If you were rewarded for following a particular pattern of behavior, wouldn't you keep doing it? The answer turns out to be ...

If you hold a small water balloon between your two hands and squeeze one side, the water has to go somewhere. This is a lovely global metaphor, as it is perfectly descriptive of the human experience.

Why do people find themselves repeating the same patterns—whether in relationships, work, or emotional reactions—despite conscious efforts to change? The question is familiar, and the answers are ...

This article originally appeared on ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.