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The Secret to Accomplishing Big Goals Lies in Breaking Them Into Flexible, Bite-Size Chunks
The prospect of learning a new language can be daunting, especially for an adult. Spending dozens of hours a year on lessons just to make slow progress on a new skill can seem out of reach—particularly when juggling work and family responsibilities as well. That was certainly how one of us (Milkman) felt about her decades’ long ambition to learn Spanish. That all changed, however, when a popular language-learning app presented a more attractive approach: complete one lesson—just six or seven minutes long—every day in order to eventually become bilingual.
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Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out
In its earliest decades, the United States was celebrated for its citizens’ extroversion. Americans weren’t just setting out to build new churches and new cities. Their associations were, as Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “of a thousand different types … religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute.” Americans seemed adept at forming social groups: political associations, labor unions, local memberships. It was as if the continent itself had imbued its residents with a vibrant social metabolism—a verve for getting out and hanging out.
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Conversation Research Still Requires a Human Ear
Conversations, whether in the form of small talk or a heated debate, involve a nuanced and unique exchange of words and behaviors. Recent technological advances have made it easier for conversation researchers to manage this complexity, paving the way for a deeper understanding of how humans communicate.
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Professional Development Workshop: Sharing Your Work Through Effective Presentations
In a March 2024 Professional Development workshop, two experts shared tips and tricks for creating effective presentations, as well as insights into promoting scientific work. A recording of the webinar is available to view for APS members and workshop registrants.
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Twins Are a Mirror to Each Other – And a Window Into the Mysteries of Genetics
In the ongoing debate over nature versus nature, twin studies have given a glimpse into the role of genes in behavior and decisions. Psychologist Nancy Segal shares stories of twins raised apart. ...
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How Are You, Really?
We know we should get a physical exam every year; we have annual reviews at work; some couples even do periodic relationship audits. And yet many of us don’t regularly check in with our emotional health — though it is arguably the most important contributor to overall well-being. The New York Times talked to experts in clinical psychology, positive psychology, flourishing, thriving, resilience and burnout about what contributes to a sense of well-being and how to evaluate it. Then we came up with a series of questions adapted from these conversations, as well as from prompts in four common psychological assessments. ...
