Meaning: A confusing and difficult problem or question.Example: Solving this math problem was a conundrum that took me hours to figure out.

Conundrum

Meaning: Lasting for a very short time.Example: The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral and only lasts for a few days.

Ephemeral

Meaning: Difficult to understand or interpret.Example: The ancient text was inscrutable to the modern scholar without translation.

Inscrutable

Meaning: A very large number or variety.Example: The book contained a myriad of facts and figures about the history of the region.

Myriad

Meaning: Wicked or criminal.Example: The thieves had a nefarious plan to rob the bank and get away with the money.

Nefarious

Meaning: Complaining or whining in a petulant manner.Example: The querulous child whined about not getting the toy he wanted.

Querulous

Meaning: Most noticeable or important.Example: The salient point of the argument was that the proposal was too expensive.

Salient

Meaning: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.Example: Fast food chains are ubiquitous in the United States.

Ubiquitous

Meaning: Causing annoyance, frustration, or worry.Example: The vexatious noise of the construction site next door kept the neighbors up all night.

Vexatious

Meaning: Having great enthusiasm or passion for something.Example: The zealous artist poured his heart and soul into his paintings.

Zealous

Meaning: A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.Example: The athlete's poor performance in the competition was an abberation from his usual record.

Aberration

Meaning: High-sounding but with little meaning, inflated.Example: The CEO's email to employees was filled with bombastic language about the company's success.

Bombastic

Meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.Example: The construction site next door was a cacophony of drilling, hammering, and shouting.

Cacophony

Meaning: Regard or represent as being of little worth, belittle.Example: The politician's opponent disparage his record as a failed leader.

Disparage

Meaning: A person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.Example: The disappearance of the plane remains an enigma to investigators.

Enigma

Meaning: Attempting to avoid notice or attention, secretive.Example: The spy's furtive movements were captured on video by a surveillance camera.

Furtive

Meaning: Fond of company, sociable.Example: The dog was so gregarious that it greeted every visitor to the house with wagging tail.

Gregarious

Meaning: A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.Example: The first snowfall of the year is often seen as a harbinger of winter.

Harbinger

Meaning: Self-evident, unquestionable.Example: The idea that people have the right to free speech is axiomatic in democratic societies.

Axiomatic

Meaning: Calmness, composure, evenness of temper.Example: He faced the criticism with equanimity and did not let it bother him.

Equanimity

Meaning: To kneel, bow or bend in reverence or worship.Example: The athlete genuflected before the game as a sign of respect for his opponents.

Genuflect

Meaning: Stubborn, unwilling to compromise.Example: The union leaders were intransigent in their demands for higher wages.

Intransigent

Meaning: To place side by side for comparison or contrast.Example: The author juxtaposed the protagonist's inner thoughts with her outward actions.

Juxtapose

Meaning: Clear, transparent, easy to understand.Example: Her voice was a limpid and pure as a mountain stream.

Limpid

Meaning: A profound change in form or nature.Example: Her experiences during the war caused a metamorphosis in her beliefs and attitudes.

Metamorphosis

Meaning: Having keen insight, mentally sharp.Example: The perspicacious detective quickly solved the crime.

Perspicacious

Meaning: Complaining, whining, fretful.Example: The patient was querulous and demanded constant attention from the nurses.

Meaning: To criticize or berate harshly, to use abusive language towards.Example: He vituperated his boss in a scathing email that he later regretted sending.

Vituperate

Meaning: Bewildered, confused, unsure how to react.Example: She was left feeling nonplussed by the strange turn of events.

Nonplussed

Meaning: Stubborn, unyielding, resistant to persuasion.Example: The obdurate boss would not listen to any suggestions from her employees.

Obdurate

C2 words for IELTS - Group 2. These 30 words are at Level C2 (the highest level) so you can test your skills and improve your vocabulary.

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C2 words for IELTS - Group 2 | IELTStestONLINE

Self-perception theory suggests that our behaviors can influence our attitudes, rather than the other way around.Example: smiling in the mirror before entering a room to improve mood. This idea is supported by James Laird's 1970s experiments, where participants who smiled reported feeling happier than those who frowned.

