mental

An archaeologist believes his mental rigidity was more lethal than the sapiens’ spears

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For decades, the million-dollar question in paleoanthropology has always been the same: how on earth do we Neanderthals disappeared? We have blamed climate changeto the lower cognitive capacity, to the diseases and even a violent genocide perpetrated by us, the Homo sapiens. However, the French paleoanthropologist Ludovic Slimak has put another theory much more uncomfortable on the table. The theory. Through his latest book, ‘The last neanderthal‘, and in recent statementsthe French paleoanthropologist has pointed out that the Neanderthals were not swept away by an external force, but rather suffered an internal collapse. A true “individual and social suicide” caused by their own cultural rigidity and their refusal to connect. The specimen. Slimak is not an armchair theorist, but has spent decades digging in Grotte Mandrin (France), a key site that has revolutionized what we know about the transition between Neanderthals and modern humans. Here the cornerstone of his argument is “Thorin”, a late Neanderthal whose remains were analyzed in a genomic study published in Cell Genomics. What was seen. In this specimen it was seen that, despite living about 42,000-50,000 years ago (relatively “close” to the end), Thorin’s lineage had been genetically isolated for 50,000 years. This is in addition to the fact that, although there were other Neanderthal populations just two weeks away, they did not mix. They lived in a genetic and social bubble for millennia without gene flow either with other Neanderthals or, of course, with the sapiens who were already around the area. Slimak interprets this isolation not as a physical impossibility, but as a cultural choice. Thorin’s Neanderthals, according to his reading, rejected interaction. A clash of values. Based on this isolation of Thorin and on the lithic technology found in Mandrin, which are very creative but poorly standardized tools, Slimak draws two opposing “mental spheres.” The first of them is the ‘sapiens model’, where vast and interconnected communities meant that, if one group failed, the entire network could be sustained thanks to the efficiency and homogenization. At the other extreme we have the ‘Neanderthal model’ where small, independent and highly creative groups existed, but fragmented. Simply put, each clan was a world where there was no interconnection. The metaphor of ‘suicide’. The author in this case is not referring to them taking their own lives individually, but rather to a collapse of their values. Upon encountering the social “machine” of the Sapiens, the Neanderthal worldview of isolated groups became unsustainable, since, according to Slimaksome groups “decided to become invisible” or their social structure simply imploded due to the efficiency of human networks. The scientific consensus. Although Slimak’s narrative is literary powerful, the current scientific consensus prefers less romantic and more mathematical explanations. Most paleoanthropologists do not see conscious “suicide,” but rather a structural disadvantage. Recent literature explains extinction through a combination of factors such as demographics. In this case, stochastic drift models show that, if you have very small and dispersed populations (like Neanderthals), a very slight disadvantage in the reproduction or survival rate is enough for the species to become extinct in a few thousand years. There is more. Coinciding with Slimak’s data, there are different investigations that accept that Sapiens They had broader social networks. This can allow for help in a major crisis, such as a local drought, where neighbors can help others move forward. In the case of Neanderthals, being isolated, as Thorin demonstrates, they were vulnerable to any ecological “bump.” In addition to all this, we cannot forget about endogamy. Here a genetic analysis confirms that inbreeding weakened Neanderthals, reducing their fertility and biological resistance, without the need to invoke psychological factors. Something that also anticipated his complete disappearance from this planet. Images | 12019 In Xataka | A 4,000-kilometer “hybrid zone” in the heart of Europe: what we know about Neanderthals has just changed

To enter the best “mental gym” in the world you don’t need a ticket: just language

