X CLOSE
TherapeiaEudaimoniaPoiesis
AboutContact
Search
Menu
Psyche
DonateNewsletter
SIGN IN
Ideas

Self-knowledge and personal growth

Disorders and difficultiesTherapies and practical advicePerspectives and controversies
Self-knowledge and personal growthRelationships, work and leisureValues and ethical living
Creativity and the artsSpirituality and transcendence
AgeingChange and self-developmentChildhood and adolescenceCompassion and empathyConsciousnessDeath and dyingDecision-makingDisabilityEmotion regulationEmotionsFocus and attentionFreedom and choiceGenderGoals and motivationHabits and routinesHappinessHistory of emotionsHistory of ideasHuman evolutionHuman natureIdentityJoyKnowledge and reasonLearning and educationLife stagesMemoirMemory and nostalgiaMind and brainNeurosciencePersonalityResilience and flexibilitySex and sexualitySleep and dreamsSocial historyThe body and physical healthThe selfThinkers and theoriesThinking and intelligence
LatestPopular
A group of people engaged in a heated discussion outdoors with diverse expressions and gestures.

Communication and language

idea

Why every utterance you make begins with a leap of faith

Time pressure and the limitations of memory compel you and your listener to engage in a fascinating linguistic trade-off

by Julie Sedivy

Photo of a person driving at night with dashboard lights on and a road visible ahead through the car windscreen.

Technology and media

idea

The reason that even hands-free calls are risky for drivers

Cars are filled with ever more communication and entertainment tech, but our minds are stuck with the same limitations

by Robert Rosenberger

Black and white photo of a woman and child sitting outside a rustic cabin in a desert landscape under a cloudy sky.

Social history

idea

Bunkerised society – why prepping for end times is so American

Millions are preparing for doomsday, not together, but by closing the hatch. It’s a logical response to a hollowed-out state

by Robert Kirsch & Emily Ray

Blurry photo of a vibrant bar scene with a table of drinks, red lighting and indistinct figures moving around.

Neurodiversity

idea

Living without mental imagery may shield against trauma’s impact

Discovering I have aphantasia helped me understand my response to being assaulted and why I wasn’t debilitated by PTSD

by J B Smith

Woman seated at a cafeteria table reading a book, with her shoes kicked off.

The body and physical health

idea

In defence of slouching: the bad science behind good posture

The idea that we should all stand straight is widely accepted. But this modern obsession has dubious origins

by Beth Linker

An ancient Greek clay jug with red stripes and inscriptions against a dark background.

Communication and language

idea

I am an article about the speaking objects of ancient Greece

Talkative drinking cups and threatening oil flasks tell us how the written word asserted its authority in an oral society

by Teddy Fassberg

Illustration of the solar system with planets in order of distance from the Sun on a dark background.

Learning and education

idea

The ‘secret strategy’ that could boost your ability to learn

It may sound illogical, but growing evidence shows the benefits of testing yourself before you start learning new material

by Ajdina Halilovic

A person in protective gear disinfecting a cinema with an animated film playing on the screen in the background.

Progress and the future

idea

The empathy gap that is imperilling future generations

To protect our descendants from catastrophe, we must overcome the emotional hurdles that make it easy for us to look away

by Matthew Coleman

Painting of a man sitting, holding a crumpled letter while a black dog stands with its paw on his knee by a closed door.

Social history

idea

How the law soothed broken hearts in 19th-century America

What does a deep dive into the transcripts of historical seduction trials reveal about how we account for hurt feelings?

by Jinal Dadiya

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

Communication and language

idea

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

Illustration of a closed café with a person sitting alone, chairs stacked, abstract art on walls, dimly lit interior.

Emotion regulation

idea

Solitude can be profoundly restorative. Here’s how to savour it

Time alone offers unique psychological benefits, once you learn to embrace these quiet moments rather than escape them

by Thuy-vy Nguyen

Photo of a newborn baby wearing a pink wristband and clothes wrapped in a green blanket, sleeping peacefully.

Consciousness

idea

When does the first spark of human consciousness ignite?

We can’t ask babies what they’re feeling, but ingenious new methods are shedding light on the origins of subjective awareness

by Joel Frohlich