Intro

Bem proposed that people form attitudes by observing their own behaviors, especially in new or ambiguous situations.In one study, participants judged a man who lied for $1 as enjoying lying more than one who lied for $20, suggesting that lower external rewards led them to assume internal motivation.

Daryl Bem's Research (1960s-70s)

A 2010 study on extremist groups found that as members committed more violent acts, their attitudes shifted to justify their actions. This reinforces the idea that behavior shapes beliefs, not just the reverse.

Modern Applications

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Cognitive dissonance occurs when conflicting beliefs cause discomfort, leading people to adjust their attitudes before acting.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Self-perception theory applies when attitudes are unclear, and people infer their beliefs after observing their own actions.</li></ul>Psychologists suggest both theories can co-exist: cognitive dissonance dominates with strong pre-existing beliefs, while self-perception applies in ambiguous situations.

Self-Perception vs. Cognitive Dissonance

Techniques like the foot-in-the-door method use small initial agreements (e.g., letting a salesperson inside) to lead to larger commitments (e.g., buying a product). By saying "yes" to small requests, people adjust their self-image to align with their actions, making them more open to further requests.

Real-World Use: "Yes Ladders" & Marketing

Self Perception Theory is a psychological theory that states whatever people think about themselves, they will perform actions to make those thoughts true, subconsciously or not. Learn more about Self Perception Theory: https://practicalpie.com/self-perception-theory/

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Practical Psychology

Self Perception Theory (vs Cognitive Dissonance) + Examples

This theory explores how people explain others' behavior. Humans naturally try to understand actions, whether analyzing a friend's partner or a stranger running in public. Psychologists study both behavior and how people interpret it, calling this process attribution—how we assign causes to actions, often making mistakes.

What is Attribution Theory?

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Dispositional (Internal) Attribution: Behavior is due to personality (e.g., someone crying on the subway because they're emotionally unstable).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Situational (External) Attribution: Behavior is due to circumstances (e.g., crying because of a breakup).</li></ol>

Fritz Heider Introduced Two Key Types of Attribution

Suggests we attribute our own actions to situations but others’ actions to their character.

The Actor-Observer Bias

Explains when we use internal attribution:If behavior is intentional, unusual, directed at someone, or harmful/helpful, we assume it reflects personality (e.g., street harassment is seen as the harasser's trait).

Jones and Davis's Correspondent Inference Theory

Outlines three factors to determine attribution:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Consensus: Do others act the same way in the situation? (High = external; Low = internal).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Distinctiveness: Does the person act differently in other situations? (High = external; Low = internal).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Consistency: Does the person always act this way in this situation? (High = internal; Low = external).</li></ol>

Harold Kelly’s Covariation Model (1973)

Example: A friend buys expensive champagne at a dinner party. If they always do this (low distinctiveness, high consistency) and others don’t (low consensus), you’d attribute it to their personality. If it’s unusual (high distinctiveness) and others are also splurging (high consensus), you'd blame the situation (e.g., a celebration).

With strangers, we rely on assumptions (e.g., a fancy suit means wealth). While attributions aren’t always accurate, understanding these theories helps refine how we judge behavior.

Foreword

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Attribution Theory (Examples and What it is)

Adler says, “You are not living to satisfy other people’s expectations.” And further, “Other people are not living to satisfy your expectations.” Don’t be afraid of who might be watching; don’t pay attention to other people’s judgment; and don’t seek recognition from oth- ers. Just choose the path that is best for you, and that you believe in. Furthermore, you must not intervene in other people’s tasks, and you must not allow others to intervene in your tasks either. To those who are new to Adlerian psychology, this is a concept that has a great impact.

Quote #1

The objective of education, in a word, is self-reliance.

Quote #2

There are two objectives for behavior:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">To be self-reliant.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">To live in harmony with society.</li></ul>And there are two objectives for the psychology that sup- ports these behaviors:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The consciousness that I have the ability.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The consciousness that people are my comrades.</li></ul>

Quote #3

Educators and leaders must ascertain the children’s goals instead of focusing only on their actions.

