People with greater intellectual humility have superior general knowledge

Smart people are not afraid to say "I don't know."

In the era of social media and rolling news there's a constant pressure to be in the know, always on hand with an aperçus or two.

Keep reading Show less
education personality self psychology learning intelligence
Mind & Brain

New study discovers the trajectory of optimism throughout life

When are you most optimistic? A study found how optimism varies throughout life.

  • Researchers studied more than 1,000 people during the course of 7 years.
  • They found that levels of optimism change throughout life.
  • Optimism grows through the 30s and 40s and peaks in mid-50s.
Keep reading Show less
brain emotions personality personal growth happiness health psychology optimism
Surprising Science

Why ceasing to be creative is a mistake

Even drawing stick figures has its benefits.

Photo by gustavo centurion on Unsplash
  • Many of us stop making art at a young age, convinced, perhaps, that we just don't have the talent for it.
  • This belief, however, may be wrong, and the benefits that producing art can bring aren't contingent on talent.
  • Is creating art an activity that all of us should pursue? Can artistic skill be taught?
Keep reading Show less
depression personal growth health personality psychology science and art creativity
Personal Growth

Neurotic people have noisier, more chaotic minds, say researchers

Study finds that neurotic people deal with more "mental noise" than others.

Photo credit: Alex Iby on Unsplash
  • Neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability and lack of resilience.
  • People who score high on neuroticism are at an increased risk for mental health problems and relationship woes.
  • New research suggests that neurotic people deal with more mental noise.
Keep reading Show less
psychology neuroscience emotions brain personality
Mind & Brain

How the hard-man mask can affect a prisoner’s sense of self

What happens to a person's identity when they are forced to play a hypermasculine role just to survive?

Photo credit: Scott Olson / Getty Images
  • Prison is not a place where it pays to be vulnerable.
  • Living in prison involves survival through developing a front, or a mask to live behind.
  • Many men in prison develop a hypermasculine sense of self that shows no fear, emotion or distress to cope with the threatening overtones of the prison community.
Keep reading Show less
personality psychology self criminal justice crime philosophy men mental health prison
Mind & Brain