What we learned from teaching a course on the science of happiness

We followed up students years after they took our course to find out whether they still reported better wellbeing.

Bruce Hood, Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society, University of Bristol • conversation
March 25, 2024 ~6 min

Chilling out rather than blowing off steam is a better way to manage anger − new review of 154 studies reveals what works

Activities such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga and meditation help people manage their anger, according to a meta-analysis of studies involving more than 10,000 participants.

Brad Bushman, Professor of Communication, The Ohio State University • conversation
March 20, 2024 ~5 min


Mental fatigue has psychological triggers − new research suggests challenging goals can head it off

Setting specific, hard-to-reach goals seems to help people maintain motivation, while preventing them from feeling as drained by mental tasks.

Matthew Robison, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington • conversation
Feb. 28, 2024 ~7 min

How psychology can help people live more climate-friendly lives – lessons from around the world

Insight from one of the largest experiments ever conducted in climate change psychology sheds light on how people could make more effective decisions about their lifestyle and also wider policies.

Kimberly Doell, Senior Researcher in Environmental and Climate Change Psychology, Universität Wien • conversation
Feb. 27, 2024 ~8 min

I’ve been studying astronaut psychology since Apollo − a long voyage to Mars in a confined space could raise stress levels and make the journey more challenging

Can astronauts spend prolonged time in close quarters millions of miles from Earth without killing each other?

Nick Kanas, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
Feb. 21, 2024 ~8 min

From bridge to chess, why men outperform women at ‘mindsports’ – and what to do about it

Male domination in bridge means there can be a lack of recognition of the structural barriers for women.

Samantha Punch, Professor of Sociology, University of Stirling • conversation
Feb. 19, 2024 ~7 min

Dating apps: how the order you view potential matches can affect which way you swipe

Something to bear in mind if you find yourself swiping through profiles on a dating app later today.

Robin Kramer, Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln • conversation
Feb. 12, 2024 ~6 min

Anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety – emotions that feel bad can be useful

Lots of people will do a lot to avoid feeling negative emotions. But researchers are figuring out how these unpleasant feelings actually have benefits.

Heather Lench, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University • conversation
Feb. 8, 2024 ~9 min


Body appreciation has been linked to better sexual and life satisfaction – here’s how to cultivate it

Greater body appreciation is also closely tied to other aspects of wellbeing, such as fewer symptoms of depression.

Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology, Anglia Ruskin University • conversation
Feb. 2, 2024 ~8 min

Halo effect: do attractive people really look less guilty? How the evidence is changing

Recent research suggests jurors are less likely to be lenient on attractive defendants than previously thought.

Robin Kramer, Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, University of Lincoln • conversation
Feb. 1, 2024 ~7 min

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