Quote #4

Youth: But if you don’t praise them at that point, they’ll lose their drive and turn into children who don’t do anything at all. And in some cases, they’ll start engaging in improper behavior, won’t they?Philosopher: No. You teach them continually that they have worth, even if they are not “special,” by showing them respect.Youth: Concretely speaking, how do you do that?Philosopher: Instead of focusing on whenever a child does some “good thing,” turn your attention to the smaller everyday details of their words and actions. And then focus on and sympathize with that person’s concerns.

Quote #5

Philosopher: The fifth stage of problem behavior is “proof of incompetence.”Youth: Proof of incompetence?Philosopher: That’s right. Here, please try to think about it as if it were you yourself. Though you have taken all sorts of steps to ensure that you will be treated as a “special being,” none of them is going as planned. Your parents and teachers, and even your classmates, are not hating you as you wish them to. You cannot find a “place to be” in either the classroom or at home.

Quote #6

The objective of education is “self-reliance.” And the educator is a “counselor.”

Quote #7

Youth: A sickness of the entire classroom?Philosopher: Yes, it is a disease called the principle of competition. What is needed of educators is to look at the community in which the problem behavior is occurring, not at the individual who is engaging in it. And then, instead of attempting to treat the individual, to go about treating the community itself.

Quote #8

Adlerian psychology is a horizontal relationship–based “psychology of democracy.”

Quote #9

By saving another person, one tries to be saved oneself. By passing oneself off as a kind of savior, one attempts to realize one’s own worth. This is one form of the superiority complex that people who cannot dispel their feelings of inferiority often fall into, and is generally referred to as a “messiah complex.” It is a mental perversion of wanting to be a messiah, a savior of others.

Quote #10

Philosopher: Being self-centered does not mean looking only at oneself because one “likes oneself.” In actuality, the opposite is the case, and it is because one is unable to accept oneself as one is, and because one is constantly beset with anxiety, that one has concern only for oneself.Youth: So, you’re saying that because I “hate myself,” I look only at myself!?Philosopher: Yes, that’s right.

Quote #11

Philosopher: Self-reliance is “breaking away from self- centeredness.”Youth: … !!Philosopher: This is why Adler called community feeling “social interest,” and also referred to it as concern for soci- ety and concern for others. We have to get past our obsti- nate self-centeredness and stop trying to be the center of the world. One has to break away from “me.” One has to break away from one’s pampered childhood lifestyle.

Quote #12

Philosopher: Marriage is not a matter of choosing a “target.” It is a matter of choosing one’s way of living.Youth: Choosing a way of living! Then, the “target” can be anyone?Philosopher: Ultimately, yes.Youth: Don’t mess around!! Who would ever recognize such a statement? Retract that, retract it right away!!Philosopher: I recognize that this is a view that is met with a great deal of opposition. But we are able to love anyone.

Quote #13

Of course, there are many people who felt “destiny” on meeting someone and decided to get married in accordance with that intuition. But that is not a previously established destiny. It is only that one decided to believe it was destiny. As Fromm remarked, “Loving someone is not simply an intense emotion. It is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise.” It doesn’t matter how the meeting happens, if one makes the firm decision to build real love from that point, and one confronts the “task accomplished by two people.” Love is possible with any partner.

Quote #14

Youth: Love and marriage are the dance that two people make together. Philosopher: You are standing now at the edge of the dance floor of life and watching other people dance. You are assuming that “there couldn’t be anyone who would dance with someone like me,” while in your heart you are waiting impatiently for your “destined one” to reach their hand out to you. You are doing everything you can to endure and to protect yourself, so that you do not feel any more miserable than you do already, and so that you do not begin to dislike yourself.

Quote #15

There is one thing that you should do. Take the hand of the person beside you and try to do the best dance that you can possibly do in that moment. Your destiny will start from there.

