Speaking of Psychology

The invisible work of being a daughter, with Allison Alford, PhD

For many women, being a daughter is not just a family role – it’s a lifelong job. Dr. Allison Alford discusses what she calls “daughtering”: the work of managing family d

When your “mind’s eye” is blank: Understanding aphantasia, with Joel Pearson, PhD

People with aphantasia can’t visualize images in their mind’s eye. Ask them to picture an apple and they see a blank screen. Aphantasia researcher Joel Pearson, PhD, disc

Inside the social minds -- and amazing memories -- of chimps and bonobos, with Laura Simone Lewis, PhD

Most of us could look at a decades-old yearbook and recognize many of the faces of our former classmates -- but humans aren't the only ones with this remarkable ability.

Precision mental health and personalized treatment, with Leanne Williams, PhD, and Zachary Cohen, PhD

Depression and anxiety look very different from one person to the next, and finding the right treatment can be a trial-and-error process. But researchers are working to c

How will AI companions change our human relationships? With Ashleigh Golden, PsyD, and Rachel Wood, PhD

What does it mean to have an AI boyfriend or girlfriend, or to turn to an AI friend for emotional support? Ashleigh Golden, PsyD, and Rachel Wood, PhD, discuss the rise o

Encore: The benefits of being bilingual, with Viorica Marian, PhD

More than half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Viorica Marian, PhD, of Northwestern University, talks about why speaking multiple languages may have

Encore: Learning to embrace winter, with Kari Leibowitz, PhD

Are you dreading the cold, dark months ahead? In Scandinavia, where the winters are among the coldest and darkest on earth, many people look forward to winter as a time o

How competition drives our behavior, with Stephen Garcia, PhD

From classrooms to boardrooms, from sports to social media, we’re constantly sizing ourselves up against other people -- and being sized up in return. Dr. Stephen Garcia

What moral psychology has to say about charitable giving, with Joshua Greene, PhD

It’s December, which means it’s peak season for charitable donations. But how do you decide which organizations to support? Joshua Greene, PhD, discusses how people make

Why nature is good for your brain, with Marc Berman, PhD

In an age of increasing distractions, researchers have found that spending time in nature can be an antidote that helps us restore our focus and attention. Marc Berman, P

How to raise grateful kids, with Andrea Hussong, PhD

Studies have shown that gratitude can help us cope with challenges and is good for our relationships and our health. But figuring out how to foster gratitude in kids isn'

When sounds are unbearable: Understanding misophonia, with Heather Hansen, PhD

For people with misophonia, certain sounds – like chewing, coughing or pen clicking – can trigger strong emotional reactions including anxiety, disgust and rage. Heather

Navigating the mental health impact of GLP-1s, with Rachel Goldman, PhD

Over the past several years, the rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy has changed the conversation around weight and obesity in the U.S. Rachel Goldman, PhD, ta

Why humblebragging is never a good idea, with Övül Sezer, PhD

We all want to be liked and respected. But sometimes, our intuitions about how to make a good impression lead us astray. Övül Sezer, PhD, talks about common mistakes, inc

Understanding trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, with Clare Mackay, PhD, and Suzanne Mouton-Odum,

Body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking are relatively common but remain stigmatized and misunderstood. Suzanne Mouton-

Why we love to travel, with Andrew Stevenson, PhD

Are you dreaming of your next vacation? Many people see travel as a chance to escape their routines, explore new places and maybe even ‘find themselves.’ Andrew Stevenson

Courage is taking a worthwhile risk, with Cynthia Pury, PhD

When we think of courage, we often picture dramatic, high-stakes moments, but courage comes into play not only in extraordinary situations but also in everyday life. Cynt

Dyslexia myths, misconceptions and facts, with Tim Odegard, PhD

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s still widely misunderstood. Tim Odegard, PhD, talks about how dyslexia is diagnosed and defined; his own

Lefties, righties and mixed-handers: The psychology of brain asymmetry, with Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD

Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic an

Teens, AI and the science of risky decisions, with Valerie Reyna, PhD

You might think the best way to make decisions is to know all the facts. But psychologists’ research suggests that getting the “gist” – the core meaning behind the facts