-
Why Narcissists Emerge as Leaders Even in Childhood
Narcissistic leaders both fascinate and repel us. They can be charming, act assertively and articulate visions that may inspire confidence, especially in times of uncertainty. This can attract many followers. In 1931 Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, echoed this belief: “[Narcissists] impress others as being ‘personalities’; they are especially suited to act as a support for others, to take on the role of leaders and to give a fresh stimulus to cultural development or to damage the established state of affairs.” ... Why might children (or for that matter, adults) with low self-esteem be drawn to narcissistic leaders?
-
What We Know (And Don’t Know) About Autism, According to Science
... “Autism is not one condition,” said Geraldine Dawson, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University and founding director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. “It is many different conditions with many different causes.” ... Researchers have looked at pesticides, air pollution and water pollution and have found increases in risk that have “a small effect size” and are correlational, but not necessarily causative, said Charles Nelson, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
-
The Alarm Over Social Media Is Getting Through to Teens
Over the past few years there has been a growing chorus of parents, doctors and legal experts who have been sounding the alarm about the effects of social media on teenagers. Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist and the author of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” is among the most prominent voices warning against the omnipresence of technology in the lives of adolescents. In an interview with the Times Opinion columnist Ezra Klein, Haidt described the tech backlash as “a parent’s revolution.” He added: “All over the world, family life has turned into a fight over screen time. We’re all fed up; we want to do something about it.”
-
Are We Ready for the Next Public Health Crisis?
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are asking what we can learn to better prepare for future health crises.
-
Member Spotlight: 2025 Spence Awardee Juan Del Toro on Exploring Identity and Discrimination
Del Toro’s research focuses on how socialization, discrimination, and identity shape development across the lifespan.
-
How to Raise Kind Children: Lead By Example, Talk it Over … and Get a Dog
It is a simple and powerful way to help them feel calmer and happier, say the experts. So how do you teach kindness to kids? ... Don’t fear if your kid displays all the tenderness of Hannibal Lecter – kindness can be taught. Experts almost unanimously agree that role-modelling is key – in play, but also in real life. “Our studies show children are strongly influenced by what they observe adults doing,” says Bruce Hood, developmental psychologist and author of The Science of Happiness. “If we model sharing, kindness and generosity to others, children will instinctually copy this behaviour. Likewise, if they see adults modelling greed and cruelty, these will be considered normal.”
