Humans are naturally curious, active, and social. Our drive to learn, connect, and master challenges often springs from intrinsic motivation—the internal desire to understand and grow (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Intrinsic motivation is not automatic. It flourishes when three basic psychological needs are satisfied: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. When these needs are met, people sustain … Read more

Summary: Researchers at the University of Oregon report that writing online journals focused on gratitude increases altruistic behavior and alters reward-related brain activity. Source: University of Oregon Gratitude Journaling Boosts Altruism and Changes Brain Reward Signals New research from the University of Oregon shows that a simple daily habit—writing about gratitude—can increase altruistic motivations and … Read more

Summary: Second-language learners notice pronunciation mistakes made by peers but tend to overrate their own accent, which may hinder improvement. Source: LMU Munich Learners of a foreign language often recognize typical pronunciation errors in others but continue to make the same mistakes themselves. A new study from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) Munich reveals that many learners perceive … Read more

We are all human — beautifully imperfect, doing our best in an imperfect world. Too often we hold ourselves to unrealistic standards, harshly criticize our mistakes, and overlook our strengths and achievements. Self-acceptance means treating yourself with compassion and embracing every part of yourself: the strengths, the weaknesses, and everything in between. Read on to … Read more

Summary: New long-term research shows that a mother’s sexual enjoyment in the years after childbirth does not depend on whether she delivered by cesarean section or vaginally. Source: University of Bristol Research indicates that sexual enjoyment and frequency in the years following childbirth are not linked to the mode of delivery. A team from the … Read more

Summary: Researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence tool for games that leverages social behavior models to make nonplayer characters (NPCs) more reactive, adaptive, and varied in their responses to player actions. Source: North Carolina State University. Computer science teams at North Carolina State University and Universidade de Lisboa have created CIF-CK, an AI architecture … Read more

These days you can find a coach for almost anything — life coaches, business coaches, performance coaches, and health coaches. Increasingly, sleep coaches are joining that list. Sleep coaches help people restore healthy sleep patterns and overcome persistent sleep problems. Their work is practical, client-focused, and often transformative. According to the American Academy of Sleep … Read more

Summary: Adults who experienced trauma or abuse in childhood are more likely to take part in public environmental actions and to adopt private green behaviors, according to new research. Source: University of Colorado New research published in Scientific Reports suggests that childhood trauma can be a strong predictor of later environmental engagement, including volunteering, donating, … Read more

Silence in talk therapy? At first glance, highlighting silence in a treatment that relies on conversation may seem odd. Yet anyone who has had therapy knows that silence is an integral part of many sessions. The saying “silence is golden” may be a cliché, but the sentiment is accurate: silence—while sometimes uncomfortable—can be a powerful … Read more

Because sound travels much more slowly than light, we frequently see distant events before we hear them. That is why counting the seconds between a lightning flash and its thunder gives a rough estimate of how far away a storm is. Research from the University of Rochester shows that our brains can detect and use … Read more