If you think having loads of money, fetching looks, or the admiration of many will improve your life -- think again.
Can money buy happiness? Is ignorance truly bliss? Are happy people shallow and unaware of the problems of the world? Can a person be too happy?
Research suggests that it is pro athlete's ability to manage his goals, as well as his skill, determination and motivation that makes him successful.
But when a task is presented as fun, researchers report in a new study, the same individuals often do worse than those who are less motivated to achieve.
What truly inspires individuals to perform at their very best?
When we're waiting in line or sitting in a boring meeting, time seems to slow down to a trickle. And when we get caught up in something completely engrossing - a gripping thriller, for example - we may lose sense of time altogether.
Want to quickly improve your happiness and satisfaction with life? Then the pen may be a mighty weapon.
Whether you are a habitual list maker, or you prefer to keep your tasks in your head, everyone pursues their goals in this ever-changing, chaotic environment.
Lying about performance on one task may increase creativity on a subsequent task by making people feel less bound by conventional rules, according to research.
Members of a group or team will work harder when they're competing against a group with lower status than when pitted against a more highly ranked group.
When the St Louis Cardinals lost the World Series, just how much shame did the players feel?
The color red can affect how people function: Red means danger and commands us to stop in traffic.
You might think that a loving partner helps keep you on track -- say, when you want to stick to your jogging or concentrate on your studies.
Although the marketing slogan suggests that Barbie can "Be Anything," girls who play with this extremely popular doll see fewer career options available to themselves compared to boys.
Scientists have identified for the first time a particular gene's link to optimism, self-esteem and "mastery," the belief that one has control over one's own life — three critical psychological resources for coping well with stress and depression.
Worried you won't meet your goal? According to research, you'll be more likely to succeed if you make specific plans to implement it.
What should you do when you really, REALLY have to go? Make important life decisions, maybe?
Do you have difficulty saying “no”? Are you always trying to be nice to others at the expense of yourself?
People who work hard at improving a skill or ability may experience stress in the moment, but experience greater happiness on a daily basis and longer term. Here's why.
Iconoclasts are individuals who do things that others say can't be done.
Whether it's sports, poker or the high-stakes world of business, there are those who always find a way to win when there's money on the table.
When dreaming is believing: Dreams affect people's judgment, behavior
But after studying common roadblocks to problem-solving, a cognitive psychology researcher has developed a toolkit for enhancing anyone's skills.
In the not-too-distant past, young people aspired to become lawyers and doctors. Now they yearn to achieve the celebrity of a Mark Zuckerberg or Oprah Winfrey -- and these goals extend to adults as well.
Research has highlighted the fact that we have many blind spots when it comes to understanding our patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.
Most of us experience ‘gut feelings’ we can’t explain, such as instantly loving -- or hating -- a new property when we’re house-hunting or the snap judgments we make on meeting new people.
Psychological scientists have found that the size of different parts of people's brains correspond to their personalities; for example, conscientious people tend to have a bigger lateral prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in planning and controlling behavior.
Styles change and fashions evolve. But why do some things become more popular than others?
Why do "Aha!" moments sometimes come easily - and sometimes not at all?
Students, athletes and performing artists are often advised to imagine themselves performing successfully. But is that motivation influenced by what perspective they take when imagining their performance?