Psychology facts about human behavior

People are more likely to remember things that have emotional significance or personal relevance. The mere-exposure effect refers to the tendency for people to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar. Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort people experience when they hold two contradictory beliefs or values. The bystander effect is the phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present. Confirmation bias is the tendency for people to seek out information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or attitudes. The halo effect is the tendency for people to judge others based on their overall impression, rather than specific traits or behaviors. The primacy effect is the tendency for people to remember information that was presented first better than information presented later. The recency effect is the tendency for people to remember information that was presented most recently better than information presented earlier. Social norms are unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a particular society or group. The placebo effect is the phenomenon in which a person experiences a positive outcome after being treated with a fake or inactive substance, simply because they believe that the treatment will be effective.