Behavior4213 articles archived since 1845

Creative Thinking in both Science and the Arts Is Not for the Faint of Heart

As Oscar Wilde famously observed: Be yourself; everyone else is already taken

The Vaccine Rollout Is Changing How We Think about Prescription Meds

A new survey reveals that, for the first time, many Americans see pharmaceutical companies as brand names, just like Nike or Amazon

The Cause of America’s Post-Truth Predicament

People have been manipulated to think that beliefs needn’t change in response to evidence, making us more susceptible to conspiracy theories, science denial and extremism

The Forgotten History of the World’s First Trans Clinic

The Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin would be a century old if it hadn’t fallen victim to Nazi ideology

As Its Longest War Comes to an End, the U.S. Should Seek to End All Wars

Along with other nations, we should begin talking about how to put militarism behind us

How Each of Us Can Prepare for the Next Pandemic

Cooperative Extension programs have a long history of teaching readiness and survival skills—and with more funding, they could help us get ready for future outbreaks

It’s Time to Reevaluate How We Talk about COVID Risk

It exists on a spectrum, and pretending activities are either deadly or risk-free helps no one

Disgust Can Be Morally Valuable

Repugnance at wrongs such as hatred, hypocrisy and cheating are reasonable, but in cases where it’s inappropriate, we can learn to control it

How GPS Weakens Memory—and What We Can Do about It

A new app helps you navigate, not with turn-by-turn directions but via audio “beacons”

The Pursuit of Resilience

We Must Rethink the Role of Medical Expert Witnesses

The Derek Chauvin trial highlighted a deficiency in the criminal justice system

Adolescent Brains Are Wired to Want Status and Respect: That’s an Opportunity for Teachers and Parents

Advances in neuroscience and psychology could lead to real-world benefits in education and mental health

Sally Ride’s Enduring Legacy

America’s first woman in space worked to make STEM education more equitable and inclusive, with a special emphasis on encouraging participation by girls

Why Do People in Relationships Cheat?

A new study breaks down the reasons—they’re complicated

Fear Is the Key to Convincing Residents to Evacuate before a Storm

Safety officials need to use strong language and images to persuade the human psyche

‘Cave Syndrome’ Keeps the Vaccinated in Social Isolation

After a year away from friends and co-workers, people sometimes struggle to resume their public routines

Religion Both Helped and Hurt during the Pandemic

It was good, on balance, for people’s mental health—but not so good for physical health

Making Vaccines Is Straightforward; Getting People to Take Them Isn’t

Our instincts are unreliable about which problems are easy to solve and which are hard

COVID Has Created a Perfect Storm for Fringe Science

It’s always been with us, but in a time of pandemic, its practitioners have an amplified capacity to unleash serious harm

Scientists Should Never Stop Being Students

Being too comfortable with the universe as it’s “supposed to be” is harmful to creative thinking