The hottest Psychology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Arthur Brooks: Family Estrangement Is a Tragedy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1279 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Cutting ties with a family member affects the brain much like the death of a loved one, causing real grief and loss.
  2. Family estrangement is common and can happen to anyone, including rich and famous families.
  3. High-profile breakups draw attention but reflect private problems — people often cite interference in relationships or an inauthentic upbringing when they refuse to reconcile.

Arthur Brooks: Therapy Won’t Make You Happier. And That’s Okay.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 908 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Therapy is now common and openly talked about, especially among younger, college-educated adults.
  2. Many people mistakenly expect therapy to make them happier, but therapy isn’t a miracle worker for producing happiness.
  3. It’s okay if therapy doesn’t make you happier; building happiness often requires other intentional practices and therapy has a different, important role in treating mental-health issues.

Art and Human Nature, Heritage Americans, Female Chimpanzees

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1003 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Female chimpanzees mate frequently with many males, which helps confuse paternity and reduces the risk of infanticide.
  2. Across many countries, attractive people are perceived as more intelligent, trustworthy, confident, responsible, caring, and sociable, and are also seen as happier and less odd.
  3. The average founder of a highly profitable tech company is about 42 years old, and older founders tend to have higher chances of success than the popular image of youthful founders suggests.

Comment TRADUIRE le TDAH ?

L'Atelier Galita • 139 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. ADHD can show up in different ways, like trouble focusing or being hyperactive. It's important to understand these traits to recognize and discuss ADHD better.
  2. People with ADHD may struggle with things like organization and time management. Their brains work differently, leading to challenges in focusing on tasks unless there’s something interesting or urgent about them.
  3. Emotional regulation can be tough for someone with ADHD. They might react strongly to feelings of rejection or anger, even if it seems delayed, which can be confusing for others.

Three Dumb Studies for your consideration

Experimental History • 19828 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Short and low-cost experiments can still provide interesting insights. Even simple studies can teach us something new.
  2. People often have unexpected reactions to pain and discomfort, like some even enjoy putting their hands in ice water. This shows that experiences can be more subjective than we think.
  3. Our preferences for things like sugar and salt are complex. People hesitate to eat them in pure forms due to social norms or taste expectations, indicating our relationship with these substances is nuanced.
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Psycho

Nice Try • 379 implied HN points • 07 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. The movie _Psycho_ has a famous shower scene where a woman is killed, but it cleverly tricks viewers into questioning who the real 'psycho' is throughout the film.
  2. Marion Crane and Norman Bates have mirrored characteristics, showing how both characters are driven by desires that lead to their own downfalls.
  3. On multiple viewings of _Psycho_, you can notice different aspects of characters, suggesting many of them might also have their own hidden psychotic traits.

How We Lost the Flow

The Honest Broker • 31317 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. The flow state is a special experience where everything feels easy and natural, like playing music or sports. It's when you lose track of time and feel completely engaged.
  2. Technology and businesses have taken the idea of flow and turned it into a way to make money, which can lead to negative effects on our well-being. Things like social media and gambling can manipulate our desire for that flow state.
  3. There are many ways to experience flow outside of technology, like dancing, gardening, or spending time in nature. These activities can make us feel fulfilled without giving our attention and energy to profit-driven platforms.

Practically-A-Book Review: Byrnes on Trance

Astral Codex Ten • 14453 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Psychology
  1. Our brains don’t see the world directly. Instead, they create models based on our senses, which can sometimes be wrong, like seeing colors in an illusion.
  2. The 'self' we think of is more of a model our brain uses to organize thoughts and actions. This model isn't always accurate and doesn't always match up with what's actually happening in our minds.
  3. Experiences like trance or altered states can shift our perception of control. When someone is hypnotized, they might feel like they're no longer in control, showing how our mental models can change and influence our reality.

