Psychology

The secret to overcoming shyness is to remember that others are, beneath the differences, always substantially the same as we are.

Where does confidence come from, and how can you get more of it? This video explains confidence and self-esteem and gives us three easy tips to boost confidence. Related Lesson

Emotional abuse can be incredibly damaging, increasing a person’s chances of developing depression and anxiety. But these behaviors can be subtle and difficult to spot, both from within and outside a relationship. It also often makes people doubt their perceptions of their own mistreatment. How can we recognize these patterns in real life? Related Lesson

It’s all too easy to be extremely tough on ourselves; we need – at points – to get better at self-compassion. Here is an exercise on how to do that.

Are sports as good for us as we make them out to be, or are they just a fun and entertaining pastime? Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh show what science has to say on the matter. Related Lesson

Our hard-wired stress response is designed to give us the quick burst of energy needed to perform our best. However, when activated too long or too often, stress can damage virtually every part of our body.

Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Related Lesson

The fastest route to confidence is to stop being so attached to one’s dignity and seriousness; and plainly admit that one is – of course – an idiot. We all are.

Dig into the psychology of why rejection causes us pain, and explore strategies to cope with this common experience. Related Lesson

Explore the framework known as the Process Model, a psychological tool to help you identify, understand, and regulate your emotions. Related Lesson

There are science based techniques we can use to treat emotional injuries that can help soothe the distress they cause and prevent them from impacting our short and long-term psychological well-being. Related Lesson

In order to be calm and at ease with ourselves, we need regular periods where we do something rather strange-sounding: process our emotions.

When a golfer misses a shot in an important competition, it's called choking. How can you learn to stay calm and do your best without choking? Watch this TED ED video to find out! Related Lesson

When faced with a bump in the road, sometimes we forget we have a choice: overcome the obstacle or let it overcome you. Related Lesson

When stress got to be too much for TED Fellow Sangu Delle, he had to confront his own deep prejudice: that men shouldn't take care of their mental health. In a personal talk, Delle shares how he learned to handle anxiety in a society that's uncomfortable with emotions. Related Lesson

Studies suggest that almost a third of us will experience at least one panic attack in our lives. So what exactly is a panic attack, and can we prevent them? Related Lesson

Even after writing11 books and winning awards, Maya Angelou couldn’t escape the feeling of being a fraud. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention? Related Lesson

Yoga is a blend of physical and mental exercise is widely believed to have a unique set of health advantages. But is yoga actually beneficial to your health? Related Lesson