A man in a car talking on a phone and gesturing with his hand, appearing animated or upset.
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA
6

The way we talk to bots matters even if they aren’t conscious

If more and more of our daily interactions are ungracious exchanges with machines, we should expect it to change us

by HennyGe Wichers

Colourful evil eye charms and blue metal bells hanging together with a blurred background.
RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS

The evil eye is irrational. Abandon it at your peril

So many of the world’s superstitions have been supplanted by rational thinking. Why does one of the oldest beliefs persist?

by Timna Abramov

Silhouetted people under large vibrant, colourful umbrellas against a clear blue sky.
SEX AND SEXUALITY
2

How to cope with the stress of anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice

A queer psychologist shares skills from dialectical behaviour therapy to help you cope and find joy in a stigmatising world

by Kiki Fehling

Ideas

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Guides

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Two people sitting on a log by a lake, facing distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
THE SELF
22

How to uncover your blind spots

We all have parts of ourselves others know but we don’t. Gain greater self-awareness by seeing yourself from the outside in

by Jennifer Farrell

Medieval painting of a scribe in a hooded robe writing on a large manuscript at a tilted desk with a gold background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
3

How to be a word detective

Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in

by Danny Bate

Life stories

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An older man in a hat and glasses with a colourful tie-dye shirt at an outdoor event, headphones around his neck.
MUSIC
8

The human frequency

With Radio Paradise, William Goldsmith built an internet radio station that’s become a living argument for taste, trust and the art of choosing what comes next

by Greg Easley

Editor’s picks

Painting of two figures in a doorway, one in red, with soft brushstrokes and dark, moody colours suggesting night.
DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
6

How to handle rejection

Whether personal or professional, the sting of rejection awaits us all. These strategies can help you heal and move on

by Thomas Smithyman

Photo of a person kneeling on a barren landscape under a cloudy sky, capturing a sense of isolation and vastness.
SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION
57

Religion gives life meaning. Can anything else take its place?

Religious faith promotes a sense of meaning in life – and it might take more than ‘social glue’ to duplicate the effect

by Michael M Prinzing

Latest videos

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Photo of a crowded nightclub with people dancing under red and orange lights, creating a lively atmosphere.
PERSONALITY

How to know if you’re highly sensitive, and what to do about it

Video by Dr Julie

Vintage photo of a women and child standing in front of a dark car parked in a driveway, with a suburban background.
Psyche Exclusive
PARENTING AND FAMILIES

An intimate account of illegal abortion in 1969, from mother to daughter

Illustration of a decorative pedestal topped with a blue starry shape on a white background.
SEXUAL PROBLEMS

Viagra has its upsides, sure. But has it changed sex for the better?

Photo of a person smiling with arms outstretched in a turquoise tie-dye shirt in a bright room.
MEMOIR

Step into the joyful world of Annabel, a performer with Down syndrome

Photo of a man and woman with glasses examining a handheld device in an art-filled room with brick wall and paintings.
ANXIETY

You’re sure that society is spiralling and we’re all doomed. Now what?

Notes to self

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Popular

A rear-end collision between two cars, showing damage and close details of tyres and bumpers.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE
28

Why you should try living without free will for two weeks

Set aside the philosophical debates and act as if there is no free will. It leads to less blaming and better questions

by Tara-Lyn Camilleri

A person walking past outdoor café tables and chairs in shadowed sunlight.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION

Absence of presence and presence of absence

Mindfulness experts teach us to be present in the moment. I suggest an antidote – a meditation that’s focused on absence

by Nigel Warburton

Medieval painting of a scribe in a hooded robe writing on a large manuscript at a tilted desk with a gold background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
3

How to be a word detective

Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in

by Danny Bate

Two people sitting on a log by a lake, facing distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
THE SELF
22

How to uncover your blind spots

We all have parts of ourselves others know but we don’t. Gain greater self-awareness by seeing yourself from the outside in

by Jennifer Farrell

Painting of a late-19th century pub scene with two men and a woman, drinks on the table, the woman looking into a mirror.
ETHICS

Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?

The philosophical debate goes on. But our research on self-obligations suggests there’s a common, consequential view

by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang

Three elderly women seated on a bench. One laughs, one covers her face with a book, the other sits with hands folded.
LAUGHTER AND COMEDY
9

Why women’s laughter has long been treated as a threat

Traditional patriarchy has always told women not to laugh. Today, female laughter still disturbs a male-dominated world

by Abílio Almeida

An elderly person walking with a cane in a dimly lit hallway, light from a room accentuates their silhouette.
BRAIN INJURY AND DEMENTIA
4

Terminal lucidity: when dying dementia patients regain awareness

The reports span centuries and cultures. If they’re real, memory and identity might be far more recoverable than we thought

by Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston

Black and white photo of a man looking in a mirror, touching his chin with his index finger.
GOALS AND MOTIVATION

Maxxing treats life as a problem when it’s a mystery

The philosopher Gabriel Marcel offers the antidote to a grotesque new ideology: don’t fix existence, be open to it

by Håkon Evjemo

Explore: Emerging therapies

Photo of a smartphone displaying an augmented reality app showing a textured object over a hand on the screen.
FEAR AND PHOBIA

Why augmenting reality to make it ickier could help germaphobes

Video by University of the Netherlands

A woman and a man converse while seated on chairs in a room with plants. A decorative table with glasses is between them.
EMERGING THERAPIES

The critic inside your head has something important to tell you. Here’s how to listen

Video by Esther Perel

Photo of a person walking a dog on a sunlit forest path with a warm, orange glow in the background.
EMERGING THERAPIES

Could dreams during anaesthesia help to heal life’s trauma?

by Shayla Love

A man wearing an eye mask lies on a bed while another person observes; a monitor and lamp are on the nearby table.
EMERGING THERAPIES
2

What does ketamine-assisted therapy look like? Inside one firefighter’s journey

Directed by Brandon Kapelow