We tell ourselves that meaning comes from impact, passion, or finding the “one right path.” But these beliefs can leave us feeling stuck — even when our lives look perfectly fine on paper. Behavioral scientist Dave Evans describes a new approach, borrowed from design thinking, to help us build lives that feel more alive, flexible, and real. […]
Designing a Life that Matters Read More »
What’s the difference between being loved and feeling loved?
Do You Feel Loved? Read More »
Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, says the answer is counterintuitive.
How to Change the World Read More »
We like to think that good financial decisions come down to discipline and basic math. But the psychology of money turns out to be deeply complicated.
Should you tell a harsh truth if it will only cause pain? Or is it sometimes kinder to keep someone in the dark?
When It’s Okay to Lie Read More »
How do the groups you identify with shape your sense of self? Do they influence the beer you buy? The way you vote? In this favorite episode from 2021, psychologist Jay Van Bavel explains how our group loyalties affect us more than we realize, and can even shape our basic senses of sight, taste and smell. Then,
We tend to see depression as an illness to eliminate, evidence that something has gone wrong in the brain. But what if low mood serves a purpose?
Rethinking Depression Read More »
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.
Yuck! The Science of Disgust Read More »
Charismatic leaders can inspire devotion and give people a powerful sense of meaning. They can also make us vulnerable.
The Secret of Charisma Read More »
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
Do You Feel Invisible? Read More »
