We believe that when we choose anything, judge a stranger and even fall in love, we understand the principal factors that influenced us. Very often nothing could be further from the truth. As a result, many of our most basic assumptions about ourselves, and society, are false.

Says Bargh: "We all hold dear idea that we´re the captain of our own sould, and we´re in charge, and it´s a very scary feeling when we are not. In fact, that´s what psychosis is - the feeling of detachment from reality and that you are not in control, and that´s a very frightening feeling for anyone."

Research suggests when it comes to understanding our feelings, we humans have an odd mix of low ability and high confidence.

Nonverbal communication forms a social language that is in many ways richer and more fundamental than our words.

Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which time can end in a black hole, and conscious beings can evolve from a soup of minerals.

Social rejection doesn't just cause emotional pain; it affects our physical being.

That's why successful people in every field are almost universally members of a certain set - the set of people who don't give up.