X CLOSE

Matt Huston

Commissioning Editor, Psyche

Matt Huston is an editor and writer interested in psychology, mental health, and culture. Before joining Aeon+Psyche, he was on the editorial staff at Psychology Today for nearly a decade. He has written about a variety of topics in the realm of human behaviour, ranging from teletherapy to social perception to reproducibility in psychological science.

See Matt Huston’s profile on Aeon

X (Formerly Twitter)

Written by Matt Huston

Two people sit on a wooden park bench, one with an arm around the other, with fallen leaves scattered on the ground in front of them.

Communication and language

idea

Why that hard conversation will probably go better than you think

If you’ve delayed raising a touchy issue, fearing it will backfire, new research could give you the confidence you need

by Matt Huston

A young child passenger sits on the front of a motor scooter, with an older male rider partly visible behind. The rider has tattooed arms and a sign on the scooter reads ‘Thailand’

Personality

idea

How babies’ and children’s temperament varies around the world

International research reveals intriguing regional differences in temperament – the infant precursor to adult personality

by Matt Huston

In a dark room a woman is asleep under a duvet and a guitar is leaning against the wall

Sleep problems

idea

What to do when racing thoughts keep you up at night

Any attempts to escape your mind or make yourself sleep are likely to backfire. Try these expert tips instead

by Matt Huston

A person in a red costume with wings stands in front of a row of portable toilets on grass.

Emotion regulation

idea

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

View from behind a wheelchair showing the back of red trainers, with people walking in the background on a pavement.

Disability

idea

Prejudice is more of a problem for some disabilities than others

It’s welcome that there’s more awareness of ableism, but further progress means digging into the varied ways it plays out

by Matt Huston

A woman in a high-visibility jacket talks to two men on a street with cars and stacks of pallets in the background.

Emotions

idea

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

A person in a witch hat observes a colourful, abstract painting featuring multiple characters, including a central nude figure, in a museum.

Beauty and aesthetics

idea

Why art seems more beautiful when you can see yourself in it

Research suggests that people find artworks more aesthetically pleasing when they’re personally relevant to them in some way

by Matt Huston

Two men near a graffiti-covered wall with chipped paint, one standing and gesturing, the other sitting on the pavement.

Cultural diversity

idea

Cultural differences are far more nuanced than East vs West

It’s simply not the case that ‘Eastern’ cultures are relationally-minded, while ‘Western’ societies are individualistic

by Matt Huston

Anxiety

idea

What to do when your urge for reassurance has gone too far

The need for constant reassurance can show up like a persistent itch. Follow these steps for a more lasting peace of mind

by Matt Huston

A small black puppy lying on a couch with a man in a red checkered shirt sitting in the background.

Personality disorders

idea

There’s a growing case for renaming ‘personality disorders’

The concept of personality disorders has been around for centuries but it’s flawed and needs both a rethink and a new name

by Matt Huston

Edited by Matt Huston

A yellow bird singing on a branch with a soft-focus green background.

Animals

idea

Learn to tune into birdsong – respite and fascination await

Listening deeply to the sounds of birds is a powerful form of meditation and a first step towards a rewarding new hobby

by David M Logue

Abstract painting of a woman with geometric shapes in pastel colours, featuring a blend of blues, greens and yellows.

Psychiatry

idea

What a psychiatric diagnosis means – and what it doesn’t mean

With stigma and misunderstanding surrounding mental health, it’s vital to know the benefits and limits of a formal diagnosis

by Awais Aftab

Illustration of a person pushing a boulder on a wooden boat that is tipping over from the weight, in wavy blue waters against a pale background.

Forgiveness

guide

How to forgive (even if they’re unrepentant)

Feeling ill will toward someone who harmed you is natural but draining. You can let it go, whether you reconcile or not

by Richard S Balkin

Two men smiling in low light, seated at a round table with drinks. One man is wearing a hat.

Stories and literature

guide

How to tell a better story

Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one

by Micaela Blei

A person in protective gear disinfecting a cinema with an animated film playing on the screen in the background.

Progress and the future

idea

The empathy gap that is imperilling future generations

To protect our descendants from catastrophe, we must overcome the emotional hurdles that make it easy for us to look away

by Matthew Coleman

A plane docked at Bologna Airport at sunset with the terminal and control tower in the background.

Communication and language

idea

Speaking a different language can change how you act and feel

For many multilinguals, switching between tongues can lead to shifts in personality, revealing the malleability of the self

by Antonella Gismundi

Photo of a newborn baby wearing a pink wristband and clothes wrapped in a green blanket, sleeping peacefully.

Consciousness

idea

When does the first spark of human consciousness ignite?

We can’t ask babies what they’re feeling, but ingenious new methods are shedding light on the origins of subjective awareness

by Joel Frohlich

A woman in sunlight with eyes closed, wearing a pink top sitting by a shadowy wall and green plant.

Death and dying

idea

It’s not foolish to foster hope in the face of illness and death

As a great loss loomed, I feared straying too far from the hard truth. But I learned to distinguish denial from hope

by Christiana Boules

Photo of a derelict brick building with colourful graffiti on the wall broken windows and overgrown vegetation at dusk.

Painting and sculpture

idea

Works of urban graffiti are not vandalism, but public monuments

They might appear to have little in common with statues or obelisks, but graffiti images serve a vital public function

by Rafael Schacter

Painting of a woman reclining on a red chair against a red background wearing a black dress and holding a white cloth.

Sadness and sorrow

idea

Avoiding sadness can backfire, here’s how to turn towards it

Everyone has stretches of sadness. Shifting how you think about and relate to sad feelings could help you through these times

by Beth Kurland

A protest with people holding signs that read ‘We are worth more’ and ‘Strike for 15’; large Ronald McDonald figure in the background

Human rights and justice

idea

Most protests fail. What are activists doing right when they win?

The science of protest reveals successful tactics and common weak points. Those who want change should take it onboard

by Lisa Mueller

Painting of a bundled stack of old ten-dollar bills tied with a green ribbon set against a dark brown background.

Virtues and vices

idea

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