Not being able to recognise faces can be an obstacle – but it has also given Steven the ability to see beyond the obvious ...

Through tango, I sharpened attentional skills that make any moment richer. But these can be honed on or off the dancefloor ...

Most cults don’t make the headlines. Here’s how to identify, and avoid, control by psychologically coercive social groups ...

Social scientists have long documented the ‘warm glow’ of altruism, a good feeling that comes from doing a good deed. But ...

Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred ...

Mental health awareness may be having unintended consequences – the conversation needs to shift from vibes to precision ...

Katia Ariel is a writer, editor and educator. She is the author of The Swift Dark Tide (2023) and Ferryman: The Life and Deathwork of Ephraim Finch (2025). She lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Self-control, grit, growth mindset – trendy skills won’t transform children’s lives, but more meaningful interventions can ...