PsychologyJun 28, 2026
Why Other People Make Us So Happy – And Also So Sad
Researchers found that the happiest and unhappiest moments share something unexpected in common.
Psychology
Updated Sep 15, 2026 9:00 AM PT
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Current reporting, research and professional developments across Psychology, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
PsychologyJun 28, 2026
Readers reply: Why does silence feel so horribly awkward?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsThis week’s question: Are there places on Earth…
PsychologyJun 28, 2026
What if doing more isn’t always the answer?
It’s tempting to treat overwhelm with clever fixes – but that might be part of the problemAccording to my Instagram feed, I am not doing enough. Not spending enough, not saying enough, not taking enough care. I feel more…
PsychologyJun 28, 2026
I’m a psychiatrist who was terrified of horror films – until I learned about ‘cinematic neurosis’
Why do scary movies thrill some viewers and send others running for the hills? Our writer gets to the bottom of his fear of the genre – with the assistance of Freud, clinical researchers and his six-year-old selfI am six…
PsychologyJun 27, 2026
Psychology says successful people don’t rely on motivation alone: A landmark study found “if-then” plans make goals easier to act on
Ditch the old myth that only willpower drives success; a revolutionary psychological insight demonstrates that careful planning is the key to reaching your objectives. By formulating 'if-then' plans, ...
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
The Web Of Habits Trapping Young People In Poor Mental Health (M)
Scientists have mapped the self-reinforcing loops keeping young adults trapped in a cycle of poor sleep and low mood.
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
The universe may be hiding conscious minds stranger than we can imagine
What if consciousness isn’t limited to brains like ours? Philosophers Eric Schwitzgebel and Jeremy Pober argue that consciousness could arise in many different forms of life, even in beings built from radically different…
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
Scientists discover ancient brain cells that help block distractions
Scientists have discovered a tiny group of neurons in an ancient brain region that acts like a built-in focus filter, helping the brain ignore distractions and zero in on what matters most. When researchers temporarily…
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
Beyond car seats and childproof pill bottles: A child psychologist explains how to empower kids to make safer choices
Unintentional injuries kill 20 US children every day. Building a family culture of safety can help them learn to make wise choices.
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
Why Telling Yourself to ‘Exercise’ Sets You Up for Failure, According to a Psychologist
You know that being active during the day is good for your mind and body both now and in the long run. But just telling yourself ...
PsychologyJun 24, 2026
The No. 1 Habit That Quietly Kills Adult Motivation, By A Psychologist
Motivation is less fragile than people think. More often, what causes it to fail is the result of years of gradual erosion caused by a very specific habit.
PsychologyJun 23, 2026
Everyone experiences loss and grief – but that doesn’t make it any easier to talk with kids about it
Parents and educators sometimes avoid having conversations about grief with children because they don’t know what to say. Here are some tips for how to approach it.
PsychologyJun 23, 2026
New brain study reveals speech learning works differently than we thought
A new study suggests that learning and remembering speech relies more on how the brain processes sounds and sensations than on the areas that control mouth and face movements. The discovery could reshape speech therapy…
PsychologyJun 22, 2026
Childhood experiences of LGBTQ+ stigma can harm romantic relationships decades later – psychologists explain how to reconnect with yourself and your partner
Guilt and shame from being rejected, discriminated against or bullied as a child can carry into adulthood. But making meaning from these experiences can help with healing.
PsychologyJun 21, 2026
Why does silence feel so horribly awkward?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsReaders reply: Is ‘ripen at home’ fruit the…
PsychologyJun 21, 2026
Scientists discover neurons must break their DNA to build the brain
As newborn neurons make their way through the developing brain, they must squeeze through incredibly tight spaces to reach their final destinations. Researchers discovered that this physical journey routinely causes some…
PsychologyJun 20, 2026
Psychology says fathers who fix broken things instead of replacing them are not being cheap: Why repairing objects becomes their way of protecting memories, purpose and family
Psychology suggests that fathers who repair broken items instead of replacing them are rarely being cheap or stubborn. More often, they are preserving something far greater than the object itself. In ...
PsychologyJun 19, 2026
Why are we so obsessed with charismatic leaders?
Of all the characteristics we might prize in a leader – competence, integrity, careful judgment, ethical courage – why do people rate charisma so highly?
PsychologyJun 18, 2026
How Messi, Mbappe and Haaland use their brains (as well as feet) to gain a psychological edge at the World Cup
A sport psychologist takes a look at disruption, tactical creativity and controlled mind-wandering in the modern game.
PsychologyJun 18, 2026
AI saves time – so why does it make us feel guilty?
Rest can feel uncomfortable when society treats effort as evidence of commitment.
PsychologyJun 18, 2026
Making a big, life-changing decision? 7 steps to consider
Big decisions are messier than they look, but there are things you can try before taking the leap – or not.
PsychologyJun 17, 2026
What makes the ideal digital icon? A psychologist explains
To the designer Susan Kare, designing icons was about solving ‘the little puzzle of making an image fit a metaphor’. Forty years later, that challenge remains.
PsychologyJun 17, 2026
Common plastic chemical linked to lifelong anxiety in new study
Exposure to a common plastic chemical before and shortly after birth may have lasting effects on behavior. Researchers found that male rats exposed early in life to DEHP—a plasticizer used in products ranging from…
PsychologyJun 17, 2026
A daily probiotic may help relieve depression and anxiety
A small clinical trial suggests that probiotics may offer a surprising mental health boost for older adults with depression. Seniors who took a daily probiotic alongside their regular antidepressant treatment experienced…
PsychologyJun 17, 2026
Scientists found an early depression clue hidden in children’s eyes
Depression appears to change what children notice in the faces around them, but the effect depends on family history. Kids with a higher inherited risk became more focused on sadness, while lower-risk children lost some…
PsychologyJun 16, 2026
If you’re feeling down, maybe don’t pet your cat, new study suggests
Dogs and cats both give you a brief mood lift, but only one of them seems to raise your stress levels too.
PsychologyJun 15, 2026
What does being ‘trauma-informed’ actually mean?
The term is everywhere, but what does it mean? Six guiding principles can help organisations provide care without causing further harm.
PsychologyJun 14, 2026
Why middle age is becoming a breaking point in the U.S.
A new international study finds that middle-aged Americans are lonelier, more depressed, and experiencing worse memory and health than earlier generations. Researchers say growing financial strain, weaker social…
PsychologyJun 13, 2026
Your brain can keep improving into your 90s, study finds
A three-year study of nearly 4,000 adults ranging from age 19 to 94 found that brain health can improve at any age, challenging the common belief that mental sharpness must decline as we get older. Participants spent…
PsychologyJun 13, 2026
Learning a musical instrument in your 70s could help protect memory
Learning a musical instrument later in life may help keep the brain younger for longer. In a four-year study, older adults who continued practicing maintained their memory performance and showed less age-related brain…