Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind. The mind dominates our view of the world around us. We react differently to the same situation depending on our mood. Our experiences during the formative period of childhood help to define our character and personality for the rest of our lives. Psychology can be applied to many different fields, including sports, music and education, but perhaps the most well-known is counselling. Counselling aims to help patients to be happier, more stable individals.
'Mental flexibility' is science's best predictor of lasting willpower. Here's how to improve yours
Psychologists are now finding that mental flexibility, not pushing through at all costs, is the real key to perseverance
Here’s what actually causes social anxiety (and how to overcome it)
Here's how you can conquer those totally natural conversational worries.
5 illusions that reveal how your brain warps reality
Your brain doesn’t see the world, it invents it. Welcome to the strange science of perception – and how to fix it when the illusion goes wrong
The simple habit elite snipers use to crush stress in seconds
How to use one of the body's stress responses to quieten the mind and make better decisions
Confidence is a trick that can be taught. Here's how
Neuroscience may have finally uncovered the secrets of self-belief
Your brain might be wired for extremism. Here's what you can do about it
Scientists are uncovering why some of us are more vulnerable to extreme ideologies than others
I was sceptical of self-hypnosis – until it started working…
Forget the swinging pocket watches, scientists are now praising hypnotherapy as a powerful tool to fight mental and physical pain
Here’s what exercise works best for your personality type
If you don't like your exercise regime don't give up – just try something new
AI therapy bots can be terrible. Unless you use these prompts
People are using AI chatbots as psychotherapists. We asked an actual therapist if that's a good idea
Here's how the powerful lose touch with reality, according to neuroscience
Evidence suggests power, like alcohol, has a tangible effect on the brain. But are its impacts always negative?
Why do we feel emotions in different parts of our bodies?
Where in your body do you feel anger or pride?
Here’s how narcissism shapes a person’s social media habits, study reveals
Obsession with social media could indicate the ways a person is obsessed with themselves
How has living with a narcissist affected me?
Long-term exposure to a narcissist might have turned you into an echoist
4 simple ways to overcome imposter syndrome, explained by psychologists
Ever feel like you’re an impostor? You’re not alone. Even the world’s most brilliant minds suffer from the fear of being ‘found out’.
How to be more attractive: 6 surprising lessons from science
From rollercoasters to butternut squash, there are plenty of ways to become more alluring
Here’s what makes some people easier to gaslight, according to a neuroscientist
Everything we believe about the world can be manipulated, says a hypnosis expert
Vegetarians react to eating meat like they would to eating poop, study suggests
Thanks, science
Does your name affect your physical appearance?
What's in a name? A lot, actually
Narcissism shows differently in men and women. Here’s how to spot it
Not every narcissist is a Patrick Bateman waiting in the wings
Why it’s time to rethink what happiness really means
Explaining exactly what's going on in our brains when we experience joy or pleasure remains frustratingly out of reach
Is it good for my brain to avoid the news from time to time?
It's easy to get sick of a 24-hour news cycle of war, climate crises and economic turmoil. Here's how a break will help your mental health – and gut
Why do I find it so difficult to switch between tasks?
Why are we so bad at multitasking? A neuroscientist explains.
How to crack the subtle body language of liars
Online influencers claim subtle, non-verbal cues expose when a person is lying. But how much do gestures, eye contact and arm positioning really reveal?
Think you understand your dog? This study says you’re wrong – and what you should do instead
A study on human perceptions of dog behaviour found we are much worse at understanding our dogs' emotions than we think we are.