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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

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Written by Matt Huston

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Communication and language

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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

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Personality

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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

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Sleep problems

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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

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Emotion regulation

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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

Photo of a person in a wheelchair from behind. Shoes with red details are visible. Pedestrians walk nearby on a city street.

Disability

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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

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Emotions

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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

Person in a hat with feathers admires a colourful painting in a gallery.

Beauty and aesthetics

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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

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Cultural diversity

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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

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Anxiety

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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

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Personality disorders

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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

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Meaning and the good life

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How to make your life feel more meaningful

Existential psychology offers specific ways to find meaning, giving you a buffer against despair in these anxious times

by Steven Heine

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Values and beliefs

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Cultural taboos arise from a basic feature of the human mind

Unquestioned community rules on marriage, dining and even black cats often stem from our hunger to explain random events

by Kevin (Ze) Hong

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Psychotherapy

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Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up

Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across

by Kathryn Gordon

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Freedom and choice

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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

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Fairness and equality

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A lawyer’s view of irrelevant influences in the courtroom

Psychology studies cast doubt on old assumptions about legal objectivity. Lawyers and laypeople alike should take notice

by Samu Czabán

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Emotion regulation

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How to compare yourself with others fairly

Ever worry that you don’t measure up? These CBT-based practices can make social comparison less painful and more productive

by Joel Minden

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Emotions

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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

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Conflict and conflict resolution

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Why being snubbed can make you feel so hurt and enraged

The psychology of ostracism helps explain why you can sometimes shrug it off, yet other times feel the urge to lash out

by Christiane Büttner

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Depression

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How to support someone with depression

Being there for someone can be challenging. A clinical psychologist shares what to say and do to help them feel less alone

by Emma Cotterill

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Anxiety

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If you think you are ‘just not a math person’ then think again

Understanding how mathematics anxiety takes root points to ways to overcome it, opening up new opportunities and pastimes

by Nathan T T Lau & H Moriah Sokolowski

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Difficult emotions

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Feeling nothing can be as devastating as feeling too much

Emotional ‘emptiness’ is a damaging, underexplored phenomenon. Better understanding it could help steer people to fulfilment

by Christopher J Hopwood

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Cultural diversity

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Insularity can be a good thing, for creatures and cultures alike

The plight of threatened species can help us understand – and respond to – the endangerment of local ideas and practices

by Antone Martinho-Truswell