Maia Szalavitz
Maia Szalavitz is a neuroscience journalist. Her next book, Unbroken Brain, will explore why addiction is best viewed as a developmental disorder and what this means for treatment and policy.
People Who Take Opioid Painkillers Are Getting Screwed Thanks to Coronavirus
Co-published with Vice. Pain patients who take opioids face numerous barriers to accessing adequate medication amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Net Worth v Self Worth: Do We All Need Inequality Therapy?
Co-published with The Guardian. Inequality isn’t just changing the way we deal with economics – it’s perversely altering how we see ourselves and what we value.
Takers or Makers? How Americans Decide Who ‘Deserves’ a Safety Net
Co-published with The Guardian. It’s about to get worse for those needing help as the Trump administration tightens access to all sorts of benefits.
Why We’re Psychologically Hardwired to Blame the Victim
Co-published with The Guardian. We want the world to be fair: the good will be rewarded, the evil punished. As a result, we blame the victims of misfortune.
What’s Behind Rich People Pretending to be Self-Made?
Co-published with The Guardian. Americans reflexively link hard work with reward, but what happens as the two become ever more disconnected?
The Surprising Factors Driving Murder Rates: Income Inequality and Respect
Co-published with The Guardian. Inequality predicts homicide rates ‘better than any other variable’, says an expert – and it is linked to a highly developed concern for one’s own status.
Today’s Political Uncertainty is Affecting Your Health
Co-published with The Guardian. Americans are exposed to one of the most damaging sources of stress: uncertainty. The assault on our fundamental sense of security can make us sick.
If We Don’t Focus On Why People Overeat, We Will Never Solve Obesity
Co-published with the Guardian. Emotional, physical or sexual abuse can lie at root of weight problems in later life and, unless targeted, taxes on food types will be cruel to those who self-medicate
Why Social Capital Could Be the Key to Solving America’s Overdose Epidemic
Co-published with The Guardian. Researchers are exploring how community, connection and trust could help protect society’s most vulnerable.
Why Do We Think Poor People are Poor Because of Their Own Bad Choices?
Co-published with The Guardian. If an unexpected medical emergency bankrupts you, you view yourself as a victim of bad fortune – while seeing other bankruptcy court clients as spendthrifts. Why?
Air Rage: Why Does Flying Make Us so Angry? Science Says it’s About Class
Co-published with The Guardian. Rise in acts of plane-related violence shed light on something bigger: modern air travel is a perfect example of a situation in which human status is highly visible.
The Feds Are About to Stick It to Pain Patients in a Big Way
Co-published with VICE. Doctors are already getting spooked out of prescribing painkillers, and new rules could make life in some of America's struggling communities even worse.