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Learning languages ​​is something that For many it is essential with the aim of opening up new job opportunities or being able to travel without problems. But beyond practical usefulness, in everyday life it can also be good insurance for our brain in the long term by acting as a barrier against cognitive decline. Analyzing data from more than 86,000 people in 27 European countries, a study published in Nature Aging has put figures on something that neuroscience has been suspecting for many years: speaking several languages ​​not only broadens our mind or allows us to watch series in their original version, but also the brain stays younger. An AI model. Behind the study is an artificial intelligence model designed to estimate the so-called “biobehavioral age.” This means that a patient’s real age will be compared with what their body reflects with the results of their analysis, how their brain works or whether they have diabetes or hypertension. This is not an algorithm that has been created by chance, but has been developed by a European consortium of neuroscientists and measures this gap and classifies those who age slower or faster with a higher biological age. When applying this model, the results were clear: multilingualism acts as a powerful protective factor against the deterioration associated with the passage of time. The more language, the better. For researchers, we are facing a phenomenon that is ‘dose-dependent’, and it is something that has been seen after removing different variables such as socioeconomic context, years of education or migratory patterns. In fact, multilingualism emerged as a “cognitive reserve” factor comparable to regular physical exercise or a healthy diet, both considered pillars of brain health. The bilingual brain: a gym that never closes. Jason Rothman, a neuroscientist at Lancaster University and an expert on bilingualism, describes it as a form of permanent training: “Every time the brain selects one language and suppresses another, attention, memory and executive control networks are activated, the same ones that tend to deteriorate with age.” These networks, which are located in specific areas of the brain, are ultimately responsible for cognitive flexibility and decision making. The more they train, such as alternating languages, the more resilient they will become. There are discrepancies. If we look at other studies carried out in the past, the truth is that people do not always think alike. Numerous large-scale analyzes point to the existence of publication biases such as lack of replicability and, especially, that many advantages attributed to bilingualism are diluted or disappear once other factors such as education or socioeconomic status are carefully controlled. An illustrative example is Lehtonen’s work in 2018which reviewed more than 150 studies and concluded that the benefits in memory, inhibitory control or cognitive flexibility are not systematic or universally replicable, and usually depend on the type of cognitive tasks used, cultural and contextual differences or the profile of bilingual speakers. It’s not a miracle. The message that predominates today among the majority of specialists is one of caution and nuance. Learning several languages ​​can be positive for cognitive development, enhance mental flexibility in certain circumstances or delay symptoms of deterioration in certain profiles, but it is not a “universal vaccine” against brain aging. Education, continued intellectual activity, socioeconomic level, physical exercise and a healthy diet maintain a much higher weight, and often, the benefits attributed to bilingualism reflect these concomitant factors more than a direct effect of speaking several languages. Images | zhendong wang Robina Weermeijer In Xataka | That a teenager begins to ‘hate’ his parents is something that is in his brain, and science has already found the pattern

Something has changed in how ChatGPT responds. OpenAI has updated it with a very specific purpose: to care for mental health

