The 9/11 attacks did not just affect America; they affected the world.

Roberto Alborghetti was walking along Vico Street in Milan last spring when his eyes suddenly fell upon an image: red and black and described by him as either "hands, arms, fire tongues or hydrants," he began to see...

Our genes and life experience often determine how we see things. Some people see the world through rose-colored glasses, whereas for others, the grim reality of the world creates an underlying state of anger, guilt, contempt, disgust and fear.

Sometimes people refer to the latter...

The whole idea of knowing is something that we rely on for moving our world forward. Knowing how to run a company, how to be a great mother and how to live the best life are all considered very important things. And while this may be true, very few people...

Why do you always put others first? What is so wrong with the idea of having your needs met? Are you too insecure to get what you want or is it just that you love nurturing other people? Are you one of those people who can't stop giving? Do you...

The age-old love-hate relationship between men and women still continues: can't live with them, can't live without them. What is the cause of this ambivalence? Do men and women attach differently in romance, and if so, why?

A recent study looked at two well-researched patterns of human attachment....

What does it mean to be a successful capitalist? Until recently, capitalism simply referred to "for-profit" businesses that were privately owned. Conscious capitalism, a recent extension of this idea, is a movement that recognizes that this profit can create value for stakeholders and customers alike, and in the process, also...

While the number of planned layoffs did fall in March in the US, the rate of joblessness is still alarming. When jobs are scarce and hopelessness is rife, what can you do in a down economy where you cannot see any obvious options for return to work? How does brain...

Peter Buffett is Warren Buffett's son. When I interviewed him last year, he said many memorable things, but the statement that most stood out had to do with how much he appreciated the undefined belief that both of his parents had had in him. They seemed to know that he...

These days, when we think of the brain, it is not hard to understand how it may be connected extensively with other body regions, as it directs so much of our bodies. And while a connection between the brain and heart is easy to imagine, with the heart pumping blood...

Emotional support sounds like a good idea. I mean who does not think this is a good idea? Yet, when we think of this idea, we rarely think of it as having serious implications for physical health. Just the word "support" often suggests that it is not an active intervention...

Earlier this week, Barbra Streisand wrote an important reminder of the specific vulnerabilities that bear on the hearts of women and why we need to study this more closely. And as if in answer to this, an important review is about to reach print [1]. This review looked...

There is a syndrome that perplexes both patients and doctors alike -- one where weakness is the primary complaint but there is absolutely no identifiable reason why this should exist at all. The key word here is "identifiable" -- for there is most likely some kind of reason, but it...

A recent study from Columbia University examined whether good heart health over a 10 year period relies on feeling good (Davidson, 2010). While it has been known for awhile now that depressed mood is associated with worse heart health (Nabi, 2010), the actual effects of positive mood on long term...

A recent article published in the journal Psychological Science showed that 1,000 mg of Tylenol reduces hurt feelings and social pain. Furthermore, this study also showed that 2,000 mg of Tylenol reduces the brain's response to social pain. (Tylenol was compared with a placebo in these studies.¹) While this is...

Men rely on the ability to have an erection. And when that does not work, it compromises their sense of masculinity. But there are several aspects of spiritual lore that contradict our expectations here and might be worth considering. Personally, I think that all vital functions are great to preserve,...

Sex satisfies. But this satisfaction is very short lived, and even when achieved, often leads to guilt, confusion or a craving for more. Sex is an anxiety reliever, but it is also the cause of much anxiety because the satisfaction it gives does not last. When we crave sex, we...

We do not always get what we want when we ask for it, but perhaps we do not always ask for the things we want. "Asking" has conscious and unconscious components to it, so while you may be consciously asking for more money, good health or a relationship, unconsciously your...

In Rhonda Byrne's book The Power we learn how it is possible for anyone to access their deepest desires and manifest them. In my post on "Psychology Today," I have a brief description of what goes on in the brain when we are trying to do this. Based...

In my post this week in Psychology Today I outlined the brain systems that work against moral behavior, throwing us into chaotic internal states. The brain is wired for morality, but it is also wired for fear and craving, which are powerful and often insurmountable opponents. Similarly, the...

With the impending return of soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, do we need to prepare for another war? This time in the U.S.? As work opportunities dwindle, resources diminish and immigration battles escalate, do we need to be concerned about what returning soldiers are facing and should...