Posts by Neil Petersen

No one likes being rejected. In many situations, though, our ability to build fulfilling relationships depends on being able to get past our fear of rejection. As it turns out, sensitivity to rejection isn’t a fixed trait. You might find that types of rejection that really got under your skin when you were younger don’t…

Teenagers can get a kick out of taking risks, but all that seems to change when they’re with mom. According to a new study, the adolescent brain processes risk and reward differently when mom is paying attention. In the study, teenagers participated in a task where they made decisions that involved weighing risk. They did…

Another year, another chance to fantasize about how much you’ll improve your life this year and then forget all your New Year’s resolutions by the time you get a week into January. For many of us, there’s a wide gap between New Year’s resolutions made and New Year’s resolutions kept. Fortunately, psychology research has a…

If you use social media regularly, you probably know that there there are good sides and bad sides that come with the level of hyperconnectedness that sites like Facebook make possible. On one hand, Facebook has the capability to bring people together more easily than ever before and to keep you in touch with people…

What’s the best gift to get someone, is it OK to regift that ugly sweater your aunt got you for Christmas, and can science solve all your gift giving problems? Answers: I have no idea, yes, and maybe. While psychology research can’t tell you what the perfect gift is, it can give you some interesting…

What makes a person decide to strike out on their own and start a business? The answer may depend on that person’s age. Several psychology studies have shed light on how entrepreneurial activity changes across the lifespan. For many, a tendency toward entrepreneurship shows up by the time they’re teenagers. A study from researchers at…

Schizophrenia is one of the most well-researched mental health conditions. Various studies have looked in depth at the genetic underpinnings of the disorder, the cognitive traits associated with it, and the most effective treatment options. Some scientists, though, have asked a simpler question: are people with schizophrenia happy? There’s no doubt that having schizophrenia can…

If you want to feel more optimistic about what the future holds, sometimes it helps to look at the past. That’s because taking a minute to bask in nostalgic memories can make you feel more positive about what’s in store. And as I’ve talked about here before, optimism tends to be a self-fulfilling prophecy that’s…

Is turning on an audiobook during your morning commute just another example of the dangers of distracted driving, or can help keep you alert and driving safely? Both, apparently. To explore this question, researchers from University of Guelph, in Canada, had participants complete a driving simulation task, either in silence or while listening to an…