Learning to play a musical instrument is hard. So is trying to run a marathon, writing a term paper, and... more

We generally think of pain as something to be avoided. But psychologist Paul Bloom says that as much as we're... more

Revenge often feels sweet, but what price do we pay for seeking it out? Researcher James Kimmel, Jr. proposes a... more

Have you ever encountered someone who clearly knows you, but you have no idea who they are? This week, we... more

You probably know someone who thinks they know more about something than they really do. But you could never be... more

Forgetting something — whether it's a colleague's name or where we put our keys — can be deeply frustrating. This... more

Do you feel like you control your emotions, or do your emotions control you? What scientists call "emotion regulation" turns... more

There's no magic potion that can make someone adore you. But there are things you can do to promote a... more

As we go through life, we’re constantly trying to figure out what other people are thinking and feeling. Psychologist Liane Young says... more

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

When we head into a negotiation — whether we're asking for a raise or trying to get our spouse to... more

All of us want to "seen" by the people around us. We want to be recognized as unique individuals. Yet... more

Often in life, we find ourselves wrestling with a decision. But in running these mental calculations, there's something we rarely... more

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

When should you stay the course in life, and when should you shift with changing tides? This week, we bring... more

Have you ever downplayed some aspect of your identity? Maybe you don’t hide it, but you don’t bring it up... more

What would you have done? It's one of the most enduring questions in psychology. We all like to think that... more

Last week on the show, we looked at the science of conversation, and how even ordinary chats can involve a... more

Just because we’ve been doing something for a long time doesn’t mean we’re doing it right. One part of our... more

Holding a grudge can feel like a form of justice, a way of punishing those who have wronged us. But... more

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." It's been 45 years since John Lennon sang... more

It’s no exaggeration to say that the world in 2025 can be ... a lot. Sometimes it may seem that... more

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

From time to time, all of us are called upon to do hard or even seemingly impossible things. Do we... more

We’re often drawn to people who appear to be true to themselves. Yet showing our authentic selves to the world... more

It's happened to all of us: We're in the shower, or on a walk, and boom — a big idea... more

Every day, we leave small traces of ourselves online. And we might not realize what these traces say about us.... more

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

What makes ordinary people do evil things? It was a question that long fascinated the psychologist Philip Zimbardo, who died... more

There's a tradition around many Thanksgiving dinner tables that's as consistent as stuffing and pumpkin pie: the family stories that... more

Neuroscientist Doug Fields was on a trip to Europe when a pickpocket stole his wallet. Doug, normally mild-mannered, became enraged... more

Many of us go to great lengths to be happy. But is our singular focus on feeling good actually making... more

Sometimes we feel just one single feeling with overwhelming force. We're joyously happy. We're crushingly sad. But sometimes it's more... more

For centuries, philosophers and theologians have warned about the dangers of hubris. It’s an emotion that can make us arrogant,... more

This week, we kick off our new series, Emotions 2.0, with a special double episode about the emotions we experience... more

We humans are a social species, and so it's not surprising that we care a lot about what other people... more

I. Me. My. You. He. She. They. It. To. Of. For. These are all words we use without a second... more

It can sometimes be exciting when we don't know what's coming next. Other times, the unknown can be deeply troubling.... more

Money worries are one of the biggest sources of anxiety in our lives. Psychologist Brad Klontz says these worries are... more

Every morning, you wake up and face the world. What does it look like to you? Do you see a... more

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

Saying no to someone who asks for something is often easier said than done. Maybe it's a boss who wants... more

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

Are you someone who strikes up a conversation with the person next to you on the train? Or do you... more

Whether in your personal life or at work, you've probably experienced what it’s like to have people reject your requests.... more

When we meet new people, we’re often drawn to those with a commanding presence or a dazzling personality. But it... more

When we think about misinformation, we often focus on blatant errors or deliberate attempts to deceive us. But in recent... more

We're always told to reach for that next ring, work that third job, go to that boisterous party after a... more

As we move through the world, it's easy to imagine we're processing everything that happens around us and then deciding... more

Cognitive scientist Nafees Hamid studies the minds of people drawn to radical or fringe ideas. This week, he takes us... more

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

Across every domain of our lives, our minds have a tendency to get accustomed to things. In fact, the brain... more

Some think of religious faith as just that: a leap of faith. But psychologists are increasingly filling in the gaps... more

Have you ever had an unexplainable feeling of emptiness? Life seems perfect - and yet - something is missing. This... more

Thinking is a human superpower. On a daily basis, thinking and planning and effort bring us innumerable benefits. But like... more

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

Most of us love to brainstorm with colleagues. But so often, our idea-generating sessions don't lead to anything tangible. Teams... more

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