Recent Posts

On Being John: The Fascinating History of a Popular Name

Ever wonder how the name "John" became associated with toilets, prostitution and unknown persons? Explore John’s fascinating and multifunctional history.

Ever wonder how the name "John" became associated with toilets, prostitution and unknown persons? Explore John’s fascinating and multifunctional history.

A Unique Crime: What Fraud Reveals About Ourselves

How does fraud differ from murder, rape, and theft? What does the criminalization of fraud teach us about society? The answers may surprise you.

How does fraud differ from murder, rape, and theft? What does the criminalization of fraud teach us about society? The answers may surprise you.

The Violence Link

It's common knowledge that violent perpetrators often practice on animals before "graduating" to humans. But is it true? Recent research shows us the violence link is more complicated.

It's common knowledge that violent perpetrators often practice on animals before "graduating" to humans. But is it true? Recent research shows us the violence link is more complicated.

Music and Violence: Songs That Inspired Infamy

Although song writers don't intend to inspire murder, some killers nevertheless have found a sense of identity and a license to act in certain song lyrics.

Although song writers don't intend to inspire murder, some killers nevertheless have found a sense of identity and a license to act in certain song lyrics.

Spotting Domestic Violence in the Workplace

Signs and symptoms of domestic violence in the workplace are visible if we know what to look for and where to look.

Signs and symptoms of domestic violence in the workplace are visible if we know what to look for and where to look.

Cyberstalking and the Role of Mental Health Professionals

A client is afraid to go home alone because she is being cyberstalked. What strategies and resources may be most helpful?

A client is afraid to go home alone because she is being cyberstalked. What strategies and resources may be most helpful?

Is "Suits LA" a Legal Drama or Family Drama?

"Suits LA" takes a deep dive into unresolved father-son relationships, as characters’ ambitions and struggles are driven more by paternal wounds than courtroom strategies.

"Suits LA" takes a deep dive into unresolved father-son relationships, as characters’ ambitions and struggles are driven more by paternal wounds than courtroom strategies.

Psychology in Criminal Investigation

Tunnel vision and cognitive tunneling are psychological processes that can have very negative effects on criminal investigation, as well as in many other areas of life.

Tunnel vision and cognitive tunneling are psychological processes that can have very negative effects on criminal investigation, as well as in many other areas of life.

How Businesses Can Address Domestic Violence

When domestic abuse victims come to work, workplace policies can prevent violence from coming with them.

When domestic abuse victims come to work, workplace policies can prevent violence from coming with them.

When Domestic Abuse Is Disclosed at Work

Victims of abuse at home often disclose it at work. Here is how it typically happens.

Victims of abuse at home often disclose it at work. Here is how it typically happens.

Deadly Blind Spots: How Murder-Suicide Risks Get Missed

Murder-suicide often stuns everyone who knew the perpetrator and the family involved. Here's why the risk of murder-suicide tends to fly under the radar until it's too late.

Murder-suicide often stuns everyone who knew the perpetrator and the family involved. Here's why the risk of murder-suicide tends to fly under the radar until it's too late.

5 Practical Ways to De-Escalate Emotional Distress

How do you manage individuals in distress? Research and practical experience provide some guidance.

How do you manage individuals in distress? Research and practical experience provide some guidance.

5 Ways Predators Target Kids

Predators who seek children, whether as prey or accomplices, have strategies that parents can identify and thwart.

Predators who seek children, whether as prey or accomplices, have strategies that parents can identify and thwart.

Follow the Law and Say No More?

When the ethical and legal duties of mental health professionals conflict.

When the ethical and legal duties of mental health professionals conflict.

Serial Killers and the Inner Dinosaur

An understanding of brain evolution may prove useful in the development of research in forensic psychology, including research on the behavior of serial killers.

An understanding of brain evolution may prove useful in the development of research in forensic psychology, including research on the behavior of serial killers.

Imprinted for Violence? How Biology and Beliefs Mold Killers

Humans are biologically programmed for violence. Lorenz’s ethology reveals how imprinting, instincts, and group aggression shape radicalization, school shooters, and terrorists.

Humans are biologically programmed for violence. Lorenz’s ethology reveals how imprinting, instincts, and group aggression shape radicalization, school shooters, and terrorists.

One Hundred Murders Staged as Suicides

A murder staged as a suicide is the second most common staging scene and one that can easily be missed. Here are some lessons I've learned after researching over 100 of them.

A murder staged as a suicide is the second most common staging scene and one that can easily be missed. Here are some lessons I've learned after researching over 100 of them.

Spotting a Child Predator: The Brightest Red Flags

Child predators exhibit specific types of behavior more often. Research reveals what to look for.

Child predators exhibit specific types of behavior more often. Research reveals what to look for.

What Twins Need to Know About Mixed Credit Reports

You may be surprised to learn that twins are more likely than anyone else to receive mixed-credit reports.

You may be surprised to learn that twins are more likely than anyone else to receive mixed-credit reports.

3 Reasons We Love True Crime and Unsolved Mysteries

In uncertain times, true crime provides a way to process real-world anxieties in a structured narrative, offering both excitement and a sense of control.

In uncertain times, true crime provides a way to process real-world anxieties in a structured narrative, offering both excitement and a sense of control.

Insurance Can Deny Treatment When Patients Improve

Mental health issues require ongoing treatment, greater investment, and long-term support.

Mental health issues require ongoing treatment, greater investment, and long-term support.

The Dirty Harry Effect and Social Learning Theory

The choice of weapons used by terrorists and murderers may depend less on tactical suitability than on psychological principles related to weapon prevalence in mass media.

The choice of weapons used by terrorists and murderers may depend less on tactical suitability than on psychological principles related to weapon prevalence in mass media.

Is Brainwashing Possible? Here's What History Says

Could "Big Brother" gaslight you into believing that "war is peace"? Sandra Newman's retelling of the novel 1984 offers a new opportunity to reflect on the limits of mind control.

Could "Big Brother" gaslight you into believing that "war is peace"? Sandra Newman's retelling of the novel 1984 offers a new opportunity to reflect on the limits of mind control.

Naming a Mental Health Practice: Legal Restrictions and Free Speech

Three licensed therapists open a practice and call it the Psychological Wellness Institute. Are they violating state law by suggesting they're psychologists?

Three licensed therapists open a practice and call it the Psychological Wellness Institute. Are they violating state law by suggesting they're psychologists?

The Unspoken Risk of Fraud in Rural America

Consumers in rural areas face unique scam vulnerabilities.

Consumers in rural areas face unique scam vulnerabilities.

Pitfalls to Detecting Deception

Accurate lie detection requires a nuanced understanding of human behavior.

Accurate lie detection requires a nuanced understanding of human behavior.

Unveiling the Enthymeme

The enthymeme is a powerful rhetorical tool to influence and persuade others. Here's what it is—and how it's used.

The enthymeme is a powerful rhetorical tool to influence and persuade others. Here's what it is—and how it's used.

Spotting Subtle Signs of Sex Trafficking

Concerned citizens can become integral parts of the fight against human trafficking through education and observation.

Concerned citizens can become integral parts of the fight against human trafficking through education and observation.

A Keeper of Lost Causes

An attorney who defends social outcasts reveals the psychological factors in winning uphill battles.

An attorney who defends social outcasts reveals the psychological factors in winning uphill battles.

How to Recognize and Prevent Child Sex Trafficking

Child trafficking victims have less life experience than adults, but exhibit plenty of red flags. We need to know where to look.

Child trafficking victims have less life experience than adults, but exhibit plenty of red flags. We need to know where to look.