41 Fascinating Psychology Facts About Human Behavior

Despite all the advancements in science and technology, there’s still one thing the most brilliant minds can’t comprehend. Why are people the way they are? Humans are the most fascinating creatures on Earth. People are complex individuals that are both predictable and unpredictable. Human behavior concerns individuals’ responses to social, physical, and mental triggers in their life.

Several factors influence human behavior, such as psychological traits, feelings, environment, thoughts, and genetics. It often reveals that every personality differs and varies from person to person. Humans are strange creatures roaming the Earth with different psychological behaviors as you will discover below.

41 Fascinating Psychology Facts About Human Behavior 

1. Small Groups Make Better Decisions 

Evidence suggests that large groups of people tend to make poor decisions compared to small groups or individuals. Groupthink and decisions usually result in mob mentality, such as the January 6th riot at the Capitol Building in the United States. That’s why it’s always better to listen to others’ advice but go with your gut feeling on things.

2. Exercise Delays Brain’s Aging By Ten Years 

It’s no secret that exercise is excellent for the mind, body, and spirit. But it’s not just about looking good in a t-shirt or impressing the gym bros. Increased physical exercise delays the neurological decline in the human brain and slows the aging process by ten years. So put down the chicken tenders and hit the gym!

3. Memories Appear As Dreams 

They say our lives flash before our eyes as we die. That’s not just a cute saying. The brain experiences seven minutes of neuron activity as a person’s body shuts down. During that seven minutes, the human mind plays back a person’s memories as dreams. 

4. Shared Imagination 

Every person has their own unique imagination and creative mind. Amazingly, most humans also have a shared imagination. Better known as the canonical perspective, a study asked individuals to draw a coffee cup from their creativity. They all sketched out the same mug using similar angles and designs. 

5. Hug for Trust 

Some hugs feel awkward and uncomfortable. Others are warm and welcoming. Hold that hug for a little longer, and they might fall in love with you. A hug lasting longer than twenty seconds produces hormones that make you trust the person you’re hugging. 

6. Food Made By Someone Else Is Better

A study shows that people enjoy eating food prepared by someone else more than if they make it themselves. No matter how long they stand over a hot stove, they feel someone else’s food is better and nicer, even if there’s is perfect. Some individuals put a lot of effort into each one of their meals. Regardless of the effort, they would like it better if someone else spent all day in the kitchen instead.

7. Chocolate Is as Addictive as Drugs 

Few things compare to the sweet and creamy treat of chocolate. It’s one of the best snacks created in history. Researchers discovered that chocolate affects the same part of the brain as drugs. That means chocolate can be as addictive as recreational drugs.

8. Losing a Mobile Phone Compares To a Near-Death Experience 

While cell phones make connecting with people easier, it adds a whole new level of stress. An intense panic washes over individuals when they can’t find their cell phones. A recent study found that a person who loses their cell phone experiences the same level of emotions as a near-death experience. In other words, people’s lives flash before their eyes if they can’t find their cell phones. 

9. Having a Crush 

Before a romance starts and can lead to love, it begins as a simple crush. Everyone wants to experience that heart-pounding romantic love. According to science, a crush isn’t as cute as people assume. When people have a crush, they project their ideals, beliefs, and thoughts onto the person they want to be with. The crush then connects strong feelings to the situation they created. 

10. It Only Takes Four Minutes To Fall In Love

There’s an old saying that fools rush in and fall in love too fast. Evidence suggests a person falls in love between the 90s seconds and four minutes after meeting someone for the first time. Apparently, the fools have been doing it right. 

11. If a Person Laughs a Lot, They Might Be Lonely 

It doesn’t matter if a person is in a relationship or surrounded by many friends; there’s a good chance they still experience loneliness. Often, a very lonely person laughs a lot and sometimes at things that aren’t funny. It’s common for someone struggling with mental health to use humor and laughter to deal with loneliness, depression, and social anxiety. 

12. A Person That Sleeps a Lot Is Sad 

One might assume that a person who sleeps a lot is lazy and unmotivated. In reality, it’s more likely that they’re feeling intense feelings of sadness and depression. The feelings can get so intense they can’t get out of bed for any task, leading to their lack of motivation and enthusiasm for life.

13. Can’t Stop Checking Social Media 

It’s common for a person to fall down the social media rabbit hole. They can’t stop checking each of their different profiles. Scientific evidence suggests this is a new type of psychological phenomenon. Every time a person scrolls through their timeline, it creates dopamine, producing feelings of sensation and pleasure. 

14. People Who Feel Guilt Have Lots of Empathy 

Researchers found that individuals who feel deep-seated guilt are likelier to feel empathy. Their feelings of guilt allow them to understand and relate to other people’s feelings and experiences. 

15. People With Social Power lack Empathy 

On the other hand, a person with social power, such as a manager, teacher, or instructor, tends to lack empathy. Therefore, they often come across as mean and heartless. 

16. We Can Understand Any Misspelled Sentence

Learning to read and write is the foundation of an education. One lesson not taught is that humans can read a misspelled sentence as long as the first and last letters are correct. For example, We udnretsnad any msseed up stnecene as lnog as the lsat and frsit lteerts wdroś in crrcoet palecs. 

17. Fear and Joy 

Nothing in this world is more confusing than fear and joy. People are more adventurous and willing to experiment when feeling happy and joyful. When a person experiences feelings of fear and anxiety, they lean towards something that’s comforting and familiar, such as binge-watching an old TV show or eating.

18. You Are Less Likely To Achieve Goals if You Announce It 

Sometimes it’s better to keep goals to yourself. Studies show that motivation decreases when a person announces a personal goal. 

