Essential Reads

Relationships

What Does It Take for a Late-Life Marriage to Succeed?

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on August 18, 2026 in Fulfillment at Any Age

The idea that marriage is for the young flies in the face of evidence that late-life couples are committing to marriage. Here's what helps those relationships work.

The idea that marriage is for the young flies in the face of evidence that late-life couples are committing to marriage. Here's what helps those relationships work.

Microbiome

Guess Where You Got Your Microbes

Scott C. Anderson on August 18, 2026 in Mood by Microbe

Your microbiome is so important to your health — both physical and mental — that nature goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure you get a good one from your mom.

Your microbiome is so important to your health — both physical and mental — that nature goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure you get a good one from your mom.

Domestic Violence

Barriers to Reporting Domestic Violence in Rural Areas

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on August 18, 2026 in Why Bad Looks Good

In rural or remote areas, domestic violence can be an invisible epidemic. Yet there are ways to uncover abuse and assist victims.

In rural or remote areas, domestic violence can be an invisible epidemic. Yet there are ways to uncover abuse and assist victims.

Trauma

When the Mind Doesn’t Return From War

Ezenwa E. Olumba Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Homeless Mind

Often, leaving the battlefield does not mean leaving the war behind. Many ex-soldiers continue to struggle even after receiving PTSD treatment—suggesting that PTSD may not fully explain what's keeping them trapped.

Often, leaving the battlefield does not mean leaving the war behind. Many ex-soldiers continue to struggle even after receiving PTSD treatment—suggesting that PTSD may not fully explain what's keeping them trapped.

Environment

Why Your Brain Needs Nature

Michiko Kimura Bruno M.D. on August 17, 2026 in Breaking Good

Feeling overwhelmed by multitasking? A walk in the woods may help. Here’s what neuroscience reveals about how nature restores attention and how our surroundings shape our brains.

Feeling overwhelmed by multitasking? A walk in the woods may help. Here’s what neuroscience reveals about how nature restores attention and how our surroundings shape our brains.

Career

Why Compensation Doesn’t Foster Engagement

Matt Grawitch Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in A Hovercraft Full of Eels

Compensation can help retain employees. But keeping people from leaving isn’t the same thing as creating genuine psychological engagement in the work itself.

Compensation can help retain employees. But keeping people from leaving isn’t the same thing as creating genuine psychological engagement in the work itself.

Emotion Regulation

The Upside of Mental Flexibility

Lybi Ma on August 16, 2026 in Brainstorm

An agile person can pivot in any situation—it is tongbian 通變, we pass through and change.

An agile person can pivot in any situation—it is tongbian 通變, we pass through and change.

Happiness

Are We in an Era of "Joyless Decadence"?

Ira Israel LMFT on August 16, 2026 in Authenticity 101

"Joyless decadence" is a poetic new way of describing the dysthymia that emerges in lives centered on optimization and status. What actually makes us happy, research shows, is vastly different.

"Joyless decadence" is a poetic new way of describing the dysthymia that emerges in lives centered on optimization and status. What actually makes us happy, research shows, is vastly different.

Moral Injury

Healing Thyself: Managing Moral Injury in Healthcare

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on August 16, 2026 in Why Bad Looks Good

One of the most challenging parts of working in medicine is maintaining your own emotional health. New research on moral distress and moral injury offers clues on how we can better support healthcare workers.

One of the most challenging parts of working in medicine is maintaining your own emotional health. New research on moral distress and moral injury offers clues on how we can better support healthcare workers.

Sexual Abuse

Can the Men in Your Life Talk to You About Sexual Assault?

Jaimie L Lusk Psy.D., ABPP on August 15, 2026 in Threshold

Too often, men who experience sexual assault stay silent about what happened for decades—if they ever share at all. This is what stops them from disclosing, and what can be done to better support male survivors.

Too often, men who experience sexual assault stay silent about what happened for decades—if they ever share at all. This is what stops them from disclosing, and what can be done to better support male survivors.

Social Media

Why Some People Lurk But Never Like

Jasmine Mohsen Ph.D. on August 15, 2026 in The Architecture of Desire

Why do some people watch everything online but never engage or post? Lurking can be motivated by curiosity, comparison, caution, or fear, and it differs across platforms.

Why do some people watch everything online but never engage or post? Lurking can be motivated by curiosity, comparison, caution, or fear, and it differs across platforms.

Depression

Could Creatine Improve Mental Health?

Marcela Gottschald on August 14, 2026 in Dose and Meaning

Creatine is attracting attention beyond sports, but research on depression and cognition raises as many questions as it answers.

Creatine is attracting attention beyond sports, but research on depression and cognition raises as many questions as it answers.

Education

Hiding Grades at College Isn't the Answer

Deborah J. Cohan Ph.D. on August 14, 2026 in Social Lights

10 reasons why concealing grades sets a bad precedent.

10 reasons why concealing grades sets a bad precedent.

Law and Crime

The Psychology of True Crime and Emotional Regulation

Lindsay Weisner Psy.D. on August 14, 2026 in The Venn Diagram Life

Exposure to true crime may be helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety, fear, and insecurity in a way that mimics the cognitive behavioral concept of exposure therapy.

Exposure to true crime may be helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety, fear, and insecurity in a way that mimics the cognitive behavioral concept of exposure therapy.

Body Image

Why Discussing Ariana Grande's Weight Helps No One

Janet Boseovski, Ph.D., and Ashleigh Gallagher, Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Head Start for Healthy Body Image

Discussing Ariana Grande is unhelpful for healthy body image—hers, ours, or our daughters'. Here's what to do instead.

Discussing Ariana Grande is unhelpful for healthy body image—hers, ours, or our daughters'. Here's what to do instead.

Chronic Illness

How to Support Clients With Chronic Illness in Therapy

Talia Cohen Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Thinking, Chronically

Therapy often focuses on symptom reduction. But what happens when your client’s chronic illness symptoms may never go away?

Therapy often focuses on symptom reduction. But what happens when your client’s chronic illness symptoms may never go away?

Stress

The 5 R’s for Easing Back-to-School Stress

Rachel Glik Ed.D., LPC on August 12, 2026 in Creating Soulful Connections

Back-to-school brings big feelings for parents and kids. The 5 R’s offer a mental health checklist for managing stress, maintaining connection, and embracing growth.

Back-to-school brings big feelings for parents and kids. The 5 R’s offer a mental health checklist for managing stress, maintaining connection, and embracing growth.

Attachment

The Rosy Path Ahead for Your Attachment Style

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on August 11, 2026 in Fulfillment at Any Age

The idea that your earliest relationships in life set the path for your future is basic to attachment styles. New research shows what to expect as you head into that future.

The idea that your earliest relationships in life set the path for your future is basic to attachment styles. New research shows what to expect as you head into that future.

Anthropomorphism

AI Spiralism and the Ghost in the Machine Illusion

Joe Pierre M.D. on August 11, 2026 in Psych Unseen

Artificial intelligence users are increasingly reporting a belief that chatbots are conscious. This can be understood as a modern-day manifestation of the ELIZA effect.

Artificial intelligence users are increasingly reporting a belief that chatbots are conscious. This can be understood as a modern-day manifestation of the ELIZA effect.

Conformity

Why Conformity Is Rational

Dominic Packer, Ph.D. and Jay Van Bavel Ph.D. on August 10, 2026 in The Power of Us

Decades of psychological research shows that going along with the group is often more practical than we think.

Decades of psychological research shows that going along with the group is often more practical than we think.