Happiness and the Pursuit of Leadership

Psychology

Freedom Is Wasted on the Free: Lessons in Living Fully

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on May 15, 2025

Cheng Lei was the anchor of a Chinese TV show—until she became a political prisoner. Three years in a notorious Chinese prison helped her understand what it means to be truly free.

Cheng Lei was the anchor of a Chinese TV show—until she became a political prisoner. Three years in a notorious Chinese prison helped her understand what it means to be truly free.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A Cure for Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on April 14, 2025

Stanford researchers found that a single dose of ibogaine may dramatically reduce PTSD and TBI symptoms in veterans—offering hope where current U.S. treatments fall short.

Stanford researchers found that a single dose of ibogaine may dramatically reduce PTSD and TBI symptoms in veterans—offering hope where current U.S. treatments fall short.

Child Development

The Adult Takeover of Childhood

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on April 9, 2025

Childhood has been overtaken by adults. Less freedom and more screens is associated with rising anxiety in kids and parents. Balance means letting kids do more on their own.

Childhood has been overtaken by adults. Less freedom and more screens is associated with rising anxiety in kids and parents. Balance means letting kids do more on their own.

Trauma

Schrödinger’s Trauma

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on March 3, 2025

Israelis are trapped in ambiguous loss, between hope and grief, as living hostages remain chained and starving in Gaza's tunnels and the murdered cannot be buried.

Israelis are trapped in ambiguous loss, between hope and grief, as living hostages remain chained and starving in Gaza's tunnels and the murdered cannot be buried.

Trauma

Rising from the Ashes

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on February 5, 2025

It's common for people affected by natural disasters such as wildfires to feel anxious, unmoored, angry, and distressed. But most people eventually recover—and some grow stronger.

It's common for people affected by natural disasters such as wildfires to feel anxious, unmoored, angry, and distressed. But most people eventually recover—and some grow stronger.

Politics

Talking Politics at the Holidays Without Ruining Dinner

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on December 23, 2024

Tired of holiday political battles? This year, try something new that turns conflict into connection.

Tired of holiday political battles? This year, try something new that turns conflict into connection.

Bias

Columbia University Report Details Wide Campus Antisemitism

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on September 10, 2024

​A Columbia University task force report illustrates how much hostility Jewish students faced last year and how little help they got from the university.

​A Columbia University task force report illustrates how much hostility Jewish students faced last year and how little help they got from the university.

Fear

Campus Antisemitism Is Making Free Speech Fashionable Again

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on December 11, 2023

Now that Jews are the targets of hate speech, campus administrators are prioritizing freedom of expression over feeling safe. Antisemitism has made free speech fashionable again.

Now that Jews are the targets of hate speech, campus administrators are prioritizing freedom of expression over feeling safe. Antisemitism has made free speech fashionable again.

Education

Yoel Inbar and the Credibility Crisis in Psychology

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on July 10, 2023

A liberal professor who researched liberal discrimination against conservatives in psychology found himself discriminated against because he defends viewpoint diversity.

A liberal professor who researched liberal discrimination against conservatives in psychology found himself discriminated against because he defends viewpoint diversity.

Education

America’s Best University President Has Died

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on June 1, 2023

Robert J. Zimmer, former president of the University of Chicago, has died. His clarity about the purpose of the university made him a peerless leader.

Robert J. Zimmer, former president of the University of Chicago, has died. His clarity about the purpose of the university made him a peerless leader.

Fear

Pussy Riot and the Psychology of Freedom

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on May 7, 2023

What can we in the West learn from those who risk everything to be free? Performer and Russian activist Nadya Tolokonnikova says courage is contagious.

What can we in the West learn from those who risk everything to be free? Performer and Russian activist Nadya Tolokonnikova says courage is contagious.

Trauma

How Do Holocaust Survivors Cope With Extreme Trauma?

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on February 1, 2023

As a child in Poland, Bronia Brandman survived Auschwitz. Most of her family did not. She worries about the increase in antisemitism today.

As a child in Poland, Bronia Brandman survived Auschwitz. Most of her family did not. She worries about the increase in antisemitism today.

Self-Harm

The Other Twitter Files

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on December 12, 2022

While Twitter's politically biased and capricious content-moderation policies are being exposed by journalists, Twitter needs to pay attention to its self-harm problem.

While Twitter's politically biased and capricious content-moderation policies are being exposed by journalists, Twitter needs to pay attention to its self-harm problem.

Education

A Bad Sign for the Future of Higher Education

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on July 25, 2022

When a law school defines a poorly worded conservative opinion as "harm," it not only abandon its mission, it perpetuates tribal thinking, which is bad for campus mental health.

When a law school defines a poorly worded conservative opinion as "harm," it not only abandon its mission, it perpetuates tribal thinking, which is bad for campus mental health.

Media

Can Students Speak Freely on Campus?

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on June 6, 2022

Recent surveys from the Knight Foundation and Heterodox Academy reveal problems with and understanding of free speech in high school and with the climate on college campuses.

Recent surveys from the Knight Foundation and Heterodox Academy reveal problems with and understanding of free speech in high school and with the climate on college campuses.

False Memories

Bridging the Moral Divide Over Vaccinations

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on February 23, 2022

The vaccination debate is marked by moral outrage and institutional distrust. Yet Walmart has over-performed in vaccine-hesitant communities. What's their secret?

The vaccination debate is marked by moral outrage and institutional distrust. Yet Walmart has over-performed in vaccine-hesitant communities. What's their secret?

Politics

Sex and Politics on Campus

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on November 19, 2021

Viewpoint diversity may be endangered on our college campuses but sexual diversity is thriving.

Viewpoint diversity may be endangered on our college campuses but sexual diversity is thriving.

Bias

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Commitment or Cult?

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on October 12, 2021

Commitment to the inclusion of a diversity of backgrounds requires a diversity of views. DEI efforts that do not permit disagreement have the quality of a cult.

Commitment to the inclusion of a diversity of backgrounds requires a diversity of views. DEI efforts that do not permit disagreement have the quality of a cult.

Gratitude

Jay Sandrich: Life Lessons From a TV Legend

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on October 1, 2021

Our elders possess tremendous wisdom. One of them recently left us. We can all benefit from this sage advice from Emmy-winning TV director Jay Sandrich.

Our elders possess tremendous wisdom. One of them recently left us. We can all benefit from this sage advice from Emmy-winning TV director Jay Sandrich.

Education

Why Critical Race Theory Should Be Taught

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on July 1, 2021

A linguistically constructed lens is like a pair of glasses that alters how things appear. CRT is a lens for seeing things like race, power, justice, and knowledge a certain way.

A linguistically constructed lens is like a pair of glasses that alters how things appear. CRT is a lens for seeing things like race, power, justice, and knowledge a certain way.