Behavior

Sometimes the need to bear witness outweighs the need for privacy

Behavioral scientist Stephen Martin and psychologist Joseph Marks talk about their book Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don’t, and Why.

Originally published in May 1917

More time online during the pandemic can expose them to abuse—but virtual spaces can also offer a crucial lifeline

We’re forced to fill that role because our government has failed to mount an adequate response to COVID-19. Meanwhile our cities burn, and police assault the very citizens that fund their existence

Among the benefits are more resilience and better emotional health

The pandemic has heightened OCD phobias such as fear of germs. Yet some patients say experience with anxiety, and treatment for it, gives them an advantage

Kids rated whether Santa Claus or the Wiggles actually exist in a test of cultural beliefs

But “red flag” laws can empower you to save a loved one’s life

Pairing the practice with greater accountability, better oversight of law enforcement and efforts to reimagine the role police play in communities could help reduce officers’ use of force

A study of our closest evolutionary relatives finds that the chimp behavior known as lip smacking occurs in the same timing range as human mouths during speech.

Several studies suggest that individuals widely prefer to remain ignorant about information that would benefit them when it’s painful—and sometimes when it’s pleasurable