Understanding and Belief: The Gilbert Experiment
The Gilbert experiment was conducted to try to resolve a centuries-long debate. The debate began in the 16th century between…
Experiments
Throughout history, psychology has carried out a great number of experiments which have changed science forever. In this section, you’ll find out more about the most well-known experiments, as well as the current experiments which offer some interesting results.
James Vicary and Subliminal Advertising
During the 50s, everyone talked about mind control and brainwashing. At the end of the decade, James Vicary conducted his famous experiment on the supposed efficacy of subliminal advertising. Over time, his conclusions were criticized. Nevertheless, they’re still a source…
The Fascinating History of Kingsley Hall, Anti-Psychiatry Headquarters
Kingsley Hall is the name of a building where doctors performed some of the most impressive psychiatric experiments of the…
Wegner’s Theory of Dream Rebound: The Effect of Thought Suppression
In the 80s, Harvard University conducted an experiment to try and discover the effects of thought suppression. American social psychologist…
Delayed Gratification and Impulse Control
In 1960, Walter Mischel, a psychologist at Stanford University, conducted a simple experiment with children. He tested their ability to…
Quattrone and Tversky’s Experiment on Self-Deception
If someone were to ask you, you’d probably say you never get involved in lies and deception. Most of us…
The Atir-Rosenzweig-Dunning Effect
Researchers Stav Atir, Emily Rosenzweig, and David Dunning defined the Atir-Rosenzweig-Dunning effect through studies they conducted. This curious phenomenon is when experts in a field of study believe they know more than they actually do. The researchers identified this effect…
Villa 21: A Successful Anti-Psychiatry Experiment
In the 1960s, David Cooper conducted an anti-psychiatry experiment called Villa 21. Although the results were encouraging, for some strange…
Optography: The Macabre 19th-Century Science
The 19th century was one of the most interesting periods of contemporary history. Social movements, industrialization, increased school attendance, and…
Sensory Deprivation and its Frightening Effects
The first studies on sensory deprivation date back to the 1950s. It’s possible, however, that there were secret studies even…
The Sex Raft: An Odd Experiment
Santiago Genovés was a Spanish man who immigrated to Mexico when he was 15 to flee from the Spanish Civil War. In Mexico, he became an anthropologist. Along with his Norwegian colleague Thor Heyerdahl, he designed a famous experiment that…
The Rat Park Experiment
The famous Rat Park experiment offered some fascinating insights into the nature of addiction. Rats are often used for “psychological experiments” due to their genetic similarity to humans. Ninety-five percent of the human genome is identical to that of rats.…
The Arzy Experiment: The Ghosts Are in Our Head
The Arzy experiment has tried to prove something few have dared to before. For a long time, anything related to…
The Power of a Smile – Three Experiments
Scientists say that only humans smile. However, some people perceive smiles in their pets or other animals. What’s for sure…
Little Albert: The Lost Boy of Psychology
The Little Albert Experiment is one of the most confusing and controversial stories in the history of psychology. It was…
The Stimoceiver Chip, A Fascinating Experiment
The stimoceiver chip experiments are some of the most controversial neuroscientific experiments of all time. They’re, however, also quite fascinating.…
Leon Festinger and Cognitive Dissonance
Leon Festinger introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance as psychological tension in 1957. He tested the decision-making process in a cognitive dissonance experiment. Cognitive dissonance is a sensation that seems to derive from a conflict between the ideas, beliefs, and…
Project MKUltra: CIA’s Mind Control Program
Even today, we shudder at the memory of the outrageous experiments carried out on human beings by the Nazis. Their…
The Best Therapy for Dependent Personality Disorder
In cognitive therapy for dependent personality disorder (DPD), the patient becomes increasingly autonomous and gradually modifies their contradictory thinking about…
The Zen Key to Doing What You Want
In the Western world, people believe that doing what they want will result in suffering or ruin. They even believe in silly ideas, such as that repressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires is synonymous with moral superiority. In reality, several…