Science has now proved what kindergarten teachers, reality-show fans and Catholic priests discover anew every day: humans can’t help talking about themselves. It just feels too good.
Behavior
Your Drive to Compete May Come Down to Dopamine
Are you the kind of person who is always “on,” constantly driven to achieve? Or are you more of a slacker type, less motivated by the promise of material reward?
‘Shock’ School Trial: Where Is the Evidence that Abuse Helps Treat Autism?
The video is brutal: a young man, pinned face down in four-point restraints, receiving 31 electric shocks over the course of several hours that convulse his body with pain. But this is not Guantánamo or Syria.
Shhh! Genius at Work
In this week’s issue of TIME, we explain why the brain does its most creative work while you’re asleep. Subscribers can read the full story here.
Why Republicans and Democrats Can’t Feel Each Other’s Pain
A new study shows why empathy doesn’t cross the political aisle.
Mom’s Exposure to Air Pollution Can Increase Kids’ Behavior Problems
Prenatal exposure to pollutants in city air is linked to later anxiety, depression and behavior problems in children.
Decision-Making Under Stress: The Brain Remembers Rewards, Forgets Punishments
It’s counterintuitive, but under stress we tend to focus more on the rewards than on the risks of any decision.
Do Snoring Babies Become Troubled Children?
Infants with sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea may be more vulnerable to behavioral and emotional problems later in life.
Brain Imaging Could Detect Autism Risk in Infants as Young as 6 Months
Early intervention may help curb some of the more severe symptoms of autism. The question is, How do we identify at-risk children early enough?
Shhhh! The Quiet Joys of the Introvert
Spare a thought for the poor introverts among us. In a world of party animals and glad-handers, they’re the ones who stand by the punch bowl.
Think You’re All That? You Might Be Putting Your Health at Risk
Why a narcissist’s sense of self-love can do damage to the heart, especially for men.
Humble People Are More Helpful
Helping others means sacrificing your time and energy. But if you’re humble, you don’t mind.
Got Money? Then You Might Lack Compassion
Are the rich really the unfeeling boors they’re made out to be? Studies suggest that the richer people are, the less compassion they show.
