Medieval manuscript illustration of three figures talking: a man, a knight with a shield and a shovel-bearer, set in an ornate border.
FRIENDSHIP

How the nature of friendship has changed through the centuries

The metamorphosis of this special bond from feudal to modern times reveals much about the aspirations of different societies

by Bénedicte Sère

A Miami Beach police car with flashing lights surrounded by people and photographers at night.
TRAUMA AND PTSD

Gun world

Is it possible to feel grief and survivor’s guilt after a mass shooting that didn’t occur?

by Jess Keefe

A man with crossed arms and a serious expression wearing an apron stands in the doorway of a restaurant with checkered curtains and menu on display.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

What to do when someone goes on the defensive

Our natural impulses often make matters worse. Here’s an approach that works, grounded in conflict resolution and psychology

by Adar Cohen & Nick Wignall

Ideas

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A group of people outdoors looking serious, with one woman wiping her eyes in the centre. Trees and buildings in background.
EMOTIONS

The hidden calculations that determine whether you will cry

by Daniel Sznycer & Debra Lieberman

Guides

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Four people swimming in a lake surrounded by foggy hills under a cloudy sky.
BODY-BASED THERAPY

How to take the plunge – from cold showers to icy swims

There’s growing evidence for the psychological and health benefits of cold-water immersion. Here’s how to get started

by Jenny Favell

Photo of a waiting room with focus on a black hat. A woman reads papers and another looks at her phone in the background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

How to chat with almost anyone

It can be awkward at first, but people are more open to conversation than you think – and it could lead to deeper connection

by Michael Yeomans

Life stories

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Hands holding freshly picked blackberries, with a background of green leaves and a black and white spotted dress.
EATING DISORDERS

Sweetness and light

After years of subsisting on protein bars and iceberg lettuce, berry-picking brought me home to my body

by Jamie Cattanach

Editor’s picks

A boy wearing a cap and t-shirt sits alone on white stadium bleachers, looking to the side with his arms crossed.
LONELINESS

How to overcome the loneliness of youth

It’s extremely common to feel lonely when you’re young. Many strategies can help, the key is finding what works for you

by Lily Verity & Pamela Qualter

A knitted grey toy mouse holds a needle and repairs its own dress. Three balls of yarn lie nearby, alongside a small blue open book.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

A whimsical ode to the reparative power of knitting, rendered in wool

Directed by Samantha Moore

Latest videos

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Photo of a hiker with a backpack and two dogs on a mountain peak at sunset, above the cloudline and overlooking a valley.
Psyche Exclusive
WORK AND VOCATION

A former office worker charts his own path, herding sheep high into the Pyrenees

Directed by Jake Joynson

Illustration of a scoreboard at Barclays Center showing a man with raised arms, surrounded by an arena.
SPORTS AND GAMES

A dancing NBA superfan on the joy of spaces that let us go wild and get weird

Abstract drawing of a face with vibrant colours, featuring red cheeks and a patterned necklace on an orange background.
Psyche Exclusive
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Born of memory and mystery – the otherworldly works of a self-taught, unhoused artist

Illustration of two stylised people running on a boardwalk near the sea with telegraph poles and wires in the background.
GOALS AND MOTIVATION

How increasing short-term pleasure can help you achieve your long-term goals

Black and white photo of an elderly man with glasses and a moustache wearing a suit, sitting in a patterned chair.
THINKERS AND THEORIES

‘Man cannot stand a meaningless life’ – a conversation with Carl Jung at 84

Notes to self

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People dancing at an outdoor festival, colourful tents in background, clear blue sky overhead.
MUSIC

The beats that make us want to move

by Matt Huston

Three people chatting at a rustic bar in a pub, with a brick interior and various decorations.
FRIENDSHIP

Our relationships, in five dimensions

by Matt Huston

Popular

Black and white photo of an elderly man with glasses and a moustache wearing a suit, sitting in a patterned chair.
THINKERS AND THEORIES

‘Man cannot stand a meaningless life’ – a conversation with Carl Jung at 84

Video by Face to Face

Monks in colourful robes and hats, forming a circle during an outdoor festival with flags and onlookers in Tibet.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION

Complexity science can deepen your mindfulness practice

What if ‘stress reduction’ is the least interesting thing mindfulness does? Complexity science offers new ways forward

by Pavel Chvykov

A child looking out a window, hand pressed against the glass, supported by an adult holding their back, in a warmly lit room with partially-closed curtains.
OCD

Fears about being a dangerous or immoral person can fuel OCD

Intrusive thoughts about doing bad things are common, but for people with OCD they provoke deep fears about the self

by Richard Moulding & Kelvin (Shiu Fung) Wong

Illustration of person climbing through a window which takes the place of one square in a giant period table, through the window is a city scene.
HOME

Lab at the edge of the world

When my daughter was bullied, I decided to homeschool her. A chain reaction ensued

by Lea Page

A group of people outdoors looking serious, with one woman wiping her eyes in the centre. Trees and buildings in background.
EMOTIONS

The hidden calculations that determine whether you will cry

We think of tears as an overflow of emotion, but an evolutionary lens shows they’re a rational form of social signalling

by Daniel Sznycer & Debra Lieberman

People on a boat deck taking a selfie against a city skyline with clear blue sky, towels and sun hats visible.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

Plato warned that some pleasures separate us from reality

The contemporary obsession with feeling good might mean we’re losing sight of what makes life genuinely meaningful

by Derek van Zoonen

Marble sculpture of a dynamic struggle between two naked figures on a dark background, showcasing intricate details and movement.
GENDER

Plato’s challenge to the meaning of manliness still resonates

Even in ancient Greece, Plato questioned whether gender norms around masculinity were good for men’s individual freedom

by Yancy Hughes Dominick

A person gazing out a train window at a yellow field and cloudy sky, with a table and a closed laptop in view.
MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS

How much you ‘body-wander’ could affect your mental health

Some people tune into bodily sensations while daydreaming, others don’t – with implications for anxiety, depression and ADHD

by Leah Banellis

Explore: Architecture

A night scene with a warmly lit cabin in the woods. An elderly person is inside, visible through large glass windows.
ARCHITECTURE

From modernist architect, to a life off-grid, a creative life well-lived

Directed by Ryan Malloy

Futuristic architectural rendering with wooden structures elevated above a tree-filled courtyard space.
ARCHITECTURE

How the buildings you occupy might be affecting your brain

by Cleo Valentine & Heather Mitcheltree

Photo of a group of people sitting outside, smiling and raising drinks together. A picnic with bottles and fruits is visible in front.
ARCHITECTURE

An elegy and a celebration of what it really means to find a home

Directed by Davina Pardo

Black and white photo of a bathroom with a pedestal sink, two taps and a geometric counter, on a tiled floor.
ARCHITECTURE

The sink in the hall: how pandemics transform architecture

by Theodora Philcox