Jan 04 How your brain stops you from taking climate change seriously By Nsikan Akpan ...and how to fix it. Continue reading
Dec 20 The science of saying goodbye to Santa By Jim Davies, The Conversation A cognitive scientist explains why you shouldn't fret if your kids are starting to doubt Santa’s magic. Continue reading
Sep 20 Watch 6:52 This researcher taught us how to resist temptation By Paul Solman Researcher Walter Mischel’s most famous contribution was the marshmallow test, a widely replicated experiment that explored the connection between saving and psychology. Economics correspondent Paul Solman remembers Mischel, who died last week at the age of 88. Continue watching
Aug 09 Watch 3:58 How to give feedback so people hear you’re trying to help Sometimes acknowledging our weaknesses and limitations can actually make us stronger, suggests Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, author and podcast host. But like arguing, there are constructive ways of giving feedback that can make another person feel like you're trying… Continue watching
Jul 27 Here’s proof that open office layouts don’t work, and how to fix them By Nsikan Akpan, Julia Griffin A new study shows moving to an open office dramatically cuts face-to-face conversations, but architects say not all open offices should be treated equal. Continue reading
May 31 Smartphone tracking data reveals that the 2016 election season spoiled Thanksgiving By Nsikan Akpan Americans gave up 74 million hours of Thanksgiving in 2016 due to fears of political strife, according to a study published Thursday in Science Magazine. Continue reading
Feb 22 Watch 8:24 If you’re worried about the world, here’s reason to be hopeful — and keep worrying By PBS News Hour The welfare of humankind has never been better, according to psychologist Steven Pinker, but whether it continues to get better depends on making collective wellbeing our goal and using science and reason to achieve it. Pinker, who pushes his case… Continue watching
Dec 07 Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall changed how we saw primates. These new movies change how we see them By Nsikan Akpan Two new documentaries on Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall spotlight the complicated and contrasting paths they took toward scientific greatness. Continue reading
Nov 24 On Black Friday, the psychology of retail rage By Jaeha Lee, The Conversation New research shows how human emotions affect the likelihood to misbehave on Black Friday, as well as a significant difference between men and women. Continue reading
Oct 28 The science of fright: Why we love to be scared By Arash Javanbakht, Linda Saab, The Conversation We may pretend that we do not like fear, but Halloween proves otherwise. Many of us enjoy being scared. But why?… Continue reading