Why Memory Fails Us and How We Can Make Better Use Of It

Our recollections are often less detailed and less reliable than we would like. New research helps explain why memory fails us—and how we can make better use of it. Savor the Moment When taking a picture, we outsource our memory to the camera. “New technology lends itself to just collecting lots of photos,” says Fairfield University psychologist Linda Henkel, “not taking the time to look…

4 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

The sky is grey, the temperature is low, and the color of your mood ring turns a scary blackish blue. The winter months — especially for those huddled under a snow drift during the first two months of the year — can trigger a major depressive episode or worsen the symptoms in persons with chronic depression. So what to do? 1. Get a lightbox. Less sunlight…

Facebook Status Updates as Social Snacking

Just about everyone has an opinion about Facebook. A favorite theme is loneliness. There are those who believe that Americans (among others) are becoming lonelier and that our habits of connecting by Facebook instead of in person are hastening our slide into isolation. From that perspective, people constantly posting status updates are revealing their own loneliness. Others instead believe that Facebook allows people to stay…