We’re learning just how early in life empathy starts to move us
What contagious crying, comforting hugs and other cute behaviour in infants tells us about the roots of emotional connection
by Zanna Clay & Carlo Vreden
Emotions
The hidden calculations that determine whether you will cry
We think of tears as an overflow of emotion, but an evolutionary lens shows they’re a rational form of social signalling
by Daniel Sznycer & Debra Lieberman
Does national humiliation explain why wars break out?
For a nation, humiliation isn’t just a feeling – it’s a story. Understanding this can help countries move beyond aggression
by Raamy Majeed
How to understand and cope with mood swings
Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support
by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb
Cuteness has a powerful pull, and it’s written all over your face
Our typical responses to cute things might seem cheery and unserious, but they signal something vital about us
by Makenzie O’Neil
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
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
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
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
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
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
The unseen lives of others take centre stage in this surreal poetry adaptation
Directed by Michelle Kranot and Uri Kranot
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
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
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