psychology

Fingers type on a laptop keyboard

Email's death grip is strangling us, says computer scientist

Are we doing our work, or just talking about it?

Email's death grip is strangling us, says computer scientist
Side view of a cross section of a human brain in glass

How the West came to dominate our brains

How the West came to dominate our brains
Three psychologists debunk a persistent myth about how we learn.

Consider yourself a 'visual' or 'auditory' learner? Turns out, there’s not much science behind learning styles.

Consider yourself a 'visual' or 'auditory' learner? Turns out, there’s not much science behind learning styles.

Imaginary Friends Forever

Imaginary Friends Forever
Man kneels in front of make-shift memorial with head in hands

For 'lone wolf' terrorists, the motivation for violence isn’t always hate

For 'lone wolf' terrorists, the motivation for violence isn’t always hate
newhart

Why you don't understand people as well as you think

Think you know your friends and colleagues? Think again. There's science behind why we misunderstand everyone.

Why you don't understand people as well as you think
Movie theater

Watching movies may help you build empathy

Can something as simple as watching movies — and empathizing with fictional characters — help generate more compassion and understanding in the real world? Roger Ebert thought so, and science agrees.

Watching movies may help you build empathy
Choices

Whether you make the right choice or the wrong choice, there's quite a bit of science behind it

There’s more to morality than what we learned in the Gerber and Elmo years.

Whether you make the right choice or the wrong choice, there's quite a bit of science behind it
Children at a school picnic.

Primary school isn't too soon to start breaking stereotypes. It's the best time.

Stereotypes are so pervasive that studies show people can fall victim to them even when they're watching young children play. That's why one researcher says it's never too early to start teaching kids, especially in schools, that racial biases aren't correct. In fact, the earlier they learn, the better they learn.

Primary school isn't too soon to start breaking stereotypes. It's the best time.
Female scientist

Is the notion of 'innate genius' widening science's gender gap?

What determines success? Just intelligence? What about grit and determination? A recent study shows that fields in which people believe 'innate genius' determines success have fewer women than men. What's THAT about?

Is the notion of 'innate genius' widening science's gender gap?
GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman holds a GoPro camera in his mouth as he celebrates the company's IPO at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York on June 26, 2014.

How do you succeed as an entrepreneur? Go crazy

There are plenty of entrepreneurs who have potentially groundbreaking — or at least profitable — ideas. But a new book says there are far fewer with the confidence to simply throw themselves into their projects, even though that may be the key to success.

How do you succeed as an entrepreneur? Go crazy
Rodin The Thinker

A new study found people are terrible at sitting alone with their thoughts. How about you?

How long can you sit alone and do nothing except think? A group of researchers at the University of Virginia wanted to know. And they ended up with a shocking answer to the question.

A new study found people are terrible at sitting alone with their thoughts. How about you?
In China, the education system puts great emphasis on rote memorization. And students of all ages take lots and lots of exams.

It is amazing what happens when you tell kids they are more than their grades and test scores

Every parent knows their kids are more than just their grades. Still, they also tell kids grades matter. No wonder an English elementary school headmaster set off a social media storm when she helped write a letter to students telling them not worry so much about their scores, since "there are many ways of being smart."

It is amazing what happens when you tell kids they are more than their grades and test scores
German water polo player Moritz Oeler

In some cultures, psyching up for competition means quieting down

For an Indian tennis player, silence is the best preparation for a game. A Costa Rican polo player challenges his inner "sissy." And a German water polo star focuses on analyzing the moves of his opponents. It turns out, your country and culture have something to do with what works to motivate you.

In some cultures, psyching up for competition means quieting down
The Huscar Park in a working-class neighborhood of Lima is a public park, but you have to pay admission. It's extra for things like using the basketball courts and making a video.

In Peru, this is why people lock public streets and pay to use public parks

During Peru's civil strife in the 80s and 90s, insecurity got so bad that people started paying for gates and guards to block the entrances to their streets. Now, that distrust of institutions is hard for Peruvians to shake.

In Peru, this is why people lock public streets and pay to use public parks