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Why Some People Are Wired to Help Strangers, And What Their Brains Reveal
Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University, studies extraordinary altruism — people who jump in to rescue strangers in emergencies or donate a kidney to someone they don’t know. Marsh spoke with Cristina Quinn, host of The Washington Post’s podcast “Try This,” about what her work has uncovered, and what brain science reveals about people who habitually engage in selfless acts. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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8 Ways to Become a Nicer Person
Kids are taught that being nice means using magic words like “please” and “thank you,” sharing with friends, and taking turns without complaint. Then they grow up and enter a world where it’s normal to mock others online, scowl at their fellow shoppers at the grocery store, and ghost potential romantic partners. Does anyone really even know what being nice means anymore? ... Prosocial behavior, or doing kind acts that benefit others, helps everyone involved feel good.
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Why You Should Put Down Your Phone and Daydream Instead
At any bus stop or while waiting in line, most people will have their heads down looking at their phones. Recent research found that many people check their phones at least 50 times per day. But studies suggest that if you resist that urge and let your mind wander instead, there could be some serious benefits. Giving yourself time to daydream seems to be good for your well-being, for problem-solving and maybe even for your relationships. Daydreaming has been a subject of scientific research for decades. We spend as much as half our time awake daydreaming or listening to our own thoughts — but it isn’t always a pleasant experience.
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New Research From Psychological Science
A sample of recent articles covering overconfidence, rationality, sexual identity, and much more.
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For 2026, There’s a Better Way to Be Hopeful
As we look ahead to the new year, hope seems to be in short supply. Recent surveys have found that sizable majorities of Americans believed the United States was on track to become economically weaker and more politically divided, nearly 80 percent did not expect their children’s lives to be any better than theirs and more than half feared we would make little progress in dealing with major global challenges such as climate change over the next few decades. This lack of hope is ominous. Hope drives us to improve our lives and the world around us. When it’s extinguished, despair and paralysis fill the gap, making progress even less likely.
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Hope in a Time of Cynicism
America has become a country of cynics. At least, that’s what studies show. People don’t trust each other, the media or the government. Most Americans, about 80 percent, don’t feel confident their children’s lives will be better than theirs. About half the country thinks America’s best days are in the past. “Cynicism is vastly on the rise,” said Jamil Zaki, the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. It’s a dangerous trend — but Zaki and other experts say it’s reversible if people cultivate hope that another future is possible.
