Is Lying Addictive?

At some point in our lives we have all lied, whether it was to get out of trouble from our parents or having a false excuse as to why our homework is not complete. It would be impossible to say that we could stop lying, but when does the simple "white lie" turn into a much more serious problem. Dr. Nogales says that we lie in order to avoid embarrassment and to gain a self image due to the immense amount of pressure placed on humans to be great. People lie because they want to be someone who they are not and in result they are never happy with what they are doing. They often cannot acknowledge the things they are accomplishing because down deep they know it does not belong to them. They begin to lose their friends and relationships and their true self becomes isolated. Lying can be addictive and is extremely hard to stop but is certainly possible.

Now I have to ask you, do you think lying is addictive? Do you have a friendship that has ended as a result of lying? Do you find that you know people who begin to lie so well that not only are you convinced their lie is true but they seem to believe their own lies? How do you think you would handle a situation where someone very close to you was a liar?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/family-secrets/201110/liars-and-deceivers

Procrastination: Can you cure it?

As high school students, most of us probably procrastinate to some degree. But if you procrastinate too much, it can begin to affect your stress levels and grades. Gretchen Rubin suggests 8 tips for curing your chronic procrastination: don't give yourself a reason to hurry, don't be afraid to ask for help, make choices more quickly, conquer the task in small steps, work through the task for 15 minutes straight, get it done first thing in the morning, avoid distractions and interruptions, and don't get preoccupied by the work itself.

Ask yourself: are you someone who works now and plays later or do you procrastinate? Is procrastinating worth it or does it just add unnecessary stress? How often and how much do you procrastinate? Do you think Ms. Rubin's tips will work to help decrease or eliminate procrastination? How do you avoid procrastinating or fixing your procrastination?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-happiness-project/201110/8-tips-stop-procrastinating

Should Makeup Really Matter?

Hey girls!  Sorry for the delay, I've been trying to post this for the past few days and it won't let me but I finally figured out that I think my account just isn't authorized to post on here so I'm posting it from Jacquie's account.  Thanks!

- Ellie McCarty

Many of us have probably considered the effect that makeup and our looks have on dating and our relationships, but have you ever considered the effect that this could have on our job prospects? According to the article a new study suggests that women who wear more makeup have a better chance of being hired because they are more likely to be perceived as competent, likeable, attractive, and trustworthy as opposed to women who wear natural makeup and no makeup. As students at IHA, we often separate work and makeup/looking attractive in that most of us usually disregard how we look when we come to school because our effort and thoughts are focused on our schoolwork, athletics and other obligations.

Do you think that this should carry over to the workplace and that women should focus more on working hard than looking good, or do you think that it is beneficial for women to wear makeup to work, and why? What do you think might be some reasons why people in general see women who wear makeup as more competent, likeable, attractive, and trustworthy? Do you think that employers should consider whether or not a woman wears makeup, or do you think that they should completely disregard on the job or career field or that the sentiments of employers are/should be generally the same across the board?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201110/want-boost-your-job-prospects-try-beauty-makeover

Luck of the Irish? Or Talent?

Many athletes have their own little quirks or superstitions. They have to do a routine or wear a certain outfit in order for them to do well in a game. Psychologists have questioned whether these superstitions are legitimate or if it is simply pseudoscience. Psychologists have given many explanations for superstitions; to calm them down, to give them something to blame, or to put them in the right state of mind among other things.

Is this superstition just in their head? Do you feel there is any scientific explanation to back up their faith? Do you have any superstitions? How would you feel if you went to a game or a meet without your lucky charm? Do you think this superstition affects boys or girls more? Are they different kinds; do girls think more about outfits and boys think more about routines, etc.?

Read more about this in Mayberry's article, Unearthing Superstitions http://psychologyofsports.com/2010/06/08/unearthing-superstitions/