News

Relationships

How We Love to Be Loved

Mark Travers Ph.D. on November 13, 2025 in Social Instincts

What do we love more: sweet words or sweet actions? New research reveals the answer.

What do we love more: sweet words or sweet actions? New research reveals the answer.

Sex

20 Behaviors That Boost Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction

Jeremy Nicholson M.S.W., Ph.D. on November 13, 2025 in The Attraction Doctor

How can you make your intimate relationship more satisfying? Consider 20 behaviors that can help enhance both your relationship and sexual satisfaction.

How can you make your intimate relationship more satisfying? Consider 20 behaviors that can help enhance both your relationship and sexual satisfaction.

Personality

Do Gut Microbes Affect Your Personality?

Scott C. Anderson on November 12, 2025 in Mood by Microbe

Do you want to be less anxious or more cheerful? Emerging research points to the role of gut microbes in defining your personality. Here’s how to take advantage of the discovery.

Do you want to be less anxious or more cheerful? Emerging research points to the role of gut microbes in defining your personality. Here’s how to take advantage of the discovery.

Relationships

What the Latest Dating Trends Gets Wrong About Relationships

Christine Ma-Kellams Ph.D. on November 12, 2025 in Confessions of the Chronically Online

The latest dating trends–be it stacking, throning, or bansying–are all about squeezing the most out of your investment in potential partners. But maybe putting in the investment is actually key.

The latest dating trends–be it stacking, throning, or bansying–are all about squeezing the most out of your investment in potential partners. But maybe putting in the investment is actually key.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Beat Reading Interventions in Clinical Trial

Coral PS Hoh Ph.D. on November 11, 2025 in Unlocking Language

The first AI-based education intervention to undergo a rigorous clinical trial saw bigger reading gains over teacher instruction and other online programs.

The first AI-based education intervention to undergo a rigorous clinical trial saw bigger reading gains over teacher instruction and other online programs.

Academic Problems and Skills

What Cell Phone Bans Mean for Students

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on November 11, 2025 in Evidence-Based Living

Public schools across the country are banning cell phones. What do we know about how these bans impact kids?

Public schools across the country are banning cell phones. What do we know about how these bans impact kids?

Hormones

What Your Cycle Really Does to Your Brain

Flaminia Ronca Ph.D. on November 11, 2025 in Exercise Neuroscience

Unpacking the beautiful complexity of the female menstrual cycle, and how it might affect our cognitive performance—in ways we wouldn't have imagined.

Unpacking the beautiful complexity of the female menstrual cycle, and how it might affect our cognitive performance—in ways we wouldn't have imagined.

Leadership

The Hidden Dark Side of Entrepreneurial Leadership

Giang Hoang Ph.D. on November 11, 2025 in Entrepreneurial Psychology

Under entrepreneurial leadership, bold ambition can inspire innovation but unchecked hubris and greed may lead to a downfall.

Under entrepreneurial leadership, bold ambition can inspire innovation but unchecked hubris and greed may lead to a downfall.

Environment

How Much Should We Really Worry About Microplastics?

Jay K. Varma M.D. on November 9, 2025 in Fevered Mind

Headlines warn of microplastics in our food and bodies, but a major European review finds the level of exposure from packaging is lower than reported. Here’s what to do and not do.

Headlines warn of microplastics in our food and bodies, but a major European review finds the level of exposure from packaging is lower than reported. Here’s what to do and not do.

Sport and Competition

We Need to Talk About Who Sports Psychology Still Misses

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on November 8, 2025 in In the Trenches

Marshawn Kneeland's death highlights ongoing inequities in athlete mental health. Sport psychology must expand to reach marginalized athletes through inclusive, proactive care.

Marshawn Kneeland's death highlights ongoing inequities in athlete mental health. Sport psychology must expand to reach marginalized athletes through inclusive, proactive care.

Adolescence

The Secret Power of 6-7

Maggie Rowe on November 8, 2025 in Bodhisattva Wannabe

Dictionary.com just declared the slang term "6-7" the word of the year. But what does it mean?

Dictionary.com just declared the slang term "6-7" the word of the year. But what does it mean?

Psychosis

The Mental Health Cost of Racism

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on November 6, 2025 in Evidence-Based Living

A new systematic review finds racial and ethnic discrimination significantly increase the risk of psychosis.

A new systematic review finds racial and ethnic discrimination significantly increase the risk of psychosis.

Stress

Mass Layoffs Are Literally Killing Us

Jon Gruda Ph.D. on November 6, 2025 in Of Leaders and Traits

The data is clear: Mass layoffs predict a spike in traffic fatalities. Here's the hidden danger we've been ignoring.

The data is clear: Mass layoffs predict a spike in traffic fatalities. Here's the hidden danger we've been ignoring.

Suicide

The Hidden Toll of Breakups on Men's Mental Health

Romeo Vitelli Ph.D. on November 6, 2025 in Media Spotlight

A new global study reveals that breakup and divorce can sharply raise suicide risk for men—especially younger, isolated, or unemployed men—in the months after separation.

A new global study reveals that breakup and divorce can sharply raise suicide risk for men—especially younger, isolated, or unemployed men—in the months after separation.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Uses Physics to Illuminate the Dark Proteome

Cami Rosso on November 5, 2025 in The Future Brain

Harvard and Northwestern researchers combine AI and physics to design unstable proteins that comprise the dark proteome.

