Speaking of Psychology

What does it mean to have an AI boyfriend or girlfriend, or to turn to an AI friend for emotional support? Ashleigh Golden, PsyD, and Rachel Wood, PhD, discuss the rise of AI companions and how they m...

More than half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Viorica Marian, PhD, of Northwestern University, talks about why speaking multiple languages may have far-reaching cognitive benefi...

Are you dreading the cold, dark months ahead? In Scandinavia, where the winters are among the coldest and darkest on earth, many people look forward to winter as a time of coziness, beauty, and rest. ...

From classrooms to boardrooms, from sports to social media, we’re constantly sizing ourselves up against other people -- and being sized up in return. Dr. Stephen Garcia discusses what drives some peo...

It’s December, which means it’s peak season for charitable donations. But how do you decide which organizations to support? Joshua Greene, PhD, discusses how people make moral choices and the implicat...

In an age of increasing distractions, researchers have found that spending time in nature can be an antidote that helps us restore our focus and attention. Marc Berman, PhD, talks about why natural en...

Studies have shown that gratitude can help us cope with challenges and is good for our relationships and our health. But figuring out how to foster gratitude in kids isn't always easy or obvious. Andr...

For people with misophonia, certain sounds – like chewing, coughing or pen clicking – can trigger strong emotional reactions including anxiety, disgust and rage. Heather Hansen, PhD, director of the M...

Over the past several years, the rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy has changed the conversation around weight and obesity in the U.S. Rachel Goldman, PhD, talks about how GLP-1s work; th...

We all want to be liked and respected. But sometimes, our intuitions about how to make a good impression lead us astray. Övül Sezer, PhD, talks about common mistakes, including humblebragging and hidi...