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The Personal Harm in Putting Others Down (Morality Aside)

Setting aside morality for a moment, an honest assessment of the benefits and costs of saying "Eww, I'd never want to be like them."

Setting aside morality for a moment, an honest assessment of the benefits and costs of saying "Eww, I'd never want to be like them."

How Narcissists Reassure Their Conscience

Ironically, narcissists can't look at themselves. Here's how they pull off that total lack of self-awareness.

Ironically, narcissists can't look at themselves. Here's how they pull off that total lack of self-awareness.

How to Never Again Feel Doubt, Shame, Guilt, or Anxiety

If you don't want to be an absolutist jerk, expect some cognitive dissonance. If you can't tolerate it, indulge in absolutism at everyone's expense.

If you don't want to be an absolutist jerk, expect some cognitive dissonance. If you can't tolerate it, indulge in absolutism at everyone's expense.

The Government as Parent: A Bit of Political Psychology

Psychological and psychoanalytic concepts have much to contribute to understanding politics, and their utility is often overlooked.

Psychological and psychoanalytic concepts have much to contribute to understanding politics, and their utility is often overlooked.

“We Want Them Infected”: A Review of the Push for Herd Immunity

Why was mass infection a centerpiece of the nation’s pandemic response, more than five months before vaccines were available? An outstanding new book investigates.

Why was mass infection a centerpiece of the nation’s pandemic response, more than five months before vaccines were available? An outstanding new book investigates.

What “Locker Room Talk” Really Means

By rescuing this phrase from its negative connotations, we shift the conversation from who men shouldn’t be to who they can be.

By rescuing this phrase from its negative connotations, we shift the conversation from who men shouldn’t be to who they can be.

Why "Snitching" Makes Us So Uncomfortable

The psychological tension between loyalty to the group vs. loyalty to an individual creates mixed feelings about those who implicate colleagues in wrongdoing.

The psychological tension between loyalty to the group vs. loyalty to an individual creates mixed feelings about those who implicate colleagues in wrongdoing.

Toastmasters Anonymous: Addiction to Making Speeches

Getting on our soapboxes can be therapeutic, replenishing our confidence in an iffy world. Taken too far it can harm our relationship with others and with reality itself.

Getting on our soapboxes can be therapeutic, replenishing our confidence in an iffy world. Taken too far it can harm our relationship with others and with reality itself.

Moving the Immigration Conversation Forward

How do we move immigration policy and advocacy forward and reduce opposition? The answer is much more complex, and daunting, than you think.

How do we move immigration policy and advocacy forward and reduce opposition? The answer is much more complex, and daunting, than you think.

How to Outsmart a Narcissist

If you haven't been able to get through to a narcissist, try this different approach.

If you haven't been able to get through to a narcissist, try this different approach.

When You Can't See Your Own Illness

What makes a personality disorder different from other disorders in the DSM? One critical factor is "psychological insight". People with PDs do not always show self-awareness.

What makes a personality disorder different from other disorders in the DSM? One critical factor is "psychological insight". People with PDs do not always show self-awareness.

When Politics Divides Your Holiday Dinner Table

Elections past or present, who runs or who ruins your next gathering — that's the holiday menu. Dissing the dysfunctional isn't difficult if you follow these tips to create calm.

Elections past or present, who runs or who ruins your next gathering — that's the holiday menu. Dissing the dysfunctional isn't difficult if you follow these tips to create calm.

Psychological Factors Help Explain the January 6th Insurrection

Like most Americans, I watched the events of January 6th in horror. But, as I explained to the January 6th Select Committee, psychological factors help explain the insurrection.

Like most Americans, I watched the events of January 6th in horror. But, as I explained to the January 6th Select Committee, psychological factors help explain the insurrection.

Collective vs. Individual Mistrust

Is the mistrust of the government a reflection of a widespread individual problem with basic trust?

Is the mistrust of the government a reflection of a widespread individual problem with basic trust?

The Art of Building Anticipation

Donald Trump has revealed that he's made a decision about whether to run for president again and that he is deciding when he is going to reveal it. Got that?

Donald Trump has revealed that he's made a decision about whether to run for president again and that he is deciding when he is going to reveal it. Got that?

What a Woodland Can Teach Us About Human Society

The symbiosis in a Cape Cod wildlife sanctuary contains lessons for America's highly polarized society and politics

The symbiosis in a Cape Cod wildlife sanctuary contains lessons for America's highly polarized society and politics

History and January 6th One Year Later

A Personal Perspective: An examination of January 6th one year later prompts the question: Are we losing our democracy?

A Personal Perspective: An examination of January 6th one year later prompts the question: Are we losing our democracy?

How Hypocrisy Becomes the Mind-Numbing Norm

To win arguments, we draw hard moral lines that make us sound good and our opponents bad — but with no commitment to living by the standards we set.

To win arguments, we draw hard moral lines that make us sound good and our opponents bad — but with no commitment to living by the standards we set.

How to Avoid Feeling Shamed by Moralizing Bullies

Moralizing bullies love it when you get defensive in response to their shaming. Here's how to avoid enabling them.

Moralizing bullies love it when you get defensive in response to their shaming. Here's how to avoid enabling them.

The Romantic Fatalist

We all need dreams of happily ever after. If we don't manage them well, they become dangerous.

We all need dreams of happily ever after. If we don't manage them well, they become dangerous.

Who Commits Political Violence?

Researchers have constructed a partial psychological profile of the kind of person who uses violence for a political cause. Being a fan of democracy is not part of the profile.

Researchers have constructed a partial psychological profile of the kind of person who uses violence for a political cause. Being a fan of democracy is not part of the profile.

3 Ways to Change the Mind of Your Vaccine-Hesitant Loved One

If you were among the first in line to get the COVID vaccine, it can be frustrating that people you care about remain “hesitant.” New research suggests strategies for helping them change their mind.

If you were among the first in line to get the COVID vaccine, it can be frustrating that people you care about remain “hesitant.” New research suggests strategies for helping them change their mind.

Why Is It So Hard to Report Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is common and damaging, but often remains hidden. To understand why, researchers examined tweets from those who ran into barriers to reporting.

Sexual assault is common and damaging, but often remains hidden. To understand why, researchers examined tweets from those who ran into barriers to reporting.

The Ethical Quandary of Default Opt-Ins

Manipulating people’s choices should raise concerns about boundaries, bias, and power, as well as a need to consider the ethical ramifications carefully.

Manipulating people’s choices should raise concerns about boundaries, bias, and power, as well as a need to consider the ethical ramifications carefully.