Mind & Behavior

Mind & Behavior

Study the science of how we think, feel, and act, with insights that help you better understand yourself and others.

A man in business attire sits in an office chair with his hand covering his face, surrounded by red circles. One circle says “WORK WISE.”.
Once you decide what kind of person someone is, every interaction becomes supporting evidence. Here’s how to interrupt the cycle.
anti-gravity mirror
If you look into a mirror, you'll notice that left-and-right are reversed, but up-and-down is preserved. The reason isn't what you think.
A man wearing glasses and a sweater sits in a boat, holding a large fishing rod, with the open sea visible in the background.
How do you tell when intuition is offering you reliable information?
Three firefighters in full gear stand near a fire truck at dusk, with circular graphic elements overlaid on the image.
People whose jobs deal with actual emergencies are trained to slow down first. Here's how to borrow their strategies.
Book cover of "Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times" by Owen Fitzpatrick, featuring bold text on a red background with white rays and a crumpled paper effect, visually capturing the essence of inner propaganda at work.
Our brains are gambling addicts placing bets on what reality holds. And sometimes, they bet wrong.
Book cover for "Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One" by DJ DiDonna, featuring a sky background, a red border, and bold lettering that highlights the concept of taking big time off.
The goal of a sabbatical shouldn't be to make you a better worker when you return. It's an opportunity to be a more fully realized person.
A man in a suit sits at a table, facing another person whose back is visible in the foreground, against a blue background.
When someone asks you a question they genuinely don’t know the answer to, hold on to them for dear life.
Stylized illustration of two purple eyes peering over a blue angular shape against a black background, evoking the intrigue found in stories with psychopathic protagonists.
These iconic literary characters shine a light on our enduring fascination with dangerous minds.
Assorted 2000s-era items including a decorated laptop, Game Boy, CD player, flip phone, iPods, cassette, VHS tape, sewing tools, puzzles, and craft supplies arranged on a colorful background evoke pure nostalgia.
A nostalgia-fueled real-world renaissance is underway, led by young adults striving to counter the cultural pessimism and division that pervades much of online life.
Two hands juggle six translucent spheres, each containing different images: lips, a hand writing, a baby, and abstract shapes, against a gradient purple and cream background.
A specific behavior might help explain the stereotype, recent research suggests.
Three black and white circular images on a red background: a person running, a blurred double-exposed face, and a foot about to kick a soccer ball.
Your inner monologue doesn't have to devolve into toxic "chatter."
A person sits on a chair with their head obscured by chaotic, black scribbles, visually capturing the turmoil and confusion that often accompanies rumination or mental distress.
The brain’s default mode network gives rise to costly ruminations, but it can also be a source of creative breakthroughs.
A silhouette of an adult holding a young child, both faces partially visible, embodies the tenderness of parenting against a soft, gradient blue and beige background.
The family might be a terrible way to raise kids. But it's the best we have.
A digital illustration of a human brain outlined in white, composed of circuit-like lines, set against a black background with scattered white dots resembling stars.
Neuroscientist Anil Seth on the deep differences between human minds and artificial ones.
Two scenes: Top shows climbers on an ice-covered terrain, embodying fun and success. Bottom captures an airplane in flight against a clear sky.
Fun in business is no laughing matter — it can create a golden strategic advantage and bring serious success in the long term.
A human skull, a game controller, and small artifacts are partially buried in dirt at an archaeological dig site with excavation tools nearby.
Your brain responds to game-like mechanics with focus, persistence, and engagement — the exact qualities you need to stay motivated.
Illustration of a brain with legs standing on a platform, surrounded by yellow rays and red and yellow dots on a pink background.
New research suggests fun isn’t a distraction from learning — it’s the brain’s way of rewarding us for navigating uncertainty, discovering patterns, and staying mentally alive.
A woman holds a red star-shaped object over one eye, with colorful abstract shapes and a small figure in a box in the background.
Play isn’t frivolous — and by denying playful impulses, you could be holding yourself back.