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 green peace sign on a black background.
5mins
Not all conflict is bad. Expert Priya Parker explains how “heat” can be harnessed for good.
a man's head with a bird flying out of it.
Meditation can put you in a wiser relationship with life.
a painting of different colors with arrows painted on it.
The Shirky Principle states that "institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution."
a fountain pen sitting on top of a piece of paper.
George Orwell got it right: "Never use a long word where a short one will do."
two hands reaching for each other with the words your true age.
9mins
Your chronological age and your biological age aren’t the same thing. This ex-Yale professor explains how to tell the difference.
Close-up of a classical painting depicting a sleeping child with curly blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and closed eyes—lying on their side against a dark background, capturing the peaceful transition between wakefulness and consciousness.
Neuroscience is beginning to provide clues about the emergence of human consciousness.
John Templeton Foundation
a group of penguins standing on top of a rock.
If you think everyone around you is terrible, the joke may be on you.
a painting of a couch and a hot air balloon.
The hallucinations that characterize schizophrenia may be due to a "reality threshold" that is lower than it should be.
a close up of a sign with writing on it.
Maintain peace of mind during tax season by correctly filling out your W-4.
Million Stories
A person standing on top of a rock in the water.
Claims of a "loneliness epidemic" aren't based on robust data. Loneliness might be a problem, but it's not worse than it was in the past.
a jet is flying through the air with smoke coming out of it.
Take a hint from Einstein and Mozart — unplug and make peace with some degree of failure.
a group of people standing on top of a hill.
Intelligence is not fixed but fluid. A growth mindset allows our brains to flourish while lowering our stress levels.
a drawing of a clown wearing a red and blue hat.
Rather than sending serial killer art to auctions, it should be sent to abnormal psychologists for research.
a picture of a group of curved lines.
A recent study highlights the astounding adaptability of the human brain.
A child standing in front of a wall of jellyfish.
Despite a reputation for catastrophe and cat killings, curiosity is a beneficial drive that improves our lives and well-being.
a black and white photo of two women sitting next to each other.
We know that everything changes, but we long for something more permanent.
a pink pig with a smile on its face.
One reason saving is hard: We tend to view our "future selves" as complete strangers, and our decisions in the present moment reflect that.
Million Stories
a pile of money sitting on top of a pile of money.
If a person stands little chance of ever being wealthy, perhaps playing the lottery is a rational decision.