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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.

Written by Matt Huston

Photo of two people sitting on a park bench, one with their arm around the other, surrounded by grass and fallen petals.

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

Photo of a child in green on a motorcycle with an adult’s tattooed arms holding the handlebars.

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

Photo of a person sleeping in bed next to a guitar on a dimly lit night with white bedding and a soft expression.

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

Photo of person in red fairy wings facing portable toilets outdoors.

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

Photo of people in high-vis vests sitting on a road, engaged in discussion, with cars and wooden pallets in the background.

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

Photo of two people in a gritty urban street with peeling painted walls, graffiti and shoes hanging on a wire.

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

Photo of a man in a yellow jacket opening a front door, with blinds on a window in a dimly lit room.

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

A cluttered room filled with books, papers, boxes, kitchenware and various items scattered over surfaces.

Mental health

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How to tell if someone is hoarding – and provide effective help

For many, letting go of possessions is intensely stressful, even when the clutter puts them at risk. Here’s what you can do

by Michael A Tompkins

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Drugs and psychedelics

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Psychedelics are philosophical tools for demolishing assumptions

By shaking up our sense of how things are, substances like LSD or psilocybin have the potential to promote deep learning

by David J Blacker

A surfer riding a wave under a cloudy sky, with another large wave shown behind.

Virtues and vices

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Equanimity is not stillness – it is a mobility of the mind

To grasp the power of this lauded quality, think of it less as a mountain than as a flexible, even playful way of seeing

by Michael Uebel

People in hooded jackets standing in a park with grass and trees, a rainbow in the sky and a building in the background.

Neurodiversity

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Why we should think of neurodiversity like we do personality

It’s a mistake to frame autistic and ADHD traits as either deficits or mere differences. There’s another way to see them

by Joshua May

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Mind and brain

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Having epileptic seizures gave me newfound respect for the brain

Seizures are often described as both terrifying and enthralling. Mine gave me a wondrous new take on consciousness and agency

by Webb Wright

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Compassion and empathy

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How to make someone feel seen and heard

Validation skills are not only useful for therapists. Learn them and you’ll improve your personal and work relationships

by Caroline Fleck

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Compassion and empathy

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How do we start learning to ‘read’ other people’s minds?

Studies of young children give us insight into the building blocks of an ability that most of us use every day

by Josephine Ross & Martin Doherty

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Death and dying

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Reflections on mortality can help you live well now – here’s how

For me and many others, contemplating death has clarified what matters. These curiosity-based exercises will get you started

by Joanna Ebenstein

A person leaning against a wall under a light in a dimly lit alley with graffiti-covered walls.

Addiction

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The shame felt in addiction often isn’t toxic – it’s healing

The push to take shame out of recovery is well-meaning. But it overlooks the power this emotion has to motivate change

by Owen Flanagan

A cheerful picnic by a river with adults and children relaxing on blankets under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Human nature

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For a happier life, we must balance two old psychological needs

Personal autonomy is abundant in the modern world. As a result, many of us get what we want but not what we need

by William von Hippel

An aeroplane seen in silhouette, flying against a dramatic sunset sky with clouds.

Love

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How to make a long-distance relationship work

Whether an hour or an ocean apart, there will be challenges, but this therapist shows how to make the most of the upsides

by Charlie Huntington

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Evaluating therapies

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In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?

A ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality might make sense when striving for change – but don’t confuse discomfort and distress

by Nicholas Van Dam