Psychology
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Why do we see so many different things in Rorschach ink blots?Devised as a method of psychiatric assessment over a century ago, the reason people see so many shapes and figures in the blots may finally be explained
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A neuroscientist explains: listener's emails about empathy – podcastResponding to some of our listener’s emails, Dr Daniel Glaser ponders whether dogs have a Theory of Mind, the neuroscience behind bilingualism, and the value of introspection
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Fictional characters make 'experiential crossings' into real life, study findsA fifth of readers report characters from novels cropping up in their daily lives, hearing their voices even after putting books aside
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How we made Men Are from Mars, Women Are from VenusJohn Gray: ‘I grew up with five brothers and then became a monk – so women were from another planet’
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Very premature babies at risk of mental health problems – researchStudies reveal greater likelihood of attention disorders, shyness and anxiety in childhood and then adulthood for survivors with very low birth weight of 1kg
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How much screen time should I let my teenager have?A new study says that up to six hours a day is perfectly normal, and unlikely to do any harm – as long as your child is doing fine at school and getting enough exercise
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A neuroscientist explains: how we perceive the truth - podcastDr Daniel Glaser explores what can the wiring of the brain tell us about how we perceive the world
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Study reveals which moves can take you from disco disaster to dancing queenHip-swings, leg moves, arm waggles and staying on the beat are the best moves for women who want to be admired on the dance floor, say psychologists
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A neuroscientist explains: listener's emails about memory - podcastResponding to some of our listener’s emails, Dr Daniel Glaser explores the role of photographs for recall, and the vividness of musical memory
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Why we should think critically about positive psychology in our universitiesBuckingham University is to beome a ‘positive’ institution. Yet the wholesale importing of Martin Seligman’s philosophy risks fostering a culture of compulsory happiness
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Empathy is crucial to being a good person, right? Think againSome argue that, far from motivating pro-social behaviours, empathy can push us towards inaction at best and racism and violence at worst
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Ping! The psychology of tech compulsions - Chips with Everything tech podcastWe explore how our addiction to notifications and alerts influences how we use technology and go about our everyday lives
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The 100 best nonfiction books: No 53 – The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James (1902)This revolutionary work written by Henry James’s less famous brother brought a democratising impulse to the realm of religious belief
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Does brain training make you smart?You can boost your brainpower, says Caroline Williams, but it’s not as simple as just giving your head a work-out
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'Extinction therapy' could help smokers kick habit, study suggestsTechnique aims to help smokers ‘unlearn’ associations that drive addiction by exposing them to triggers, such as footage of people smoking
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Dopamine dressing – can you dress yourself happy?The fashion world has bought into the idea that wearing La La Land yellow and head-to-toe colour will act as an antidote to these dark days. Now here comes the science part …
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Why are dreams of flying so common when it is so alien to us?The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts
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Cross Section: Uta Frith – Science Weekly podcastNicola Davis sits down with Professor Uta Frith to talk autism, passion, rebellion and the role of women in science
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From ‘overlearning’ to going barefoot: how to learn betterForget practising for hours on end or cramming the night before an exam. Here are some pointers to help you get top results
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The 'punch a Nazi' meme: what are the ethics of punching Nazis?An assault on “alt-right” figure Richard Spencer sparked the ‘punch a Nazi’ meme. Violence is bad, but so is racism – so where do we stand ethically?
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Finger on the button: should Trump's nuclear weapons access be restricted?US congressmen are proposing a bill to restrict President Trump’s access to nuclear weapons. As ‘chaotic’ as he may be, is this fair or rational?
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How to die wellLack of faith is no impediment to a decent death – or to helping another through theirs, says Johannes Klabbers
Trump’s fragile male ego craves the dangerous drug of adulation