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Fairness and equality

A judge with a stern expression in a courtroom wearing a black robe standing in front of a US flag.

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A lawyer’s view of irrelevant influences in the courtroom

Psychology studies cast doubt on old assumptions about legal objectivity. Lawyers and laypeople alike should take notice

by Samu Czabán

A classical painting of two women and a man in a lavishly decorated room with ornate furniture and clothing, 19th century style.

Ethics

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The curious paradox in how we address each other today

While honouring people’s preferred pronouns, we’ve begun to neglect forms of formal address. Perhaps we need a rethink

by David Benatar

A blue sports car and a grey luxury car parked on a city street with people and a Christian Dior shop in the background.

Gender

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The ‘masculinity crisis’ is actually a crisis of self-esteem

There’s a modern belief that talent or effort can carry anyone to the top. It’s a myth that’s especially harmful to men

by Leo Rogers

Photo of a smiling family sitting in a red convertible car parked in front of a suburban house.

Gender

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In more prosperous societies, are men and women more similar?

How much the sexes differ psychologically depends on how fair and wealthy a country is. But not in the way you’d think

by Kåre Hedebrant & Agneta Herlitz

Photo of a child in a blue gingham shirt with yellow badges featuring positive messages and symbols on the chest.

Fairness and equality

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Teaching self-confidence can backfire and perpetuate inequality

It’s true that self-confidence is beneficial, but the way in which it’s often taught is misguided and can be harmful

by Eddie Brummelman & Kelly Ziemer

Photo of a large poster depicting a woman with blonde hair, with a person walking in the foreground.

Change and self-development

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The cult of being confident and why it doesn’t help women

By making women solely responsible for their own empowerment, the culture of confidence masks the true causes of inequality

by Rosalind Gill & Shani Orgad

Black and white photo of two men sitting on a kerb in conversation with a brick storefront behind them.

Civic life

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The power of Langston Hughes’s ‘melancholy citizenship’

Langston Hughes’s poetry offers a guide to the sort of melancholy citizenship that can help us weather democratic heartbreak

by Robert L Tsai

Futuristic painting with diverse people on a hill overlooking a cityscape blending nature, ancient monuments and advanced tech.

Human evolution

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Let everyone sparkle: psychotechnology in the year 2067

In the year 2067, the decorations are not the only things that sparkle. We ourselves glow and fizz with psychotechnology

by Eric Schwitzgebel

Photo of a child in a pink coat holding an adult’s hand in a room with crates containing canned goods.

Socioeconomics of mental health

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Why we shouldn’t push a positive mindset on those in poverty

Living in poverty is not caused by a faulty mindset, it’s a response to scarcity and marginalisation

by Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington

Ancient Roman mosaic depicting a woman in ornate attire with a smaller figure holding a cornucopia beside her.

Thinkers and theories

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Musonius Rufus: Roman Stoic, and avant-garde feminist?

For Musonius Rufus, the Stoic feminist, enduring things as they are is no obstacle to striving for things as they should be

by Massimo Pigliucci

Photo of intense football match action with players crowded near the goal attempting to block or score a goal.

Sports and games

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In sport, as in life, tactical fouling is fundamentally wrong

Tactical or professional fouling is a familiar, accepted practice in team sports. But is it ever the right thing to do?

by George Letsas & Saladin Meckled-Garcia

Photo of two elderly women walking together on a city pavement, with a red bus and two other people in the background.

Life stages

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Quit the millennial bashing – generationalism is bad science

‘Boomer’ and ‘Gen Z’ seem like handy ways of sorting people, but they are more cultural creations than natural phenomena

by Cort W Rudolph