Arthur Brooks: So You Got Dumped. What Next?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 301 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Heartbreak is normal and rooted in our biology, so intense pain after a breakup doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. The pain usually fades with time and you can love again.
  2. Use simple, science-backed coping tools like writing briefly about your pain and later noting what you learned, and try listening to sad music to help process complex emotions.
  3. Avoid surveilling your ex on social media because obsessively checking them prolongs suffering; unfollowing, blocking, or removing reminders helps you heal.

Revenge of the Blockheads

Experimental History • 12493 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. People can make surprising discoveries that have been overlooked for a long time, like a new way to play Tetris that was found years after it was created.
  2. There are games that simulate boring tasks, and some people find them relaxing instead of bad for the brain.
  3. Scientific publishing is changing, with new free resources becoming available online, making it easier for anyone to learn and participate.

Great scientists follow intuition and beauty, not rationality

The Intrinsic Perspective • 33817 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Great scientists often rely on their gut feelings and a sense of beauty rather than just cold hard logic. This mix of intuition leads to important discoveries.
  2. Famous scientists aren't just rational thinkers; they have quirky beliefs and passions that drive their creativity. This uniqueness helps them come up with groundbreaking ideas.
  3. There's a complex balance between formal science and the imaginative, intuitive side. Embracing both can push the boundaries of what we understand about the universe.

Against Forgiveness

rachaelmeager • 1448 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Many acts of abuse can seem ordinary or unremarkable, making it hard for people to acknowledge their seriousness. We often want abuse to be extremely obvious for us to react strongly.
  2. Forgiveness is often pushed in our culture, especially after wrongdoing, but it can be harmful. Real healing might require facing the truth of what happened rather than simply forgiving the wrongdoer.
  3. Guilt can be a healthy emotion that points toward responsibility. It's important to recognize that not everyone who harms us is simply making honest mistakes, and true accountability matters.

brAIn drAIn

The Intrinsic Perspective • 27199 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Psychology
  1. Using AI can make people less likely to think critically and solve problems on their own. This is especially true for those who trust AI too much.
  2. Young people may struggle to learn and retain information if they rely heavily on AI. Parents and schools should be careful about this dependency.
  3. Being skeptical about AI tools helps people use them healthier. Trusting your own judgment over AI can lead to better thinking and problem-solving skills.

How To Stop Worrying And Learn To Love Lynn's National IQ Estimates

Astral Codex Ten • 31522 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. IQ differences between groups may not be purely genetic and can be influenced by environmental factors like nutrition and education. This means that poorer conditions in some countries can lead to lower IQ scores.
  2. People often perceive those with low IQs differently based on specific syndromes, which can cause various functional deficits. A person with a low IQ might still lead a normal life in their context.
  3. The gap in IQ scores between different groups suggests there's potential for improvement through development initiatives. Better nutrition, health care, and education can help raise IQ scores in underdeveloped areas.

My Enneagram: 3, 6, 9

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 3018 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Psychology
  1. Types 3, 6, and 9 form an "attachment" trio that cope by clinging to reassuring roles: 6s are pragmatic, vigilant, and loyal but anxious, 3s are driven, image-conscious achievers, and 9s are peaceful harmonizers who merge to avoid conflict.
  2. These types often mirror their surroundings, so they can look very different outwardly; to recognize them, notice their underlying "navigational style" (how they handle stress, group dynamics, and decision‑making) rather than just surface traits.
  3. Each type has clear strengths and pitfalls, and growth means shifting toward healthier patterns: 6s finding inner authority and spontaneity, 3s embracing authenticity and rest, and 9s asserting preferences and engaging anger constructively.

Into the Underground

The Lifeboat • 2696 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
📚 Literature Psychology
  1. The translation of Dostoevsky's 'Notes from Underground' aims to capture its comedic and chaotic spirit, rather than just its serious philosophical tones. It wants readers to see it as a reflection of modern life.
  2. The narrator expresses a sense of spite and confusion about his own mental health. He recognizes his struggles but clings to them, even avoiding therapy out of a feeling of defiance.
  3. Through his ramblings, the narrator admits to being trapped by indecision and a lack of character, feeling that modern life often leads to a sense of aimlessness and frustration.