Quote #16

A single book can change your life. Already an enormous bestseller in Asia, with more than 3 million copies sold, The Courage to be Disliked demonstrates how to unlock the power within yourself to be the person you truly want to be. Using the theories of Alfred Adler, one of the three giants of 19th century psychology alongside Freud and Jung, it follows an illuminating conversation between a philosopher and a young man. The philosopher explains to his pupil how each of us is able to determine our own lives, free of the shackles of past experiences, doubts and the expectations of others. It's a way of thinking that's deeply liberating, allowing us to develop the courage to change, and to ignore the limitations that we and those around us can place on ourselves. The result is a book that is both highly accessible and profound in its importance. Millions have already read and benefited from its wisdom. Now that The Courage to be Disliked has been published for the first time in English, so can you

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Ichiro KISHIMI Philosopher, Adlerian psychologist and translator of English and German languages. Born in 1956.M.A.in philosophy from Kyoto University. Director of the Japanese Society of Adlerian psychology. Former counselor at Maeda Clinic in Kyoto and has taught philosophy and ancient Greek at various institutions such as Kyoto University of Education and Nara Women's University. He presently teaches educational psychology and clinical psychology at Meiji School of Oriental Medicine in Suita, Osaka. Kishimi now has his own private counseling office in Kameoka, Kyoto, and devotes his time to giving lectures on Adlerian Psychology and child education.

Ichiro Kishimi

Fumitake Koga is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Fumitake Koga has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Fumitake Koga's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Fumitake Koga

The Courage to Be Disliked

One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous vermin.

The sister whispered, "Gregor, open the door—I beg you." Gregor had no intention of opening the door, but congratulated himself on his precaution, acquired from traveling, of locking all doors during the night, even at home.

And for a little while longer he lay quietly with weak breathing, as if perhaps waiting for normal and natural conditions to re-emerge out of the complete stillness.

All right, people did not understand his words any more, although they seemed clear enough to him, clearer than previously, perhaps because his ears had gotten used to them. But at least people now thought that things were not all right with him and were prepared to help him. The confidence and assurance with which the first arrangements had been carried out made him feel good. He felt himself included once again in the circle of humanity and was expecting from both the doctor and the locksmith, without differentiating between them with any real precision, splendid and surprising results.

Imagining that all his efforts were being followed with suspense, he bit down frantically on the key with all the force he could muster. As the key turned more, he danced around the lock.

Gregor was now shut off from his mother, who was perhaps near death, thanks to him. He could not open the door, and he did not want to chase away his sister who had to remain with her mother. At this point he has nothing to do but wait, and overwhelmed with self-reproach and worry, he began to creep and crawl over everything.

It was clear to Gregor that his father had badly misunderstood Grete's short message and was assuming that Gregor had committed some violent crime or other.

As her hands reached to the back of his father's head and she begged him to spare Gregor's life.

He did not wish to let her go from his room any more, at least not as long he lived. his frightening appearance would for the first time become useful for him. He wanted to be at all the doors of his room simultaneously and snarl back at the attackers. However, his sister should not be compelled but would remain with him voluntarily.

Then the door of the bed room opened, and Mr. Samsa appeared in his uniform, with his wife on one arm and his daughter on the other. All were a little tear stained. Now and then Grete pressed her face onto her father's arm.

Growing more silent and almost unconsciously understanding each other in their glances, they thought that the time was now at hand to seek out a good honest man for her.

The Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung, also sometimes translated as The Transformation) is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It has been called one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century and is studied in colleges and universities across the Western world. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a large, monstrous insect-like creature. The cause of Gregor's transformation is never revealed, and Kafka himself never gave an explanation. The rest of Kafka's novella deals with Gregor's attempts to adjust to his new condition as he deals with being burdensome to his parents and sister, who are repelled by the horrible, verminous creature Gregor has become.

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Mental Health

Franz Kafka

You might have heard that you should develop your EQ. EQ is the personal ability you have to recognize and label your own emotions and feelings.

