Comments for Using Psychology

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by Susan Mundy

Susan Mundy — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:56:26 +0000

D’oh, proofreading Susan! *”…on the other hand…” ◔_◔

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by jmalouff

jmalouff — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:18:54 +0000

Hi Allison. I especially like smiling at individuals who look shy or depressed. I used to be shy, and in those days a big smile from someone did me a world of good. And it still does!

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by Minnesota psychiatrist

Minnesota psychiatrist — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:21:57 +0000

Interesting comment about insincerity, Dr. Malouff. I once had a middle school algebra teacher who smiled (and laughed) constantly. It raised my curiosity. I’ll admit that at first, I almost didn’t believe the smile was sincere, and it irritated me a bit. But once I realized the absolute sincerity of her smile and laughter, this teacher’s simple presence had a calming, happy effect on me. The message sent was that she was a joyful person. You can’t really fake true happiness – and when we sense it in others, it does indeed uplift us more than we realize.
Now I will be much more cognisant today of my smiling, thanks to the story you’ve shared

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by jmalouff

jmalouff — Sun, 12 May 2013 06:34:44 +0000

Hi Susan. I agree. A friend of mine raised the matter of insincere smiles. I have seen only a few of those (that I identified). Those smiles never bothered me. The negative behavior that followed the insincere smile did bother me!

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by Susan Mundy

Susan Mundy — Sun, 12 May 2013 06:25:37 +0000

Yes, smiling is indeed contagious! ~(◠‿◠)

Let’s spread them far and wide…

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by jmalouff

jmalouff — Sat, 11 May 2013 10:31:01 +0000

Hi Lisa. Smiles are like yawns. If you think of someone yawning, you will often feel like yawning. If you think of someone smiling at you…

Comment on Smile — for fun and profit by Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:54:46 +0000

I smile at school all the time even when I feel dreadful. Many students have nicknamed me Ms Smiley. It is now a daily habit for me in the workplace. I think in years gone by when I worked in offices, surrounded by negative people, I didn’t smile as much as I do now.
Although teenagers are moody creatures, they are always up for a laugh if you can trigger them with a smile (or a funny face). They certainly pick up on the staff who don’t smile.

Comment on Standing during meetings by jmalouff

jmalouff — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:27:39 +0000

Hi Susan. That’s great. Your experiences are similar to mine. It will take a while to change the social script of sitting during meetings. Regarding standing while at a computer, I have done that for most of several days, using big plastic containers upside down on my desk on which to put my computer and keyboard. I believe my nice employer, UNE, will soon buy me a desk that I can raise and lower, giving me a convenient, safe way of working at my computer either standing up or sitting down.

Comment on Standing during meetings by Susan Mundy

Susan Mundy — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:01:57 +0000

Bravo John!

I’ve also taken this on (as a private project for myself). I find I’m still struggling with the tiredness standing brings, but I do have some bad back issues that are not helping. Having said that, I’m certain standing more is also helping my back get stronger…at least, that’s the visual I use when standing.

I do/did feel self-conscious standing where everyone else is sitting, but like you, have found a few will join in, even if only for a short time. So, like you, I think the modeling may be working at some level.

I’ve been listening to lecture podcasts, whilst also taking copious notes standing, but that’s only because I found the perfect desk (draftsmen style) which allows me to write while standing…perhaps something for you to consider when you are scribe at your next meeting?

At the moment, I find my deliberate standing is maximum of 1.5 hours, so nowhere near your impressive 3 hour marathon…but I’m a work in progress.

I now feel less deviant and use my standing behaviour to take the opportunity to spread the word about sitting being the new ‘killer on the block’.

http://www.xspeedtraining.com/2013/sitting-the-new-silent-killer/

I hope you are right and standing will become the ‘new sitting norm’. But, like most things in life, I think maybe everything in moderation?

Susan Mundy
Psychologist in training

Comment on Are you using your power? by Pat Wheeldon

Pat Wheeldon — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:10:35 +0000

… and I think we all hunger for praise as it’s such an acknowledgement of work put in, or just enough incentive to have us put more work in to a project … sometimes we are just so busy and wrapped up in our lives we forget that these little things mean so much to recipients ..