Christian Jarrett
Dr Christian Jarrett is the author of PERSONOLOGY, Using the Science of Personality Change to Your Advantage, forthcoming from Simon and Schuster (North America) and Little Brown (UK and Commonwealth).
The way children draw human figures has changed since the 1970s, reflecting modern society’s attitudes to gender — German study
Study finds both a possible rise in gender equality and gender differentiation.
Decades long surveys suggest the deleterious effects of smoking may extend to detrimental personality changes
Smoking may put more than just your physical health at risk.
Researchers were surprised to find bungee jumpers’ cognition was enhanced after a jump
Think adrenaline leaves you unable to think clearly? Think again.
Study finds microdosing psychedelics can be beneficial, but not in the way that users most expect
Can microdosing LSD enhance creativity and focus?
People with greater intellectual humility have superior general knowledge
Smart people are not afraid to say "I don't know."
Neurotic people have noisier, more chaotic minds, say researchers
Study finds that neurotic people deal with more "mental noise" than others.
Why do people with depression like listening to sad music?
Research suggests that people with depression find sad music calming — or even uplifting.
Psychology’s 10 greatest case studies – digested
These ten characters have all had a huge influence on psychology. Their stories continue to intrigue those interested in personality and identity, nature and nurture, and the links between mind and body.
The ‘beautiful mess’ effect: other people view our vulnerability more positively than we do
Psychologists have found that, while we tend to judge our own vulnerability more harshly, we perceive vulnerability in others as courage.
Researchers say this 5-minute technique could help you fall asleep more quickly
To get a good night's sleep, is it better to write down your achievements or the to-do list for the next day? Researchers tested the two different sleep techniques in the lab.
Increase the meaningfulness of your work by considering how it helps others
Seeing our work as benefiting others really helps us to find it meaningful, and therefore more enjoyable.
The results are in from the first study of what encourages and deters people from bullshitting
“Our country doesn’t do many things well, but when it comes to big occasions, no one else comes close,” so claimed an instructor I heard at the gym this week. […]
Our brains rapidly and automatically process opinions we agree with as if they are facts
In a post-truth world of alternative facts, there is understandable interest in the psychology behind why people are so attached to their opinions and why it is so difficult to change minds.
What are the psychological effects of losing your religion?
For many, their religion is a core part of their identity, the meaning they find in life, and their social world. Changing this crucial aspect of themselves will have significant psychological consequences.
Why more highly educated people are less into conspiracy theories
Two studies, summing up almost 5,000 participants, point to an interesting link between education and conspiracy theories.
“Another nail in the coffin for learning styles” – students did not benefit from studying according to their supposed learning style
The idea that we learn better when taught via our preferred modality or “learning style” – such as visually, orally, or by doing – is not supported by evidence.
Is death still frightening if you believe the self is an illusion? An astonishing study of Tibetan Buddhists
Imagining ourselves as no longer existing is, for most of us, terrifying. Buddhism may offer some reassurance.