19. People Who Watch Crimes Shows Overestimate Crime In America 

Police procedurals are a staple of prime-time programs, such as Cold Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Law & Order. Research shows that people who watch these series misunderstand crime in America. They overestimate the frequency of crime and the amount of law enforcement involved due to the influence of these shows. 

20. More Likely to Return a Lost Wallet With a Baby Picture 

Losing your wallet causes panic and anxiety similar to misplacing your phone. Most people hope that a good samaritan will find the wallet and return it. Put a kid’s picture in the wallet to ensure its return, even if you don’t have one. Studies show that people are likely to return a wallet if a child’s picture is inside. 

21. Travel Reduces Stress 

Traveling and seeing the world isn’t just about going on a vacation. It also has a positive impact on mental and physical health. Those that travel have better psychological and emotional wellness. It also decreases stress and enhances physical health.

22. Talk About Interests On a Date 

It’s good to listen and ask your date questions to get to know them. At the same time, showing them your best traits is important. Thus, talk about your passions and interests. Dates often find people that are excited about their interests attractive. Without being overbearing, share your passions with your date while getting to know them.

23. People Appreciate Furniture They Put Together

While putting IKEA furniture together can be frustrating and stressful, it’s pretty rewarding once it’s complete. It’s actually a psychological phenomenon known as the “IKEA effect.” People value the furniture they put together more than the ones they purchase outright. 

24. Music Impacts Mood 

Everyone has a favorite song, album, or playlist they love. The genre of music dramatically impacts a person’s mood throughout the day. For example, slower music often causes people to reflect, reminisce, or feel sad. At the same time, a fast pace song with an uptempo beat keeps people in a cheerful and happy mood. 

25. Strict Rules Are Tempting To Break 

Researchers discovered that humans can’t help but break the rules. The more strict the rules, the more people want to break them. A good example would be the Covid-19 lockdown, which upset many people. 

26. Sarcasm Is a Positive

Sarcastic people always have some snarky comments up their sleeve, but it might not be a bad thing. Sarcasm is a sign of good mental health and a sharp mind. Having a sarcastic child, sibling, spouse, or friend can be fun and draining. So keep those snarky comments coming as long as you can.

27. People Find It Tough To Be Happy 

Even when good things happen, some expect it to balance out with something terrible. Evidence suggests that people have anxiety over happiness and good things occurring. The human mind expects awful things to happen more often than something positive. 

28. Dying of a Broken Heart

After a breakup, people often suffer from genuine emotional, mental, and physical pain. The physical pain is also real and can even result in death. Better known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome occurs when a person encounters sudden emotional stress often related to grief. 

29. Childhood Songs 

Certain songs have a way of sticking with a person their entire life. The research proposes that songs we listen to in high school have a lasting impact because we hear the songs during a time in our lives full of growth and exploration. That’s why you often end up listening to music from your youth as you get older as it reminds you of the good old days.

30. Loved One’s Trigger Yawns 

When one person yawns, it often sets off a chain reaction of other people yawning. However, a stranger isn’t the one triggering your yawn. Evidence shows that yawns are contagious among family and friends.

31. Speaking Different Languages Is Beneficial

Being able to speak multiple languages has many benefits. It makes traveling much easier, allowing tourists to visit faraway lands. Individuals often have different personalities to match the other language. They might be funnier, assertive, or charming when speaking in a different language.

32. Peripheral Vision 

Watching out of our peripheral vision relates to natural survival skills. Some people have a unique ability to see danger from the corner of their eyes. In fact, every human has this unique strength. We might not use these skills in the wilderness, but it comes up in daily life. For example, our peripheral vision is why we never miss those annoying pop-up ads.

33. Oversleeping Leads To More Sleeping

Health experts recommend getting an early start to the day. Some people sleep in or oversleep. Doctors note that oversleeping isn’t healthy for the body. Oversleeping isn’t satisfying and usually leads to the body wanting to sleep more. 

34. Being Around Happy People 

Scientists once made a startling discovery that changed science and the world. Being around happy people often leads to feeling happy. In other words, surround yourself with happy people, so you can always feel happy. 

35. Being Ignored Is Physically Painful

When someone ignores you, it can be hurtful, painful, and stressful. It’s much more than a simple pain. Ignoring causes the same level of emotion as a severe physical injury. 

36. Holding Hands Is Good for Your Health

Some people have a tough time with public displays of affection but this is something you need to overcome to have a happy life. Holding hands has a positive chemical effect, causing people to feel less pain and anxiety. 

37. Trying To Remember the Past 

Memory is one of the most complex parts of the human brain. When trying to remember a past event or story, people don’t actually recall the actual event. Instead, they remember the last time they remember the event or story. This causes people to add different details and events the more times they try to recall them. That adds obvious credibility issues to each person’s memory but does enhance the story.

38. The Sun Makes People Happy 

Experts stress the importance of going outside and getting some sun. The Sun has a way of making everyone feel happy. It’s likely related to being outside, but evidence also suggests that the chemicals from the Sun’s heat improve a person’s mood considerably.

39. Having Siblings 

Growing up with siblings means learning to share, empathize, and co-exist in one household. At times, it can be tough having brothers and sisters. However, those with siblings often get along well with other people later in life. 

40. Remembering A Story 

People love to tell stories about adventures, romance, or movie plots. As noted, memory is tricky and works in mysterious ways. It’s much easier to remember a story’s beginning and end than to remember the middle. 

41. Dunbar’s Number 

According to Dunbar’s number, a person can maintain 50 to 150 relationships. These would be people they consider friends and know how they relate to others. They would have close relationships with each person and not just acquaintances.