Psychology in 10 Minutes

There’s no question that music can alter our mood. But new research is showing it might do much more. If you like the show, buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/psychologyin10minutes

Research shows that some surprisingly simple motivation hacks can also be surprisingly effective. Here are three insights from motivation science that might surprise you. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming a patron! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

Imagine if, someday, you could take a pill that would help with loneliness as readily as Tylenol helps with a headache. If you like the show, buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/psychologyin10minutes

I came to believe my own lie. Here’s how, and what it tells us about human memory.

Why travel--especially when it involves experiences within cultures different from our own--can help us be more creative and flexible in our thinking.

Here’s why experiences--like travel--generally boost our happiness more than material objects, like the latest gadget or fancy pair of shoes.

You've probably heard the saying "forgiveness is a virtue." Is it really? And, what exactly is forgiveness, anyway? - If you enjoy this episode, please consider becoming a patron of the show! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

Freedom of choice is a great thing. But, it's also easy to get overwhelmed by choices and psych ourselves out. Here's what psychologists know about why making decisions can be hard. - Consider becoming a patron of the show! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

When a loved one has a serious illness, it's hard to know how to provide emotional support. Here are four tips that may help. (Consider becoming a patron of the show: patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes)

Though procrastination is a common and disruptive problem, some surprisingly simple solutions might help.

Why #LuckyGirlSyndrome and other versions of "the power of positive thinking" may not be helpful for everyone.

How is artificial intelligence going to change psychotherapy? Let's find out what ChatGPT thinks. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

People are once again snapping Polaroids, adopting Tamagotchis, and revisiting TV shows of yesteryear. Here's what's good about it, what's not, and why. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

We're wired for relationships. But, what exactly is it about our relationships that makes us happy? The answers may be simpler than you think. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

According to new research, love may be a more expansive experience than you think. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

Who do you think perceives their lives as more meaningful: new high school graduates or people about ready to retire? The answer may surprise you... If you enjoy the show, become a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

I often dread telling people I'm a psychologist. Here's why... If you enjoy the show, become a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

The forces behind impulse purchases are often hidden. Here's how we can help get control of them. If you like the show, you can now support us! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes

The practice of gratitude may help us to overcome our natural human tendency to focus on the negative. Here's why.

We're all hard on ourselves. But, according to new research, it's possible to "rewire" our brains for greater self-compassion.

Research shows that living a good life is about more than pleasure, and happiness may cause us to miss the most meaningful experiences of all.

Rituals are an important way for people to find meaning when they lose a loved one. But, rituals don't have to be formal or complicated. Here are four questions to help you develop a personal healing ritual.

It can feel risky to get in touch with our feelings, let alone express them. But one psychologist argues that getting to know our feelings can be one of the best things we ever do.

As children, many of us were taught to think positively. According to research, however, this isn't always good advice.

Research reveals three reasons religion and spirituality may be good for our well-being (and a few reasons they might not be).

According to research, hope begins when we set three simple conditions in our lives.

If you’ve ever had a friend lose someone they love, you know how hard it is to figure out what to say. Here are four steps that might help.

Science shows that people's obsession with money runs deeper than you might think.

There may be a good reason that human beings evolved the ability to experience negative emotions: In measured amounts, they can protect us from harm and help us to be successful.

The secret to a good life may be to live like we're dying. Here are five important lessons to help us do just that.

For most of the history of modern psychology, therapists paid a lot more attention to people's deficits than their strengths. But this is changing. Now, some psychologists believe that therapists should pay more attention to clients' strengths.

According to research, the least competent people often think they’re the best, leading to a cycle of poor performance. But there’s a simple antidote.

The great psychiatrist Viktor Frankl actually warned against searching for meaning in life, because not searching for meaning may be the best way to find it.

Even with the rise of the #MeToo movement, victim-blaming remains a tenacious problem. Could the tendency to blame the victim be programmed into the human mind at the most basic level? And how can we undo it?

To understand dreams, we must interpret them, as if they were written in secret code. But, what if there's no code, and we've been reading into a bunch of meaningless images?

Star Wars makes lots of assertions about our darker emotions. But are they accurate?

Though many of us were told by our grade-school teachers to get our heads out of clouds, recent research shows that this may not have been good advice. Certain kinds of daydreaming may actually help us be more successful in life.

Although search engines make finding therapists simpler than ever, it's easy to suffer from information overload. Five questions can help you cut through the confusion.

Some people say psychology isn't a science. Are they right?

As children, many of us were told, "Never give up." But new research shows that giving up on a dream can sometimes be the healthiest option.

When tragedies happen, it's easy to wonder if there's any meaning to suffering.

Some psychologists think the unconscious mind is pure fiction.

It's not true that grief proceeds in five stages. So what is true?

A lot of people doubt that therapy works. Are they right?

In the face of our "post-truth" era of politics, it's hard to know what to believe. According to psychology research, whether we know it or not, most of us harbor false beliefs. Do you?

Are mental illnesses real in the same way that HIV, cancer, or the flu are? Some psychologists say no.