your life and makes you a stronger person

DEGREES ARE WORTHLESS - Trust me - I am a school drop out who teaches and trains people with Ph.Ds.

KNOWLEDGE IS NOT POWER - if knowledge was power, having the entire Wikipedia in your pocket would make you a world class expert. Knowledge is not power, the application of knowledge is

GOD DELUSION - I was a Bible Thumping preacher for years. Once I took god out of my life and took personal responsibility for my own life and its future - for some strange reason - my life changed and became better. So even if you want to continue believing in god - go ahead - but take personal responsibility for it.

MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR FRIENDS - Because your enemies will never give you money. So ensure your friends pay for your services.

KNOW HOW TO MANAGE MONEY - I wish this was the only lesson they taught in all the schools and colleges. Life would be so much better.

BULLSHIT WORKS - Honesty in the business world - well has its place. And if you think honesty is the best policy - think of Donald Trump.

Is it a mistake to be friends with an ex? Should one try? Why or why not?

For new partners, for the old couple themselves, any experiences?  If not a mistake to be friends with an ex, when can the friendship start?

Franklin Veaux, Friends with many of my exes.

Updated Jun 25

I only date people who I think are awesome. If they’re awesome and we break up, they’re still awesome. I remember the reasons we are not compatible as romantic partners, but I also remember the reason we got together in the first place. As a result, I am friends with most of my exes.

Not all, to be sure; it takes two to maintain a friendship, and only one to break it.

I think it’s fantastic to be friends with exes, and my exes who are also my friends add value to my life. Presumably I add value to theirs too, or they wouldn’t still be friends with me.

It is not a problem for my new partners, because part of dating people I think are awesome is dating people who are secure. The people I date aren’t frightened of exes; indeed, one of my screening criteria is I only date people who are on good terms with some of their exes, as it’s the best correlate of emotional maturity I have discovered to date.

What are the mistakes of your life?

Sofia Coutinho, former Student

Answered Jun 23

1 - Not having dignity and self-respect when it comes to men.

I didn’t know what kissing someone was until 18, so when I went to college I met some guys who clearly got advantage of my kindness, naiveness and attachment to people who showed me even the tiniest piece of attention. I just couldn’t tell that they didn’t want to have nothing serious with me (or even if I did realize that, I would be in denial and make up excuses for their crappy behaviour). They eventually got rid of me (two of them via text messages, actually)

This led me to depression and my anxiety problems got even nastier. However, about a year and a half ago I met the most loyal, supportive and tender guy who is now my boyfriend and treats me the way I deserve.

2 - Not enjoying high school times and not making all the normal teenager stuff I was supposed to do.

I didn’t go to senior trip. I didn't date (which would me made avoid some mistakes I mentioned in number 1), I didn’t get drunk or didn’t go to clubs. My group of friends were so small that when I lost them I was left with no one. I should have lived in a more carefree way. All I wanted to do was be in my bedroom watching movies and reading. I was a solitary and worried teenage girl.

3 - Not asking for help when it comes to my anxiety problems.

I was 10 when I had my first pannic attack. Since then, anxiety rules my life. I overthink and overanalyze all the time, I’m obsessive, I put myself down and I’m a perfectionist who blames herself everytime she does everything wrong. In my mind I just want to be a perfect everything: daughter, student, girlfriend, granddaughter. So if I have a bad day or bad thought, anxiety hits its spike and I can’t let go.

This would probably wouldn’t have happened if I asked for help earlier in my life and went to a physcologist.

What are some good study habits?

Also please mention how to make a proper timetable for a humanities student without maths

Timothy Soo, Masters of Teaching, Deakin University (2017)

Answered Jun 18

Two things that most “top” students do when they study

They do not study to remember, instead they study to understand. Study to understand makes solid memories because you have developed a deeper understanding of a particular topic.

Here is a simple way of how they may have done that.

In the last 15–20 minutes of every study session, they do a reflection where they find out what they have understood while studying and what other topics that still require some time to understand. This will give them a better sense of direction on what they need to do in my next study session. By doing that, they will naturally recall the things they studied very easily as well as know exactly what they need to study in their next study session. Hence, they are able to stay actively informed of their progress in their studies.

2. They all set certain times that they should be studying for exams or doing homework/assignments

Here is an example what you can do

Take one hour each weekday (ideally the hour before you go to bed) to revise what you have learn in class for that particular day.

This includes writing some short notes of what you know and what you still need to learn from today’s lessons.

In the final 5 minutes of that one hour revision session, you do a reflection on what you have learn in all your lesson today. This meaning making a summary of what you have learned today and what you still need to learn or not sure or seek help from the teacher on the next day.

By doing a reflection, you get a clear idea of what you know and don’t know which then gives you direction on what you need to learn in school. This will naturally give you a sense of purpose in school and keeps you engaged in class. Thus, you will naturally have the motivation to keep learning and studying.

During the weekends, allocate a 2 or 3 hour study session, with a 15 minutes break in between, on each weekend for a study session. The most ideal time to do this is in the morning when you just had your breakfast. In the last 15 minutes of each study session, you also do a reflection on what you have learned and what you still need to improve on. This will then give you a sense of direction on what you still need to learn in class for the next week.

All this should allows you to study efficiently and still have time to have fun and also have a good night sleep.

Do not study continuously for more than 3 hours because you will be disengaged

Do you see what you need to change in your studying habits?

What are the most subtle ways to deceive people with statistics?

Helene Hoegsbro Thygesen, PhD in medical statistics

Answered Jun 11

There are many contenders but I believe that is the most common one. People who drink a lot of alcohol have fewer health problem, according to the Copenhagen study. Turned out to be because people who don’t drink tend to be people who have been told by their doctor to be careful. There are thousands of similar examples.