Psychology(Page 6)

Get to know your own mind—and improve your mental health—with the latest findings on human brains and behavior.

Latest in Psychology

Is ASMR Real? Is ASMR Real?

By Alexandra Ossola

a man and a woman lay sleeping in bed

You get brainwashed whenever you go to sleep (and that’s a good thing) You get brainwashed whenever you go to sleep (and that’s a good thing)

By Popular Science Team

Sara Chodosh wealth happiness chart

4 countries that prove money doesn’t always buy happiness 4 countries that prove money doesn’t always buy happiness

By Candice Wang

Labradoodle dog looking at a person in a blue shirt with a yellow "don't tread on me" flag

Can you ‘deprogram’ people who join cults? Can you ‘deprogram’ people who join cults?

By Michael Schulson/Undark

Person with long brown hour talking on iPhone in front of statue

Phone anxiety is real—and solvable Phone anxiety is real—and solvable

By Ilham Sebah/The Conversation

Ana Galvañ illustration

Why spacing out is good for you Why spacing out is good for you

By Eleanor Cummins

A Black man in glasses and a t-shirt sitting on a marble wall, looking at a phone.

The best apps for dealing with anxiety The best apps for dealing with anxiety

By RK Pendergrass

Prison cell with a sink and toilet behind bars

Solitary confinement can’t stop COVID-19 from spreading through prisons Solitary confinement can’t stop COVID-19 from spreading through prisons

By Robin Blades/Undark

A student in a red graduation gown dabbing

4 big ideas on fixing American schools 4 big ideas on fixing American schools

By Sabrina Imbler

Why ASMR calms some people down and sends others into a rage Why ASMR calms some people down and sends others into a rage

By Eleanor Cummins

Person with short black hair with sound-cancelling headphones and a backpack on a light purple and sea green background

Do binaural beats benefit your brain? Do binaural beats benefit your brain?

By Sara Kiley Watson

A stock chart on a computer screen

Your brain is wired to regret missing the GameStop stock boom Your brain is wired to regret missing the GameStop stock boom

By Stan Horaczek

Major Biden stretches his legs on the White House lawn

Dogs can make stressful workplaces better for people. Even the White House. Dogs can make stressful workplaces better for people. Even the White House.

By Ellen Furlong/The Conversation

a woman with dark skin and braided hair holds a remote in her hand and points it at a TV on the opposite wall

Is watching TV actually a good way to relax? Is watching TV actually a good way to relax?

By Corinne Iozzio

weighted blanket

What the science actually says about weighted blankets What the science actually says about weighted blankets

Basket of pomegranate fruits with glass bottles of tea on a light purple and seagreen background

Four plants that are scientifically proven to be therapeutic Four plants that are scientifically proven to be therapeutic

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

older woman facing a happy lamp

Can a happy lamp help cure your winter blues? Can a happy lamp help cure your winter blues?

By Erin Fennessy

two people looking bored

There’s a right and wrong way to be bored There’s a right and wrong way to be bored

By Sara Chodosh

anxious woman holding herself and looking off in the distance

How to keep your anxiety from spiraling out of control How to keep your anxiety from spiraling out of control

By Sara Chodosh

A person in glasses and a buttoned shirt tossing a handful of colorful confetti in the air

A psychologist explains how hope can make a difference in impossible times A psychologist explains how hope can make a difference in impossible times

By Jacqueline S. Mattis/The Conversation

Stressed? Try screaming. Yes, really. Stressed? Try screaming. Yes, really.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A helicopter with a person on the hoist below it.

Stay calm under pressure with lessons learned in the world’s most stressful careers Stay calm under pressure with lessons learned in the world’s most stressful careers

Fidget spinner spinning on a hand

Fidgeting can relax your body and brain—if you do it right Fidgeting can relax your body and brain—if you do it right

By Stan Horazek

Boost your mood with emotional brain training Boost your mood with emotional brain training

By Laurel Mellin/The Conversation

a woman lays back in a bath tub while looking relaxed

To take the most relaxing bath ever, add some healthy tips To take the most relaxing bath ever, add some healthy tips

By Rachel Feltman

a woman sits with her eyes closed and her hands folded in front of her to meditate

How to make the most of meditation with science How to make the most of meditation with science

By Jessica Boddy

a woman standing up and smiling in group therapy

Forgiving people is good for your health. Here’s how to do it. Forgiving people is good for your health. Here’s how to do it.

By Rachel Feltman

a woman holds a book and a mug of liquid on her lap

Stuck at home? Trick your brain into treating a staycation like the real thing. Stuck at home? Trick your brain into treating a staycation like the real thing.

By Eleanor Cummins

collage image showing people hugging and planting trees, with a 100 dollar bill surrounding them

How to spend your money for maximum happiness How to spend your money for maximum happiness

An illustration of a mustached individual getting up from an arm chair and getting a bowl full of ice cream from the freezer

Does free will actually exist? It’s complicated. Does free will actually exist? It’s complicated.

