Psychology says people who go through long stretches of adult life with no close friends aren’t socially avoidant or self-sufficient by choice — they’re...
When Loneliness Is Not a Choice: Understanding the Hidden Impact of Betrayal on Adult Friendships
I know a man who has not had a close...
Adults who take the long way home from work aren’t wasting time
The Hidden Value of Taking the Long Way Home
For years, many of us assumed that those who drove three extra streets past their turn...
A study following more than 1,000 children for decades found that self-control measured between ages 3 and 11 predicted better health and financial outcomes...
Understanding Childhood Self-Control Beyond Labels
One of the most common misinterpretations of research on children’s self-control is to simplify it into a dichotomy of “good”...
A late-2025 longitudinal study turned the usual self-improvement story on its head: stronger self-control did not predict greater well-being later, but people who felt...
Rethinking the Self-Improvement Sequence: Well-Being Before Self-Control
The typical narrative of self-improvement is familiar: become more disciplined, resist temptation, make better choices, and eventually, a...
People who reach later life with few close friends aren’t necessarily cold or socially deficient. Research shows that one-sided relationships can become emotionally exhausting,...
Understanding the Complexity Behind Small Friendship Circles in Later Life
A friendship count makes a poor character reference. When someone reaches later life with only...