Human Nature

Hugging is way more than just how we greet our family and friends. And when COVID-19 abruptly ended this natural human connection, many of us were lost. Here's why.

By John Donovan

Getting lost in a book is one of life's greatest pleasures, but is a digital book just as pleasurable as a paper book? And which format is the best for learning?

By Patty Rasmussen

How do we find hope when times are bleak? It's not always easy, but it is possible.

By Jacqueline S. Mattis

Everyone experiences boredom at some point and maybe even ennui, a chronic type of boredom. But surprisingly, ennui does have some benefits.

By Alia Hoyt

Perhaps everyone feels unworthy of their achievements at some point. But if you constantly have that feeling, you may have impostor syndrome. So, who's more likely to have it and how do you cope with it?

By Alia Hoyt

A study found that stereotypes of Americans who identified with more than one race were different from stereotypes applied to people of one race. What were they and what do biracial people think about these findings?

By Danielle Douez

The term 'microaggression' has gone mainstream in the last few years. But what counts as a microaggression, and why are some experts critical of the word?

By Danielle Douez

The suicides of two students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as the suicide of a father of a child killed at Newtown Elementary highlight how the shock from a deep trauma remains long after for survivors.

By John Donovan

There's a magic number that gets casual players (maybe you) really interested.

By Dave Roos

Author Gretchen Rubin says people have one of four personal tendencies that direct how we handle inner and outer expectations. Knowing your tendency can help you figure out how to manage change.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

More than 250 people in six years have died while taking selfies. Who is taking such risks and why?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

And that difference has a lot to do with dopamine — and how you respond to it.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

You'll never look like your Snapchat self, but that's not stopping people from trying.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

A new study out of Germany claims that artists are less driven by monetary rewards than other people.

By Stell Simonton

Experts who've studied this say you have to look at several factors regarding parenting, toy guns and aggression.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Science shows that, although people do tend to feel angrier when hungry, there are ways to tame that "hangry" feeling.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

It may seem like a ridiculous question, but it's actually kind of a mindbender.

By Robert Lamb

The announcements of Kylie Jenner's 'surprise' baby and Beyonce's pregnancy with twins were two of the most liked Instagrams of all time. Why do celebrity babies excite the public so much?

By Alia Hoyt

Loneliness is such a prevalent problem that the British have appointed a minister for loneliness.

By Stell Simonton

Secrets can take a measurable mental and physical toll on those who keep — and share — them.

By Laurie L. Dove

Many kids grow up with imaginary friends. Why do they rely on these make-believe playmates and are they a sign of trouble or great things?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Are facial expressions learned or innate? A study that looked at the facial expressions of people blind from birth found mixed results.

By Alia Hoyt

Short or tall, height affects us all — but does it have the power to determine how long we live, or whether we're happy?

By Laurie L. Dove

Swedish speakers tend to measure time by distance, while Spanish speakers tend to say measure it by volume. But how does this difference in expression affect how people perceive time?

By Shelley Danzy

We've all performed this social ritual thousands of times but, as it turns out, there's a right way and a wrong way to shake hands. A psychologist who has studied the art and psychology behind handshakes explains.

By John Donovan