Equanimity is not stillness – it is a mobility of the mind
To grasp the power of this lauded quality, think of it less as a mountain than as a flexible, even playful way of seeing
by Michael Uebel
Virtues and vices
My great-grandfather poisoned drinkers during Prohibition
In a grim irony, his descendants – my grandmother and mother – struggled with drink. Here’s what I’d tell him about addiction
by Rebecca Lester
To have deeper conversations, try being more of an asshole
Conversation is a game with rules about politeness and norms. To move beyond small talk, you need to risk breaking them
by Idil Çakmur
Social comparison is driving us to despair. It doesn’t have to
In the social media age, it seems impossible not to measure ourselves against others – but we can dodge the worst pitfalls
by Wojciech Kaftański
A girl upends her grandparents’ ‘love story’ in this hilarious animation
Directed by Maryam Mohajer
Wisdom is a virtue, but how do we judge if someone has it?
Our team explored who is considered wise in cultures with contrasting philosophical traditions. The results surprised us
by Maksim Rudnev & Igor Grossmann
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
Everything I know about flirting, I learned from the Cold War
The rewards of flirtation go beyond sex or romance. But, as in other exchanges, you have to know where the red line is
by Youngbin Yoon
The medieval notion that shows why even experts should be humble
Nicholas of Cusa and others saw the importance of ‘learned ignorance’ or recognising there is always something more to learn
by Christopher M Bellitto
The psychology of impatience could make waiting more tolerable
New studies on the experience of impatience suggest there’s more to it than simply how long you’ve been left hanging
by Matt Huston
Beyond dogwhistles – racists have a new rhetorical trick
How are so many politicians today able to get away with overtly racist utterances? By using rhetorical ‘figleaves’
by Jennifer Saul
Why so many plagiarists are in denial about what they did wrong
So often people claim ‘I didn’t mean to’, yet they fail to realise that plagiarism is more like speeding than theft
by Philip Reed
How to think about ethical dilemmas
Learning about ethical theories won’t give you easy answers, but will increase your confidence in how you choose to live
by Timm Triplett
How to put your envy to good use
Envious feelings can eat you up, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to transform envy into a guide and motivator
by Josh Gressel
Be honest: little white lies are more harmful than you think
Even well-intentioned white lies can foster disconnection and distrust – openness and honesty really are the best policy
by Elena Svetieva & Leanne ten Brinke
What the ‘fundamental attribution error’ misses about blame
Classic research says we overlook situational factors in explaining people’s misdeeds. But the reality is more complex
by Laura Niemi, Jesse Graham & John M Doris