There are plenty of talented people in the world. So why do only a tiny percentage of us reach the... more

We all have times when we feel like a fraud. In the latest installment of our Success 2.0 series, we... more

Think about the last time you tried to bring up an idea at work, and it was shot down. What... more

Do you love the ideas we explore on Hidden Brain and want more of them? Then please join Hidden Brain+,... more

We all rely on incentives to get people to do things they might otherwise avoid. Parents reward kids for doing... more

American culture celebrates those who persevere in the face of adversity. So how do we know when to walk away... more

We all have moments in our lives when we see someone who could use a helping hand. It could be... more

It happens to the best of us — we blank on someone's name, or forget an important meeting, or bomb... more

It used to be that we tried our best to conceal disadvantages, hardships, and humiliations. But new research explores a... more

Why do some companies become household names, while others flame out? How do certain memes go viral? And why do... more

At every stage of life, there are moments when we need buy-in from other people. Yet most of us make... more

When James and Donovan first met, they knew little about each other, except that Donovan had stolen James' bike. Donovan... more

Stories help us make sense of the world, and can even help us heal from trauma. They also shape our... more

In the second part of our series on implicit bias, we explore the relationship between beliefs and behaviors. We also... more

Would you consider yourself to be prejudiced against people who are different from you? Most of us would say no.... more

As you move through the world, it's inevitable that your way of seeing things won't always align with the people... more

Many of us rush through our lives, chasing goals and just trying to get everything done. But that can blind... more

Sometimes, life can feel like being stuck on a treadmill. No matter how hard you try to feel happier, you... more

Having a sense of purpose can be a buffer against the challenges we all face at various stages of life.... more

It's natural to want to run away from difficult emotions such as grief, anger and fear. But what happens when... more

Many of us believe that hard work and persistence are the key to achieving our goals. But is that true... more

When we want something very badly, it can be hard to see warning signs that might be obvious to other... more

Think back to the last time someone convinced you to do something you didn't want to do, or to spend... more

We all exert pressure on each other in ways small and profound. We recommend movies or books to a friend.... more

If you think about the people in your life, it's likely that they share a lot in common with you.... more

We all have to make certain choices in life, such as where to live and how to earn a living.... more

It's the time of year when many of us make resolutions for the year ahead. We pledge to quit smoking,... more

We often look down on people who complain a lot. Yet when something goes wrong in our own lives, many... more

People in every country and culture mark important milestones, such as births, marriages and deaths, with intricately choreographed scripts. We... more

With the holidays upon us, many of us are hunting for that special something for the special someones in our... more

Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated. In the final episode of our Relationships 2.0 series, we revisit a conversation... more

No one will deny that marriage is hard. In fact, there's evidence it's getting even harder. This week on the... more

When you go to a medical appointment, your doctor may ask you several questions. Do you smoke? Have you been... more

As you're going about your day, you likely interact with family, friends and coworkers. These relationships can help you feel... more

When it comes to conflict, most of us just want to shut it down. But psychological research is increasingly taking... more

Anxiety is an uncomfortable emotion, which is why most of us try to avoid it. But psychologist Tracy Dennis-Tiwary says... more

We all face tough decisions in life, whether we're juggling the demands of work and family or deciding whether to... more

Have you ever been falsely accused of something? Many of us think there’s only one way we’d act in such... more

If you're bilingual or multilingual, you may have noticed that different languages make you stretch in different ways. This week,... more

Many of us feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. We struggle to make time for all the... more

So often, we think we know what other people are thinking. But researchers have found that our attempts at reading... more

We like to think that all humans are born with the same core emotions: anger, fear, joy, sadness and disgust.... more

All of us want to feel safe in our daily lives. Yet when we think about crime, our first response... more

In the United States, we often praise people with strong convictions, and look down on those who express doubt or... more

The pressure. The expectations. The anxiety. If there’s one thing that many of us have in common, it’s the stress... more

Some challenges can feel insurmountable. But psychologist Emily Balcetis says the solutions are often right in front of our eyes.... more

How well do we know ourselves? Maybe the better question to ask is how well can we truly know ourselves?... more

You know that negative voice that goes round and round in your head, keeping you up at night? ... more

We often assume that we see ourselves and the world around us accurately. But psychologist Alia Crum says that our... more

We often assume that we see ourselves and the world around us accurately. But psychologist Alia Crum says that our... more

Have you ever gotten into a heated argument about politics? Maybe you’ve said something you're not proud of during game... 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 hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Those words, penned by Thomas Jefferson 246... more

When Paul Burnham was a teenager, he received what felt like a premonition: he would die at the age of... more

From the time we are schoolchildren, we are ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if... more

The human drive to invent new things has led to pathbreaking achievements in medicine, science and society. But our desire... more

What do the things you buy say about you? Many of us like to think of ourselves as immune to... more

Where do you stand on the income ladder? Do you think of yourself as rich, as poor, or as somewhere... more

What’s the point of money? The answer might seem obvious: we need it to get paid for our work and... more

Have you had a recent surprise expense? You're not alone. More than half of American households report facing an unplanned... more