Explore the psychology of the phenomenon known as cute aggression, which is the urge to squeeze, bite or pinch something cute. -- Watching a kitten fumbling around, it might feel as if you’ve never encountered anything so devastatingly adorable in your mortal life. You may want to pet its soft fur and kiss its tiny head. But you may also feel the conflicting urge… to squeeze or smush the kitten, maybe even stuff it in your mouth. What is this peculiar phenomenon? Joshua Paul Dale explores the urge known as cute aggression. Lesson by Joshua Paul Dale, directed by Oksana Kurmaz. #teded #education #cuteness #cuteaggression #students #educators #facts #studies #psychology #phenomenon

Embracing a life of mediocrity | Crispin Thurlow | TEDxBasel It’s hard to accept life in the middle when the relentless language of superiority and comparison tells us we should always be the best or just better. Might the answer lie partly in rethinking mediocrity and perhaps even learning to embrace it? Crispin grew up in South Africa and England where he trained as a psychologist and then an actor. Long story short, he is now Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Bern. He previously held professorships at the University of Washington in the USA and completed his PhD at Cardiff University in Wales. As a sociolinguist, Crispin’s core research interest lies in the way people make sense of social difference and inequality in their everyday communication. He is currently finishing off a new book titled The Language of Elitism. #tedx #lifeofmediocrity #crispinthurlow #lifelessons #psychology #superiority #comparison #communication #language #selfhelp #sharing