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.
Dehumanizing insults have become more common in political discourse. Psychology research has shown that they can prime us for violence – and even change our brains.
Does your child hate their visits to the pediatrician? Do they psyche themselves into a panic that the shot will hurt? The best strategy to calm an anxious child may be to reframe their expectations.
Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation; Michael Lund, The Conversation; Wes Mountain, The Conversation, and Julie Carli, The Conversation
The explainer episode
The Conversation, CC BY67.5 MB(download)
Today on Trust me, I'm An Expert, we're explaining the tricky topics: what is quantum mechanics? What does the research say about lone actor terrorism? And why do people like pimple popping videos?
Positive emotions, such as passion, have an established foothold in airport books on great leadership and executive coaching seminars. However, overemphasising “positive” emotions can be problematic.