Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Essential Reads

The Faulty Foundation of Higher Education

By Todd Rose, Ed.D., and Ogi Ogas, Ph.D. on February 19, 2016 in The Science of the Individual

There is a profound flaw at the heart of higher education, one rooted in the misplaced faith in the power of the average, a flaw that guarantees college education will be unfair.

Animal Behavior

Bonobos Publicly Protest Unfair and Unexpected Treatment

By Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on February 19, 2016 in Animal Emotions

Exciting new research shows that these intelligent and emotional great apes have social expectations about how they should be treated and vocally protest when treated unfairly.

Photo by Volkan Olmez. Copyright free. Unsplash.com

Relationships

Five Things Everyone Should Know About Verbal Aggression

By Peg Streep on February 19, 2016 in Tech Support

The lasting effects of verbal abuse shouldn't be understated. What science knows and you should too.

Cognition

Politicians' Body Language Should Be Natural, Not Coached

By Richard E. Cytowic M.D. on February 18, 2016 in The Fallible Mind

Body language broadcasts more than people realize. Politicians try hard not to say what’s really on their mind, but sometimes they might as well be naked on the stage.

The Latest

Addiction

Adult Children of Alcoholics

By Ann Smith on February 19, 2016 in Healthy Connections

Although we cannot change the past or the people we love, healing and recovery are possible with support and guidance.

Depression

"Blues in the Night"

By Saul Levine M.D. on February 19, 2016 in Our Emotional Footprint

Who has not felt utterly sad at some points in their lives? We all go through these feelings, sometimes due to serious challenges, or existential angst, or a clinical depression.

Self-Help

Irrational vs. Rational Guilt

By Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on February 19, 2016 in Fixing Families

Guilt is the big wagging finger that can forever nag us. But there's two types -- rational and irrational. Here's how to tell the difference and put irrational guilt to rest.

Happiness

Being Positive: It’s Not Mindfulness, It’s Savoring

By Ryan M. Niemiec Psy.D. on February 19, 2016 in What Matters Most?

Mindfulness and savoring are different concepts. Understand this important distinction between the two.

"My Stamp Collection Book Opened," Itchys, Commons.wikimedia.org

Stress

11 Weird, Fun, and Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

By Meg Selig on February 19, 2016 in Changepower

These 11 stress-reducers may seem odd, but they are effective and easy to integrate into your daily life. Add them to your collection of stress-relievers!

Neuroscience

Synchronized Brain Activity and Superfluidity Are Symbiotic

By Christopher Bergland on February 19, 2016 in The Athlete's Way

A new study has pinpointed how synchronized brain waves coordinate the function of various brain regions. The synchronization of various brain waves is the key to peak performance.

Parenting

TBH: A Free Pass for Tween Mean?

By Jennifer Powell-Lunder Psy.D. on February 19, 2016 in Let's Talk Tween

A call for ‘TBH’ (aka To be honest) or a request for a ‘rating’ (usually from one to ten) opens kids up to receive derogatory comments and criticism.

Personality

5 Things Real-Life Psychopaths Do

By Amy Morin on February 19, 2016 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Real-life psychopaths don't always look like they do in the movies.

Therapy

Robert Berezin on the Psychotherapy of Character

By Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on February 19, 2016 in Rethinking Mental Health

The future of mental health interview series continues with Robert Berezin on the psychotherapy of character.

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Misconceptions

By Douglas G Jacobs M.D. on February 19, 2016 in Screening for Health

Treatment for eating disorders is effective. Here's what you need to know.

Relationships

Ease Relationship Tension by Recognizing Anger or Emphasis

By Suzanne Lachmann Psy.D. on February 19, 2016 in Me Before We

When you and your partner misinterpret each other’s expressions of excitement or intensity, it can evoke frustration. Then what started out as emphasis can escalate into anger.

Courtesy of the Children's Museum of Phoenix

Child Development

Why We Need Children's Museums

By Richard Rende Ph.D. on February 19, 2016 in Inside Parenting

Young kids lives are over-scheduled, over-structured and over-supervised. Where else can they roam unattended, explore how they want, and touch and manipulate without critique?

Addiction

Who’s Really Getting Us Addicted to Technology?

By Nir Eyal on February 19, 2016 in Automatic You

There are four people conspiring to keep you connected and they may not be whom you’d expect.

Ethics and Morality

Is Honesty Really the Best Policy?

By Marty Nemko Ph.D. on February 19, 2016 in How To Do Life

A short-story story about a liar who always prevailed and what I'd say to him.

Work

How to Resolve Conflict With an App

By Peter T. Coleman Ph.D. on February 18, 2016 in The Five Percent

Most of what you have learned about conflict resolution is wrong. However, a new, free, interactive app offers strategies for handling disagreements up and down the food chain.

Relationships

Sex & Intimacy

By Mark Banschick M.D. on February 18, 2016 in The Intelligent Divorce

Are sexual relationships lacking in intimacy a much better option? Or, can you have both?

Social Life

How to Review a Book

By Joachim I Krueger Ph.D. on February 18, 2016 in One Among Many

You know that Oprah didn’t read all those books on her list. She’s a businesswoman, not a book reviewer. In this post, I offer a few pointers on how to become the latter.

Relationships

15 Ways to Show Your Besties That You Love ’Em

By Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on February 18, 2016 in Lifetime Connections

If you want to kick some fun into the trailing weeks of winter, why not do something cool to show your friends who much you love them?

Relationships

How to Protect Your Love From the Battle of the Sexes

By Shawn T. Smith Psy.D. on February 18, 2016 in Ironshrink

The world gives us reasons aplenty to be angry at the opposite sex. Anger can feel good, but there’s a brighter path to happiness.

Resilience

The Power of Seeing Ourselves in Literature

By Ariel Gore on February 18, 2016 in Women and Happiness

Young Latinas and queer youth need more stories "told by us about us" to provide hope and to help each other survive. Ariel Gore interviews novelist Gabby Rivera.

Parenting

They've Been Robbed

By Dena Kouremetis on February 18, 2016 in The Unedited Offspring

Self esteem is not a product of being handed something ...

Psych Careers

The Secret Weapon of Political Campaigns

By Jonathan Golding, PhD and Anne Lippert, PhD on February 18, 2016 in Careers in Psych

How does psychology help politicians get ahead? Your vote may have been cast because of psychological tactics.

Stress

Let the Kids Sleep

By Stephen Gray Wallace on February 18, 2016 in Decisions Teens Make

New data links stressed and drowsy teenagers to dangers and disorders.

Addiction

Dancing in Denial: What It's Like and How to Stop It

By Fran Simone Ph.D. on February 18, 2016 in A Family Affair

Is denial in your relationship with a loved one making your crazy?

Neuroscience

Is Outwitting Your Cerebellum the Secret to Overcoming Fear?

By Christopher Bergland on February 18, 2016 in The Athlete's Way

Facing your fears head on expands your world on a neurobiological level. But how? New research suggests that outsmarting your cerebellum may be the key to overcoming fear.