Curious?

Happiness

The Participation Trophy Culture of Adulthood

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on June 10, 2025

Adults play a game where they seek validation through participation trophies and curated achievements. Explore the psychology that underlies this type of status-seeking.

Adults play a game where they seek validation through participation trophies and curated achievements. Explore the psychology that underlies this type of status-seeking.

Self-Help

Do Self-Help Books Work?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on February 3, 2025

What really inspires personal insight within us?

What really inspires personal insight within us?

Happiness

How Curiosity Enhances Public Speaking

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on September 28, 2024

Curiosity fuels exceptional performance but can lead to disappointment when unmet. Discover how curiosity impacts engagement and stress in unexpected situations.

Curiosity fuels exceptional performance but can lead to disappointment when unmet. Discover how curiosity impacts engagement and stress in unexpected situations.

Bias

The Benefits, and the Costs, of Being Beautiful

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on May 28, 2024

And why people deemed unattractive still face discrimination.

And why people deemed unattractive still face discrimination.

Bias

Misunderstandings of Intellectual Humility

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on January 17, 2024

Intellectual humility isn't just about you, it's about the social groups that you are part of and identify with.

Intellectual humility isn't just about you, it's about the social groups that you are part of and identify with.

Flow

Rethinking Flow States by Introducing 9 Antecedents

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on October 6, 2023

Unlock your hidden potential through the transformative power of full immersion.

Unlock your hidden potential through the transformative power of full immersion.

Loneliness

Our Major Misconceptions About Loneliness

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on July 7, 2023

There is a vast amount of attention paid to loneliness in society. We want to help people, but it must begin with some corrections about how the topic is discussed.

There is a vast amount of attention paid to loneliness in society. We want to help people, but it must begin with some corrections about how the topic is discussed.

Bias

Designing Smarter, Wiser Groups

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on March 7, 2023

There are scientifically informed strategies for getting a dissenter to speak up when they possess unique information that can help a group become smarter and wiser.

There are scientifically informed strategies for getting a dissenter to speak up when they possess unique information that can help a group become smarter and wiser.

Persuasion

Why Do 80% of Experts Get This Point About Persuasion Wrong?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on November 15, 2022

We turn to experts in influence, persuasion, and prejudice reduction to understand how to change minds. Well, it turns out four out of five are wrong when it comes to effective messengers.

We turn to experts in influence, persuasion, and prejudice reduction to understand how to change minds. Well, it turns out four out of five are wrong when it comes to effective messengers.

Persuasion

7 Rules for Any Dissenter Who Seeks Influence

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on August 4, 2022

There will be a time when you lack power, status, or supporters in a group. How can you be persuasive in dissenting? Here are seven rules.

There will be a time when you lack power, status, or supporters in a group. How can you be persuasive in dissenting? Here are seven rules.

Motivated Reasoning

Have We Rejected Psychodynamic Therapy Too Quickly?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on May 2, 2022

Are you beholden to myside bias, where you use different standards for ideas that fit with your ideological beliefs? See how the problem plays out among psychological scientists.

Are you beholden to myside bias, where you use different standards for ideas that fit with your ideological beliefs? See how the problem plays out among psychological scientists.

Diet

A New Approach to Getting Healthier

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on December 31, 2021

Relying on self-discipline is a strategy that works for some. More promising, however, is to increase physical health activities with a strategy known as "temptation bundling."

Relying on self-discipline is a strategy that works for some. More promising, however, is to increase physical health activities with a strategy known as "temptation bundling."

Anxiety

How Science Changed My View on Trigger Warnings

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on October 1, 2021

Are trigger warnings helpful or harmful in classrooms? What about in the workplace and the rest of society? Science offers new insights.

Are trigger warnings helpful or harmful in classrooms? What about in the workplace and the rest of society? Science offers new insights.

Sport and Competition

Why Colleges Should Support Student Athlete Autonomy

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on July 3, 2021

An issue has been missing in the conversation about whether the National Collegiate Athletic Association should allow college student athletes to earn money. It's about identity.

An issue has been missing in the conversation about whether the National Collegiate Athletic Association should allow college student athletes to earn money. It's about identity.

Happiness

6 Core Findings About Human Happiness

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on June 6, 2021

What we know about the science of happiness begins with one study by one author in 1969. It is time to remember what he discovered and how it helps us today.

What we know about the science of happiness begins with one study by one author in 1969. It is time to remember what he discovered and how it helps us today.

Personality

Do You Feel Unrepresented by Both Political Parties?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on April 7, 2021

I am not alone in feeling unable to fit into the political parties in the U.S.

I am not alone in feeling unable to fit into the political parties in the U.S.

Suicide

How Can We Optimize the Lives of Suicide Survivors?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on February 25, 2021

90% of suicide attempts are non-fatal, forming a large group of suicide attempt survivors. Unfortunately, we know little about the trajectory of long-term psychological well-being.

90% of suicide attempts are non-fatal, forming a large group of suicide attempt survivors. Unfortunately, we know little about the trajectory of long-term psychological well-being.

Persuasion

What Does Awareness of Mortality Influence?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on January 1, 2021

An insufficient amount of attention is being given to being authentic, genuine, and guided by intrinsically-motivated passions. Here is a mantra for the upcoming year.

An insufficient amount of attention is being given to being authentic, genuine, and guided by intrinsically-motivated passions. Here is a mantra for the upcoming year.

Creativity

How Do Universities Treat Conservative Leaning Students?

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on December 29, 2020

When you are a teacher or professor, everyone is your student. It should not matter what their political ideology is just as it should not matter their race, sex, gender, or age.

When you are a teacher or professor, everyone is your student. It should not matter what their political ideology is just as it should not matter their race, sex, gender, or age.

Bias

13 Books to Captivate You During Winter Quarantine

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D. on December 1, 2020

These are the very best books that I read this year.

These are the very best books that I read this year.