Mind & Behavior

Mind & Behavior

Study the science of how we think, feel, and act, with insights that help you better understand yourself and others.

Two figures, their heads covered in white cloth, face each other closely against a dark background, evoking the mysterious science of love.
We all want to have a good, stable relationship with somebody, says Dr. Helen Fisher. So it's important to understand how intense romantic love affects our long-term goals.
John Templeton Foundation
4mins
What the ‘decade of the brain’ taught us about drug addiction. (Hint, we had it all wrong before.)
A clock face with a spiral effect, showing multiple overlapping clock dials against a solid blue background, evokes the question: is time an illusion?.
The concept is so complex that scientists still argue whether it exists or if it is an illusion.
John Templeton Foundation
exercise myths
Exercise culture is crazy. But what you need to do is exceedingly simple.
A close-up of a painted human arm and hand reaching out with extended fingers against a light, cracked background.
5mins
Atheists are not immune from supernatural thinking.
A blurred image of a green grassy field bordered by tall trees under a partly cloudy sky evokes a sense of nostalgia.
4mins
Escape a mental rut by using nostalgia.
John Templeton Foundation
truth bias
2mins
How to see through the lies that surround us.
Close-up of a lion's open mouth showing sharp teeth and tongue, painted in a realistic style with rich brown and yellow tones, capturing intensity that echoes themes seen in the neuroscience of inequality.
6mins
What inequality and populism look like in the brain, according to a neuroscientist.
John Templeton Foundation
cognitive decline
9mins
Only 2% of Alzheimer’s is 100% genetic. The rest is up to your daily habits.
Two hands reaching towards each other against a bright blue sky with clouds, subtly exploring why empathy is bad when it leads to emotional overwhelm.
4mins
Not an empathetic person? Here’s why that might be a good thing.
John Templeton Foundation
Illustration of a human brain with a metallic on/off switch embedded in its side, set against a solid dark purple background.
8mins
Having trouble learning? A PhD engineering professor gives you one key tip.
John Templeton Foundation
A woman cradles a baby while surrounded by four children in a rustic kitchen, with dishes on shelves and blue sky outside—a heartwarming scene that might inspire thoughts like, should I have kids?.
4mins
Kids don’t always make you happier. Here’s why people have them anyway.
John Templeton Foundation
A hand holding a whip with multiple knotted tails against a solid orange background, subtly hinting at themes of discipline and exploring why suffering is good.
5mins
There are two kinds of suffering. One is pure pain. The other makes life worth living.
John Templeton Foundation
A dark background with vertical lines of varying lengths and colors—yellow, blue, and white—arranged in uneven rows and columns, evoking the randomness of the genetic lottery.
We all play the genetic lottery – and the outcome matters a lot.
John Templeton Foundation
boost performance
6mins
You can learn things 250% faster by unlocking your ‘flow state.’
A red flag on top of a gray rock, with the right side dissolving into particles—like automatic habits breaking apart—set against a solid green background.
3mins
The US reduced smoking rates from 50% to 15% with a simple habit hack.
John Templeton Foundation
Are dreams, hallucinations, and near death experiences all connected?
Two men in athletic clothing stand against a black background, with glowing light trails swirling around them—symbolizing the energy and persistence involved in forming habits through dedication and motion.
3mins
Practice doesn’t actually make perfect. Here’s the willpower equation necessary for elite athletes and musicians.
John Templeton Foundation