Dr. Paul J. Zak is a professor of economics, psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University and is ranked in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research.…
By Sophie von Stumm In 2005, Deb Roy installed cameras on the ceilings of the rooms in his house. From above, these cameras captured everything that happened in Roy’s home: Everybody who came and went, every movement, and every word…
Last weekend, I conducted a quick experiment by asking people what happiness means to them. Many mentioned finding happiness in nature, doing favorite activities, sharing experiences, or being with loved ones. All these personal definitions, including the one from my…
Growing up in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world with more than 150,000 refugees, presented a life that was anything but comfortable. Yet from this harsh environment emerged one of the most…
Validation is the lifeblood of emotional connection. It is the glue that holds relationships together, ensuring that partners feel heard, seen, and understood. When the destructive counterpart, invalidation, takes place, it erodes the foundation of love and trust. Invalidation occurs…
Have you ever seen a parade of dancers, like the kind of parade Brazilians have during Carnival? Samba troops, Frevo dancers, Capoeira performers, and dancers of every variety twist and twirl their way down a complex route of city streets…
Money: It’s the driving force behind most of our decisions, and, for many, it’s seen as the ultimate goal. If we just earn enough, we tell ourselves, everything will fall into place. The sun will shine, our problems will vanish,…
In my therapy office, client after client, in session after session, has been expressing feelings of anxiety, distress, and despair. The unpredictability of recent events has fostered a widespread feeling of instability, as people grapple with the unknown and its…
History Repeats One of the very first facts drilled into all students of human behavior is the power of past behaviour to predict our future actions. Much of what we do is habitual and, as a result, highly predictable. This…
A Wake-Up Call A few years ago, I was rushed to the ER with a dangerously high fever, only to learn that I had kidney stones—one so large that it blocked my ureter, leading to a severe infection and sepsis.…
