Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is probably the world’s most famous framework to explain human motivation. As a refresher: It would suggest that you were driven to open this newsletter by a “higher level” need to achieve and build esteem, in this case, by picking up a bit of knowledge. This More
What can humans learn about ourselves from studying chimpanzees? Primatologist Frans de Waal has spent almost three decades studying the behavior and intelligence of chimpanzees. Now, he’s focused on their emotional lives–and he’s found primates and people aren’t so different in how they react to circumstances and each other. Jeffrey More
There’s a school of thought that says shame is a social construct: We only learn to feel inadequate and exposed because our particular culture sends us messages about what falls outside the realm of acceptability. But an international group of psychologists and anthropologists are putting forward an entirely different theory More
Feeling down in the dumps? Stressed? A little off-kilter because of some disagreement? Hug it out! A new study suggests that just reaching out and touching someone — consensually, of course — can reduce bad feelings associated with the typical ups and downs of our social interactions. The study from More
Cornell University’s Department of Human Development incorporates not only various aspects of psychological science, but also law, sociology, history, and more. APS Fellow and Department Chair Qi Wang details the department’s successes. More
It might seem like the world is getting worse and worse. But psychologist Steven Pinker says that across the board, data suggests we’ve made a lot of progress. The question is — will it continue? About Steven Pinker Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist and the Johnstone Family Professor in More
