Key Terms

Question 1

What is ‘Charisma’

Answer 1

OFC defines charisma as Personal Magnetism.

Question 2

What are the three qualities that create Charisma?

Answer 2

OFC lists Presence, Power and Warmth as the three pillars underpinning Charisma. Presence underlies the two other qualities and is therefore foundational to Charisma.

Question 3

Presence

Answer 3

Presence refers to the ability to be fully engage and attentive in the present moment.

Question 4

Power

Answer 4

Power refers to the ability to affect the world around us, whether through influence or authority over others, expertise, intelligence, money, social status, physical ability.

Question 5

Cognitive Science

Answer 5

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of how the mind processes and understands information, encompassing psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, and computer science.

Question 6

Listening skills

Answer 6

Ability to fully engage and understand the messages being communicated. This goes beyond hearing the words someone is saying. It involves paying attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice, in order to grasp the complete meaning behind the message.

Question 7

Which elements do listening skills encompass?

Answer 7

Listening skills encompass:
1) Attention: Giving undivided attention to the speaker and being present in the moment. This means setting aside distractions and actively focusing on what the speaker is saying.
2) Empathy: Understanding and relating to the speaker’s perspective and emotions. Empathetic listening involves putting yourself in the speaker’s shoes and trying to comprehend their thoughts and feelings.
3) Non-verbal cues: Observing the speaker’s body language and tone of voice to gain additional insights and understand the underlying emotions and intentions.
4) Patience: Allowing the speaker to express themselves fully without interrupting or rushing them. Creates and environment where open and honest communication can thrive.
5) Reflective responses: Providing feedback and demonstrating understanding through reflective statements or paraphrasing.
6) Avoiding judgment: Suspending personal biases, opinions and assumptions while listening.
7) Asking clarifying questions: asking thoughtful questions demonstrates active engagement and promotes a deeper level of comprehension.

Question 8

Describe the exercise OFC recommends for developing Presence.

Answer 8

Set the timer to one minute, close your eyes, focus on one of the following: 1) sounds (scan your environment for sound), 2) breath (try to notice everything about one breath), 3) toes (sensations in the toes)

Question 9

Warmth

Answer 9

Displaying genuine care, kindness, positive regard towards others.

Question 10

Mental state

Answer 10

Internal condition or state of mind that an individual experiences at a given moment. Mental states are subjective and can vary moment to moment. Used in psychology and philosophy to understand and analyze human consciousness.

Question 11

Internal skills

Answer 11

Set of psychological and emotional abilities that individuals possess and can develop within themselves. These internal skills are inward-facing and involve:

1. Self-awareness: Internal skills begin with self-awareness, which involves having a clear understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs.
2. Self-regulation: Internal skills also encompass the ability to regulate and manage one’s emotions, impulses, and behaviors.
3. Mindset management: Internal skills include the capacity to manage and shape one’s mindset or mental attitude. This involves cultivating positive and empowering beliefs, perspectives, and attitudes towards oneself, others, and various situations.
4. Focus and attention: Internal skills involve the ability to maintain focus and direct attention intentionally.
5. Self-confidence: Internal skills encompass cultivating a healthy level of self-confidence and belief in one’s abilities and worth.
6. Stress management: Internal skills involve techniques and strategies to effectively manage and cope with stress, pressure, and adversity.

Question 12

Placebo effect

Answer 12

The placebo effect is a phenomenon where a person experiences a perceived improvement in their symptoms or condition due to their belief in receiving a treatment, even if the treatment itself is inactive or lacks a therapeutic effect.

Question 13

Nocebo effect

Answer 13

The nocebo effect is a phenomenon where a person experiences negative symptoms or adverse effects due to their belief or expectation that a particular treatment or substance will cause harm, even if the treatment itself is inert or harmless.

Question 14

Negativity bias

Answer 14

In psychology, the term “negativity bias” refers to a cognitive bias where individuals tend to pay more attention to and place greater importance on negative information compared to positive information. It suggests that negative experiences, emotions, or feedback have a stronger impact on individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors than positive ones. This bias is believed to have evolutionary roots, as it may have been adaptive for survival to be more attentive to potential threats or dangers in the environment.

Question 15

Cognitive reappraisal

Answer 15

In psychology, cognitive reappraisal refers to a cognitive strategy or process through which individuals reinterpret or reframe the meaning of a situation or event to regulate their emotional response. Research suggests that cognitive reappraisal can be effective in reducing negative emotions, increasing positive emotions, and promoting psychological well-being.

Question 16

What are some examples of cognitive reappraisal?

Answer 16

Reframing: Viewing a challenging situation as an opportunity for growth or learning rather than a threat or failure.
Perspective-taking: Imaging oneself in another person’s shoes to gain a different viewpoint and understand their motivations and intentions.
Positive reappraisal: Focusing on silver linings in a difficult situation.
Deemphasizing: Minimizing the importance or significance of an event or outcome to reduce its emotional impact.
Reinterpretation: Assigning a different meaning or interpretation to a situation to change its emotional implications.

Question 17

Hedonic adaptation

Answer 17

Hedonic adaptation, also known as the hedonic treadmill or the hedonic set point, refers to the psychological phenomenon where individuals have a tendency to return to their baseline level of happiness or subjective well-being after experiencing positive or negative life events or changes. In other words, people adapt to changes in their circumstances, whether positive or negative, and eventually revert back to their previous level of happiness.

The concept of hedonic adaptation suggests that external factors, such as acquiring material possessions, achieving goals, or experiencing major life events, have a temporary impact on an individual’s happiness.

Understanding hedonic adaptation is important because it suggests that long-term happiness and well-being are not solely dependent on external circumstances or material possessions. Instead, it highlights the significance of internal factors, such as mindset, gratitude, and personal values, in sustaining happiness and subjective well-being over time. It also emphasizes the importance of seeking lasting sources of happiness that are less prone to adaptation, such as nurturing relationships, personal growth, and meaningful pursuits.

Question 18

Gratitude

Answer 18

The term “gratitude” refers to the practice and mindset of appreciating and recognizing the positive aspects of one’s life, experiences, and interactions with others. It is about cultivating a genuine sense of thankfulness and acknowledging the blessings, kindness, and support received from others.

Question 19

Goodwill

Answer 19

Simple state of wishing others well.

Question 20

Empathy

Answer 20

Ability to understand how somebody is feeling.

Question 21

Compassion

Answer 21

Empathy + Goodwill

Question 22

Destigmatize

Answer 22

Destigmatizing an experience means reducing its power simply by understanding that it’s normal, common, and nothing to be anxious about.