Freedom and choice
idea
What removing large chunks of brain taught me about selfhood
I’ve cut brains in half, excised tumours – even removed entire lobes. The illusion of the self and free will survives it all
by Theodore H Schwartz
Civic life
idea
Disappointment is not just a feeling – it’s a political force
When political regimes fail us, don’t turn to optimism. It’s disappointment that holds the radical potential for change
by Rafael Holmberg
Food and drink
guide
How to maintain a healthy gut
With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood
by Vincent Ho
Goals and motivation
idea
Here’s how to use your imagination to prepare for any task
From sport to public speaking, the link between mental imagery and actual performance is undeniable – and you can harness it
by Jonathan Rhodes
Grief
idea
The loss remains, so why does intense grief usually fade?
Grief’s ‘double vision’ beholds both the bereaved and dead. Recognising this duality helps explain our ability to move on
by Berislav Marušić
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Values and beliefs
idea
Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind
Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events
by Kevin (Ze) Hong
Virtues and vices
idea
Social comparison is driving us to despair. It doesn’t have to
In the social media age, it seems impossible not to measure ourselves against others – but we can dodge the worst pitfalls
by Wojciech Kaftański
Psychotherapy
idea
Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up
Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across
by Kathryn Gordon
Ethics
idea
What makes a map ‘good’? On the ethics of cartography
Rendering the world in a responsible way means wrestling with what gets depicted on a map, how, and for whom
by Nat Case
Communication and language
idea
Let me open a treasure chest to explain how metaphor works
Once maligned by philosophers, metaphors are a key communication tool for extending the power of literal speech
by Elek Lane
Altered states
film
Cacophony flanked by the abyss – one artist’s take on life itself
A film by Sumito Sakakibara
Freedom and choice
idea
Relationships are important, but so is feeling free to end them
Comparing ‘relational mobility’ and people’s average happiness across different cultures reveals some intriguing patterns
by Thomas Talhelm & Liuqing Wei
Ethics
idea
What a real-life ‘trolley problem’ reveals about morality
We used an electric-shock dilemma to test the strength of people’s moral principles when faced with real-world complexities
by Dries Bostyn
Psychoanalysis and the unconscious
idea
Men’s anxiety about hair loss can have a deeper meaning
As a psychoanalyst, I’ve seen how reflecting on the emotional symbolism of hair loss can be therapeutic for many men
by Tom Wooldridge
Love
film
A girl upends her grandparents’ ‘love story’ in this hilarious animation
Directed by Maryam Mohajer
Fairness and equality
idea
A lawyer’s view of irrelevant influences in the courtroom
Psychology studies cast doubt on old assumptions about legal objectivity. Lawyers and laypeople alike should take notice
by Samu Czabán
Emotion regulation
guide
How to compare yourself with others fairly
Ever worry that you don’t measure up? These CBT-based practices can make social comparison less painful and more productive
by Joel Minden