Sex Differences in Intelligence

Cremieux Recueil • 295 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Average general intelligence (g) is essentially the same for men and women. Any mean gap is vanishingly small (on the order of a few tenths of an IQ point) and not practically meaningful.
  2. Men show greater variability in intelligence and test scores, producing more males at both the high and low extremes of the distribution.
  3. Most observed sex differences come from specific skills and test-level abilities (e.g., processing speed, technical knowledge, math/verbal), which appear more malleable and can change with development — for example, early female advantages often fade by adulthood.

Evolutionary Psychology, Sex Wars, Revolutionary Negation

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1212 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. A public talk and a meetup are scheduled in Austin to discuss a book being adapted into a film, with RSVP links provided.
  2. Curated reading and media recommendations focus on topics like evolutionary psychology, sex politics, revolutionary negation, AI, and medicine/social justice.
  3. Three highlighted findings: climate activists are mostly female, white, and highly educated; eight in ten young Americans are ineligible for military service mainly due to obesity; and a meta-analysis found masculine traits are associated with lower depression.

Where We're Going, We Still Need Idiots

Everything Is Amazing • 1751 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Choosing curious optimism over cynicism makes exploring science and the world more joyful, even if it sometimes leads to mistakes. Sharing those mistakes helps others learn and keeps conversation constructive.
  2. Small creative acts and practical inventions can make a real difference in everyday life, from brightening public spaces to helping people sleep safely. Simple solutions like knitted decorations and solar-powered bedding show care and cleverness matter.
  3. New discoveries keep rewriting what we thought we knew, from evidence of much earlier fire-making to an oddly shaped exoplanet with a strange atmosphere. The universe is weirder and more fascinating than our old models expect.

On Personality Psychology

In My Tribe • 303 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Personality traits only nudge the odds; the situation and the people around someone usually explain behavior better than fixed “types” do.
  2. Successful builders often show persistence, agency, and resilience, but survivorship bias means sticking with something doesn’t guarantee success for most people.
  3. The path from genes to personality to behavior is messy, so genetic predictors are weak and experiences, relationships, and context matter a lot.

My Enneagram: 4, 1, 7

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2519 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. 4, 1, and 7 form a “frustration” triad: each holds an ideal of how things should be and lives with a persistent ache or annoyance at the gap between that ideal and reality.
  2. Type 4 channels that gap into yearning and individuality, producing deep creativity and originality but also moodiness, contrarianism, and a tendency to self-sabotage or wallow in absence.
  3. Type 1 channels it into perfection, integrity, and corrective action, which creates competence but also suppression and moral rigidity, while Type 7 dodges the gap with optimism and novelty-seeking, bringing energy and curiosity but risking flakiness and avoidance unless they commit to limits.

The Other Type of Flynn Effect

Cremieux Recueil • 235 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Many reported Flynn and anti-Flynn effects are driven by measurement bias—tests change meaning across cohorts and norms get obsolete—so gains often reflect test-taking sophistication more than real changes in general ability.
  2. Some apparent cohort trends are actually sampling or compositional artifacts, for example later-born children tending to have more advantaged parents, and those apparent gains or losses often disappear in within-family (sibling) comparisons.
  3. Robust conclusions require checking measurement invariance, using within-family designs, and guarding against collinearity and low power; when those methods are applied, large population IQ shifts usually shrink or vanish.

Tens of Thousands of AI Users Now Believe ChatGPT Is God

The Honest Broker • 11769 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Many people are starting to believe that AI, like ChatGPT, is a god or has divine power. This is raising concerns about mental health and belief systems.
  2. Some online communities are having to censor discussions because so many members are becoming overly fanatical about AI, treating it almost like a religion.
  3. There's a prediction that this belief in AI could lead to the formation of an official church or organized group in the near future.

