Relationships

Kindness is always a good idea. As Aesop said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

By Yara Simón

As many as one in five engagements end before the couples ever marry. So who walks away with the engagement ring when nobody walks down the aisle?

By Naomi Cahn & Julia D. Mahoney

More and more couples seem to be opting to sleep in separate beds or even separate bedrooms. But is this necessarily a bad thing, or could it be saving countless relationships?

By Alia Hoyt & Yara Simón

We all think we know what it means, but is it possible that a monogamous relationship is a bit more complicated than we think it is?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad" is a famous quote by baseball player Wade Boggs and lots of men have passed both tests. Learn more about these famous fathers and their offspring with our quiz.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

Much to the shock of kids everywhere, moms are people too! Take this quiz to test your knowledge of all types of mothers, from record-holders to renowned to notorious.

By Alia Hoyt

Been together for years and assume you are common-law married? Better check the law in your state.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Matchmakers have paired up couples for centuries, and it doesn't seem as though laxer social rules and online dating has slackened their market. From traditional shadchans to professional Cupids, what does the modern matchmaker do?

By Cristen Conger & Kathryn Whitbourne

A New York lawyer divorced his wife a few months after marriage without her knowing. They lived together a further 20 years. Don't try this at home.

By Dave Roos

It's kinda tricky, but when you combine positive body image with significant public selfie sharing, it can create a feedback loop with implications for relationships.

By Laurie L. Dove

One boyfriend or a bunch of boyfriends? Conventional wisdom asserts that women prefer one mate at a time, but mammals in general are rarely monogamous. Can an evolutionary perspective help clarify some things?

By Colleen Cancio

The news is filled with a never-ending stream of tragedy and cruelty, but also with gestures and acts meant to improve the lives of others -- and the world. Here are 10 of our favorites.

By Maria Trimarchi

When horrific events such as school shootings and terrorist attacks happen, they're covered non-stop in the media. You can't shield your child from every mention of tragedies 24/7, so what's the best way to discuss sensitive subjects?

By Maria Trimarchi

You know these people. They dart in front of you when you're checking out at the store. They cut you off on the highway with nary a signal. Are they just jerks, or could something else be going on with them?

By Kate Kershner

When famous people are caught in torrid romantic entanglements, it's not just tabloid fodder. It also can put a hard stop on career ambitions for both parties.

By Jacob Clifton

Like niche cousins of life coaches, parenting coaches serve as support hotlines for parents to strategize common challenges such as toilet training and attachment issues. But do these mentors really make a difference?

By Cristen Conger

Kids' temper tantrums and their accompanying sobs, screams and whines can be stressful for parents -- and embarrassing when they occur in public. Do these outbursts point to poor parenting skills, or are they a natural part of growing up?

By Cristen Conger

Neurologist-turned-shrink Sigmund Freud formulated theories of childhood development that others have spun into practical parenting advice. What would the groundbreaking psychoanalyst have to say about today's child rearing methods?

By Cristen Conger

Since the late 1700s, U.S. moms have been regarded as the gatekeepers of the nation's future, but the constructs, demographics and social values related to motherhood have changed a great deal. What's it like to be a mom today?

By Cristen Conger

Even if your family budget does not leave room for luxuries such as college application coaches, you may still be guilty of overparenting. How do you know if it's time to step back?

By Cristen Conger

Famous moms are everywhere these days. Every website and tabloid showcases the babies of celebrities. But the 10 mothers we're featuring were world-changers as well.

By Cristen Conger

Homosexuality has become increasingly accepted, yet social resistance to gay parenting still simmers, often hinging on bygone stereotypes. What myths can scientific evidence dispel about same-sex parents?

By Cristen Conger

Being famous doesn't make you a good parent - some of these fathers wouldn't really deserve a Dad of the Year award. Still, each of the dads on this list is a fascinating case study in how living in the spotlight mixes with raising kids.

By Cristen Conger

Going back to antiquity, lust arguably has gotten short shrift, thanks to its well-known association with the Seven Deadly Sins. Yet, without lust the human species would've died off a long, long time ago. How does it help promote long-term mating?

By Cristen Conger

In the face of heartbreak, music can offer incomparable solace. But is listening to breakup songs just a self-indulgent exercise in sappiness? Or does it actually possess pain-mitigating properties?

By Cristen Conger