Community
History and philosophy of mental health
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Chinese philosophy has long known that mental health is communal
The early Chinese philosophers knew that a healthy mind comes from a harmonious community, not a matter for individuals alone
by Alexus McLeod
Technology and media
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To be more tech-savvy, borrow these strategies from the Amish
With their focus on values and intentionality, the Amish offer a lesson in thinking critically about digital technology
by Alex Mayyasi
Play
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What TikTok videos have in common with Victorian parlour games
TikTok and Insta videos are the Victorian parlour games of today, allowing us to share in the emotional benefits of play
by Kim Beil & Ryan Tacata
Mental health across cultures
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Why a Sufi approach to healing mental illness is so powerful
In Sufi shrines, rituals offer sufferers a path beyond the fear and isolation of their mental distress
by Bhrigupati Singh
Values and beliefs
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To be a responsible citizen today, it is not enough to be reasonable
To survive society’s problems, today reasonableness isn’t enough; we need citizens to recognise beliefs have consequences
by Francisco Mejia Uribe
History of emotions
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True gratitude is a communal emotion, not a wellness practice
Positive psychology touts the personal benefits of gratitude. It’s actually a challenging emotion that binds communities
by Michal Zechariah
Mental health
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How a feeling that you belong could protect your mental health
Research on young adults at a time of social transition highlights the significance of feeling that you belong to a group
by Janine M Dutcher & Amber Quinn
Cultural diversity
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Cultural differences are far more nuanced than East vs West
It’s simply not the case that ‘Eastern’ cultures are relationally-minded, while ‘Western’ societies are individualistic
by Matt Huston
Community
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The behavioural immune system protects us, but at what cost?
The COVID-19 pandemic created an unplanned social experiment on skin hunger and touch aversion. How will our politics suffer?
by Manos Tsakiris
Communication and language
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How a secret European language ‘made a rabbit’ and survived
How Rotwelsch, the secret lingo of vagrants who mistrusted big words and official institutions, survived via police archives
by Martin Puchner
Community
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From wars to pandemics, people in crisis need to feel connected
Resilience is not a given: from terrorist attacks to pandemics, crisis management must include our need for connection
by Edgar Jones
Stories and literature
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Craft your own renaissance with tips from Boccaccio’s Decameron
Boccaccio’s Decameron provides us with the fortitude and inspiration to craft our own renaissance for these uncertain times
by Dan Turello