Psyche | on the human condition

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A person lying on their back, silhouetted against a blue background with dim lighting, creating a contemplative mood.

GUIDE How to sleep when you’re a perfectionist by Nick Wignall

Photo of a yellow shirt on a hanger in soft sunlight with shadows on a dark cupboard door and a radiator in the background behind a sheer curtain. A person is holding the cupboard door open; their left arm is shown along with the sleeve of their striped t-shirt.

IDEA Six ways to use clothes to boost your confidence at work by Dahlia Stroud

Sketch of a bathroom with a vanity unit and mirror. An illustrated nude woman stands in the centre, reflected in the mirror.

FILM The bear in the shower A film by Tom Schroeder

Technology and media

idea

Why teenagers are deliberately seeking brain rot on TikTok

Talking to teens reveals a hidden sophistication to their media use. Rather than policing it, maybe we could learn from it

by Emilie Owens

A person kneeling in front of a gong in an ancient stone structure, with a misty mountain landscape in the background.

Knowledge and reason

idea

Long COVID brain fog was my enemy. How did it become my friend?

The confusion of my illness helped me understand Buddhist theories of ignorance and its role in the relief of suffering

by Emily McRae

Photo of five burned matchsticks with blackened, charred tips, arranged in a row on a white background. The order shows partially burnt matches through to a fully burnt match.

Mental health

guide

How to recover from burnout

Feeling worn down, checked out, or bitter about work? The answer is not to ‘just work harder’. Try these steps instead

by Debbie Sorensen

Clay sculpture of a standing female figure with folded arms against a dark background, worn and aged with visible markings

History of emotions

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To ancient Assyrians, the liver was the seat of happiness

Cutting-edge computational techniques are shedding light on how the emotional experiences of past cultures compare to ours

by Juha Lahnakoski & Ellie Bennett

Black and white drawing of swirling smoke and flames rising from the ground, bordered by a rough square outline.

The self

idea

Why bad doodles can reveal more about you than good drawings

For Marion Milner, ‘not being able’ is a valuable state – one that allows for new and unexpected forms of learning

by David Russell

Popular this month

guide

How to sleep when you’re a perfectionist

by Nick Wignall

idea

The brain’s twilight zone: when you’re neither awake nor asleep

by Célia Lacaux

Black-and-white photo of a person sleeping against a window on a train, head resting on a pillow, outside view blurred.

idea

The surprising role of deep thinking in conspiracy theories

by Stephen Gadsby & Sander Van de Cruys

Photo of a man in a yellow T-shirt with a large black letter “Q” standing among seated people at an indoor event.

guide

How to recover from burnout

by Debbie Sorensen

idea

The most profound wonder is stirred by what is most ordinary

by Maria Balaska

Photo of green leaves on branches against a bright blue sky with wispy clouds behind.

A smiling shirtless man with the outline of a child, as if cut out by scissors, sitting on his shoulders.

Parenting and families

film

No kidding! Inside one childless comedian’s choice to get a vasectomy

A film by Jordan Temple

A protest with people holding signs that read ‘We are worth more’ and ‘Strike for 15’; large Ronald McDonald figure in the background

Human rights and justice

idea

Most protests fail. What are activists doing right when they win?

The science of protest reveals successful tactics and common weak points. Those who want change should take it onboard

by Lisa Mueller

Sleep and dreams

idea

The brain’s twilight zone: when you’re neither awake nor asleep

Neuroscientists are demystifying this in-between state, uncovering its role in memory processing and its creative potential

by Célia Lacaux

A photo of three people in a lively discussion in a bar. They are gesturing with their hands while talking animatedly.

Thinking and intelligence

idea

Expert tips on using gestures to think and talk more effectively

The gesticulations that accompany your speech are so much more than mere hand-waving – they contain and convey meaning

by Susan Goldin-Meadow

Painting of a bundled stack of old ten-dollar bills tied with a green ribbon set against a dark brown background.

Virtues and vices

idea

Greedy people might be frowned upon, but are they the winners?

Some individuals have a persistent tendency to want ever more stuff and status. Psychologists are examining the lives they lead

by Karlijn Hoyer

Photo of two people embracing indoors, one hand resting gently on the other’s back, both wearing blue clothing with soft-focus background.

Decision-making

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Going with your gut feels good, but it’s not always wise

Research is revealing the mood benefits of making intuitive decisions, but some situations call for an analytical approach

by Carina Remmers

Illustration of a young woman with a bob haircut, red skin and two different coloured eyes. She holds her hands up to her cheeks.

Mental health

film

Fixating on her body, a woman grapples with strange distortions of the self

Directed by Chenghua Yang

Abstract painting of a river with geometric, brightly coloured buildings and trees on the riverbank and a bridge in the background

Creativity

idea

A key part of creativity is picking up on what others overlook

We all constantly filter a flood of details coming in. This process helps explain what gives some brains a creative edge

by Madeleine Gross

Medieval painting of two figures in a garden, one in a pink robe holding flowers, the other in a red robe beneath a tree.

Music

idea

Why did bloody knights write love songs about spring blossoms?

The masculinity of medieval knighthood was expansive enough for both graphic violence and the joys of a flower meadow

by Jennifer Saltzstein

Photo of a café interior showing a person working on a laptop inside by the window while another person is entering through the door.

Goals and motivation

idea

How temptation works, and why it nearly stopped me writing this

Temptation can be sneaky – a rationalising voice that subtly undermines your resolve. But there are ways to outsmart it

by John Schwenkler

Painting of lilac flowers with green leaves on a dark background. The flowers vary in shades of purple, pink, and white.

Beauty and aesthetics

film

‘Nothing renders their beauty’ – can art ever capture the splendour of a flower?

A film by Miléna Trivier

Thinking and intelligence

idea

The surprising role of deep thinking in conspiracy theories

People who endorse and spread outlandish theories aren’t gullible, they’re drawn to the intoxicating lure of discovery

by Stephen Gadsby & Sander Van de Cruys

A person in an orange sweater with arms crossed, sitting at a table with a closed orange phone case on it.

Technology and media

idea

A psychologist’s tips for getting a grip on your social media use

Is social media causing you problems? Here are some personal and practical ways to reap its benefits with fewer drawbacks

by Daria J Kuss