➕ How do you feel about the British Empire? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
The Conversation

Personality disorders have entered common vocabulary, with even school children calling each other “narcissists”. But how do you know whether someone actually has a personality disorder?

While we don’t recommend trying to diagnose people, research analysing everything from real-life conversations to social media posts suggests you may be able to spot personality dysfunction from someone’s everyday word use. No single word or phrase reveals someone’s personality, but there are red flags to look for.

How do you feel about the British empire? New research has revealed the breadth of opinion among British people about their country’s imperial past and how it links to voting behaviour – with some important lessons for politicians.

And if you’re looking forward to catching up on some shuteye this festive period, we’ve bad news for you: Christmas is particularly bad for your sleep. Luckily there are things you can do to ensure you feel more refreshed (at least until you stay up to midnight on New Year’s Eve).


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Miriam Frankel

Senior Editor, Science Insights

Khosro/Shutterstock

People with personality disorders often use language differently – our research reveals how

Charlotte Entwistle, University of Liverpool

Words reflecting anger and swearing are more common in people with personality dysfunction.

A reproduction of a postcard marking empire day celebrations in Bristol in 1912. Shutterstock/Igor Golovniov

Study shows views of British empire shape voting behaviour – but in subtle ways

Christopher Claassen, University of Glasgow

Imperial nostalgia correlates strongly with support beyond the main parties: positively with Reform and negatively with the Greens.

RTimages/Alamy

​The ​1​2 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep​ – and how to fix it

Clare Anderson, University of Birmingham

Christmas disrupts sleep more than any other time of year. Here are 12 hidden culprits and how to beat them.

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