How psychology’s classic studies misled us about the self
Milgram, Zimbardo and recent priming studies suggested we’re highly malleable. They underestimated how stable we really are
by Jack W Klein & William B Swann
‘Heroes work here’: why I quit being an ER nurse
Spitting, swearing regulars at a Chicago ER opened my mind. Then came the COVID-19 deniers
by Anita Lambert
When giving up teaches you more than persevering ever could
Grit is all well and good, but sometimes abandoning your goals can be crucial to discovering who you are
by Mario I Juarez-Garcia
Ideas
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Guides
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How to overcome task paralysis
If you have ADHD or you’re stressed, tired and stuck, goal management training can help you get started and keep going
by Joe Wilner
How to handle jealous feelings
Jealousy can be a useful, insightful emotion – if you manage it well. Get curious about your jealousy to get a grip on it
by Carla Marie Manly
Life stories
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The bookshelf builder
Ellah Wakatama is editor, agent, publisher and mentor, all rolled into one. Her mission: to put the work of gifted Black writers into the literary canon
by Carey Baraka
Editor’s picks
How to enjoy food without feeling guilty about it
Through mindful eating and a shift in mindset, you can alleviate unwarranted negative feelings and embrace the joy of food
by Vivienne Lewis
A sense of humour – even a dark one – is a moral virtue
A sense of humour is a moral virtue that can help people flourish, even in dire conditions that are conducive to unhappiness
by Mark Alfano & Mandi Astola
Latest videos
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Why we see faces in unexpected places, and what it says about us
Video by Mary McGillivray
One man’s 10-year mission to film a plane engulfed by the Moon
Encounters with awe have profound benefits. Here’s how to have more
‘I take silly very seriously’ – a kinetic sculptor’s credo of creation
Don’t reduce emotions to biology – they’re contingent and emergent
A Bangkok cabbie finds balance in a thrilling street sport
Ten crafty ideas to escape the doom-scroll and start making things
Notes to self
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Popular
What life in Denmark shows about the power of emotional safety
A deep sense of ease – what the Danes call ‘tryg’ – is a collective responsibility that allows individuals to flourish
by Ruth Aharoni Nielsen
How to overcome task paralysis
If you have ADHD or you’re stressed, tired and stuck, goal management training can help you get started and keep going
by Joe Wilner
Why romantic relationships matter more to men than to women
For too long, men were told to be self-sufficient. The research shows they’re more likely to thrive in a loving couple
by Iris Wahring
Want to be a lifelong learner? Don’t go it alone
The history of autodidacticism shows that learning has always been social. The right relationships open intellectual horizons
by Celine Nguyen
Why moving on after a breakup makes you a better person
They say time heals a broken heart. But do the hard work of moving on, and you do more than heal – you improve yourself
by Matthew Barnfield
How to handle jealous feelings
Jealousy can be a useful, insightful emotion – if you manage it well. Get curious about your jealousy to get a grip on it
by Carla Marie Manly
What is hidden in the photographs we keep of each other?
Returning to family photo albums in my mother’s apartment in Japan, I was struck by the stories the images didn’t tell
by Sawa Kurotani
When giving up teaches you more than persevering ever could
Grit is all well and good, but sometimes abandoning your goals can be crucial to discovering who you are
by Mario I Juarez-Garcia
Explore: Symbols and myth
