There's a Name for That: The Imp of the Perverse
Experiencing unpleasant intrusive thoughts is a common, and unthreatening, phenomenon, but how we deal with it can be dangerous.
Anatomy of a Fact: A Note on Uncertainty
Deciphering what counts as true in our post-truth era.
Don't Take Personality Tests Personally
Rigorous study of the Fisher Temperament Inventory is still in its infancy—much like our understanding of the relationship between neurobiology and personality to begin with.
Air Pollution Linked to Delinquent Behavior
Underprivileged kids growing up in congested cities must overcome many handicaps; this study suggests one of them is the very air they breathe.
Overheard: The Conversation, in Context
"Sticks and stones may break some bones, but harassment can hurt forever."
Behind the Scenes: Getting Sentimental About Science
"Science is no longer about the quest for knowledge. Now it's about fixing problems. But just limiting science to fixing problems also limits your chances of making big discoveries."
Letter From the Editor: A Decade of Stories That Matter
A looks at 10 of our biggest stories from the past 10 years.
When Talking of Future Financial Success, Do Fraternities Offer a Leg Up for Male Students?
Researchers found fraternity membership lowers a student's grade-point average by 0.25 points (on a four-point scale), but increases future income by 36.2 percent.
There's a Name for That: Dementia Worry
Are aging Americans hyper-anxious about dementia?
Letter From the Editor: Divided We Stand
How can we get beyond the narrative of polarization?
Self-Affirmation Gets Minority Students on a College Track
While the painful perception of being stigmatized discourages some potential scholars, a simple act of self-affirmation can substantially close such achievement gaps.
Truth, Lies, and Tax Reform
Republicans (and President Donald Trump) say they want to fix the tax code. But their proposals won't do anything like that. Here are a few ways they can do better.
The History of Shopping as a Spectacle
A decades old idea argues that shopping is not about the items you sell—it's about the spectacle in which you sell them.
Letter From the Editor: One of Us
Introducing Pacific Standard's December 2017 issue.
Letter From the Editor: Seeing the Invisible
Introducing Pacific Standard's November 2017 issue.
Norman Doors Show Us How Dangerous Bad Design Can Often Be
Injuries and deaths from Norman doors are often later chalked up to human error, designer Don Norman says. But the error is not the user's. It's the designer's.
The History of School Lunches
American school-lunch policy has always been at the mercy of broader ideological trends, from patriotic militarism to corporate neoliberalism.
The Cognitive Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding may not make bright kids brighter, but it apparently does benefit the kids who could most use a boost.
Letter From the Editor: Where Culture Meets Conscience
Introducing Pacific Standard's October 2017 issue.
Political Deviance Is Still a Luxury Reserved for Male Candidates
Men are allowed to be mavericks, but women are expected to toe the party line.
'Only a Small Percent Actually Ventured Out to Slit Our Collective Throats With Their Votes'
On the nomination of Defense Attorney Larry Krasner for Philadelphia city district attorney.
The Myth Behind Painkilling Lettuce
Some doctors' manuals from the 19th century do list Lactuca virosa as a pain reliever, but there's little evidence that it works.
Smarter Kids Are More Open to Experimentation With Drugs and Alcohol
A study found that 11-year-olds who demonstrated medium or high academic ability were more likely to smoke cannabis at ages 18 to 20.
Stalled Out: How Social Bias Is Segregating America's Bathrooms
Public restrooms are sparking moral panic nationwide, and not for the first time. What, exactly, makes shared bathrooms so ripe for controversy? And what can we do about it?