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

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

In graduate school, neuroscientist Richard Davidson learned to use scientific tools as a way to examine the brain. At the... more

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