The word “extremist” might call up images of violence or terrorism. But extreme behaviors are all around us and can be a force for good as well as destruction. Arie Kruglanski, PhD, and Sophia Moskalenko, PhD, talk about what drives people to extreme behaviors, whether there’s an “extremist personality,” how social media drives extremism and whether the world is becoming more extreme.

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Pain, sadness, joy, awe – under the right circumstances, any of these emotions can bring on tears. Lauren Bylsma, PhD, talks about why crying evolved, the psychological and social purposes of tears, why some people cry more easily than others, and whether having a good cry can make you feel better when you’re sad.

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Advocates of cultured meat say that it could help solve many environmental and animal welfare problems. But psychologists have found that some consumers say they’d be reluctant to try it. Matti Wilks, PhD, and Daniel Rosenfeld, PhD, discuss the psychological factors at play when people consider eating lab-grown meat -- and meat in general -- and how moral values, disgust, and other factors contribute to people’s dietary choices.

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What’s your first reaction when someone cuts you off in traffic or you stub your toe? Do you let out a choice word or two? Richard Stephens, PhD, talks about the psychology of swearing, including his research on why swearing can increase people’s pain tolerance and strength during stressful or painful moments; how swearing is processed in the brain; and the increasing acceptance of swearing in daily life.

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What are the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of dementia and keep your brain healthy as you grow older? Neuropsychologist Vonetta Dotson, PhD, talks about what a healthy brain looks like; why you’re never too young – or old – to think about brain health; why physical activity, mental activity, and social engagement are all key; the relationship between depression and brain health; and small steps you can take to get started with a brain-healthy lifestyle.

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Do you think your ex is probably a narcissist? Do you worry that your boss is gaslighting you? In recent years, these words and others have entered the vocabularies of millions of Americans. Dr. Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, PhD, and Dr. Erin Parks, PhD, discuss the rise of “therapy speak,” what psychologists and other mental health professionals think about it, and how it’s changing the way many of us think about our friends, our family, our relationships and ourselves.

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For years, paranoia was seen a symptom of severe mental illness only. But in recent decades, some psychologists have begun to think about it differently. Daniel Freeman, PhD, author of “Paranoia: A Journey Into Extreme Mistrust and Anxiety,” discusses his research on the links between paranoia and other forms of mistrust and anxiety; why paranoid thoughts are relatively common; and new research on therapeutic treatments for paranoia. 

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Between email, Zoom, Slack, and just walking down the hall, workplaces these days offer people more ways than ever to communicate with their virtual -- and in-person -- colleagues. Andrew Brodsky, PhD, author of “Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication,” discusses the best ways to use all these modes of communication; the advantages and disadvantages of “video on” vs. “video off” meetings; whether you should use emojis in your emails; and how to develop authentic, strong work relationships with virtual colleagues – and with those you see in person.

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Astronauts on a future mission to Mars will face many challenges, including three years in a tiny spacecraft and a Mars habitat, with just a few other crew members and a 22-minute delay for any communication back to Earth. Psychologist Suzanne Bell, PhD, head of NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Lab, talks about the human challenges of long-term space exploration, what it will take to keep astronauts mentally and physically healthy, and how researchers are using a simulated Mars habitat here on earth to prepare for a mission to Mars.

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For many years, ADHD was seen as a disorder of childhood. But in recent years, an increasing number of adults have been diagnosed with it as well. Clinician and researcher Russell Ramsay, PhD, discusses what’s driving the rise in adult diagnoses, what ADHD looks like in adults, how it affects people’s lives – including their work, relationships and health -- and what treatments are available. 

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