Large language models (LLMs), which can generate and score text in human-like ways, have the potential to advance psychological measurement, experimentation and practice. In this Perspective, Demszky and colleagues describe how LLMs work, concerns about using them for psychological purposes, and how these concerns might be addressed.

Large language models show remarkable capacities, but it is unclear what abstractions support their behaviour. Methods from developmental psychology can help researchers to understand the representations used by these models, complementing standard computational approaches — and perhaps leading to insights about the nature of mind.

Mental disorder classification provides a definitional framework that underlies applied clinical and research efforts to understand, assess, predict, prevent and ameliorate the burden of psychopathology. In this Review, Eaton et al. describe transdiagnostic dimensional, network and clinical staging approaches to classification and consider their strengths, their limitations, and their scientific and clinical utility.

Responses to potentially traumatic events go beyond the typical binary classification based on the presence or absence of psychopathology. In this Review, Bonanno et al. describe multiple outcome trajectories following adversity and consider how the different components of regulatory flexibility can promote resilience.

Peer review for a narrative review article can be quite different from the process for an empirical manuscript. We demystify the aims of and procedures for peer review at Nature Reviews Psychology.

Minoritized doctoral students are subject to cultural taxation — disproportionate expectations and obligations based on their race or ethnicity — that negatively impacts their PhD studies. Faculty members and departments should counteract this taxation to support students of colour.

The current system of peer review drives racial and gender disparities in publication and funding outcomes and can suppress the perspectives of marginalized scholars. Established researchers have an opportunity to help to build a fairer and more inclusive peer review culture by advocating for and empowering their trainees.

Who will achieve high marks in school, flourish in their career or become an Olympian? Current theories of achievement provide answers that are intuitively appealing but scientifically flawed. Consequently, most of what people believe about how to achieve success is likely to be incorrect.