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Why People Feel Nostalgic for Terrible Times
... Psychologists define meaning as the feeling that one’s life is significant, coherent, and purposeful, says Constantine Sedikides, a psychologist at the University of Southampton, in the U.K. And many times, our actions during a challenging time meet this definition—they are significant, coherent, and purposeful. Turning points in our lives usually provide fodder for nostalgia—and they are rarely drama-free. Reminiscing about a difficult experience reminds you that at least you survived, and that your loved ones came to your aid. “The fact that those people did those things for you, or were there for you, reassures you that you have your self-worth,” Batcho said.
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Member Spotlight: 2025 Spence Awardee Mark Thornton on the Dynamics of the Social World
Learn about 2025 Janet Taylor Spence recipient Mark Thornton, an assistant professor at Dartmouth College and director of the Social Computation Representation and Prediction Laboratory. Visit Page
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The Nurturing Effects of Nature: Meet Ecospiritualism
Teaching: This lesson plan sets up discussions about ecospiritualism and encourages students to be mindful. Visit Page
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Beyond Focus: How Attention Shapes Learning Differently for Children and Adults
Podcast: This episode explores whether children’s weaker selective attention is a hidden strength by addressing findings on attention, memory, and childhood learning. Visit Page
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Examining How Personality Type Influences Symptoms of Depression
Unique personality traits could be affecting how individuals manage their experience of depression. Visit Page
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The Psychology of ‘Shared Silence’ in Couples
A couple sits together on a sunny park bench. He appears to be studying the passing clouds; she’s absorbed in a novel. Some passersby might think, How sweet. Others might see them as bleak. ... Weinstein and colleagues “are really looking at a topic that has received not nearly as much attention as it deserves,” says Northwestern University psychological scientist Claudia Haase, who wrote a 2023 article in the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology on how couples become better at managing their emotions as they grow older. In her current work, she studies couples interacting in a lab.