Each of us has something different that brings us happiness and it is indeed a unique experience. However, there are certain chemical reactions in our bodies and environment that can affect how we feel. Today’s infographic explores some of those. [VIA]
Use the photos posted in this feature for writing prompts, warm-up activities, drawing templates or as part of a photo analysis.
In this White House photo taken by Jack Kightlinger on July 31, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson listens to a tape recording from his son-in-law Capt. Charles Robb, who was a Marine Corps company commander in Vietnam.
“President Lyndon B. Johnson listens to tape sent by Captain Charles Robb from Vietnam, 07/31/1968”, Jack E. Kightlinger, Photographer (National Archives Identifier: 192617); Collection LBJ-WHPO: White House Photo Office Collection, 11/22/1963 – 01/20/1969; Lyndon Baines Johnson Library; National Archives and Records Administration.
Most people strive to be happy, even if we all have different ideas of what happy is! What doesn’t change is the science behind how our emotions work. We know that the part of the brain that controls our happy emotions is the hippocampus, and it releases a happy little chemical called seratonin that gives us uncontrollable joy when it’s flooding out and the gloomies when it’s low. What else might have this effect on us though?
Today’s infographic gives you some tips for staying as happy as you can be and how various activities and exercises can dramatically increase your happiness. [VIA]
Every culture expresses themselves differently, whether it be through words, signs, gestures, or symbols. This is no different when it comes to color. For example, in the US (and most western cultures) we associate the color red with danger, but for the Native Americans it’s yellow. We get the blues when we’re unhappy, but the Japanese see black. Today’s data packed infographic gives a fantastic insight into the ways that different cultures perceive their emotions through color. [VIA]
“… the face of the young man (a political exile who unexpectedly came back home) [was re-painted] four times in search of a proper expression. It is generally believed that by depicting various reaction of young man’s household Repin tried to show diverse but mostly positive attitude of society toward revolutionary movements of that time. Actually, under strict censorship of Czarist Russia, it was a political declaration disguised as an everyday genre scene.(Wikipaintings)
We’ve all had students who would prefer to read, study, or to work with their music on. Is there a benefit to this, other than avoiding a battle of wills over the use of headphones? Studies have proven that some light music can help with memory and focus, but just how does that work and what kind of music is best? Today’s infographic explores those questions. [VIA]
Today’s video from the PBS Digital Studios series examines the affect music has on us biologically. Learn about the evolutionary advantage music had for humans, how emotions are tied to and come from music and other sounds and situations that may do the same. Also included are different psychological experiments conducted with music that are very interesting.
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It seems today that there is a word for everything — and if there isn’t yet, someone will make one up! Did you know, however, that there are 19 emotions that are recognized in other cultures that we have no words for in English? Today’s infographic places these emotions on a spectrum with those that we are already familiar with. It is an interesting study into the nuances not only of language and culture, but also of emotion to see the subtle differences that can arise from basic emotions and feelings that we all recognize. Sometimes it makes me a little jealous of Mr. Spock!! [VIA]