Mind & Behavior

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

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The Big Think Interview
Harvard debate coach’s masterclass on arguing
Two-time debate world champion Bo Seo gives 3 tips for constructing the perfect argument.
Bo Seo
A man wearing a red headscarf sleeps against a tree with an open book in hand, while a dog lies nearby on the grass. A basket and fishing rod rest beside him.
6mins
The Well
Hustle culture kills happiness. Here’s how to escape it.
Hustle culture is part of our DNA — but it’s making us unhappy. Yale psychologist Laurie Santos explains how to escape your inner drill sergeant and find peace in imperfection.
Laurie Santos
A black silhouette with two overlapping human profiles facing opposite directions on a green background.
6mins
The Well
How your brain creates reality, explained by a neuroscientist
Your "social reality" isn’t an absolute reality. A leading neuroscientist explains why.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
Two detailed anatomical illustrations show human heads: one sliced horizontally to reveal the brain, and the other showing exposed facial muscles, bones, and tissue.
5mins
The Well
The neuroscience of trauma
What sets trauma apart from regular bad experiences? A leading neuroscientist explains.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
Eight burnt matchsticks stand upright on an orange background, with the last match forming a scattered, crumbling silhouette.
6mins
The Well
Signs you’re burned out — and how to bounce back
If you don’t feel better after the weekend, the “burnout paradox” could explain why.
Laurie Santos
Black and white vintage illustration of a human brain viewed from the side, set against a solid light pink background.
7mins
The Well
An evolutionary history of the human brain, in 7 minutes
Plato and Carl Sagan were wrong about the human brain, says a top neuroscientist.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
a hand holding a tiny group of mushrooms.
2hr 9mins
The Big Think Interview
The ultimate psychedelics explainer
Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Matthew Johnson answers 24 huge questions about psychedelics.
Matthew W. Johnson
Detailed black and white sketch of a baboon’s head in profile, showing its expressive face and rough fur, on a solid yellow background.
8mins
The Well
Why humans are surprisingly bad at being happy
Your brain isn’t wired for happiness — but you can change that, explains Yale scientist Laurie Santos.
Laurie Santos
John Templeton Foundation
Three illustrated human brains in a row on an orange background.
7mins
The Well
You have 3 brains. This is how to use them.
You’ve heard about your "lizard brain." But what about the other two?
Robert M Sapolsky
John Templeton Foundation
a statue of a man with no shirt on.
10mins
The Big Think Interview
How to have better sex
People are having less sex than ever. 3 experts explain the keys to maintaining a passionate relationship.
Esther Perel, Emily Nagoski & Shmuley Boteach
An abstract figure with a pale face holds its head and screams on a bridge, with swirling blue, orange, and black lines in the background.
9mins
The Well
The biggest myths about emotions, debunked
No, emotions don’t happen TO you. Here’s what happens instead.
Lisa Feldman Barrett
A surreal painting shows a large distorted human face with closed eyes, supported by sticks, floating above a calm landscape with a boat and building in the background.
4mins
The Well
The evolutionary significance of dreaming
Ancient societies revered dreams. Modern science tells us why.
Patrick McNamara
a green peace sign on a black background.
5mins
The Big Think Interview
Fix hidden conflict — before it’s too late
Not all conflict is bad. Expert Priya Parker explains how “heat” can be harnessed for good.
Priya Parker
two hands reaching for each other with the words your true age.
9mins
The Big Think Interview
Discover your “true age” — and how to tweak it
Your chronological age and your biological age aren’t the same thing. This ex-Yale professor explains how to tell the difference.
Morgan Levine
a close up of a person with freckles on his face.
1hr 25mins
The Big Think Interview
Why men and boys are struggling
Richard Reeves explains the big problems facing men today — and why no one is talking about them.
Richard Reeves
Two abstract human figures stand next to each other on the left, while a pair of white eyes emerges from a dark, textured background on the right.
6mins
The Well
Every culture has supernatural agents. Here’s why.
From DMT elves, to God, to the figures in our dreams — why are humans so obsessed with the supernatural?
Patrick McNamara
8mins
The Big Think Interview
5 skills for conversing like a level-headed human
Educator Irshad Manji emphasizes that diversity is a fact of life, and it should be harnessed to unite society rather than divide it. Recognizing that humans tend to react defensively […]
Irshad Manji
a carrot hanging from a string with the word negotiate on it.
7mins
The Big Think Interview
FBI hostage negotiator explains his #1 persuasion skill
Why the best negotiators are nice, not tough.
Chris Voss
Two parallel strands of orange barbed wire set against a black background.
8mins
The Well
The case against trigger warnings
How America became a fragile nation — and how it can get its resilience back.
Jonathan Haidt
a close up of a brain on a blue background.
8mins
The Big Think Interview
Are conscious machines possible?
A University of Oxford professor explains how conscious machines are possible.
Michael Wooldridge
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