The way we talk to bots matters even if they aren’t conscious
If more and more of our daily interactions are ungracious exchanges with machines, we should expect it to change us
by HennyGe Wichers
Relate
The bonds that tie us: family, friendships, love and community
How to cope with the stress of anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice
A queer psychologist shares skills from dialectical behaviour therapy to help you cope and find joy in a stigmatising world
by Kiki Fehling
How to be a word detective
Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in
by Danny Bate
Lessons from Wyatt Earp country
How does a man show up for his community? I learned from an old farmer on the edge of the desert
by Zeno Franco
Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?
The philosophical debate goes on. But our research on self-obligations suggests there’s a common, consequential view
by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang
Guides
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How to do less for your children
Being an intensive parent will make you anxious and stifle your children’s development. Help them by learning to let go
by Peter Gray
How to be defiant
Staying silent often feels like the safe choice, but the costs can be profound. Here’s how to stand up for yourself
by Sunita Sah
Popular
How to be a word detective
Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in
by Danny Bate
Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?
The philosophical debate goes on. But our research on self-obligations suggests there’s a common, consequential view
by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang
In praise of not-quite-friends
Learning about the Korean concept of ‘jeong’ helped me understand the importance of my not-quite-friends at the gym
by Christian Jarrett
What draws well-meaning parents to authoritarian parenting?
In my therapy room, I’ve seen the costs of the controlling impulse. Winnicott and Rogers show us healthier alternatives
by Hope Bastine
Does modernisation erase cultural difference – or amplify it?
We understandably fear the flattening effect of modernity. But global data from China to Peru tells a hopeful story
by Thomas Talhelm
Don’t turn away from tragedy, but do witness intentionally
Chronic exposure to the world’s horror has a mental cost. Being an effective witness requires a more sustainable approach
by Nena Močnik
Make some noise
As a teen, I felt I should change my voice. Anne Carson’s writing on the ancient Greeks shows how old that pressure is
by Hannah Seo
Popular
View allHow to be a word detective
Etymology unravels the mysteries of language and the hidden webs that link people across the world. Here’s how to dive in
by Danny Bate
Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?
The philosophical debate goes on. But our research on self-obligations suggests there’s a common, consequential view
by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang
In praise of not-quite-friends
Learning about the Korean concept of ‘jeong’ helped me understand the importance of my not-quite-friends at the gym
by Christian Jarrett
Notes to self
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Videos
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An intimate account of illegal abortion in 1969, from mother to daughter
Directed by Courtney Stephens
Talking to yourself isn’t just normal – it can be beneficial
Why nurturing your compassionate side is simple and deeply beneficial
Birth doulas are almost exclusively female. Enter Teddy
The ‘godfather of tiny homes’ has spent a lifetime changing his mind
Track a referee’s tireless work from kickoff to final whistle
Jack records a family funeral to make sense of the strained relations
After the performance
For 19 years, the NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony mastered the version of himself the world demanded. Retired from basketball, he confronts a harder question: who is he now?
by D Watkins
Don’t turn away from tragedy, but do witness intentionally
Chronic exposure to the world’s horror has a mental cost. Being an effective witness requires a more sustainable approach
by Nena Močnik
What draws well-meaning parents to authoritarian parenting?
In my therapy room, I’ve seen the costs of the controlling impulse. Winnicott and Rogers show us healthier alternatives
by Hope Bastine
Does modernisation erase cultural difference – or amplify it?
We understandably fear the flattening effect of modernity. But global data from China to Peru tells a hopeful story
by Thomas Talhelm
A college fling
It was a three-week stint of make-outs, music, and not much else. But it meant more than he knew
by Jessica Gentile
Apologies vary widely, but here’s what effective ones share
Video by TED-Ed
Letting friendships die
I knew I was committing a small social crime. But we hadn’t truly been friends for a long time
by David Sleeth-Keppler
The AI age is inevitable. Let’s make sure it’s human-centred
Video by the Museum of Modern Art
Talk to strangers
A new book examines the benefits of chatting with people we don’t know – from mood boosts to a greater sense of belonging
by Hannah Seo
The ghost in the image was me
For years I watched people through cameras and screens, filling in the blanks and calling it truth
by Tyler Thier
Skip the junk and dig into this useful guide to brain-healthy eating
Video by Dr Tracey Marks
Good apologies don’t close the book: they open a new chapter
Beyond setting the record straight, a successful political apology must be part of a larger, ongoing commitment
by Alfred Archer & Benjamin Matheson
After the cod
I was a child when Newfoundland’s fishing collapsed. Will I see the same happen to human connection?
by Mandy McLean
How to bring up pet peeves in your relationship
Inevitably, your partner will get on your nerves. A couples therapist explains how to talk about it well – and be heard
by Faith Drew
Why it’s so hard to agree on what counts as true
New research has mapped people’s contrasting conceptions of the truth. No wonder so many arguments feel irresolvable
by Lukas S Huber, David-Elias Künstle & Kevin Reuter