Shrink

Loneliness

Has Technology Made Us Less Courageous?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on January 7, 2026

Why are we celebrating isolation? Technology may be rewarding avoidance—ghosting, quiet quitting, online hostility—at the cost of courage, connection, and trust.

Why are we celebrating isolation? Technology may be rewarding avoidance—ghosting, quiet quitting, online hostility—at the cost of courage, connection, and trust.

Appetite

Why You Can’t Stop Thinking About Food

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on December 18, 2025

If you can’t stop thinking about food, it’s not a failure of willpower. Food noise is driven by biology, and it can be turned down.

If you can’t stop thinking about food, it’s not a failure of willpower. Food noise is driven by biology, and it can be turned down.

Health

This One Conversation Could Save Your Life

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on November 3, 2025

Gathering your family health history from extended family members can increase your motivation to engage in a healthy lifestyle, improve your health care, and extend your life.

Gathering your family health history from extended family members can increase your motivation to engage in a healthy lifestyle, improve your health care, and extend your life.

Relationships

This Habit Can Improve Your Love Life and Your Heart Health

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on August 5, 2025

The type of relationships that protect our hearts has one key ingredient: Co-regulation. Partners who co-regulate know how to effectively reduce each other’s stress.

The type of relationships that protect our hearts has one key ingredient: Co-regulation. Partners who co-regulate know how to effectively reduce each other’s stress.

Stress

Why Does It Seem Like So Many People Lack Empathy?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on July 17, 2025

We’re all guilty of low empathy from time to time, but that doesn’t mean that we are incapable of empathy. These five strategies can maximize your capacity for empathy.

We’re all guilty of low empathy from time to time, but that doesn’t mean that we are incapable of empathy. These five strategies can maximize your capacity for empathy.

Aging

Why the Golden Bachelor's Age Preference Hit a Nerve

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on July 7, 2025

"Golden Bachelor" fans are up in arms about its new star's refusal to date women over 60. The research on age-gap relationships shows they have a point.

"Golden Bachelor" fans are up in arms about its new star's refusal to date women over 60. The research on age-gap relationships shows they have a point.

Stress

How Creative Pursuits Can Quiet the Noise of Stress

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on April 2, 2025

Creative hobbies reduce stress by giving you a sense of mastery and pleasure while silencing mind noise, but a broader look at your life may be needed to achieve total well-being.

Creative hobbies reduce stress by giving you a sense of mastery and pleasure while silencing mind noise, but a broader look at your life may be needed to achieve total well-being.

Relationships

What Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Get Right About Love

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on February 14, 2025

What Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce can teach us about relationships.

What Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce can teach us about relationships.

Health

The Real Reason We Don't Exercise

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on November 10, 2014

People say they don’t exercise because they have no time, but in the same breath talk about how much they want to be active. It is a puzzling contradiction. Or is it?

People say they don’t exercise because they have no time, but in the same breath talk about how much they want to be active. It is a puzzling contradiction. Or is it?

Perfectionism

Is the "Clean Eating" Movement a Form of Perfectionism?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on October 6, 2014

The "clean eating" movement is what happens when perfectionism meets diet. Is it helping or hurting your effort to achieve a healthy weight? Find out.

The "clean eating" movement is what happens when perfectionism meets diet. Is it helping or hurting your effort to achieve a healthy weight? Find out.

Confidence

How To Stop Hating Your Body

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on September 9, 2014

Why body dissatisfaction might be part of general life dissatisfaction, and what you can do to stop the cycle.

Why body dissatisfaction might be part of general life dissatisfaction, and what you can do to stop the cycle.

Body Image

The Phrase We Should Never Say Again

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on August 14, 2014

A call for an end to the common phrase that keeps us all hating our bodies.

A call for an end to the common phrase that keeps us all hating our bodies.

Guilt

Are You a Mom or a Martyr?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on May 6, 2014

The pressure on moms to be everything to everyone creates a vicious cycle of overworking, guilt, resentment, and self-neglect. Not surprisingly, this makes our lives unsatisfying and instead of looking inward, we turn on each other.

The pressure on moms to be everything to everyone creates a vicious cycle of overworking, guilt, resentment, and self-neglect. Not surprisingly, this makes our lives unsatisfying and instead of looking inward, we turn on each other.

Sleep

It's Time to Do Something About Your Sleep

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on March 24, 2014

Yes, you will sleep when you are dead, but not sleeping now may get you there sooner.

Yes, you will sleep when you are dead, but not sleeping now may get you there sooner.

Attention

Why Does Weight Loss Feel Like 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on March 20, 2014

We lose five pounds and then gain three back. Lose another two, gain one more back. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing progress erased, but is this pattern a sign of failure? Or is it a sign that you are right where you need to be?

We lose five pounds and then gain three back. Lose another two, gain one more back. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing progress erased, but is this pattern a sign of failure? Or is it a sign that you are right where you need to be?

Anxiety

Do I Really Need to Count Calories to Lose Weight?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on February 12, 2014

Why calorie counting works but is so hard to do.

Why calorie counting works but is so hard to do.

Motivation

How Goal Setting Can Hinder Your Success

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on January 5, 2014

Without goals we would wander aimlessly in life. But is it possible that we could wander aimlessly even with goals? It is not only possible, it’s very common.

Without goals we would wander aimlessly in life. But is it possible that we could wander aimlessly even with goals? It is not only possible, it’s very common.

Alcoholism

How to Cheat Your Weight Loss Mobile App

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on November 21, 2013

We have a love/hate relationship with the weight loss app. You feed it information and it reflects back an image of YOU, just like a mirror. What you ate. How much you ate. How much you moved. How much you didn’t move. That late night Dunkin Donuts stop? Check. You skipped your workouts 5 days in a row? Check. It’s all in there. Or is it?

We have a love/hate relationship with the weight loss app. You feed it information and it reflects back an image of YOU, just like a mirror. What you ate. How much you ate. How much you moved. How much you didn’t move. That late night Dunkin Donuts stop? Check. You skipped your workouts 5 days in a row? Check. It’s all in there. Or is it?

Diet

The Perfect Diet Does Not Exist

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on August 25, 2013

Research shows that no one diet is any better than another, but that adherence matters. So which diet is best? The diet that you can stick to...forever.

Research shows that no one diet is any better than another, but that adherence matters. So which diet is best? The diet that you can stick to...forever.

Happiness

What Is Happiness Anyway?

Sherry Pagoto Ph.D. on July 23, 2013

I sought answers to the question of "What is happiness?" via longitudinal research studies and of course...Twitter. Both landed me in about the same place.

I sought answers to the question of "What is happiness?" via longitudinal research studies and of course...Twitter. Both landed me in about the same place.