Shankar Vedantam

A study finds single women are much less likely to express career ambitions compared to married women or men. Researchers believe they don't want to undermine their appeal in the dating market.

Millions of Americans seem to ignore their own interests when it comes to how they vote. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild thinks we might be turning to politics to meet emotional needs, not economic ones.

It's in our nature to idolize the rich and famous. But this week on Hidden Brain, we explore the other side of our nature: the part of us that wants to see the rich and powerful fall from grace.

It's inauguration season in Washington, D.C. Many of us revel in the pomp and circumstance — yet we have another side to our psychology that enjoys seeing the powerful fall from grace.

Self-driving cars will perform rationally. For example: stop when someone is in their way. Research suggests humans will take advantage, and step into an intersection when they know they shouldn't.

Many of us feel stuck at one point or another: in the wrong city, the wrong job, or the wrong relationship. Self help gurus have offered lots of advice — but here's a new idea, from the tech world.

Psychologists and self help gurus have advice for people who feel stuck. If you're looking for new ways to reboot your life as you enter the new year, you could also turn to the tech world.

Social science research suggests that boredom, or satiety, has a lot to do with the mind. When we imagine variety in the future, it turns out we can tolerate a lot more boredom in the present.

Maya Shankar was on her way to being an accomplished concert violinist, but a twist of fate led her to the social sciences instead.

When you look at a photograph of someone, researchers say it's remarkably difficult to dislodge that first impression — even after we have had a chance to meet the person we initially saw in a photo.

In 2015, health workers in Liberia faced a challenge. They had to figure out how to quarantine a street gang that could be spreading Ebola at the height of the epidemic.

New social science research shows that women in the arts earn significantly less than men across the board.

In Liberia, a team of epidemiologists have to delay a criminal investigation, look the other way on illegal drug use and build trust to stop an outbreak of Ebola.

Researchers have discovered that there are fewer drunk driving fatalities on days of the month when millions of Americans receive food stamps. Figures show the deaths go down significantly.

To many of us, the desire to bring order to chaos can be irresistible. But writer Tim Harford thinks many of us could use a bit more messiness in our lives.

Being able to recognize faces is a crucial part of life. But why are some of us so good or bad at it, and how skilled at it are we on average? The answers might surprise you.

Research indicates that people who got more in social security payments — as a result of a congressional formula glitch in the 1970s — appear to have lower risks of developing Alzheimer's disease.

It happens to all of us: Someone recognizes you on the street, calls you by name, and says hello. And you have no idea who that person is. Researchers say this struggle to read other faces is common.

Here's news that could be of interest to marketers: Research shows people frustrated in a relationship sometimes deal with their feelings by buying and consuming brands their partners hate.

As the mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani was a proponent of a controversial policing philosophy that calls for police to go after small crimes in hopes of preventing bigger problems.