Most of us spend surprisingly little time asking where our opinions come from. We know what we think about politics, religion, relationships, success, parenting, money, technology, and countless other subjects. We can usually explain why we agree with certain ideas and reject others, and we often feel confident that our conclusions are the result of careful reasoning. But if someone asked a...
One of the most comforting questions we can ask ourselves is, “Who am I?” One of the most unsettling discoveries we can make is that the answer keeps changing. As children, our identities are often given to us before we ever choose them. We become “the quiet one,” “the smart one,” “the athletic one,” “the difficult one,” or “the...
One of the first questions we ask when meeting someone is, “What’s your personality like?” The answers usually come quickly. Introverted. Extroverted. Shy. Confident. Creative. Logical. Funny. Serious. Optimistic. Anxious. These descriptions can be useful because they help us communicate patterns we notice about ourselves and others. Psychology has long recognized that...
Walk into almost any bookstore or scroll through social media, and you’ll find an endless stream of advice promising a better version of yourself. Become more disciplined. Heal your inner child. Wake up earlier. Meditate longer. Journal more consistently. Build better habits. Break limiting beliefs. Optimize your morning routine. Read fifty books a year. Take cold showers. Practice...
There is a quiet assumption woven into many of our lives: I’m not quite ready yet. We tell ourselves that life will truly begin after we lose the weight, find the relationship, earn the degree, leave the job, heal the trauma, make more money, become more disciplined, or finally feel confident. The list changes from person to person, but the underlying pattern remains remarkably consistent...
If you’ve ever searched “What is white culture?”, you’re not alone. It’s one of many questions people ask while trying to understand race, identity, and society. The challenge is that there isn’t one universally accepted definition of white culture. Some people believe it refers to the collective cultures of Europe. Others use it to describe mainstream Western...
Examining the Evidence, the History, and the Psychology Behind One of Humanity’s Deepest Divisions There are few subjects that generate as much certainty, grief, anger, and division as Israel and Palestine. Entire conversations often end before they begin because people assume that understanding one side requires rejecting the humanity of the other. Labels quickly replace curiosity...
Central distinction Judaism is an ancient religious and cultural tradition associated with the Jewish people. It includes theology, sacred texts, religious law, ethics, rituals, communal institutions, history and diverse forms of Jewish identity. Zionism is a modern political and national movement that emerged primarily in Europe during the late nineteenth century. Its central objective was...
Is homophobia driven by fear of being gay, fear of femininity, or something deeper? Homophobia is often discussed as though it has a single cause. Some people argue it comes from religious beliefs. Others see it as a product of culture or politics. A popular claim suggests that people who express homophobic attitudes are secretly gay themselves. Another argues that homophobia is rooted in...
What the Evidence Actually Shows Public conversations about affirmative action often produce more certainty than clarity. Some people argue that affirmative action unfairly discriminated against White Americans and created a new form of racism. Others argue that it barely scratched the surface of centuries of inequality. Between these opposing views lies a more interesting question—one that can...
