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Communication and language

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A girl walks towards a woman on a pavement with a grey building in the background, casting shadows from a tree.

Thinking and intelligence

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Talking out loud to yourself is a technology for thinking

Talking out loud to oneself is a technology for thinking that allows us to clarify and sharpen our approach to a problem

by Nana Ariel

Close-up of a Renaissance painting showing a man’s face with curly hair, detailed skin texture, and a thoughtful expression against a dark background.

Emotion regulation

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Asking one simple question can entirely change how you feel

Positive and negative emotions respond differently to ‘affect labelling’ – the act of giving a name to your feelings

by Christian Waugh

Ancient stone relief of four figures with intricate facial expressions and draped clothing, displayed against a blue background.

Communication and language

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How do good conversations work? Philosophy has something to say

The idea of what makes for a successful conversation is always tricky, and has always been contested by philosophers

by Stephanie Ross

A man and a woman laughing together in a restaurant

Communication and language

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Why it takes humour to sustain a long-term relationship

Maintaining a long and happy relationship requires a specific skillset. Learning to laugh at yourself and together is key

by Enrico Gnaulati

Protesters holding signs against cashless society, media and climate emergency. Signs include “ONLY BY STANDING TOGETHER WILL WE BE FREE” and “TIME TO WAKE UP”.

Knowledge and reason

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Our big problem is not misinformation; it’s knowingness

Everybody knows we live in an age of misinformation. But everybody’s wrong, and here’s why it’s our age’s biggest problem

by Jonathan Malesic

A woman and a man face off, gesticulating in an argument. Another woman stands nearby looking concerned amid a crowd outdoors.

Conflict and conflict resolution

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Argue better by signalling your receptiveness with these words

All too often disagreements spiral into conflict. Prevent that happening by signalling your receptiveness with these words

by Michael Yeomans

Abstract illustration of a man in profile, reclining with a pipe in his hand, set against a red and black background.

Decision-making

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Do you think more clearly when reading or when listening?

How we take in information has a remarkably significant effect on how intuitive or analytical we are in thinking about it

by Janet Geipel & Boaz Keysar

A plane docked at Bologna Airport at sunset with the terminal and control tower in the background.

Communication and language

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Speaking a different language can change how you act and feel

For many multilinguals, switching between tongues can lead to shifts in personality, revealing the malleability of the self

by Antonella Gismundi

A couple enjoying a cosy moment, the woman holds a pink mug while the man, in a striped shirt, leans in closely, both smiling softly.

Communication and language

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Here’s the truth about how to spot when someone is lying

From shifty eyes to fidgeting fingers, there are many folk beliefs about the signs of lying – but what does the science say?

by Tim Brennen & Svein Magnussen

A woman holding a smartphone at night with blurred city lights in the background.

Self-harm and suicide

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Working on a suicide helpline changed how I talk to everyone

Volunteering at a suicide helpline has changed how I talk to everyone: I listen more, assume less, and focus on the moment

by Natalia Dashan

Two people look at a scientifically based recreation of a Neanderthal man’s head, adorned with feathers and fur, enclosed in a glass case at a museum. The setting is under strong indoor lighting with a blue wall background.

Communication and language

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This is what a Neanderthal conversation would have sounded like

Neanderthals had language, but it differed from ours in an important way that could help explain our superior art and tech

by Steven Mithen

Illustration of a person listening with a hand cupped to their ear, surrounded by soft pastel colours.

Communication and language

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Why listening well can make disagreements less damaging

Offering undivided attention and curiosity not only lowers the temperature of a conversation but can change its outcome

by Guy Itzchakov