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Edward L. Deci, 83, Dies; Found Self-Determination as a Key to Happiness
Edward L. Deci, a psychologist at the University of Rochester whose groundbreaking insights, with his colleague Richard M. Ryan, into what motivates people to do what they do — or not — helped revolutionize fields as disparate as the workplace, education, sports and marketing, died on Feb. 14 at his home in Rochester, N.Y. He was 83. His nephew Brett Jensen said the cause was complications of dementia. Working together in the late 1970s, Dr. Deci (pronounced DEE-cee) and Dr.
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How Does Your Brain Perceive the World?
Do you see images in your mind? Do you have an inner monologue? Do you have memories you swear are real? Our minds have tremendous variation. This hour, insights on how our brains construct reality. Guests include the editorial director of TED-Ed animations Alex Rosenthal, psychologist John Wixted and love coach Francesca Hogi.
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2026 Estes Fund Unlocks New Skills With Mathematical Workshops
Two summer schools focused on skills for cognitive modeling and mathematical psychology will each receive $20,000 grants through this year’s Estes Fund.
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Friendship, on Demand
Friendship is particularly vulnerable to the alienating force of hyper-individualism. It is the most voluntary relationship, held together primarily by choice rather than by blood or law. So as people have withdrawn from relationships in favor of time alone, friendship has taken the biggest hit. The idea of obligation, of sacrificing your own interests for the sake of a relationship, tends to be less common in friendship than it is among family or between romantic partners. The extreme ways in which some people talk about friendship these days imply that you should ask not what you can do for your friendship, but rather what your friendship can do for you.
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Is Information or Motivation to Blame for Partisan Beliefs?
What we believe is determined by more than just the facts we are exposed to, according to a new study in Psychological Science.
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5 Ways to Resist the Urge to Keep Looking At Your Phone
So you want to reclaim your time and attention by spending less time on your phone. How do you do that when your phone is designed to suck you in and keep you scrolling? ... That can cut down phone time by removing the temptation to scroll before bed, in the middle of the night and when you first wake up in the morning. Plus, this change might help you sleep, says Jean Twenge, a psychologist and the author of 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-tech World. Research has shown that just having your phone or computer near your bed — even in airplane mode — can cause lower-quality sleep, says Twenge. When your device is nearby, it's easier to pick up.
