What do Japan’s hikikomori reveal about our lonely world?
Unemployed and isolated, the residents of a hikikomori rehab centre hold up a mirror to a society that’s failing them
by Alain Julian
Ideas
Expert insights, perspectives and provocations to stimulate your mind
The trait that makes some people so frustrating – and alluring
Conscientiousness is constantly touted as a virtue, so what’s life like for people with the opposite trait – disinhibition?
by Janan Mostajabi
How luxury brands engineer desire with behavioural economics
From scarcity to market architecture, luxury fashion is manipulating our tastes. But a vintage countermovement has begun
by Charlotte Wren
Stressed about a date or an interview? Video games may offer a surprising salve
Video by the University of California
James Earl Jones reads Kurt Vonnegut on why art is central to a meaningful life
From cave art to subatomic sketches – how drawing has accelerated human progress
Embrace conflict, reject authority – William Blake’s radical vision of a meaningful life
Our world’s complex issues can’t be solved by lone heroes. Our stories should reflect that
Why the mental health awareness movement needs more precision and fewer vibes
There’s a nourishing calm in quietly wandering, far from goals and distractions
Popular
What the marshmallow test got wrong about child psychology
Self-control, grit, growth mindset – trendy skills won’t transform children’s lives, but more meaningful interventions can
by Tyler W Watts
Is it wrong to be good friends with a bad person?
Many think the answer is obvious: we ought to cut immoral people out of our lives. But that isn’t necessarily the best option
by Yiran Hua
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
Why we choose to avoid information that’s right in front of us
Knowing the reasons people opt not to know – and the consequences of that choice – could help us see when it’s problematic
by Jeremy L Foust
You don’t need perfect features to be physically beautiful
New research reveals that physical attractiveness is more about personal compatibility than meeting universal standards
by Annett Schirmer
Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle
Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred
by Troy Seagraves
Why we should treat caffeine like the brain-altering drug it is
Like billions of people, I use caffeine. But there is a glaring double standard in the drugs we stigmatise or celebrate
by Jonathan Simone
In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD
ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life
by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude
Popular
View allWhat the marshmallow test got wrong about child psychology
Self-control, grit, growth mindset – trendy skills won’t transform children’s lives, but more meaningful interventions can
by Tyler W Watts
Is it wrong to be good friends with a bad person?
Many think the answer is obvious: we ought to cut immoral people out of our lives. But that isn’t necessarily the best option
by Yiran Hua
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
For young people, AI is now a second brain – should we worry?
As a resident tutor, I’ve seen how students are using AI as more than a tool. It’s a psychological shift we’ll soon all make
by Rhea Tibrewala
For the Puritans, embracing God’s will could get dangerous
The group at the heart of American origin stories had a complex relationship with despair – and a need to reckon with it
by Alexandra M Lord
Does it still make sense to call addiction a ‘brain disease’?
The popular brain-disease model was meant to reduce stigma and explain addiction. It’s time to check whether it’s delivered
by Chrysanthi Blithikioti & Ioana Alina Cristea
In an era of split attention, there is more than one type of ADHD
ADHD is typically thought to be wired into the brain early. But many cases may be better seen as products of digital life
by Paul Kudlow, Karline Treurnicht Naylor & Elia Abi-Jaoude
Do we really need breathwork gurus to tell us how to breathe?
Breathing was once a natural reflex. How did it become a high-stakes biohacking ritual taught by wellness celebrities?
by Oriana Walker
Why we should treat caffeine like the brain-altering drug it is
Like billions of people, I use caffeine. But there is a glaring double standard in the drugs we stigmatise or celebrate
by Jonathan Simone
Is it wrong to be good friends with a bad person?
Many think the answer is obvious: we ought to cut immoral people out of our lives. But that isn’t necessarily the best option
by Yiran Hua
Asteroid economics: why we’re shopping our way through Armageddon
We must escape the psychological trap where grave warnings about existential threats trigger ever more destructive behaviour
by M I Krueger
You don’t need perfect features to be physically beautiful
New research reveals that physical attractiveness is more about personal compatibility than meeting universal standards
by Annett Schirmer
Dance showed me the untapped power of our attention muscle
Through tango, I sharpened attentional skills that make any moment richer. But these can be honed on or off the dancefloor
by Sara Melzer
Why do we hesitate to talk about our own good deeds?
Disclosing acts of kindness could encourage even more altruism – if we can find a way around the awkwardness
by Jerry Richardson
Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle
Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred
by Troy Seagraves
What the marshmallow test got wrong about child psychology
Self-control, grit, growth mindset – trendy skills won’t transform children’s lives, but more meaningful interventions can
by Tyler W Watts
Does progress seem slower when you constantly check on it?
Research on how we perceive the rate of change shows how you can be strategic about goal tracking and boost your motivation
by André Vaz
We’re learning just how early in life empathy starts to move us
What contagious crying, comforting hugs and other cute behaviour in infants tells us about the roots of emotional connection
by Zanna Clay & Carlo Vreden
They keep the Hindu funeral pyres burning, but at what cost?
For the men and boys of the Dom community in Varanasi, sacred cremations demand a lifetime of exhausting, dangerous labour
by Radhika Iyengar