Talking Apes

Media

Lies Your TV Tells You About Love and Romance

David Ludden Ph.D. on September 23, 2024

Entertainment media feeds us large doses of misinformation about how to build and maintain healthy, happy relationships, so we need to watch with a skeptical eye.

Entertainment media feeds us large doses of misinformation about how to build and maintain healthy, happy relationships, so we need to watch with a skeptical eye.

Deception

What Happens When You Keep Secrets?

David Ludden Ph.D. on September 4, 2024

Keeping secrets isn’t just withholding information in the moment. Rather, secrets take up space and time in our minds, distracting us from more important tasks.

Keeping secrets isn’t just withholding information in the moment. Rather, secrets take up space and time in our minds, distracting us from more important tasks.

Loneliness

How to Avoid Feeling Lonely in Later Life

David Ludden Ph.D. on August 15, 2024

Loneliness is a significant health risk for older adults, but there are ways to avoid the trap of social isolation.

Loneliness is a significant health risk for older adults, but there are ways to avoid the trap of social isolation.

Polyamory

Why Some Couples Choose Polyamory

David Ludden Ph.D. on April 29, 2024

New research suggests that people seek a polyamorous lifestyle because they want to live authentically according to their non-monogamous nature.

New research suggests that people seek a polyamorous lifestyle because they want to live authentically according to their non-monogamous nature.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Living and Loving in a Diverse Society

David Ludden Ph.D. on April 3, 2024

Intercultural romances are on the rise, but how couples think about diversity can have a major impact on how satisfying the relationship will be.

Intercultural romances are on the rise, but how couples think about diversity can have a major impact on how satisfying the relationship will be.

Relationships

How to Be a Better Listener

David Ludden Ph.D. on March 11, 2024

You can build feelings of emotional closeness with your conversation partner when you adjust your listening style to the situation.

You can build feelings of emotional closeness with your conversation partner when you adjust your listening style to the situation.

Relationships

Why Partners Thrive in Intercultural Romances

David Ludden Ph.D. on February 26, 2024

Intercultural romances are on the rise, and there’s every reason to believe many of these will turn out to be happy and fulfilling ones.

Intercultural romances are on the rise, and there’s every reason to believe many of these will turn out to be happy and fulfilling ones.

Leadership

Why Leaders Need Flexible Communication Skills

David Ludden Ph.D. on January 28, 2024

Leaders spend much of their time talking with subordinates, but to be effective, they need to adjust their communication style based on what they want to accomplish.

Leaders spend much of their time talking with subordinates, but to be effective, they need to adjust their communication style based on what they want to accomplish.

Sex

How to Deal With Erectile Dysfunction

David Ludden Ph.D. on January 9, 2024

The experience of erectile dysfunction can be pretty distressing, but it doesn’t have to spell the end of a couple’s sex life.

The experience of erectile dysfunction can be pretty distressing, but it doesn’t have to spell the end of a couple’s sex life.

Social Life

Why You Reveal More Than You Know You Should

David Ludden Ph.D. on November 27, 2023

People often make inappropriate personal disclosures on social media that come back to harm them. Could it be that we have an innate drive to disclose?

People often make inappropriate personal disclosures on social media that come back to harm them. Could it be that we have an innate drive to disclose?

Loneliness

How to Decrease Feelings of Loneliness

David Ludden Ph.D. on September 22, 2023

We’re more connected than ever, but we also feel much lonelier than before. Online exchanges may not be as satisfying, but quality also counts.

We’re more connected than ever, but we also feel much lonelier than before. Online exchanges may not be as satisfying, but quality also counts.

Sexual Orientation

When Is Same-Sex Activity “Not Gay”?

David Ludden Ph.D. on August 28, 2023

Does a single same-sex act make you gay? New research explores social attitudes about sexual orientation and one-off same-sex acts.

Does a single same-sex act make you gay? New research explores social attitudes about sexual orientation and one-off same-sex acts.

Relationships

The Facts About Consensual Non-Monogamy

David Ludden Ph.D. on August 8, 2023

Open relationships are fairly common, but they’re also stigmatized, mainly because they’re so misunderstood.

Open relationships are fairly common, but they’re also stigmatized, mainly because they’re so misunderstood.

Bias

Why People Today Say They Feel Younger Than Ever

David Ludden Ph.D. on July 12, 2023

More and more older people today report that they feel younger than their age, even though they are approaching the final years of their lives.

More and more older people today report that they feel younger than their age, even though they are approaching the final years of their lives.

Sex

Is Planned Sex Just as Good as Spontaneous Encounters?

David Ludden Ph.D. on June 14, 2023

While spontaneous sex is certainly exciting, most couples will have to plan their lovemaking to fit it into their busy lives.

While spontaneous sex is certainly exciting, most couples will have to plan their lovemaking to fit it into their busy lives.

Sexual Orientation

Can You Tell if a Man Is Bisexual Just From His Voice?

David Ludden Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

The ability to identify a man as gay just from his voice is well-documented. Researchers now ask if bisexual men can also be identified by voice alone, with surprising results.

The ability to identify a man as gay just from his voice is well-documented. Researchers now ask if bisexual men can also be identified by voice alone, with surprising results.

Gender

What Is Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria?

David Ludden Ph.D. on May 4, 2023

Sex researchers have known about gender dysphoria in childhood and adulthood for over a century. But the cause of rapid-onset gender dysphoria is still fiercely debated.

Sex researchers have known about gender dysphoria in childhood and adulthood for over a century. But the cause of rapid-onset gender dysphoria is still fiercely debated.

First Impressions

How to Make a Good First Impression

David Ludden Ph.D. on April 20, 2023

There’s plenty of advice on how to make a good first impression, much of it contradictory. New research shows which strategy works best.

There’s plenty of advice on how to make a good first impression, much of it contradictory. New research shows which strategy works best.

Sex

Is a Man's Sex Drive Really Much Stronger Than a Woman's?

David Ludden Ph.D. on March 20, 2023

Men generally have higher sex drives than women do. But gender differences tell us nothing about how individual men and women compare.

Men generally have higher sex drives than women do. But gender differences tell us nothing about how individual men and women compare.

Genetics

Is There a “Gay Gene"?

David Ludden Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

Sexual orientation is shaped in prenatal development, but science shows that there are not only many ways of becoming gay but also many ways of being gay.

Sexual orientation is shaped in prenatal development, but science shows that there are not only many ways of becoming gay but also many ways of being gay.