Happiness

Photo of two women in a kitchen, one peeling a potato while smiling the other focused on cooking, with a mortar in view.
HAPPINESS

We’re naturally bad at predicting what will make us happy. Here’s how to adjust

Video by The Well

An elderly man seated on a city street as skateboarders perform tricks around him.
HAPPINESS

Where are you on the ‘happiness curve’?

When I came across the U-shaped happiness curve, I knew I had to act if I wanted to buck the midlife average

by Richard Fisher

Three women chatting and laughing on stone steps at night with people relaxing in the background.
GENDER

Is being single a happier experience for women or men?

More people than ever are going solo. We identified a gender difference that hints at the ingredients needed to enjoy it

by Elaine Hoan & Geoff MacDonald

A naked young woman walking on a rippled sandy beach towards the sea, clear blue water and distant islands in view.
Psyche Exclusive
FREEDOM AND CHOICE

For Lucy, surviving on a remote island was hard, but returning was harder

Directed by Jesper Wachtmeister

Photo of a red taxi with passengers in an urban setting, a sign saying “Life is War” visible in the background.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE

Relationships are important, but so is feeling free to end them

Comparing ‘relational mobility’ and people’s average happiness across different cultures reveals some intriguing patterns

by Thomas Talhelm & Liuqing Wei

A photo of an artist in a cap and paint-splattered trousers sitting next to a large painting of a man holding his face in his hands.
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

A rural Namibian artist reflects on authenticity in work and in life

Directed by Niklas von Klitzing and Leo Stolz

Painting of an elderly man with a beard and a young woman in a red dress, both in a warm embrace with a landscape backdrop.
MONEY AND ECONOMICS

How your attitudes to money could be affecting your relationship

Do you see money as a way to gain freedom or status? If your partner takes a different view, there could be consequences

by Johanna Peetz

Photo of a person sitting and holding a large map covering their face outdoors with people walking in the background.
THINKING AND INTELLIGENCE

A love for thinking brings benefits way beyond school and work

Having a passion for mental effort – a trait that’s distinct from being intelligent – has some wide-ranging upsides

by Josephine Zerna

Puppets with monkey faces in office attire, performing a synchronised dance in a cubicle-filled office setting, with computers and office supplies visible.
HAPPINESS

Humanoid animals sing through their existential angst in this madcap short

Directed by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr

Photo of a smiling person taking a selfie indoors, wearing a blue and yellow jumper, with plants and a clock in the background.
EMOTIONS

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

Two puppets in silver spacesuits lie against a starry backdrop, surrounded by makeup items. One puppet has short black hair, the other has bright green hair.
FRIENDSHIP

Fatu treks into the glamorous unknown during his first outing in makeup

Directed by Iiti Yli-Harja

Photo of three older men in a pub, smiling and wearing caps. The background has pub mirrors and a red wall.
FRIENDSHIP

Is it better to have friends who are like you or different from you?

Studies of longterm friends offer surprising insights as to whether friends who are more or less alike tend to endure

by Christian Jarrett

A man and woman sit by a calm lake during dusk, with mountains in the background and a dog resting near the woman.
HOME

Life on Bruny Island, population 750, is suffused with trade-offs and joys

Directed by Guido Pezz

Photo of a family holding hands walking on a beach with a golden retriever in the foreground and ocean waves in the background.
HAPPINESS

As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen how chasing happiness leads to misery

My clinical work has shown me that happiness is a ghost that’s not worth pursuing – there are far wiser goals in life

by Rafa Euba

Photo of two people in pink bunny costumes with carrot designs, holding drinks and standing by a tiled wall under a sign.
PERSONALITY

To improve your life, consider changing your personality

New research supports the idea that intentionally developing certain traits is not only possible, but comes with benefits

by Christian Jarrett

Person roller-skating by the seaside, wearing protective gear and balancing on one foot, with a balustrade, palm tree, and sunny sky in the background.
HAPPINESS

There’s transcendence in skating – just ask the man they call ‘Slomo’

Directed by Josh Izenberg