The Best of Psychology Today

A new book looks at three recent presidencies and their struggle to reform health care.

Positive evolutionary psychology uses evolution to help us lead better lives. Three simple tips from this field are as follows: Be kind, believe in love, and be trustworthy.

In a difficult job market that is part of many other serious challenges, "Create Your Unicorn Career" can help you build joy, make money, and serve the world in meaningful ways.

Your brain believes in what it can touch. See why digital money doesn’t feel the same.

In conversation with Worry Club’s Chase Walsh, we explore psychology of performing your real self.

Why do we hit the gym, cut our hair, or overhaul our lives right after emotional stress? How to use the psychology behind stress-driven productivity.

«Losing control in one area of life pushes the brain to seek it back somewhere else, and buying something or starting a project feels like reclaiming agency.»

Words like “trauma,” “narcissist,” and “anxious attachment” are now common currency. What happens when the language of psychology and psychiatry becomes the language of the everyday?

The sophisticated language Plato wrote in gave way to a simplified "common" Greek—and with it, a simplified psychology. We inherited a twice-flattened concept of mind.

Four signs that working from home might not benefit your productivity.

«If your work depends on real-time feedback, brainstorming, spontaneous creative exchange, or complex coordination, remote work can fragment that process.»

From brain development to accents, aptitude, and motivation, the real science behind language learning challenges the idea that there’s only one “right” age to start.

The key to greater happiness and peace of mind

«President John F. Kennedy, I might suggest that you “Ask not what your life can do for you; ask what you can do for your life.” It’s a matter of flipping your perspective»

How people in pain can release anger and improve their relationships.

Why we should think differently about success—and how to start

«We are spread too thin and overwhelmed. We are pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion. Yet we refuse to take a break.»

How to overcome this surce of anxiety to achieve your goals

«Anxiety can have a paralyzing effect when it prevents us from taking any action towards our goals. This leads to avoidance behavior such as procrastination»

We forget up to 90 percent of what we learn within a week. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can beat the forgetting curve and make your learning stick—for good.

«So the next time you finish reading, listening, or watching something intriguing, take a moment. Summarize it. Reflect on it. Use it. Repeat. Let that be your new habit.»

When AI can do the tasks we call learning, how do we tell what’s real? Here's why only observable behavior can define and protect human learning.

How mass shootings make victims of us all

Gratitude seems like a buzzword as the holiday season approaches. But, what does it actually mean, and how can it scientifically improve all of our lives?

Recognition isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a psychological imperative. Discover research-backed ways to recognize and express gratitude to employees and build thriving teams.

A study of the history of happiness shows that even nations bounce back.

«Though GDP has increased roughly across all the nations over the last 200 years, the National Valence Index fails to show a similar rise. »

To become happier, Gen Z and the rest of us may need to rethink what happiness and the good life actually mean.

When the world feels uncertain, science shows that small, consistent habits—like mindful breathing, movement, and acts of purpose—can protect your mental health and restore hope.

Building a little mental muscle could have a big impact on your life.

Why the greatest obstacle to success is success.

«You should change what you do, or how you live, every ten years because the greatest obstacle to success isn't failure; it's success»

Harness your motivation to tend to "urgent" matters as a way to achieve goals.

«We know that our brains respond to urgency, so instead of fighting against ourselves, we can harness this latent motivation and use it to get things done.»

What we can learn from rejections.

«If you hear "yes" at every single career stage, you probably did not reach high enough. If you never hear "no," chances are you did not take many risks (or you are just exceptionally talented, lucky, or both).»

Love languages sound great, but do they actually improve relationships? The science says no. Learn what really makes relationships last.

When we face overwhelming stress, disconnecting can be a coping skill.

«Dissociation happens because the person is engaged in an automatic activity and is not paying attention to his or her immediate environment.»

Tools from positive psychology to help you overcome stress and adversity

Are you holding onto at least one thing that’s way past its expiration date?

«You could do a similar practice by writing a note about this attachment, and then tearing it up and letting its pieces fall away»

A new study upends conventional wisdom about how much sleep is needed for optimal health.

Findings from the longest scientific study of happiness.

Relapse isn’t failure. It’s a learning opportunity. Consider these 7 science-backed strategies to break habits that trigger relapse, build resilience, and create lasting change.

Viewing effort as part of a feedback loop could help us enjoy the process.

«We can look at effort through a feedback loop that looks like this: effort > performance > pleasure > motivation > effort»