By Sara Kiley Watson

National guard members salute a veteran who died from COVID-19 at the Javits Center field hospital in New York City

Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard

By Jamie Rowen/The Conversation

MIT Press Reader illustration

How the objects we hold become extensions of our bodies How the objects we hold become extensions of our bodies

By Michael J. Spivey/MIT Press Reader

Tyler Spangler illustration

What happens when psychedelics make you see God What happens when psychedelics make you see God

By Sarah Scoles

An illustration of a hand dropping a pink envelope into a box

Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing

By Starbird, West, & DiResta/The Conversation

A hand holding several small brown mushrooms

Oregon just voted to legalize magic mushrooms. Here’s what that actually means. Oregon just voted to legalize magic mushrooms. Here’s what that actually means.

By Rachel Feltman

a person texting

Heavy media multitasking might make you more forgetful Heavy media multitasking might make you more forgetful

a woman standing calm and happy in the sunlight

Fight election season burnout with these mental health tips Fight election season burnout with these mental health tips

By Rachael Zisk

A Black family enjoying the beach with their toddler

How to find joy during tough times How to find joy during tough times

By Angela Gorrell/The Conversation

A small monkey looking surprised

The truth about reading body language The truth about reading body language

By Ramin Skibba/Undark

Outdoor time can be very beneficial for boosting mental health during the pandemic, experts say.

What mental health professionals have learned six months into pandemic care What mental health professionals have learned six months into pandemic care

By Marion Renault

MC Wolfman illustration

Why do we see ghosts? Why do we see ghosts?

The US-Mexico border wall in Tijuana and San Diego

How border walls trick the human brain and psyche How border walls trick the human brain and psyche

By Jessica Wapner

A row of Barbie dolls with fake blood

Playing bad can shape behavior, but not in the way you think Playing bad can shape behavior, but not in the way you think

By Erin Blakemore

CDC Director Robert Redfield and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci in 2018

The CDC thinks 90 percent of the US could still catch COVID-19 The CDC thinks 90 percent of the US could still catch COVID-19

By Purbita Saha

Nature walks can trigger feelings of awe, but you can achieve the feeling inside, too.

Regular doses of awe can do wonders for emotional health Regular doses of awe can do wonders for emotional health

Why do we love game shows like ‘Jeopardy!’ so much? Why do we love game shows like ‘Jeopardy!’ so much?

By Alex Schwartz

person under stress

Social distancing can make living with eating disorders harder Social distancing can make living with eating disorders harder

Muti illustration

How Disney fools your brain to make lines feel magically short How Disney fools your brain to make lines feel magically short

By Sara Kiley Watson

Family sitting and talking.

How to talk to kids about the coronavirus and other bad news How to talk to kids about the coronavirus and other bad news

By Sara Kiley Watson

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, destroyed homes and lives.

Earthquakes can cause serious psychological aftershocks Earthquakes can cause serious psychological aftershocks

winter ultramarathon

These ultramarathoners say life is easier after running 40 miles on frozen backwoods trails These ultramarathoners say life is easier after running 40 miles on frozen backwoods trails

anatomy of a laugh

Why does laughing feel so stinkin’ good? Why does laughing feel so stinkin’ good?

By Sara Chodosh

Smoke during sunset.

It’s time to grieve the world we’ve lost to climate change—and start to move on It’s time to grieve the world we’ve lost to climate change—and start to move on

By Eric Holthaus

A mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota, commemorates George Floyd, who was killed while being restrained by city police officers in May.

Resharing videos of violence against Black people can spark more trauma Resharing videos of violence against Black people can spark more trauma

By Candice Wang

A group of five teen walking down the street

LGBTQ+ alliance groups can have a positive effect on entire student populations LGBTQ+ alliance groups can have a positive effect on entire student populations

A father and son standing on the balcony

Your kids aren’t growing up too quickly, but your brain sure thinks they are Your kids aren’t growing up too quickly, but your brain sure thinks they are

By Keith Payne/The Conversation

four hands with different skin colors next to each other on a table

Anti-Black bias affects just about everyone. What’s the best way to deal with implicit racism? Anti-Black bias affects just about everyone. What’s the best way to deal with implicit racism?

By Candice Wang

several police officers standing in a road holding weapons

Can implicit bias training help cops overcome racism? Can implicit bias training help cops overcome racism?

By Candice Wang

Nature helps nurture relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children Nature helps nurture relationships between incarcerated mothers and their children

By Julie Stevens/The Conversation

A person planning out a solution on a wall.

Logic problems to challenge your bored brain Logic problems to challenge your bored brain

By Claire Maldarelli

Why we evolved to feel empathy during pandemics and other disasters Why we evolved to feel empathy during pandemics and other disasters

By Peter Sterling/MIT Press Reader

Stuart Patience illustration

This staircase goes on forever. Or does it? This staircase goes on forever. Or does it?

By Sara Kiley Watson

a smiling woman

Eight science-backed tricks to make you feel less sad Eight science-backed tricks to make you feel less sad

By Rachel Feltman

"Bedlam" tackles the systemic failures and cultural taboos of treating mental health conditions. It airs on PBS tonight at 10 p.m. EDT.

Meet the health care workers and patients on the front lines of another national crisis Meet the health care workers and patients on the front lines of another national crisis

By Purbita Saha