Recent headlines have spotlighted several high-profile cases of infidelity—from Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl fathering a child outside his marriage, to reports of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s emotional affair, to Congressman Mark Green’s alleged extramarital relationship leading to divorce. These stories reignite an age-old question: why do people betray their partners, and how can relationships…

Growing up as the child of immigrants often means living between worlds—balancing two cultures, two languages, and two sets of expectations. For me, that’s meant constantly questioning where I belong: Am I too American? Do I look Brown enough? Is my Spanish the “right” kind? These inner conflicts can bring shame, self-doubt, and a sense…

Love and Loss in a Warming World: How Climate Disasters Strain Relationships In 2023, Asheville, North Carolina, and Lahaina, Maui, were devastated by extreme weather events—a tropical storm in one, a wildfire in the other. A few months later, Los Angeles County faced a series of blazes that forced tens of thousands to evacuate and…

The Complex State of Loneliness in America One in six Americans say they feel lonely or isolated most of the time, according to a September 2024 Pew Research Center survey of more than 6,200 adults. The report—Men, Women and Social Connections—paints a nuanced picture of how connection and isolation differ across gender, age, and other…

The Hidden Power of Small Social Shifts We often think of personal change as something that starts within us—through sheer willpower, mindset shifts, or self-discipline. But according to Gregory Walton, a psychology professor at Stanford University, our sense of self is shaped just as much by the world around us. “Our confidence, our relationships, and…

The Power of Feeling Understood: How Validation Can Transform Relationships How often do we feel misunderstood by the people closest to us—our friends, family, even our partners? And on the flip side, how often do we struggle to comfort someone we love, even when we’re trying our best? Licensed psychologist Caroline Fleck believes the answer…

Seeing the World Together: How Shared Reality Deepens Love and Meaning Think about a moment when you realized you and someone close to you see the world the same way. Maybe it was laughing at an inside joke, instantly knowing how your partner would react to a news story, or finishing each other’s sentences. That…

The Power of Feeling Understood: The Science and Practice of Validation How psychologist Caroline Fleck teaches us to truly connect with others How often do we feel misunderstood—even by the people closest to us? And how often do we struggle to comfort someone we care about, even when we genuinely want to help? Licensed psychologist…

The Transformative Power of Relationships in Learning Why connection, care, and love are at the heart of education When you think about your favorite teacher, you probably don’t remember the grades they gave you—you remember how they made you feel. Maybe they made a subject come alive, showed compassion when you were struggling, or offered…

A Decade of Equality: The Ongoing Impact of Same-Sex Marriage Marriage and the ability to start a family are fundamental human rights. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges extended those rights to same-sex couples, affirming marriage equality nationwide. Ten years later, the ruling continues to reshape lives—not…