Psychology
Making Eye Contact Signals a New Turn in a Conversation
Neuroscientists have uncovered an intriguing subtlety in how we communicate—that is, when we’re not on Zoom
Psychology31 articles archived since 1845
Psychology
Sometimes Mindlessness Is Better Than Mindfulness
In some situations, don’t pay so much attention
Policy
Why Bad Science Is Sometimes More Appealing Than Good Science
Researchers cite studies that can’t be replicated weirdly often
Mental Health
Critical Care Doctors Are in Crisis
Who’s caring for the ICU physicians?
Behavior
The Olympics without Fans Is Harming Athletes’ Performance
Simone Biles drops out of an event, citing the lack of an audience
Behavior
How COVID Is Changing the Study of Human Behavior
The pandemic is teaching us key lessons about how people respond to crisis and misinformation, and it is spurring changes in the way scientists study public health questions
Mental Health
Psychiatry Needs to Get Right with God
By not making more of an effort to incorporate spirituality in treatment, we are doing a disservice to patients
Public Health
COVID, Quickly, Episode 7: The Coming Pandemic Grief Wave, and Mask Whiplash
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between...
Mental Health
COVID Has Put the World at Risk of Prolonged Grief Disorder
COVID deaths are leaving millions bereaved. For some, the intense grief never recedes, making daily life almost impossible
Medicine
MDMA Shows New Promise for Trauma, but the Drug Alone Is Not a Cure
The illegal substance—paired with intensive therapy and hard work—dramatically improves PTSD symptoms
Behavior
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
Behavior
‘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
Climate Change
Therapists Are Reckoning with Eco-anxiety
With no training, counselors feel unequipped to handle the growing number of people anxious about the climate emergency
Behavior
Students Who Gesture during Learning ‘Grasp’ Concepts Better
Hand movement appears to help in teaching about statistical models
Behavior
Our Brain Typically Overlooks This Brilliant Problem-Solving Strategy
People often limit their creativity by continually adding new features to a design rather than removing existing ones
Neuroscience
Forgotten Memories of Traumatic Events Get Some Backing from Brain-Imaging Studies
A new wave of research seeks neurological signatures for a type of amnesia
Public Health
How to Debunk Misinformation about COVID, Vaccines and Masks
We each have more power to be a science communicator than we realize
Behavior
People Literally Don’t Know When to Shut Up—or Keep Talking—Science Confirms
We are really bad at navigating a key transition point during one of the most basic social interactions
Evolution
Evolution Could Explain Why Psychotherapy May Work for Depression
Persistent rumination may be an attribute that lets us think our way out of despair—a process enhanced through talk therapy
Behavior
The ‘Shared Psychosis’ of Donald Trump and His Loyalists
Forensic psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee explains the outgoing president’s pathological appeal and how to wean people from it
