Yuck! The Science of Disgust
What’s the point of disgust? We talk with psychologist David Pizarro about the evolutionary role of this emotion, and how it’s used to persuade and divide us.
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Hidden Brain
The Secret of Charisma
Charismatic leaders can inspire devotion and give people a powerful sense of meaning. They can also make us vulnerable.
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Do You Feel Invisible?
What does it do to a person to feel overlooked? This week, psychologist Gordon Flett examines how the absence of “mattering” can fuel loneliness, depression, and even violence. He outlines how feeling valued serves as a psychological buffer, and how simple gestures can rebuild a sense of meaning in ourselves and others. Then, in the second half
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Why You’re Smarter Than You Think
From the time we’re schoolchildren, we’re ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if our assumptions about intelligence limit our potential? This week, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman proposes a more expansive notion of what it means to be “smart.”
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Coming Clean
Last week, we talked with Leslie John about the costs of keeping secrets. Today, she returns with a look at the power of self-disclosure.
Keeping Secrets
We all carry secrets. But doing so can be costly: hiding takes mental work and can harm our health and relationships.
You 2.0: Trusting Your Doubt
This week we look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world.
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You 2.0: The Practice of Patience
Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of “failing fast.” But psychologist Sarah Schnitker says patience is a vital skill for success in both our personal and professional lives. We talk with Sarah about the difference between patience and passivity, and how to train ourselves to
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You 2.0: How to Get Out of a Rut
There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer’s block. Athletes and artists hit a plateau. People of a certain age fall into a midlife crisis. These are all different ways of saying: I’m stuck. This week, in the kickoff to our annual You 2.0 series, psychologist Adam Alter shares his research on why we all get stuck at various points in our lives, and how to break free.
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You 2.0: Cultivating Courage
Why do some people act bravely in a crisis, while others flee or freeze up? Today, we bring you the second part of our You 2.0 series on the mental obstacles that can block us when we’re charting a new path. Behavioral scientist Ranjay Gulati argues that courage is a choice, and that we can strengthen the
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