Spending as little as ten minutes talking to others may help improve your memory and intellect. Sound like an infomercial created by teenagers? No, no- it’s real research! Turns out social interaction can provide the same mental-boosting benefits as reading or doing a daily crossword puzzle.

I’m reading about guilt and in-group behavior, and I can’t help but see parallels to my own life (occupational hazard, I know). I’m going to my best-friend’s wedding next weekend and a mutual friend of ours is walking her down the aisle. He forgot about the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and his travel plans will miss them both. Our bride-to-be is hurt and disappointed, and I feel guilty that I didn’t do more to prevent it. Why? According to recent research, people often feels vicarious emotions such as guilt (or shame) when they are associated with those whose actions have caused offense, even though they are innocent.

Meeting strangers might actually make you happy. Find out more.

As part of a larger research project I’m working on here, I recently read a great review article in the Journal of Divorce and Remarriage concerning how individuals use social relationships to adjust to life with divorce. The researchers had completed a meta-analysis (a giant research mash up to get a birds-eye-view of all [...]

What makes a friendship last? A recent study looked at predictors of lasting friendship (Ledbetter, Griffin, & Sparks, 2007). Researchers investigated best friends in college to see what factors would predict friendship closeness between these same friends almost 20 years later.

The ‘tyranny of choice’ implies that the more options one person has, the worse off they may become. Find out how your definition of success may help you navigate through the tyranny of choice.

What is happening with the future of relationship science? Perhaps a more cohesive and unified approach is waiting in the wings. Discover more.

There were several interesting news stories resulting from the annual American Psychological Association (APA) which met last week in San Francisco. Some findings and stories that caught my eye…

I read a peculiar article online today that said not only should you argue with your spouse, but gave you specific topics to take to the boxing ring. The article purported that issues such as sex, finances, kids and health were all fair game for bickering in order for true growth to occur. Is arguing really the best way to go and explore as a couple?

It’s not what you were hoping to hear, and certainly not what my mother used to say, but when it comes to self-esteem, sometimes it is the external that matters. Read more.

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The time has come to admit a dark and troubling secret: I am the fattest of my friends. It’s true. I admit it. All my attempts at wearing untucked shirts and upsizing my pants can’t hide the pain in my heart. It’s me. I’m the fat one.

I read an article recently called “Unskilled and Unaware of It;” it was an article published in JPSP several years ago talking about people who performed poorly yet had unusually high opinions about how they did. The authors in this study described how people performed in various skills, like identifying humor, recognizing correct grammar, and performing on logical reasoning tests. In every test, researchers found a group of people who though that they were average or slightly better than average, in spite of their actual poor performance.

Go ahead and gossip – turns out some gossip may be good for our relationships.