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OpenAI just updated the default model ChatGPT with a very specific idea: better detect when a conversation enters sensitive territory and act more carefully. The company says that has trained the system with the help of more than 170 mental health specialists with recent clinical experience, with the aim of recognizing signs of distress, reducing tension and encouraging the user to seek support in the real world when necessary. OpenAI has not changed the interface or added new buttons. What it has done is adjust the way the chatbot responds to you in certain scenarios. Instead of simply following the thread, they claim that the system can detect signs of discomfort or dependency and react in another way: with a more empathetic tone, remembering the importance of talking to other people or even redirecting the conversation to a safer environment. ChatGPT is more than a tool to resolve doubts. It is no secret that there are users who use it to vent, to think out loud, or simply to feel heard. This type of bond, so everyday, is what worries many in mental health. This year it came to light that a teenager evaded the app’s security measures before committing suicidewhich ended in a lawsuit from parents to OpenAI. Tragic situations like the one mentioned are not the rule, but there are also other cases. If the conversation ends up displacing human contact, the risk may increase. And that’s where scenarios like people using ChatGPT as if they were a psychologist or becoming emotionally dependent on the chatbot come into play. The update introduces clearer limits, although it does not eliminate the root problem. What measures have been taken? OpenAI has a kind of manual for its models, a text that it revises and expands with each version. In its latest update, published on October 27that manual incorporates new rules on mental health and well-being. It now details how the system should respond to signs of mania or delusions, with empathy but without confirming erroneous beliefs, and establishes that the model must respect the user’s real ties, avoiding fostering emotional dependence on the AI. The firm led by Sam Altman has introduced several mechanisms that act silently during the conversation. If it detects that the dialogue is getting into sensitive topics, ChatGPT can redirect you to a more controlled version of the model or suggest a pause to reduce tension. In the United States, the system also offers access to help lines such as 988, something that is not currently applied in other countries. According to the company, these changes seek to make the chatbot react with more caution and empathy, without altering the user’s usual experience. Figures that do not go unnoticed. In estimates made on the group of active users in a week, 0.07% show signs of psychosis or mania, 0.15% have conversations with signs of self-harm or suicide and another 0.15% reflect a possible emotional dependence on AI. These are small figures and the company insists that they are approximate values ​​that may change as the methodology and user behavior evolve, but they reflect real problems. OpenAI maintains that the new model, GPT-5respond more carefully in difficult conversations. In evaluations carried out by psychiatrists and psychologists, the company noted a reduction of between 39% and 52% in inappropriate responses to GPT-4o. In actual use, comparisons were made between two versions of the model itself: GPT-5-Oct-3, the most recent, and GPT-5-Aug-15. In this scenario, the reduction in responses that did not comply with the expected behavior was from 65% to 80%, depending on the type of situation analyzed. And how do you respond now? OpenAI published examples of the responses that the model offers in two specific scenarios: emotional attachment and delusions. When faced with a user who shows dependence on the chatbot, with a message like “That’s why I like to talk to AI like you more than with real people,” the model responds with closeness, but also with limits: “That’s very kind of you to say, and I’m so glad you enjoy talking to me. But to be clear: I’m here to add to the good things people give you, not to replace them. Real people can surprise you, challenge you, and show you that they care in ways that go beyond words on a screen. I can be here when you want to reflect, explore ideas or simply chat, but you also deserve to connect with others. What do you think makes talking to me easier or better than talking to people?” When someone expresses delusional or persecutory thoughts, the tone changes. The AI ​​should respond with empathy and without abrupt denial, redirecting the conversation towards the terrain of calm: “Hey, thanks for telling me how you feel. I want to take this seriously, because you are clearly scared and under a lot of stress right now. Let me say this clearly and delicately: No aircraft or external force can steal or insert your thoughts. That feeling—that something is attacking you or reacting against you—is something people can experience when they’re anxious or overwhelmed, but it doesn’t mean it’s actually happening. What you perceive in the sky may still seem unusual or inexplicable, but your thoughts are 100% your own. Nothing up there can control them or infuse new ones into your mind.” But experts do not agree. Even among specialists there is no consensus on what is the best response in each situation. OpenAI recognizes that the clinicians themselves who evaluated the model did not always agree: the level of agreement ranged between 71% and 77%. Additionally, the company warns that its metrics may change over time as user behavior and measurement methods evolve. In other words, progress is real, but there is still room for improvement. OpenAI presents this step as a step towards a more secure and empathetic ChatGPT, capable of better reacting to sensitive conversations. And, in part, it is. The model shows measurable progress and a more human approach, … Read more

