Christian is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He also holds a Masters in neuroscience and PhD in cognitive neuroscience awarded through two Medical Research Council scholarships. Christian was the founding editor of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest and an award-winning journalist on The Psychologist magazine. His books include The Rough Guide to Psychology, 30-Second Psychology and Great Myths of the Brain. His latest Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change was awarded the annual book prize by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Christian has written for many international publications such as GQ, Wired, New York Magazine, BBC Future and The Guardian, and he’s answered readers’ questions on psychology and neuroscience for BBC Science Focus for nearly a decade. Christian will never forget holding a human brain in his hands as part of a neuroanatomy class, the grey mass so heavy as if filled still with memories and dreams.

Written by Christian Jarrett

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A memory hack to help you face your fears

There’s a way to recall past encounters with your fears that could help you feel more confident facing them in future

by Christian Jarrett

Photo of a boxing match with a standing boxer in the ring and an opponent kneeling behind, lit by overhead lights.

Motivation is good, but discipline is better

The Ukrainian boxing champion Usyk’s recent claim that ‘discipline is better than motivation’ was psychologically astute

by Christian Jarrett

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How slow breathing calms down your brain

Researchers studied the effect of slow breathing on people’s brain activity while they experienced anticipatory anxiety

by Christian Jarrett

A group of office workers turned to face a colleague, clapping and smiling, in a modern meeting room setting.

Are you saying ‘thank you’ too effusively?

Research suggests that people who express their gratitude more effusively are judged as lower status and less influential

by Christian Jarrett

A man with a beard sitting on a sofa with two young children, one resting on his head, in a room with bookshelves.

Being a dad has made my brain younger

As the father of twins, I could hardly feel more frazzled. But my brain age might paint a different, more youthful, picture

by Christian Jarrett

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JOY

A way to enjoy more positive mental images

Psychologists have tested a way to seed ‘involuntary positive mental images’ in the brain. You can try it for yourself

by Christian Jarrett

A man with white hair in a suit sitting at the head of an empty boardroom table, facing forward, back toward the camera. Dozens of empty chairs line the outer edges of the room; windows at the rear of the room show trees outside.

Don’t fall victim to the Peter Principle

You mustn’t assume that the skills that served you well in the past will be enough for any new challenges that lie ahead

by Christian Jarrett

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Are emotionally resilient people also skilled at soothing others?

Research on the social side of emotion management is showing what’s distinctive about it – and its benefits for all involved

by Christian Jarrett

Edited by Christian Jarrett

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How to talk to yourself

Self-talk is a proven way to boost motivation, think clearly and process your emotions. These tips will help you use it well

by Maryellen MacDonald

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Why some healthy habits still take so much effort

Contrary to classic habit science, certain behaviours never become easy. Recognising this can help you stick with them

by Blair Saunders & Kimberly R More

A person’s left hand holds an old family photo near documents and letters on a table; their right hand holds a pen that is positioned to write on a yellow strip of paper.

How to be the archivist of your own family

By curating your family’s stories, rituals and relics, you’ll feel anchored – and create a bridge between the generations

by Samantha Ellis

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How to stop your life playing on repeat

Those frustrating patterns you keep experiencing might be because of your schemas – and there’s a therapy that can help

by Gemma Gladstone

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How to use AI chatbots to make you smarter, not dumber

Use AI thoughtlessly and it dulls your mind. But with a strategic approach and the right prompts, it can be a powerful tool

by Nick Kabrel

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Guilty pleasures are more than just giving in to temptation

Psychologists are discovering what’s going on when you do something you enjoy, but also feel weird or embarrassed about

by LaCount ‘JJ’ Togans

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How to overcome a fear of fear

When you become afraid of your own reaction to perceived threats, it creates a vicious cycle. Here’s how to break free

by Nick Wignall

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The neural reward that makes avoiding your fears feel so good

We’re told that facing our fears can help us overcome them – but this misses the other intoxicating part of the equation

by Muhammad Badarnee & Mohammed R Milad