Psychology
The Pentagon is using polygraphs to hunt leakers, but the tests are more theater than fact
A CIA veteran explains that a polygraph campaign is not likely to eliminate leaks, but it may divert investigative energy from essential security priorities.
What we remember when we remember 9/11
Having a vivid, detailed memory of a remarkable event like 9/11 can seem like a demonstration of patriotism and a connection with other Americans.
What Luigi Mangione’s celebrity says about Gen Z
A psychologist explains why the dark humor around Mangione’s case isn’t evidence of nihilism but of what happens when demands for moral seriousness stop feeling credible.
Why Gen Z turns everything – even murder – into a joke
A psychologist explains why dark political humor doesn’t prove young people are nihilistic, but rather reveals what happens when moral seriousness no longer feels credible.
Students are anxious – and it’s no surprise, since we are teaching them to be that way
Whether students feel pressure to get good grades or keep up with classmates, the anxiety this effort produces can have long-term effects on their brains.
Everyone experiences loss and grief – but that doesn’t make it any easier to talk with kids about it
Parents and educators sometimes avoid having conversations about grief with children because they don’t know what to say. Here are some tips for how to approach it.
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Resilience is often presented as feats of bravery and endurance. But everyday practices like journaling, drafting a text or even writing a to-do list are manifestations of a capacity to adapt.