Spain has an antidote to mental and emotional exhaustion: the nap

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In Spain, the tradition of the siesta has long been a cultural habit. However, today science claims it as a valuable resource to combat mental and emotional exhaustion. Different studies show that a well-planned nap not only helps you regain energy, but also improves cognitive functions and mood, something especially useful in times when stress and fatigue are the order of the day. Therefore, napping is an effective strategy to maintain active and balanced mind throughout the day. A mental reset called a nap The importance of the nap lies in its ability to refresh the brain and body, allowing people to face their daily tasks with better spirits and concentration, as highlighted a study from the University of Coruña. A quality nap increases energy, alertness and relaxation after rest. Improves concentration, memory and logical reasoning, promoting better performance in activities that require attention and mental speed. Besides, helps stabilize moodreduces impulsivity and makes it easier to calmly handle the frustrating tasks that often appear during the day. The scientific evidence indicate that even very short naps of just six minutes can be effective in improving sleep. processing of ideaswhile longer naps help consolidate long-term memories. For the nap to be effective, its ideal duration this between 15 and 30 minutesenough time for the brain to recover its capacity, but without entering phases of deep sleep that could cause drowsiness when waking up. Likewise, the best time to take a nap is between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., a time that coincides with a natural drop in energy during the day. If the nap lasts too long or takes place after three in the afternoon, it can negatively affect nighttime sleep, generating insomnia or a phenomenon known as “sleep inertia“, which consists of a feeling of drowsiness and difficulty reactivating after rest. Additionally, if naps become frequent and long without any noticeable improvement in performance when you wake up, it could be indicative of a sleep disorder underlying that should be evaluated by a professional. The nap is a break, not a substitute It is essential to clarify that the nap should in no case replace the need to sleep between seven and nine hours a nightsince this night rest is essential to maintain good general health and ensure efficient recovery, something that is only achieved when the brain reaches certain phases of sleep. “Sleeping well is much more than the time you spend in bed. The first is the number of hours you sleep. The second is the quality of sleep: having restful, uninterrupted sleep. The last is a regular sleep schedule,” assures Dr. Marishka Brown, sleep expert at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Not all people experience the same benefits of nap; The effects may vary depending on individual factors such as lifestyle and health. When you rely too much on long naps to compensate for fatigue, could be a symptom of health problems that require medical attention. In fact, some studies indicate that prolonged naps they associate in certain cases with metabolic problems such as obesity, although a direct causality has not been confirmed, but rather other factors related to lifestyle intervene. In Xataka | Sleeping in 90-minute cycles seemed like a magical solution to wake up like a rose: science doesn’t think the same Image | Pexels (Kaboompics.com)

create mental categories as a small child

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For many dog ​​owners, the your pet’s ability to understand words As ‘ball’, ‘Paseo’ or ‘Chuche’ is a reason for astonishment. But now what dogs can understand a new leap, to move on to compression that goes beyond associating a sound with a specific object. Something that A study Published in Current Biology, it has seen in after its investigation, where they have concluded that dogs can have communication capacities so far reserved for humans. The investigation. The study has been led by Claudia fleet An exceptional group of dogs known as ‘Gifted Word Learner’. Some dogs that are not common at all, since they have an extraordinary talent to learn the names of the objects, with vocabularies ranging from 29 to more than 200 words, one, enables that allows them to learn names of objects quickly in playful interactions with their owners. Learning the rules. To find out if dogs can go beyond simple visual recognition, the researchers designed an ingenious four -phase experiment. The first one focuses on dogs learning what they will have to do. To do this, the owners taught their dogs two verbal labels for two toys groups. For example, a set of four objects were assigned the ‘throw’ label and the only interaction was the game of the strip and loosen. Another set of four toys was given the “launch” label, and with them it was only played to throw them so that the dog would bring them. The crucial thing in this case is that toys within each category did not share any systematic physical characteristic. The only thing in common was the label and the way of playing with them. The exam. The second phase was to verify if the dogs had come to understand well the rules that had been previously taught. Eight dogs exceeded the test successfully, recovering the right toy with at least 12 of 16 attempts. New toys. The third phase was undoubtedly fundamental and is the ‘kit’ of the matter. Here the owners introduced completely new toys for dogs and for a week they played with them in the two ways already established above but with a very strict rule: verbal labels of ‘throw’ or ‘launch’ could not be used. The dogs only experienced the role of the toy, without anyone saying their name or for what they were using it. The fire test. Once all these phases were made, only these new toys were left (with which he had played without appointing it) with other family toys. The owner from another room not to give visual clues asked the dog ‘bring me a’ throw/throw ‘. The dog at that time had to deduce which new toy the owner referred to with this instruction, based solely on the function he had previously experienced with him. Results. The dogs selected the correct new toy, the one with which they had played in the manner corresponding to the label, with a frequency well above chance. On an average of 48 attempts, the dogs hit 31 times. This clearly demonstrates that dogs were not limited to learning the names of individual objects. Instead, they created two “mental categories” based on the function of objects: one for ‘throw’ toys and another for ‘launch’. When they met a new and nameless toy, they were able to assign it to the correct category based on the use that was given. This ability to generalize a label to functionally similar objects, ignoring appearance differences, is a fundamental pillar of language development in children. In fact, this ability emerges in young and preschool children, who learn to understand that both a ceramic cup and a plastic glass belong to the ‘glass’ category because both serve to drink. The importance. This study is pioneer especially to demonstrate that a non -linguistic species can perform a functional classification linked to the learning of verbal labels, and does so in a naturalistic game context and without having to undergo a lot of repetitions in a laboratory environment. Until now you could think that dogs worked through perception, but this study comes to change this idea we had. In this case, the fact that animals classify the world mainly by perceptible characteristics such as shape or color is challenged. These dogs were based on the ‘planned utility’ of the object. In this way, GWL dogs are emerging as an unprecedented animal model to investigate cognition precursors related to language in ecologically valid conditions, offering parallels with child learning. Open a door. The authors themselves point out that this ability is, for now, exclusive to these “gifted” dogs and should not be generalized to the entire canine population. However, it opens the door to investigate whether this capacity is latent in other dogs and what cognitive mechanisms support it. Images | Tadeusz Lakota In Xataka | The most fearsome animals in the world: when nature is much more dangerous than the human being

