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Emotions

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

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

Virtues and vices

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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

Man in jeans and trainers falls backwards as he avoids three charging bulls on a cobblestone street. Top-down perspective captures the chaos of the scene.

History of emotions

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Schadenfreude: why do we find joy in the pain felt by others?

A brief history of schadenfreude – taking pleasure in the misfortune of another – from ancient China to Charlie Chaplin

by David P Barash

A woman with long blonde hair and a striped blue and yellow jumper takes a selfie, smiling broadly. Behind her, a living room is visible with a large potted plant, a grey couch, and wall shelves with small plants and decor items. A clock is fixed on the wall in the background.

Emotions

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What makes ‘toxic positivity’ different from a healthy attitude

Influencers and self-help gurus are preaching a form of positive psychology that risks doing more harm than good

by Lucas Dixon

Black and white photo of a young woman in a striped top, looking to the side with a surprised expression, covering her mouth with her hand adorned with a ring. Other people are visible in the background in low light.

Emotions

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How ‘feelings about thinking’ help us navigate our world

The pleasant feeling of knowing, the frustration of forgetting, and other ‘metacognitive feelings’ serve as unsung guides

by Pablo Fernandez Velasco & Slawa Loev

A monochrome photograph from above of a man looking out to sea. His hands are in his pockets and a dog waits some metres away

Thinking and intelligence

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Philosophical reflection often begins with a disruptive mood

For many of our greatest philosophers, it was their moods, from wonder to estrangement to anxiety, that first inspired them

by Steven Segal

An angry mob of people jeer at a woman carrying a young baby up a cobbled street. Her head is shaved

Shame and guilt

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Personal and political shaming is running hot, yet it doesn’t work

When passions run high so does the urge to shame wrongdoers. But if the goal is to change, shamers should think twice

by David Keen

A woman in a high-visibility jacket talks to two men on a street with cars and stacks of pallets in the background.

Emotions

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Some emotions seem to be more ‘elastic’ than others

New research findings suggest that guilt behaves like an on-off switch whereas anger is more elastic and dial-controlled

by Matt Huston

Painting of a woman leaning towards a man resting his head on a table cluttered with papers and books; a painting of horses racing hangs on the wall behind them.

Emotions

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Why is there such a thing as ‘true love’ but not ‘true grump’?

What makes an emotion feel true? And how is that connected to your true self? New insights on old philosophical puzzles

by Shayla Love

Composite image showing a burning tower with smoke billowing out and a reflection of two people looking at it.

Emotions

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What it means for something to ‘sink in’ emotionally

The impact of important events is more than an emotion or mood – it must ‘sink in’, which is a process that unfolds in time

by Matthew Ratcliffe

A person in a white T-shirt sits in a chair near a bright window, looking down at an open book while holding a pen.

Eating disorders

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Is ‘feeling fat’ really a manifestation of underlying sadness?

Patients with eating disorders who feel overweight are often told that the underlying cause is emotional. What if it’s not?

by Stephen Gadsby & Bence Nanay