Talking Apes

How natural selection reprogrammed the brain for language

David Ludden Ph.D.

The Dark Side of Self-Control

Self-control is an important component of success, but it comes with a cost. To achieve our goals, we also need to be attuned to our feelings in the moment.

Are You a Morning Lark or a Night Owl?

Your preference for doing things early or late in the day tells a lot about your personality. It also predicts how satisfied you are with your partner.

Why Your Teenager Does Such Crazy Things

There’s far more than just raging hormones behind the risky behaviors that so many adolescents engage in.

A New Reason to Acknowledge Your Partner’s Sacrifice

Relationships are more satisfying when we show gratitude for the sacrifices our partner makes for us. The only problem is, we’re not very good at noticing when they've done this.

The Big Deal About the Big “O”

For most animals, sex drive alone is enough to ensure reproduction. So why do humans have orgasms? Psychologists offer a new take on an old question.

It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again

Feelings of déjà vu and premonition seem spooky, but when we understand the common tricks our memory plays on us, there’s nothing unusual about these experiences.

Mindfulness in the Bedroom

Research shows that mindfulness practices can improve the quality of people’s sex lives, which in turn leads to greater satisfaction with their relationships.

Why You Won’t Apologize (Even Though You Know You Should)

It can be difficult to apologize, but in the long run we feel better about ourselves — and have stronger relationships — when we make amends for the wrongs we've done.

Teaching Kids Handwriting to Help Them Read

New research shows that asking children to copy letters is the most effective approach to promoting early literacy skills.

How Marriage Changes Your Personality

A new study finds that husbands and wives change their personalities as they adapt to the demands of married life.

When to Punish, and When to Forgive

When someone has hurt us, our first reaction is to get even. But when we use restorative justice to resolve the issue, we also make the relationship stronger than it was before.

Searching for Evidence of the Oedipus Complex

A new study finds experimental support for Sigmund Freud’s theory of infantile sexuality.

Is Deafness Really a Disability?

Hearing people see deafness as a disability that needs to be remediated so that deaf people can fit in. But that’s not how the deaf view themselves.

Does Using Social Media Make You Lonely?

Social media use can increase feelings of connectedness or of loneliness, depending on what you do when you're online.

Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

Belief in conspiracy theories can satisfy important psychological needs for some people. We need to understand this first before confronting a believer with facts.

Does Science Require a Leap of Faith?

No one has ever changed their essential beliefs on the basis of rational arguments.

East-West Cultural Differences in Depression

The incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders is far lower in Asia than in the West. Different ways of thinking about negative feelings may be the key.

The Wandering Eye and the Green-Eyed Monster

New research shows that when people fantasize about illicit affairs, they often project their guilty feelings onto their partner.

Music and Chess Do Not Enhance Cognitive Ability

The notion that certain activities can enhance general cognitive abilities is appealing, but there’s little evidence to support such claims.

How Lack of Sleep Affects Your Social Life

Although the cognitive effects of sleep deprivation are widely known, few people pay much attention to the social side of sleep.

Can You Judge Trustworthiness From a Face?

A sucker may be born every minute, but you don’t have to be one of them.

Why Is Doing Arithmetic With Fractions So Difficult?

We may never use algebra or geometry, but we can’t avoid fractions in our daily lives. Although fractions are difficult, there are ways to improve the way we teach them.

Praising Children May Encourage Them to Cheat

Praise is important for emotional growth. But new research shows that the way praise is worded—even for three-year-olds—can have a significant impact on their moral choices.

How Speaking a Second Language Affects the Way You Think

The effort of speaking a second language impacts decision-making processes, but in unexpected ways.

4 Reasons Why We Forget People's Names

Humans are quite good at recognizing familiar faces, but we often fail to remember even familiar names.

The Look of a Leader

Research shows that we select our leaders—whether in politics, business, or informal groups—based on the features of their faces, even when other information may be more relevant.

Facing Your Depression

Researchers are working on a new treatment for depression you can put on your mobile device—but a self-help version is already available.

The Psychology of First Impressions

Researchers identify four facial features that drive our first impressions of others.

Fact and Fiction in Mixed-Race Marriages

Biracial partners face some special challenges, but mostly they struggle with the same problems as other couples.

Coping With Your Partner’s Annoying Behaviors

If we’re mindful about the true source of the minor irritations in our life, we can more fully appreciate the good things our partner does for us each day.

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