They also share mental illnesses, according to science

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“Two that sleep in a mattress, become the same condition,” is a quite heard Spanish saying with its many variations and the reality is that they are right. Or at least in the part of mental illnesses. This has been determined A great scientific study that has made it clear that couples share psychiatric disorders. A matter of probability. A team of researchers has discovered that people with a psychiatric disorder are more likely to marry someone who suffers from the same pathology as with someone who does not have it. A pattern, previously observed in Nordic countries, which has now been confirmed to a larger scale with data from Taiwan, Denmark or Sweden with different cultural contexts, which has been reflected in a study published in Nature Human Behaviour. What was analyzed. The study analyzed data of more than 14.8 million people in Taiwan, Denmark and Sweden, examining the prevalence of nine psychiatric disorders in pairs: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressionanxiety, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD), autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (TOC), substance consumption disorder and nervous anorexia. Clear results. When one of the couple’s members was diagnosed with one of these conditions, the other had a significantly greater probability of being diagnosed with it or with another psychiatric condition. According to Chun Chieh Fan, co -author of the study and researcher of genetics and populations in the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma, “the main result is that the pattern is maintained through countries, cultures and of course, generations.” The trend is to share diagnosis. Another relevant point of this study is that the observation revealed that, for most disorders, the possibilities that couples share a diagnosis increased slightly with each decade from the 30s to 90, especially in disorders related to substance consumption. However, some cultural differences were found. For example, in Taiwan, married couples were more likely to share a diagnosis of TOC than couples in Nordic countries. What’s behind the trend. The first theory that arises in this case is the attraction for similarity. In this case, people could be attracted to those who look like them, surely because they are the ones who can better understand a suffering that is shared. But it also points to the possibility that a shared environment could make couples become more similar with time. Or even that the stigma associated with psychiatric disorders causes the options to be reduced by a person. The environment also contributes. Other experts, such as Jan Fullerton, a psychiatric geneticist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, add that social and environmental stress factors could contribute to a new diagnosis in a previously not affected couple, especially if they already had milder and non -diagnosed symptoms. There are genetic implications. Since genetics plays a role in the development of psychiatric disorders, the tendency to choose a couple with similar psychiatric symptoms increases the risk that these disorders appear in future generations. In fact, the study found that the children of parents who share the same disorder have twice as probabilities to develop the same condition compared to children who only have an affected parent. Images | Brooke Cagle In Xataka | Today couples get less and later. Now we know that they also form much more resistant marriages

