Knowing the reasons people opt not to know – and the consequences of that choice – could help us see when it’s problematic ...

If an outright refusal feels rude but you don’t want to have to explain, here’s how to say ‘no’ the Japanese way ...

Chimpanzees favour the colour red. Junglefowl prefer symmetry. Our shared capacity for aesthetic pleasure is cause for wonder ...

Some musical rhythms are built to get us bobbing, foot-tapping or dancing. Researchers show how rhythmic complexity matters ...

What studying people without a ‘mind’s eye’ reveals about the role of imagery in the experience of emotion and memory ...

Swapping office work for the herding life, Adham finds a sublime freedom in the rugged terrain of the Pyrenees ...

How to deal with being bullied at work You might understandably feel trapped and powerless, but there is a range of steps you can take to improve your situation by Pat Ferris ...

Empathy is an aesthetic practice that relies on our capacity to delight in, and respond with reverence to, the world around us ...

How to gain more from your reading There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading by Robert DiYanni ...

Thomas Goetz is professor of psychology at the University of Vienna, Austria. His research focuses on emotions, with a particular emphasis on the experience of boredom.