Human Development for Dummies

Child Development

Mothers, Not Incubators, Are Best for Preterm Babies

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on August 15, 2024

Babies born early are typically placed in incubators, but many would do better on their parents’ chests.

Babies born early are typically placed in incubators, but many would do better on their parents’ chests.

Loneliness

This Is Your Brain on Loneliness

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on February 14, 2024

Prolonged loneliness can make us see social threats and rejection everywhere, but we can still find connections by changing our perspective.

Prolonged loneliness can make us see social threats and rejection everywhere, but we can still find connections by changing our perspective.

Happiness

The Joy of Endings

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on January 19, 2024

We celebrate the new year and graduation but often experience the end of a relationship or job as a devastating failure. Let's consider the growth opportunities they can really be.

We celebrate the new year and graduation but often experience the end of a relationship or job as a devastating failure. Let's consider the growth opportunities they can really be.

Parenting

How Vaginal Birth Transforms Mother, Baby, and Their Bond

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on June 9, 2023

Vaginal birth supports rewarding interactions—'bio-behavioral synchrony'—which are key to infant-parent bonding and have a lasting impact on children’s physical and mental health.

Vaginal birth supports rewarding interactions—'bio-behavioral synchrony'—which are key to infant-parent bonding and have a lasting impact on children’s physical and mental health.

Hormones

Born to Bond: Vaginal Birth Boosts Physical, Mental Health

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on April 5, 2023

The physical, emotional, and behavioral transformations of mother and infant triggered by vaginal birth support bonding and healthy child development.

The physical, emotional, and behavioral transformations of mother and infant triggered by vaginal birth support bonding and healthy child development.

Relationships

How Fairy Tales Set Us Up for Relationship Failure

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on February 22, 2023

A relationship shouldn't be measured by its length, but by the happiness and growth it brings—even after it’s over.

A relationship shouldn't be measured by its length, but by the happiness and growth it brings—even after it’s over.

Divorce

What We Can Learn From This Revolutionary Divorce Court

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on January 9, 2023

When nothing else can get high-conflict parents to see eye-to-eye, hearing their children’s unvarnished truths creates breakthroughs.

When nothing else can get high-conflict parents to see eye-to-eye, hearing their children’s unvarnished truths creates breakthroughs.

Suicide

Why “Senseless” Violence Doesn’t Exist

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on September 28, 2022

Understanding the surprisingly ordinary emotional dynamics behind gun violence illuminates what will and won't help us stop the killing.

Understanding the surprisingly ordinary emotional dynamics behind gun violence illuminates what will and won't help us stop the killing.

Relationships

We Are Suffering From a Social Famine

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on February 8, 2022

COVID-19 driven changes to our lives have caused mental illness rates to skyrocket, and individual risk factors can't explain it. So what's going on?

COVID-19 driven changes to our lives have caused mental illness rates to skyrocket, and individual risk factors can't explain it. So what's going on?

Unconscious

These Unconscious Reactions Are Fueling Vaccine Resistance

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on September 1, 2021

How our innate fight/flight/freeze responses to danger are undermining public health—and what we can do about it.

How our innate fight/flight/freeze responses to danger are undermining public health—and what we can do about it.

Parenting

Why a Full Year of Paid Parental Leave Is Critical to School Success

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on June 30, 2021

The first year of life is critical for lifelong learning capacity — and a parent at home can make all the difference.

The first year of life is critical for lifelong learning capacity — and a parent at home can make all the difference.

Resilience

How to Inoculate Kids Against Failure

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on April 28, 2021

President Biden wants to inject hundreds of billions of dollars into public education—but to make it effective, we need a research-driven revolution.

President Biden wants to inject hundreds of billions of dollars into public education—but to make it effective, we need a research-driven revolution.

Wisdom

Finding Joy Amid Uncertainty

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on January 29, 2021

Life lessons from Holocaust survivors can help us face up to reality, offer hope for a brighter future, and teach us to celebrate life no matter what.

Life lessons from Holocaust survivors can help us face up to reality, offer hope for a brighter future, and teach us to celebrate life no matter what.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How to Stop Negative Emotions From Spreading Like COVID-19

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on December 15, 2020

Emotional contagion can turn a child’s bad mood into a family-wide meltdown. Science can explain these dynamics and show how to stop destructive spirals and spread joy instead.

Emotional contagion can turn a child’s bad mood into a family-wide meltdown. Science can explain these dynamics and show how to stop destructive spirals and spread joy instead.

Loneliness

5 Ways to Vanquish Loneliness in Socially Distanced Children

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on November 10, 2020

Worried that social distancing is making children lonely? Parents can solve the problem at home, even during lockdowns.

Worried that social distancing is making children lonely? Parents can solve the problem at home, even during lockdowns.

Education

5 Ways Kids Can Learn and Thrive Without In-Person School

Ruth Bettelheim Ph.D. on October 3, 2020

The science of facilitating intellectual and social growth at home

The science of facilitating intellectual and social growth at home