What to do when someone goes on the defensive Our natural impulses often make matters worse. Here’s an approach that works, grounded in conflict resolution and psychology ...

Chimpanzees favour the colour red. Junglefowl prefer symmetry. Our shared capacity for aesthetic pleasure is cause for wonder ...

If an outright refusal feels rude but you don’t want to have to explain, here’s how to say ‘no’ the Japanese way ...

Other practices like sermons, yoga and retreats can also trigger ‘spiritual boredom’. Here’s why it’s normal and even useful ...

What studying people without a ‘mind’s eye’ reveals about the role of imagery in the experience of emotion and memory ...

Knowing the reasons people opt not to know – and the consequences of that choice – could help us see when it’s problematic ...

Swapping office work for the herding life, Adham finds a sublime freedom in the rugged terrain of the Pyrenees ...

Some musical rhythms are built to get us bobbing, foot-tapping or dancing. Researchers show how rhythmic complexity matters ...

Yet another important factor to consider in memories for fiction is believability. This is distinct from ‘ontological intuitiveness’ (our sense that dragons are not real or that humans cannot fly). It ...

In our world of instant gratification – from Netflix binges to social media likes to online pornography – it’s worth asking: does feeling good always mean living well? Plato foresaw the dangers of ...

How to gain more from your reading There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading by Robert DiYanni ...

Scientists offer a new way to compare and contrast social ties – like a ‘Big Five’ for relationships ...