My Enneagram: 5, 8, 2

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 1954 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Five, Eight, and Two form a "rejection triad" where each avoids rejection by denying a basic need: 5s retreat into knowledge and self-sufficiency, 8s armor themselves with control and strength, and 2s seek love by giving and pleasing others.
  2. Each type has clear gifts and predictable blind spots: 5s are brilliant but emotionally distant and need to ask for help and act in the world, 8s are decisive and protective but can be domineering and need to allow vulnerability, and 2s are deeply caring but can become manipulative or resentful and need to learn to receive and set boundaries.
  3. Growth means integrating opposite strengths and embracing vulnerability—when healthy these types soften their defenses and form deeper connections, while when unhealthy they fall into extreme, self-protective behaviors that mirror each other.

26 Useful Concepts for 2026

The Prism • 1313 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. The information ecosystem is overflowing with AI-made and attention-seeking content, so what you see online is biased and truth is harder and costlier to find.
  2. Understanding human psychology—like how naming problems helps, boredom fuels creativity, and small challenges build resilience—lets you steer your life toward meaning and better choices.
  3. Systemic incentives in tech, academia, and politics reward short-term attention and easy optics, which produces propaganda, shallow fixes, and persistent bad behaviours even when they’re wrong.

The end is nigh and here's why

Experimental History • 23696 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💾 History Psychology
  1. Many people throughout history have believed that the world is ending soon, and this is still common today. It's a way for them to make sense of their fears about death and uncertainty.
  2. People tend to focus on bad news more than good news, which makes it feel like the world is getting worse over time. Our memories also fade bad experiences more quickly, which can lead to a feeling that the past was better.
  3. There's a strange belief that today's problems are new and unprecedented when, in fact, people have complained about the same issues throughout history. This perspective can cause anxiety about the future.

What I Learned from Bob Cialdini

Remarkable People • 339 implied HN points • 28 Aug 24
💼 Business Psychology
  1. Reciprocity is powerful. When you do something nice for someone, they feel compelled to return the favor. This helps build trust and strong relationships.
  2. Cialdini's six principles of influence include social proof, authority, and scarcity. Using these ideas can make your messages more effective and persuasive.
  3. It's important to use persuasion ethically. The goal should be to create a win-win situation, where everyone feels good about the outcome.

Sex Differences Don't Go Away Just Because You Want Them To

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 6969 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Men and women are becoming closer in education and job success, yet their political views are growing further apart. This shows that while they might achieve similar status, their perspectives on the world can still differ significantly.
  2. There are real differences in how boys and girls are raised and behave, influenced by both biology and society. These differences can shape their personality traits and preferences, affecting how they view and interact with the world.
  3. In wealthier and more equal societies, men and women's differences in behavior and personality can become more pronounced. This suggests that just creating equality isn't enough; understanding and acknowledging differences is also important for harmony.

Why Recurring Dream Themes?

Astral Codex Ten • 19409 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Many people have recurring dreams about feeling unprepared, like forgetting homework or missing a flight. These dreams might reflect worries about not being ready for something important.
  2. Some experts believe these dreams could be linked to 'prospective memory,' which is how we remember future tasks and responsibilities. Our brains may remind us of these tasks in our dreams.
  3. Another idea is that recurring dreams may come from strange feelings we have while sleeping. These feelings can shape the stories we experience in our dreams.

How Not to Be an Incel or a Psychopath

Bet On It • 311 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Dating culture has moved toward casual, short-term arrangements like "situationships" and "nanoships," leaving a lot of people frustrated and unclear about what partners really want.
  2. Many men feel stuck between being honest (and staying celibate), lying to get sex (and feeling guilty), or committing to someone they don’t genuinely like just to have a sex life.
  3. Both men and women commonly misrepresent themselves — about age, looks, or future intentions — and those mutual deceptions breed distrust, resentment, and unhappy long-term outcomes.

