FWIW as a guy who worked for 17 years in psych research primarily in the area of psychometrics (before ditching it all to rub steel on rocks) I found this "popular psych" style book was a good gift for a number of Aikido friends. It touches on some of what you're talking about here. It is a bit simplistic, but he brings together some interesting ideas and themes. I've given copies to a couple people now.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell