psychology

Anxiety and depression and often confused, but it is important to know the difference. Here are 10 ways to help you determine whether you are anxious or depressed—or both.

Researchers have discovered that damage to specific communication pathways in the brain makes it harder to suppress unwanted traumatic memories, leading to intense, "here-and-now" flashbacks for people with PTSD.

AI chatbots can reinforce specific mental health symptoms. As a clinician, it's critical to know what questions to ask.

Not all acts of kindness bring the same happiness boost. Research suggests what types of good deeds truly lift our spirits.

The popular book The Body Keeps the Score has mainstreamed the idea that the body stores repressed traumatic memories. However, memory researchers warn this controversial concept risks reviving debunked theories and promoting therapies that generate false memories.

The hardest part of healing may be recognizing our own unhealthy behaviors—and believing we have the power to change them.

Mental healthcare often divides research, clinical work, and lived experience into separate worlds. But true progress may rely on bridging these gaps.

The personality trait of perfectionism is linked to higher depression risk, a review of ten different studies finds. Perfectionists are often worried about making mistakes and tend to be highly self-critical. Feeling societal pressure to perform to a high standard, they often believe others are continually judging them. When perfectionists fail to meet their lofty standards, they tend to get depr…

What do narcissists and psychopaths actually value in life? A new meta-analysis reveals that people with "Dark Triad" personality traits are driven heavily by a desire for personal power and stimulation, while showing a strong aversion to helping others.

Deni Elliott explains how dogs want to share their canine-based perceptions with their people and why we should respond by basing relationships on affirmation and positivity.

Spending more than an hour and a half in the sun each day could raise your chances of developing depression, dementia and dying early, according to new research. The findings, published in the journal Public Health, challenge the conventional wisdom sunny weather invariably boosts wellbeing. Scientists have long understood excessive sun exposure increases skin cancer risk. However, this study mar…

A recent study reveals a continuous cycle between an inflated ego and climbing the social ladder. While grandiose narcissism drives people to seek status, successfully gaining that status appears to fuel their narcissism even further.

A decades-old psychology test exposed a surprising weakness in AI’s ability to stay focused. A classic psychology test has revealed a surprising weakness in some of today’s most advanced artificial intelligence systems, suggesting that AI attention may work very differently from human attention. Researchers led by Suketu Patel investigated how large language models (LLMs), the [...]

The Quest Begins (The "Why") Honestly, I felt like I was stuck in the opening scene of The Matrix —surrounded by green code that made zero sense, except this time the code was my résumé. I’d spent weeks polishing every bullet, swapping “responsible for” for “led,” and yet every application felt like tossing a coin into the Death Star’s exhaust port: hopeful, but ultimately futile. Recruiters woul…

As more than 40% of American teenagers report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a leading child psychologist says grandparents and extended family have a vital role to play.

A new international study finds that middle-aged Americans are lonelier, more depressed, and experiencing worse memory and health than earlier generations. Researchers say growing financial strain, weaker social supports, and chronic stress may explain why the U.S. is falling behind other wealthy nations.

Using virtual reality, researchers found that children who take physical risks during playtime develop better hazard-assessment skills. The study highlights how a cultural embrace of adventurous play helps kids safely navigate complex real-world environments.

People who recognize the limits of their own knowledge are more open to negative feedback. A new psychological investigation reveals that intellectually humble individuals bypass defensive instincts and actively choose criticism that helps them grow.

Imagine feeling a knot in your stomach, or your heart racing, and being unable to...