Genomic prediction of IQ is modern snake oil

The Infinitesimal • 1298 implied HN points • 06 Jul 24
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Genetic tests claiming to predict IQ are not reliable. They often rely on complex methods that mostly just lead to guesswork.
  2. The accuracy of these genetic predictions is very low, explaining only a tiny fraction of variations in IQ scores. In fact, other factors like age and social environment play a much bigger role.
  3. Many of these predictions confuse people about how genetics really work. It's important to understand that these scores should be treated more like entertainment than serious assessments.

Are Girls Smarter Than Boys?

Cremieux Recueil • 277 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Changing test scoring to reward calibrated confidence and risk behavior instead of just right-or-wrong answers can make women appear smarter even though it measures a different thing.
  2. Including metacognitive calibration, confidence, and risk preference in an intelligence score mixes non-intelligence traits into the measure and can break the usual positive correlations across cognitive tests, producing misleading factor patterns.
  3. The correct way to compare sexes on intelligence is to use a large, diverse test battery, score accuracy normally, and compare the general intelligence factor; redefining intelligence without strong justification is not acceptable.

Hands up, who likes me?

Wrong Side of History • 479 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Threatening suicide is often used as a way to negotiate or emotionally manipulate others, and it’s common among teenagers and in online culture where dramatic disclosure brings attention.
  2. Some psychologists view suicidal behaviour as a costly signal — a bargaining tactic that pressures others to change, which helps explain why many attempts are survivable and chosen for leverage.
  3. Cultural and religious norms shape how suicide threats are treated: some societies historically used them to force outcomes, while others condemn them, creating very different incentives.

I Told You: Chaos is Coming

Freddie deBoer • 17481 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. People are feeling lost and disconnected in today's world, which can lead to dangerous behaviors like violence. This sense of emptiness makes some look for meaning in extreme actions.
  2. Many young people are struggling to find real meaning in life, and they might turn to historic ideologies that feel hollow or even joke-like. They want something to hold on to, but everything feels lightweight.
  3. The solution may lie in connection and community. If people can reach out and support each other, there might be hope for a better future, but this is not an easy path.

Scarcity and Gratitude

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1780 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Scarcity can make us appreciate things more. When we don't have something, we often realize its value better.
  2. Feeling gratitude can improve our overall happiness. It helps us focus on the positive aspects of our lives.
  3. Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful, and it encourages us to share our blessings with others. Celebrating together fosters connection and joy.

The Science of Hooking Up and Settling Down

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 213 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Many young heterosexuals are dating less and often get stuck in endless app messaging, awkward first dates, and little romantic progress.
  2. Pessimistic cultural narratives and toxic online subcultures have deepened despair among some men and made dating feel more fraught.
  3. People blame everything from the sexual revolution to economics and dating apps, but the conversation frequently relies on an oversimplified pop version of evolutionary psychology that mischaracterizes attraction.

The show is over, say goodbye

Disaffected Newsletter • 4316 implied HN points • 21 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Madonna's recent performance highlighted her struggle with aging and the desire to cling to her past fame, which some people found sad and awkward.
  2. The concert's production quality was disappointing, with issues like poor sound and lip-syncing, leaving many fans feeling cheated.
  3. The author's views on Madonna shifted over time, reflecting a broader change in attitudes towards celebrity culture and its impacts on personal growth.

How Our Gut Microbiome Can Drive Sugar Cravings

Ground Truths • 15222 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Our gut bacteria can influence our cravings for sugar. Specific bacteria in our gut send signals to our brain that can make us want more sweets.
  2. The molecule Ffar4 in our gut plays a big role in how much we like sugar. When this is less active, we might crave sugar more.
  3. A certain type of gut bacteria, called Bacteroides vulgatus, is linked to an increased desire for sugar. Understanding this can help us figure out how to control cravings better.