News

Relationships

How to Improve a Relationship With a Less Committed Partner

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on December 14, 2025 in Why Bad Looks Good

There are many reasons partners fear commitment. Overcoming relational reluctance requires understanding and patience.

There are many reasons partners fear commitment. Overcoming relational reluctance requires understanding and patience.

Motivation

The 'Tate-Nori' Effect: Why Bops Make You Bop

Christopher Bergland on December 13, 2025 in The Athlete's Way

New research reveals why 'tate-nori' (vertical rhythm) songs boost cardio performance, while 'yoko-nori' (horizontal sway) tracks help reduce anxiety.

New research reveals why 'tate-nori' (vertical rhythm) songs boost cardio performance, while 'yoko-nori' (horizontal sway) tracks help reduce anxiety.

Social Media

The Big Experiment of Australia's Social Media Ban

Joseph A. Buckhalt Ph.D. on December 13, 2025 in Child Sleep, From ZZZ's to A's

Time will tell if Australia's ban on social media for children under 16 will have the desired effect.

Time will tell if Australia's ban on social media for children under 16 will have the desired effect.

Relationships

Forget Jewelry, Smart Couples Buy This

Theresa E. DiDonato Ph.D. on December 13, 2025 in Meet, Catch, and Keep

Outsourcing household chores can improve relationship quality by giving couples quality time together.

Outsourcing household chores can improve relationship quality by giving couples quality time together.

Environment

A Curious Link Between Seasonal Heat, Depression, and Mania

Kim Meidenbauer Ph.D. on December 12, 2025 in Environ-mentality

Recent research highlights complex links between exposure to heat across the seasons and symptoms of depression and mania.

Recent research highlights complex links between exposure to heat across the seasons and symptoms of depression and mania.

Cognition

Music: When Sound Becomes Feeling and Movement

Samuel H. Markind, MD on December 12, 2025 in Music Between Your Ears

Music is both a brain and a body experience—illness can impair this experience, while music can be a means to treat illness.

Music is both a brain and a body experience—illness can impair this experience, while music can be a means to treat illness.

Adolescence

New Study Shows "Teen" Brain Development Continues to Age 32

Mark S. Gold M.D. on December 12, 2025 in Addiction Outlook

Rather than thinking that adolescence ends at 18, groundbreaking brain research has shown that critical brain developmental changes continue until the early thirties.

Rather than thinking that adolescence ends at 18, groundbreaking brain research has shown that critical brain developmental changes continue until the early thirties.

Workplace Dynamics

Why Companies Keep Choosing Diversity Strategies That Fail

David P. Daniels Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Behavioral Insights

The problem with diversity strategies is often managers' flawed intuitions: "Good" strategies can feel too "bad" to use and vice versa.

The problem with diversity strategies is often managers' flawed intuitions: "Good" strategies can feel too "bad" to use and vice versa.

Animal Behavior

Humane Non-Humans: (Un)healthy Bonds?

Laura Visu-Petra Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Mind Riddles

Pets have evolved from practical helpers to our emotional companions, but are we truly fulfilling their needs?

Pets have evolved from practical helpers to our emotional companions, but are we truly fulfilling their needs?

Psychiatry

ECT Patients Not Asked About Causes of Their Problems

John Read Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Psychiatry Through the Looking Glass

An international survey of 1144 electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients and relatives has found that the causes of the patients' problems are ignored.

An international survey of 1144 electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients and relatives has found that the causes of the patients' problems are ignored.

Marriage

What Is the Recipe for a Happy Marriage?

Lawrence T. White Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Culture Conscious

Researchers have identified more than a dozen predictors of marital satisfaction. How many can be found in your committed relationship?

Researchers have identified more than a dozen predictors of marital satisfaction. How many can be found in your committed relationship?

Imposter Syndrome

You Care About Fairness, So Why Do You Feel Like a Fake?

Meg A. Warren Ph.D. on December 9, 2025 in Better and Happier

Most people care about fairness at work. But would-be allies often feel like impostors. The resulting cycle of anxiety is bad for mental health and workplace culture alike.

Most people care about fairness at work. But would-be allies often feel like impostors. The resulting cycle of anxiety is bad for mental health and workplace culture alike.

Suicide

Medical Conditions, Mental Disorders, and Suicidal Behaviors

Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D. on December 9, 2025 in Demystifying Psychiatry

Psychiatric disorders increase risk of suicide and suicide attempts. Recent research provides evidence that medical illnesses increase such risks as well.

Psychiatric disorders increase risk of suicide and suicide attempts. Recent research provides evidence that medical illnesses increase such risks as well.

Gender

Pre-Clinical Success for a New Gender-Affirming Surgery

Daniel Pfau Ph.D. on December 9, 2025 in Queering Science

Scientists anticipate a future where transgender people could create their own gender-affirming hormones and even produce genetic offspring with ovary and testis transplants.

Scientists anticipate a future where transgender people could create their own gender-affirming hormones and even produce genetic offspring with ovary and testis transplants.

Adolescence

Tell Your Teenager to Go to Bed

Matt Bishop Ed.D., LMFT on December 8, 2025 in Depth and Dopamine

Teen mood swings, anxiety, and slipping grades often trace back to one culprit: chronic sleep deprivation. Here’s how parents can reset the routine and restore stability.

