What does modern neuroscience have to say about our sense of self? Is there really any permanent, essential self to us at all?

In this continuing series on sense of self, Sarah Luczaj explores a piece of research comparing the well-being of Japanese and North American students, drawing conclusions about the roles of gratitude and peaceful disengagement.

In this second of the series on sense of self and how it differs across cultures, I am going to look at the interconnected or relational self, and how awareness of how interdependent we are might lead to fear of others.

Self-esteem is generally considered to be something vital, a value in itself, in Western societies. In this first of a series on our sense of self, or lack of it, I am going to look at the apparent lack of self-esteem in Chinese compared to North American students.

Sarah Luczaj takes a look at How to Cure Boredom, an upcoming e-book by fellow contributor Evan Hadkins.

Have you ever had the feeling that something could be wrong — really wrong — with our understanding of human nature and the insights offered into it by psychology research?

It appears the truth about human nature lies somewhere in the middle of the various extremes espoused by psychologists, behavioral scientists, philosophers and religious thinkers.