Various Psychology
A collection of diverse psychological research and behavioral studies.
Essentials
Gratitude helps break the cycle of always wanting more
Gratitude explains why new gains fade and complaints rise.
videoMedCircle: mental health interviews with psychiatrists & psychologists
Mental health interviews with world-class psychiatrists & psychologists, providing mental health advice packed with actionable takeaways and clear explanations of…
Virtual avatars rewire body perception and ease trauma through brain plasticity
When people use virtual reality (VR) to embody avatars, such as taller, younger, or more muscular versions of themselves, their…
videoClair Obscur: Expedition 33 turns grief and denial into a game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a 2025 role-playing game by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, follows an expedition against the Paintress, who erases everyone above a yearly age. Its story is about grief and denial, carried by Lorien Testard's music.
We create a false self in early life to meet external expectations and cope with childhood experiences – James Hollis
James Hollis explores the psychological and spiritual upheaval of midlife as a necessary and meaningful rite of passage. Drawing from…
videoCycle hormones lift desire mid-cycle and sink mood in 3% of women
Estrogen and progesterone rise and fall on a fixed schedule each cycle. Daily diary studies tie sexual desire to ovulation, while severe premenstrual mood symptoms (confirmed PMDD) affect about 3% of women.
Thinking fast and slow shows why we misjudge risk
Thinking fast and slow explains why we trust vivid stories, framing, and first impressions too easily. Kahneman's work changed economics, but it does not prove that every intuitive judgment is wrong.
Classic Findings
Build courage by accepting uncertainty and taking steady action
Bravery is not the absence of fear, it is the choice to move toward what matters while fear is present.…
Being mentally resilient is linked to living longer and healthier
A large study of older adults finds that people with higher mental resilience, including calmness, perseverance, self-reliance and a sense…
How Nate Postlethwait rebuilt his life after severe trauma
Nate Postlethwait is a writer who shares thoughts on trauma recovery, inner child work, and nervous system awareness from a survivor perspective.
Pausing five seconds before reacting can prevent most relationship fights
Recent psychological research demonstrates that taking just a five-second pause during tense moments in a relationship can significantly reduce aggression…
A tidy home contributes to happiness and productivity
Research shows that having a tidy home promotes happiness and reduces stress. Clutter-free environments not only improve mental well-being but…
Venting does not calm anger, but deep breathing and relaxation do
An Ohio State review of 154 studies and 10,189 people found that venting, punching a bag, or jogging did not reduce anger, while deep breathing, relaxation, mindfulness, and slow yoga did.
New Research
Men’s well-being requires more than popular self-care trends
While self-care trends like ice baths and podcasts are gaining popularity among men, they are insufficient to address deeper emotional…
Facial hair signals strength and dominance
Research indicates that facial hair significantly influences how men are perceived, enhancing perceptions of masculinity, aggression, and social dominance. Bearded…
The world’s quietest rooms make most people hear phantom sounds
In a silent anechoic chamber, 83% of adults heard phantom sounds within four minutes. True hallucinations appeared when darkness was added, mostly in people prone to them. Orfield Laboratories holds the quietest room record, at -24.9 dBA.
Venting anger does not work, but calming activities effectively reduce rage
Venting anger by screaming or hitting adds fuel to the fire. A new study shows that calming activities like deep breathing are the real key to reduce anger.
If a family member will not change, focus on your healing and other bonds
When a loved one keeps the same hurtful behavior, trying to persuade them often fails. This guidance explains a different…
How relationship happiness changes from early love to old age
Relationship satisfaction tends to drop from age 20 to 40, hits its lowest point at 40, then goes up until about age 65. After that, it stays pretty stable.
Relationship satisfaction generally goes down in the early years of a relationship, especially in the first 10 years. Then it goes up until about 20 years, and then it might go down again.
The presence of children is associated with a lower mean level of relationship satisfaction.