Teen mood swings, anxiety, and slipping grades often trace back to one culprit: chronic sleep deprivation. Here’s how parents can reset the routine and restore stability.

Depression

Depression Could Be Linked to Your Immune System

Odelya Gertel Kraybill Ph.D. on December 7, 2025 in Expressive Trauma Integration

A new study suggests treatment-resistant depression may be rooted in the immune system. Trauma, stress biology, and mini-brain models reveal a hidden neuroimmune story.

A new study suggests treatment-resistant depression may be rooted in the immune system. Trauma, stress biology, and mini-brain models reveal a hidden neuroimmune story.

Attachment

Your Past Relationships May Control Your Present Reality

Omri Gillath Ph.D. on December 5, 2025 in All We Need Is Love

Your identity is a mosaic shaped by your past relationships. Science helps uncovering these hidden forces and their impact.

Your identity is a mosaic shaped by your past relationships. Science helps uncovering these hidden forces and their impact.

Sleep

When Childhood Meets the Glow of a Phone

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on December 5, 2025 in Raising Resilient Children

New research links earlier smartphone access to higher risks of depression, poor sleep, and obesity in kids, underscoring why families may want to delay the first phone.

New research links earlier smartphone access to higher risks of depression, poor sleep, and obesity in kids, underscoring why families may want to delay the first phone.

Animal Behavior

Those “Cute” Animal Videos Aren’t So Cute After All

Zazie Todd Ph.D. on December 4, 2025 in Fellow Creatures

We see them everywhere: videos of pets looking cute on social media. But are these videos really so cute—or are risks for the animals hiding in plain sight?

We see them everywhere: videos of pets looking cute on social media. But are these videos really so cute—or are risks for the animals hiding in plain sight?

Adolescence

How the Pandemic Changed Puberty for Girls

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on December 4, 2025 in Evidence-Based Living

New Cornell research reveals something unexpected about the deeply social nature of adolescent development.

New Cornell research reveals something unexpected about the deeply social nature of adolescent development.

Relationships

2 Ways to Start Expressing Your Needs in Your Relationship

Mark Travers Ph.D. on December 4, 2025 in Social Instincts

How to stop sacrificing your well-being in your relationship.

How to stop sacrificing your well-being in your relationship.

Conspiracy Theories

When Politics Feels Distant, Conspiracies Rise

Matthew Facciani, Ph.D. on December 3, 2025 in Misguided

A new study uncovers how psychological distance fuels conspiracy beliefs and how bringing politics closer can help rebuild trust.

A new study uncovers how psychological distance fuels conspiracy beliefs and how bringing politics closer can help rebuild trust.

Fear

One Thing Highly Successful People Do Differently

Mark Travers Ph.D. on December 3, 2025 in Social Instincts

The fear of failure could be holding you back from success. Here's how to overcome it.

The fear of failure could be holding you back from success. Here's how to overcome it.

Attachment

The Surprising Link Between Pet Attachment and Mental Health

Hal Herzog Ph.D. on December 2, 2025 in Animals and Us

Owners relying on pets as substitutes for human connection may struggle.

Owners relying on pets as substitutes for human connection may struggle.

Personality Disorders

Where’s the Person in Personality Disorders?

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on December 2, 2025 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Most of what we know about personality disorders is based on symptom checklists and leaves out the "person." New research shows why their inner experiences are so important.

Most of what we know about personality disorders is based on symptom checklists and leaves out the "person." New research shows why their inner experiences are so important.

Media

Why Health Experts Must Rethink Communication

Jay K. Varma M.D. on December 1, 2025 in Fevered Mind

False health information spreads rapidly online, while expert voices often go unheard. To rebuild trust, experts must focus on authenticity, immediacy, and emotional connection.

False health information spreads rapidly online, while expert voices often go unheard. To rebuild trust, experts must focus on authenticity, immediacy, and emotional connection.

Sex

Why Planning Sex Just Might Make It Hotter

Kat Kova MSc, RP, PhD Candidate on December 1, 2025 in Make Love Make Sense

The takeaway: Anticipation is sexy.

The takeaway: Anticipation is sexy.

Positive Psychology

The Five Core Values That Direct Your Life

John A. Johnson Ph.D. on November 30, 2025 in Cui Bono

Decades of debate about human values may finally be resolved by a new model that reveals five core values that shape our choices, relationships, and sense of purpose.

Decades of debate about human values may finally be resolved by a new model that reveals five core values that shape our choices, relationships, and sense of purpose.

Relationships

The Relationship Advice You May Not Want to Hear

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on November 29, 2025 in Fulfillment at Any Age

"Love languages" fails its latest test.

"Love languages" fails its latest test.

Gratitude

A Grief-Affirming, Life-Affirming Gifting Practice

Kara Hoppe MA, MFT on November 28, 2025 in Win-Win Parenting

This exercise helps you reflect on the transitory nature of possessions and how to easefully let them go, while inspiring greater connection during this gift-giving season.

This exercise helps you reflect on the transitory nature of possessions and how to easefully let them go, while inspiring greater connection during this gift-giving season.