It’s a psychological quirk that when something becomes rarer, people may spot it in more places than ever. What is the ‘concept creep’ that lets context change how we categorize the world around us?
An unfairness in how Australia’s mental health care is delivered can be seen in our data. The areas with the most need aren’t getting the right amount of funding, or services.
Childhood adversity is linked to social and mental health problems later in life. New research suggests brains that aren’t as good at recognizing rewards and responding to change may be to blame.
Things and experiences that once seemed so enjoyable usually grow dull over time, something known as hedonic adaptation. Chopsticks offer one way to get some of that pleasure back.
To compensate for unmet social needs, people project lifelike qualities onto objects to feel connected. But this doesn’t fully meet people’s needs, so they collect more and more objects.
Missing a meal can certainly push you toward a bad mood. But new research identifies in what kind of situations hunger is most likely to tip toward hanger.
People with congenital heart disease are at greater risk of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Scientists are beginning to discover why.
Artūrs Logins, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
If you’re committed to a belief, it’s hard to let go. Psychology and philosophy provide different ways to think about how skeptics respond to counterevidence.