A psychology experiment for the whole family

Psychology Playtime

As a parent with a background in cognitive and developmental psychology, I find it fascinating to witness textbook theories come to life through everyday moments. (For example, the moment your child realizes that you're not only their mom but also your own mother's daughter is a significant developmental milestone!)

Psychology offers many fun and simple experiments you can conduct with children to explore the workings of the mind. Take the "Don't Think Challenge," for instance. Try to avoid thinking about a polar bear, and you'll likely find that the image of the polar bear pops into your mind anyway.

This experiment highlights an interesting quirk of our brains: our thoughts are not always under conscious control, particularly when it comes to suppression. It’s a playful and insightful way to demonstrate how attempting to block a thought can actually make it more persistent. Give it a go—it’s quite enlightening! 🤓 

Continuing Adventures of AI

AI certainly has its quirks! As someone who enjoys experimenting with generative AI, I’m also fascinated by stories about AI behaving unexpectedly. Here’s two recent examples that showcase AI is still very much a tool in development.

• Facebook’s AI Told Parents Group It Had Gifted, Disabled Child (404)

• A Google Gemini user got an unexpected (and not kid-friendly) translation of the Swahili words used in The Lion King movie. (Posted to bsky.social) The comments tracking down the source is interesting, followed by other AI-generated misinformation examples.

While some might see these incidents as drawbacks, I view them as a front-row seat to the evolving landscape of generative AI. It’s an important reminders to always engage critically with AI-generated content and to take responsibility for the outcomes it produces (mindsets). These experiences are not just entertaining—they're educational, urging us to consider the implications and responsibilities of integrating AI into our daily lives.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community.

Blue skies,
Carla