Science of Choice

Empathy

The Role of Music in Promoting Our Empathic Reactions

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on March 23, 2023

Musical training can act as a tool to regulate emotion and promote empathic behaviors.

Musical training can act as a tool to regulate emotion and promote empathic behaviors.

Beauty

5 Factors Influencing Aesthetic Appreciation

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on February 22, 2023

Aesthetic tastes can reflect deeper aspects of ourselves—and also reveal certain qualities of other people.

Aesthetic tastes can reflect deeper aspects of ourselves—and also reveal certain qualities of other people.

Stress

The Mental Benefits of Seeking Awe

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on January 30, 2023

When we feel wonder at something truly incredible, we perceive ourselves as smaller and less significant in relation to the rest of the world.

When we feel wonder at something truly incredible, we perceive ourselves as smaller and less significant in relation to the rest of the world.

Personality

5 Things Your Taste in Music Reveals About You

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on December 26, 2022

People select musical environments that reflect their personalities, attitudes, and emotions.

People select musical environments that reflect their personalities, attitudes, and emotions.

Health

Kindness and Its Benefits

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on December 6, 2022

Kindness toward others can boost our own physical and mental health.

Kindness toward others can boost our own physical and mental health.

Anxiety

6 Sources of Stage Fright

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on November 27, 2022

Mental preparation is as important as technical mastery to enhance one’s capacity to manage anxiety comfortably.

Mental preparation is as important as technical mastery to enhance one’s capacity to manage anxiety comfortably.

Emotion Regulation

How Listening to Music Affects Your Mood

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on November 8, 2022

Music can be seen as a coping resource that leads to a feeling of empowerment and provides possibilities for emotion regulation.

Music can be seen as a coping resource that leads to a feeling of empowerment and provides possibilities for emotion regulation.

Motivation

6 Tips for Achieving Long-Term Goals

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on October 19, 2022

The key to reaching difficult, long-term goals and developing the necessary motivation is to start with small acts.

The key to reaching difficult, long-term goals and developing the necessary motivation is to start with small acts.

Stress

6 Ways Music Can Reduce Your Stress

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on October 10, 2022

Music is an easily available resource for the regulation of our emotions, moods, and stress. Here's how it works.

Music is an easily available resource for the regulation of our emotions, moods, and stress. Here's how it works.

Fear

7 Reasons Why Some People Feel Pain More Strongly

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on September 28, 2022

All pain is real, but it is also true that pain is constructed in the brain and that we can have some control over it.

All pain is real, but it is also true that pain is constructed in the brain and that we can have some control over it.

Stress

5 Ways Music Can Empower You

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on September 12, 2022

Listening to music can produce intense pleasure in the brain’s reward systems, commonly referred to as chills.

Listening to music can produce intense pleasure in the brain’s reward systems, commonly referred to as chills.

Education

6 Ways to Increase Learning Retention

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on August 23, 2022

Learning retention is the process of transferring new information into long-term memory.

Learning retention is the process of transferring new information into long-term memory.

Body Language

Why Reading Body Language Is So Important

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on August 7, 2022

Emotional expressions communicate information to others about our feelings, intentions, and attitudes.

Emotional expressions communicate information to others about our feelings, intentions, and attitudes.

Anxiety

10 Sources of a Courageous Mindset

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on July 29, 2022

The more self-confident you are, the less fear you will experience in navigating a crisis or traumatic event.

The more self-confident you are, the less fear you will experience in navigating a crisis or traumatic event.

Groupthink

Four Ways Music Strengthens Social Interactions

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on July 21, 2022

Musical interaction or synchrony, like dance, marching, and music-making, encourages group cohesion.

Musical interaction or synchrony, like dance, marching, and music-making, encourages group cohesion.

Body Language

The Importance of Rhythm in Everyday Life

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on June 30, 2022

Life is full of rhythms, such as heartbeat, respiration, day and night, and multiple other rhythms.

Life is full of rhythms, such as heartbeat, respiration, day and night, and multiple other rhythms.

Positive Psychology

Key Factors Influencing Aesthetic Preference

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on June 1, 2022

Aesthetic experiences can include viewing artworks, taking in autumn leaves in the park, listening to your favorite music, home decoration, and more.

Aesthetic experiences can include viewing artworks, taking in autumn leaves in the park, listening to your favorite music, home decoration, and more.

Emotion Regulation

How We Experience Music

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on May 14, 2022

Music expresses or communicates emotions that we cannot put into words, such as cheerfulness and melancholia.

Music expresses or communicates emotions that we cannot put into words, such as cheerfulness and melancholia.

Self-Help

5 Benefits of Imaginative Thinking

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on April 14, 2022

Imagination is a mental capacity that enables us to transcend present circumstances and construct alternatives versions of reality.

Imagination is a mental capacity that enables us to transcend present circumstances and construct alternatives versions of reality.

Anger

Acting on Impulse

Shahram Heshmat Ph.D. on March 31, 2022

An impulse act like anger can provoke a knee-jerk reaction that may sometimes be difficult to reverse.

An impulse act like anger can provoke a knee-jerk reaction that may sometimes be difficult to reverse.