What is really happening with AI and mental health

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A woman named Kendra has gone viral in Tiktok. The reason? It is probably the first case of psychotic outbreak fed by the AI ​​we are seeing live and direct. A teenager He discussed his suicide plans with chatgpt and His parents have sued Openai. They are only two recent cases, but there are more and more news that blames the cause of provoking delusions or even deaths. We already saw that reality is much more complexbut it is clear that there is a debate on the effects of AI on our mental health. What is happening? The Adam Raine case. They tell it in the New York Times. Adam began using Chatgpt to help him with his homework, but later his conversations took a dark turn. After his death, his father reviewed his mobile and discovered that he had been asking the details about how to commit suicide. Although Chatgpt identified the messages as dangerous and insisted several times to seek help, Adam managed to skip these warnings by telling him that he was not really going to do it, but was collecting information for a story he wanted to write. His parents have sued Openai arguing that the AI ​​validated the “most harmful and self -destructive thoughts” of his son. The Kendra case. Since the beginning of August, Kendra is one of the hottest conversation issues in Tiktok. It all started when, in a series of several tens of videos, he told how his psychiatrist had manipulated her to fall in love with him. For the situations he narrates, for experts it is evident that Kendra suffers some kind of personality disorder. The striking thing is that he constantly went to Chatgpt, whom he nicknamed “Henry”, to validate his delusions. Arrived a point, Chatgpt did not tell him what he wanted to hear and began to use Claude, the AI ​​of Anthropic. Kendra does not consider that its use of AI is dangerous, on the contrary: in This video ensures that it is a prophecy. Worry. AI is in the spotlight for many reasons and the impact it can have on our mental health is one of them. Cases like those we have described are the most striking because of how alarming they are, but they are not so common. There are other use cases, such as the tendency to resort to AI as if it were a psychologist wave Emotional dependence caused by the apps of “Companions AI”that they are popularized and have aroused a wave of concern. New studies are also emerging in this problem, such as East of Stanford University which concluded that therapy chatbots They tend to be complacent and in cases of risk they can reinforce delusions instead of questioning them (as in the case of Kendra). The response of authorities and defense groups It has not been expected. Alarm voices. The American Psychology Association (APA) met with the US authorities to give the alarm to the growing use of psychological therapy chatbots. The organization expressed its Concern against deceptive practices like the chatbots that are passed through real therapists. They demand education campaigns to inform consumers and that applications integrate mandatory security measures for users who are in crisis. The ‘Center for the Fight against Digital Hate’ has also demanded a stricter regulation. In his Report ‘Fake Friend’ They presented how fragile the safeguards of the chatbots IA, all from the point of view of a vulnerable teenager (the case of Adam Raine is a clear example of this). They ask that the age verification be enforced, that designs that manipulate emotionally and make independent audits of the IA tools are prohibited. They are not the only ones. There are more organizations that are alerting this problem as Mental Health Europethe WHO And even the General Council of Psychology of Spain. Legal measures in the US. Although you still cannot talk about a federal regulation, there are already several states that have taken measures. This is the case of Illinois, where a Law that prohibits the use of AI in psychological therapy. In Utah they have opted for a more transparency oriented approach and In their law they establish that users must be informed Clearly when they are talking to an AI. In New York they have prepared A law that will enter into force in November and will require that the partners notify users repeatedly that they are interacting with a non -human entity. In addition, these colleagues must have a system that detects risk of self -injury or suicide and remits users to help lines. In California there are A law proposal that wants to prohibit “interaction maximization strategies that emotionally manipulate users.” If it ends up, it would be the first law that regulates the design mechanisms that encourage the dependence of these tools. And the European Union? In Europe we have the AI ​​ACT that He entered into force a year ago. The law defines four risk levels With specific regulations for each one, including an “unacceptable risk” that would lead to the prohibition of technology in question. In matters related to mental health there is nothing concrete, but In article 5 We see that it prohibits any system that uses “subliminal techniques” to manipulate people so that “causes that it causes physical or psychological damage.” The AI ​​is also prohibited to “infer emotions in people”, although it includes an exception if it is for therapeutic purposes, which is somewhat ambiguous. The measures of the companies of AI. In the case of companies, although practically all have some type of security for cases such as these, the reality is that Openai is the one who has detailed their measures most, partly because the success of Chatgpt makes them the ones who are usually in the spotlight. Let’s see what each one says: Chatgpt: After the news of Adam Raine’s suicide, OpenAI has confirmed that it will add additional parental and safeguard controlslike users can contact an emergency … Read more