Your Starting Point

Emotional intelligence (EQ/emotional quotient) is our ability to identify, understand and manage or control our feelings. It is additionally our ability to perceive, understand, and influence the emotions of other people.There isn't really an EQ "score" or metric that states how emotionally intelligent you are. If a person is "EQ dumb", most people know it and will usually stay away. If an individual is "EQ smart", he/she acts like a magnet to people.

What is EQ?

Once you can recognize your own feelings to a degree of certainty, you will then move on to develop the ability to see emotions and feelings in others for what they are.

Recognizing Feelings

If you can see feelings in yourself, you'll be able to identify them in others. That's the second step you would take if you are interested in developing you EQ—seeing others' feelings as they express them.

Identifying Feelings

The next level of emotional intelligence that you can develop for yourself is your personal ability to rein in or direct your emotions, to call on certain emotions, for instance, so that they help you perform better.

The Next Level of EQ

Think about a feeling where your answer was a clear "yes". There is actually a very simple way to dissolve any feeling that arises and is noticable in the body.Mental health professionals have been using and teaching it for decades, as part of their toolkit for helping emotionally overwhelmed patients. On average, it takes less than 2 minutes.

When Your Answer was a Clear "Yes"

In your path towards higher EQ, you will most likely run into thought traps—which tend to become habitual for many of us.

Thought Traps

Every ten minutes for the next hour, stop. Stop everything you are doing and ask yourself, "What is the predominant thought I have just been thinking?" Write down the complete thought. Don't do anything about it yet, just write it down.

Stop

Notice when you are spinning in your head around a recurring thought that you just can't let go of.Once you have noticed which thought keeps popping up or that you are spinning in your head, stop! Stop and ask yourself this question, "Could I let go of listening to my mind, yes or no?"Naturally, for these purposes, you want to answer yes.

Notice

Self management—in regards to improving your EQ—takes awareness of your own feelings, behaviors, and reactions one step further. Self-management is you at-will ability to delay gratification, in the name of more personal mastery over strong feelings or urges.In the name of a quiet, more balanced observation of other people around you. In the name of allowing others to shine.

Self-Management

These are three key words that help you understand what mindfulness is: determination, awareness, and attention.

Understanding Mindfulness

Use your imagination and look for moments during your ordinary day to practice mindfulness. Look for times during your day when you can focus your five senses into more mindfulness. Pay attention to the actual activity (standing, driving, sitting, eating), the people around you, the environment surrounding you and so on.

Imagination

Emotional intelligence means being aware that feelings drive both our best and our worst behaviors. For some of us need to train ourselves to observe and understand. Active listening helps.

Awareness

The best novelist and screenplay writers are active and attentive observers of humankind. They have to be, as understanding the role of emotions is how they develop the characters depicted in their stories.

Observing

Having a higher EQ will undoubtedly change your life.

Become Emotionally Smarter with a Practical Approach! Emotional intelligence has been a buzzword in the personal growth industry and in high-level corporate recruitment strategies since 1995, when Daniel Goleman used the term for his book title and topic. As we would say today, his use of it "went viral" immediately, in the world of business and mental health in particular. Often abbreviated as "EQ", emotional intelligence is the personal ability you have to recognize and label your own emotions and feelings, and to use this information to steer your thinking and behavior in the desired direction. Whether you are looking to climb the career ladder with ease, thrive during social events or simply feel more at peace with yourself, a well-developed EQ is absolutely critical. During the course of this book, we will take a look at the current knowledge surrounding the subject, as well as how you can vastly improve your own emotional intelligence with a series of simple, practical exercises. You will learn about: - How to observe and analyze your emotions at any given moment. - How to connect more easily with people and build strong and lasting relationships. - How your body reacts to your various emotional states. - How to release unwanted and potentially destructive emotions. - "Thought traps" and how to deal with them. - Mindfulness and its role in developing EQ. - How to improve your EQ in everyday environments. - How having a higher emotional intelligence will benefit your life. And more!

C2 words for IELTS - Group 2 | IELTStestONLINE

Self Perception Theory (vs Cognitive Dissonance) + Examples

Attribution Theory (Examples and What it is)

The Courage to Be Disliked

Metamorphosis

Irza Fidah