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Giant Brain CandyFun Facts From The 12 Journeys

Born to Choose

People, and other animals, often prefer having a choice even when choosing wins them nothing extra. The need to feel in control runs that deep.

Source: The need for control
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Strong evidenceThe research
  1. Leotti, L. A., Iyengar, S. S., & Ochsner, K. N. (2010). Born to choose: The origins and value of the need for control. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 14(10), 457–463.

Journey 10 · Surrender

Born to Choose

People, and other animals, often prefer having a choice even when choosing wins them nothing extra. The need to feel in control runs that deep.

Source: The need for control · Strong evidence

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Giant Brain CandyFun Facts From The 12 Journeys

Out of Control, and Judged

Across 208 lab studies, the stress tests that raised cortisol most, and kept it high longest, combined two things: no control over the task, and other people judging.

Source: Cortisol, control and judgement
Giant Brain CandyFun Facts From The 12 Journeys

Let Go, Then Begin Again

People who could let go of goals that had become unreachable, and take up new ones, reported higher well-being. Both halves mattered: releasing the old goal and reaching for a new one.

Source: Letting go of unreachable goals
Giant Brain CandyFun Facts From The 12 Journeys

Calm Can Take Effort at First

After three short daily sessions of mindfulness training, people felt less stressed in a tough speech test, yet their cortisol rose more than a comparison group’s. Letting go may take effort at first.

Source: Mindfulness and stress hormones
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