Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.
Think about the last time you asked someone for something. Maybe you were nervous or worried about what the person... more
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that people wrote you off? Maybe a teacher suggested you... more
Why is it so hard to guess where we're meant to be? To predict where we'll end up? Nearly all... more
If you're a parent or a teacher, you've probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in... more
We've all had those days when all we want is a little treat. Maybe it's a bag of chips, an... more
Anthropologist Tom Pearson was devastated after his daughter Michaela was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When he began to examine that... more
If you've ever taken an economics class, you were probably taught that people are rational. But about 50 years ago,... more
Have you ever sat across from your spouse, colleague or friend and realized that while they may be hearing what... more
Many of us believe we know how we’d choose to die. We have a sense of how we’d respond to... more
A little more than a decade ago, researchers began tracking an alarming trend: a dramatic uptick in anxiety and depression... more
Fear is a normal and healthy response to things that may harm us. But fear can also hold us back... more
Over the past few weeks, we've been exploring the psychology of partisanship, and how to effectively handle disagreements with those... more
We typically divide the country into two distinct groups: Democrats and Republicans. But what if the real political divide in... more
Conflicts are inevitable — both at a global scale and in our personal lives. This week, in the latest in... more
There's a saying that's attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.... more
The United States, we’re told, is increasingly a house divided. Conservatives and progressives are so alienated from each other that... more
We rely on our memory to understand the world. But what if our memories aren't true? This week, we talk... more
We spend more and more of our lives staring at screens. Our cellphones, smartwatches and laptops allow us to communicate... more
Most of us feel that our emotions are reactions to those outside of us. Someone cuts us off in traffic,... more
When we're learning, or trying new things, mistakes are inevitable. Some of these mistakes provide us with valuable information, while... more
Humans have wrestled with questions about identity and purpose for millennia. So it’s no surprise that the insights of people... more
When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a... more
We like to tell kids, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But from a very early age, we humans... more
Think about the last time you were struck by a gorgeous painting in a museum, or heard a song that... more
Why is it so hard to say 'I'm sorry?' In the final episode of our Healing 2.0 series, we talk... more
In 2019, Justin Harrison's mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But by the time she died, he had figured out... more
You've probably heard that people who lose a loved one may go through what are known as the "five stages"... more
We’ve all heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” But is there any truth to this idea?... more
We all tell stories about ourselves, often without realizing we’re doing so. How we frame those stories can profoundly shape... more
One of the mysteries of human behavior is that it’s often easier for us to focus on what’s going wrong... more
As we move through our lives, we have to make decisions both big and small. Some are banal: What will... more
We like to think that con artists only prey upon the weak, or gullible. But psychologist Dan Simons says all... more
Perfectionism is everyone’s favorite flaw. It’s easy to assume that our push to be perfect is what leads to academic,... more
It's easy to think that the best teams are collections of highly accomplished or talented individuals, working under a skilled... more
After we make a decision, we often tell ourselves a story about why our choice was the right one to... more
Think about the last time you did something you knew was wrong. How did you explain your actions to yourself?... more
How often do you say something negative to yourself that you'd never utter to someone else? Self-criticism can often feel... more
Sorrows have a way of finding us, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. Joys, on the other... more
It’s understandable that we sometimes dwell on things that upset us. But our negative emotions can keep us from savoring... more
Have you ever set a goal and had a really difficult time sticking to it? Maybe you decide you want... more
There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer's block. Athletes and artists... more
Think about how often you hold back honest opinions of someone else because you don’t want to hurt their feelings.... more
No matter who you are, it's guaranteed that at some point in life you'll make a mistake. Many of us... more
This week, we bring you the second part of our conversation on the perils of too much pleasure. Psychiatrist Anna... more
All of us think we know what addiction looks like: it’s the compulsive consumption of drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. But... more
It's not easy to know how we come across to others, especially when we're meeting people for the first time.... more
Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost... more
Think about the last time you resisted watching yet another episode of your favorite TV show, or decided not to... more
Determination, hard work and sacrifice are core ingredients in the story of the American dream. But philosopher Jennifer Morton argues... more
In the second part of our series on the science of meditation, Richard Davidson continues his endeavor to unite seemingly... more
All of us think we know what addiction looks like: it’s the compulsive consumption of drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. But psychiatrist Anna... more