Behavior4226 articles archived since 1845

Other People Don’t Think You’re a Mess

Individuals often overestimate how harshly others judge them. But self-compassion can help build a more balanced, healthy perspective

A Wandering Mind

How Pandemic Life Mimicked Pioneer Times

Sourdough, seeds, shovels and other basic survival needs made a comeback

Unvaccinated Workers Say They’d Rather Quit Than Get a Shot, but Data Suggest Otherwise

The actual number who resign rather than get the vaccine is much smaller than the survey data suggest

How Facebook Hinders Misinformation Research

The platform strictly limits and controls data access, which stymies scientists

Discrimination Persists in Society—but Who Discriminates?

Is discriminatory behavior widely dispersed or highly concentrated in a small number of people?

Some Psychological Interventions Are More Harmful Than Helpful

New research shows that some highly publicized programs are ineffective

How 9/11 Ushered in a New Era of Conspiracy Theories

The breakdown of institutional legitimacy helped shape our current information crisis

A New Way to Understand—and Possibly Treat—OCD

People with the disorder seem to have a more flexible “sense of self”

Drug Overdose Deaths in 2020 Were Horrifying

We need radical change in order to address the crisis

Sometimes Mindlessness Is Better Than Mindfulness

In some situations, don’t pay so much attention

Apple’s New Child Safety Technology Might Harm More Kids Than It Helps

Features designed to guard against sexual abuse carry the potential for unintended consequences

Lessons from Life Choices Made during the Pandemic

For a couple working in health care, the decision to get married and have a baby was complicated

How to Reduce Racial Disparities in Smoking Deaths

African Americans die at a higher rate than other groups and have a harder time quitting. But new evidence-based approaches can change that

On Kindness and Grief

What God, Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness Have in Common

Theories that try to explain these big metaphysical mysteries fall short, making agnosticism the only sensible stance

The Art of Pondering Earth’s Distant Future

Stretching the mind across time can help us become more responsible planetary stewards and foster empathy across generations

The FDA Shouldn’t Support a Ban on Kratom

The herbal supplement can be abused, but given the explosion in opioid deaths, eliminating this safer substitute will almost certainly lead to more deaths

What Is a Question?

A 92-year-old essay provokes musings on the nature of knowledge, reality—and uptalk

Congress: Support Health Care Professionals in Preventing Gun Violence

Back President Joe Biden’s plan to invest $5 billion in programs proved to reduce shootings