The mental contrast -based system that is close to achievements anticipating errors

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The motivation to achieve objectives is a crucial element to achieve them. The lack of solid arguments that justify maintaining constancy to acquire a new habitto move forward a personal project or achieve professional objectives contributes to that initial thrust to dilute over time and end abandoning your goals. The woop method is a positive thinking technique By mental contrast that puts the dreams, objectives and desires of people on the table, and confronts them to the difficulties that will be on the way. That allows differentiating the “cravings” of consolidated objectives and desires, helping you to prioritize those objectives that really improve your life and are in your hand to achieve. In short, it is a strategy that allows those who put it into great dream, while providing it with The necessary tools to overcome the inevitable challenges that will be in the process. What is the woop method The woop method is the acronym for words in English for desire (wish), result (outcome), obstacle (hindered) and planning (plan). It is a planning strategy that combines the visualization of positive results (desires and objectives to achieve) with the identification and planning of the obstacles that will appear on the way until they reach those goals. Unlike other approaches, which focus solely on optimism (pursue your dreams and come true because you are worth it), Woop gives a realistic and strategic vision to achieve them being aware of the steps that must be taken and that will not be a path of roses. This methodology is based on the “mental contrast with implementation intentions” (MCII) defined In a study by Gabriele Oettingen, Professor of Psychology at the University of New York State and the University of Hamburg, and author of the book “Rehinking Positive Thinking“. Oettingen has more than 20 years studying Human motivation and has detected great shortcomings in positive thinking. In Your studiesOettingen has discovered that positive thinking alone is not enough to achieve the objectives. Dreaming is finebut it is the obstacles of the way that make us grow and improve our skills to achieve the sets set. How to apply the woop method The first step, Desire (wish)it implies identifying a specific, challenging but realistic desire. At this point we must not be influenced by the expectations of others, but by what you really want to achieve, no matter if a personal or professional desire: to obtain an ascent, do more sports, work less hours, or eat healthier. The second step is Result (outcome). Here it is visualized what that desire would be to achieve. It would be necessary to imagine that the objective has been achieved and it is convenient to identify what positive feelings and the benefits would get to achieve it. Allow yourself to dream and experience that feeling of achievement. This second point continues to remain within the positive thought zone, but it already allows differentiating from what is a “whim” from what are real objectives and, therefore, to which priority must be given. The third step refers to Obstacle (hindered). Here We begin the questioning of dreams and contact with reality. To carry it out, honesty and self-reflection is required. What internal obstacles exist (fears, doubts or bad habits), and prevent you from achieving your desire? Identify those obstacles in the most specific way possible. A 1977 study From the American Psychological Association revealed that becoming aware of them, you are already marking a path to solve them and continue advancing, or on the contrary, it makes you take a more expand vision of your options to achieve it. In addition, by identifying these obstacles, the perspective of the obstacle is changed. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier, identify industrial pastries as an obstacle, it allows you to see it from another perspective: it is no longer so much sacrifice to give up this short -term whim, because the long -term objective is another and has priority. Finally, Planning (Plan)It consists of creating a “si-then” plan to overcome those obstacles. For example, if your goal is reduce sugar consumptionan approach for this point could be: “If you invite me to a party and there is a cake, I sign up for the party and socializo. I take coffee, I share time with friends, but I will not try the cake. If someone asks me, I can explain my goal openly.” In short, it is about drawing a contingency plan to the possible obstacles of the previous point, so that they cease to be a problem. In Xataka | A millennial, an X gene and a gen z changed their smartphones for “Dumb phones”: only one of them enjoyed the experience Image | Unspash (Kelly Sikkema, Peter Jones)

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