Harvard and Northwestern researchers combine AI and physics to design unstable proteins that comprise the dark proteome.

Resilience

How 3,000 Steps a Day Protects Your Brain

Christopher Bergland on November 5, 2025 in The Athlete's Way

You don’t need 10,000 steps to protect your brain. A new study finds that just 3,000 a day can slow Alzheimer’s-related tau buildup.

You don’t need 10,000 steps to protect your brain. A new study finds that just 3,000 a day can slow Alzheimer’s-related tau buildup.

Child Development

The Hidden Dangers of a Chaotic Home

The Hungry Mind Lab on November 4, 2025 in Deciphering Our Differences

A chaotic household may seem harmless, or even charming and quirky. Yet recent research finds that chaos in childhood harms later mental health. Here are three ways to settle down your home.

A chaotic household may seem harmless, or even charming and quirky. Yet recent research finds that chaos in childhood harms later mental health. Here are three ways to settle down your home.

Diet

The Secret to Weight Loss

Claire Wilcox M.D. on November 4, 2025 in Healthy Brain, Happy Life

Is weight control based on quantity or quality?

Is weight control based on quantity or quality?

Cognition

A Simple Test of Your Emotional Clarity

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on November 4, 2025 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Your emotions can be an important guide to help you think better, except when they don't. A new study suggests how to declutter your thinking and set those emotions aside.

Your emotions can be an important guide to help you think better, except when they don't. A new study suggests how to declutter your thinking and set those emotions aside.

Artificial Intelligence

The AI Reality Distortion Field

John Nosta on November 4, 2025 in The Digital Self

AI makes us a bit better but makes us believe we’re much better, letting confidence grow faster than actual skill.

AI makes us a bit better but makes us believe we’re much better, letting confidence grow faster than actual skill.

Evolutionary Psychology

The Ecology of Curiosity

Farid Pazhoohi, Ph.D. on November 4, 2025 in Evolutionary Social Cognition

Why are some people naturally curious while others avoid the unknown? A new study suggests it’s not just personality—it’s ecology.

Why are some people naturally curious while others avoid the unknown? A new study suggests it’s not just personality—it’s ecology.

Social Media

Meta Will Use Your AI Chats to Gather Data on You

Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. on November 3, 2025 in Positively Media

Meta will begin using AI chat as data for ad targeting and content personalization across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Here are 4 things you can do.

Meta will begin using AI chat as data for ad targeting and content personalization across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Here are 4 things you can do.

Friends

For Singles, Happiness May Depend on This

Arash Emamzadeh on November 1, 2025 in Finding a New Home

The key may be getting these connections right.

The key may be getting these connections right.

Psychiatry

Genetic Marker Identifies Responders to New Antidepressant

Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D. on October 31, 2025 in Demystifying Psychiatry

A new medication for treatment-resistant depression may help a subset of people who carry a specific genetic marker.

A new medication for treatment-resistant depression may help a subset of people who carry a specific genetic marker.

Artificial Intelligence

A New Era of AI Guardrails for Students

Eva Ritvo M.D. on October 31, 2025 in On Vitality

AI is reshaping how students think, learn, and cope. Here’s why real AI safety on campus must protect minds as much as machines.

AI is reshaping how students think, learn, and cope. Here’s why real AI safety on campus must protect minds as much as machines.

Relationships

Owning a Pet Can Shape Romantic Relationship Quality

Theresa E. DiDonato Ph.D. on October 31, 2025 in Meet, Catch, and Keep

Think your romantic relationship is disconnected from your dog ownership? Think again.

Think your romantic relationship is disconnected from your dog ownership? Think again.

Motivation

A Simple Linguistic Trick That Can Help You Find Motivation

Janina Steinmetz Ph.D. on October 30, 2025 in The Social Consumer

Research shows that when we speak about “making time" and not about “having time," we feel more in control and more motivated to pursue our goals.

Research shows that when we speak about “making time" and not about “having time," we feel more in control and more motivated to pursue our goals.

Race and Ethnicity

What Native American Teens Say About Stereotypes

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on October 29, 2025 in Evidence-Based Living

A groundbreaking new study about stereotypes of Native youth takes a new approach, revealing familiar prejudices and surprising local narratives that previous research has missed.

A groundbreaking new study about stereotypes of Native youth takes a new approach, revealing familiar prejudices and surprising local narratives that previous research has missed.

Cognition

When an LLM Adds 2 Plus 2

John Nosta on October 29, 2025 in The Digital Self

To an LLM, 2 + 2 = 4 isn’t arithmetic, it’s how math itself becomes mimicry.

To an LLM, 2 + 2 = 4 isn’t arithmetic, it’s how math itself becomes mimicry.

Evolutionary Psychology

But We Shook on It!

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on October 28, 2025 in Darwin's Subterranean World

Under ancestral conditions, writing did not exist and all people lived in small-scale societies in which everyone knew everyone. Handshakes were counted on. This is not so today.

Under ancestral conditions, writing did not exist and all people lived in small-scale societies in which everyone knew everyone. Handshakes were counted on. This is not so today.