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Neuroscience

Why Scratching Itches and Grabbing Injuries Reduces Discomfort

Eric Haseltine Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Long Fuse, Big Bang

Learn why you keep scratching that itch despite being told not to.

Learn why you keep scratching that itch despite being told not to.

Emotional Validation

The Psychology of Feeling Heard

Kim Samuel on December 11, 2025 in The Power of Belonging

People today are yearning for the experience of being understood. Satisfying this need is key to healing an age of anger and isolation.

People today are yearning for the experience of being understood. Satisfying this need is key to healing an age of anger and isolation.

Philosophy

What Plato Understood About Your Deepest Beliefs

Chester H. Sunde, Psy.D. on December 11, 2025 in Platonic Psychology

Cognitive therapy identifies core beliefs. But how do you evaluate them? Plato offered a criterion sharper than "adaptive": one that clinicians can use today.

Cognitive therapy identifies core beliefs. But how do you evaluate them? Plato offered a criterion sharper than "adaptive": one that clinicians can use today.

Relationships

You Don’t Have to Be Fully Healed to Love Again

Claudia Six Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in It's Never About Sex

You don’t need to be “fully healed” to love again. Healing happens in relationship when you notice patterns, stay true to yourself, and choose presence over perfection.

You don’t need to be “fully healed” to love again. Healing happens in relationship when you notice patterns, stay true to yourself, and choose presence over perfection.

Loneliness

Reconnecting Our Communities

Tyler J. VanderWeele Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Human Flourishing

Some neglected aspects of "our epidemic of loneliness and isolation."

Some neglected aspects of "our epidemic of loneliness and isolation."

Parenting

18 Mental-Health Discussion Starters for Kids Home From College

Mia Nosanow MA, LP on December 11, 2025 in College Mental Health

Showing genuine care for students’ mental health—and asking open, respectful questions at the right time—can build trust and connection.

Showing genuine care for students’ mental health—and asking open, respectful questions at the right time—can build trust and connection.

Workplace Dynamics

Why Companies Keep Choosing Diversity Strategies That Fail

David P. Daniels Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Behavioral Insights

The problem is managers' flawed intuitions: "good" diversity strategies can feel too "bad" to use (and vice-versa).

The problem is managers' flawed intuitions: "good" diversity strategies can feel too "bad" to use (and vice-versa).

Friends

Going Home for the Holidays? 5 Tips to Make the Trip More Fun

Geoffrey Greif Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Buddy System

You can minimize conflict and maximize joy during the holidays by being prepared and taking a breath.

You can minimize conflict and maximize joy during the holidays by being prepared and taking a breath.

Trauma

7 Lessons a Hitman Teaches Us About Violence and Healing

Sigifredo Castell Britton Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Emotional Origins of Violence

A restorative encounter uncovers the hidden wounds behind a violent life and what it truly takes to begin healing.

A restorative encounter uncovers the hidden wounds behind a violent life and what it truly takes to begin healing.

Happiness

3 Proven Habits That Boost Happiness Fast

Emma Seppälä Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Feeling It

Three irrefutably powerful, science-backed methods can lift your spirits and enhance resilience even in tough times.

Three irrefutably powerful, science-backed methods can lift your spirits and enhance resilience even in tough times.

Health

Belonging as a Framework for Health

Kristen A. Carter MS on December 11, 2025 in Health and Human Nature

Belonging isn’t just about warm and fuzzy feelings. It’s about health and well-being.

Belonging isn’t just about warm and fuzzy feelings. It’s about health and well-being.

Self-Talk

Harness the Potential of Self-Talk Strategies

Vernita Perkins, PhD and Leonard A. Jason, PhD on December 11, 2025 in The Mental Health Revolution

Your self-talk can be a powerful resource to discover hidden strengths and overcome obstacles you previously gave up on.

Your self-talk can be a powerful resource to discover hidden strengths and overcome obstacles you previously gave up on.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Surviving Childhood Abandonment by a Parent

Annie Tanasugarn Ph.D., CCTSA on December 11, 2025 in Understanding PTSD

Experiences of early betrayal or abandonment can predispose us to feelings of hyper-vigilance in our romantic relationships.

Experiences of early betrayal or abandonment can predispose us to feelings of hyper-vigilance in our romantic relationships.

Empathy

How to Recognize and Reduce "Empathic Personal Distress"

Bernard Golden, Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Overcoming Destructive Anger

Empathic personal distress stems from empathy gone awry. It arises from confusion of boundaries—feeling the pain of another rather than feeling for their pain.

Empathic personal distress stems from empathy gone awry. It arises from confusion of boundaries—feeling the pain of another rather than feeling for their pain.

Animal Behavior

Of Fur and Friendship

Tara Ceranic Salinas, Ph.D., and Ed Love Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in The Problem With...

Our animals boost our mood and motivations, and break our hearts when they’re gone

Our animals boost our mood and motivations, and break our hearts when they’re gone

Relationships

2 Habits That Could Be Holding Back Your Love Life

Mark Travers Ph.D. on December 11, 2025 in Social Instincts

How to create more space for love in your life.

How to create more space for love in your life.

Psychopathy

Do Psychopaths Experience Fear?

Winifred Rule on December 11, 2025 in Surviving the Female Psychopath

The psychopath is pictured as callous, unemotional, impulsive, and fearless. While a psychopath may seem fearless, it does not mean they are not fearful as well.

The psychopath is pictured as callous, unemotional, impulsive, and fearless. While a psychopath may seem fearless, it does not mean they are not fearful as well.

Dementia

Does Tinnitus Cause Dementia?

Hamid Djalilian M.D. on December 10, 2025 in Sound Mind

Despite the headlines, tinnitus does not cause dementia. The problem is that it can cause a form of cognitive impairment. Learn how to tell the difference and what to do about it.

Despite the headlines, tinnitus does not cause dementia. The problem is that it can cause a form of cognitive impairment. Learn how to tell the difference and what to do about it.

Boundaries

Setting Limits for Twentysomethings

Ekaterina Ricci MDR/MLS on December 10, 2025 in Solutions for Conflict

Struggling to set boundaries in your twenties? Here’s how limits and consequences can protect your energy, reduce stress, and strengthen your relationships.

Struggling to set boundaries in your twenties? Here’s how limits and consequences can protect your energy, reduce stress, and strengthen your relationships.

Therapy

Talking Mental Health With Your Primary Care Doctor

Lance Garrison, Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Collaborative Care

By bringing mental health into the conversation during routine primary care visits, patients can take a more proactive and integrated approach to their overall well-being.

By bringing mental health into the conversation during routine primary care visits, patients can take a more proactive and integrated approach to their overall well-being.

Relationships

Want to Deepen Your Connection and Sexual Satisfaction?

Suzie Pileggi Pawelski, MAPP and James Pawelski, Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Happy Together

Want to increase your connection? Skip the usual gifts and try this instead.

Want to increase your connection? Skip the usual gifts and try this instead.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

When Hospitality Hides Loneliness

Hans Rocha IJzerman Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Body, Meet Mind

In Türkiye, economic hardship—more so than social skills—drives loneliness. Many reframe solitude as growth and connection as extending beyond humans to nature and places.

In Türkiye, economic hardship—more so than social skills—drives loneliness. Many reframe solitude as growth and connection as extending beyond humans to nature and places.

Emotions

The Rise of the Vibe

Roger Kreuz Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Small Talk and Big Questions

What matters more — feelings or facts? The increasingly common use of "vibe" may provide a clue.

What matters more — feelings or facts? The increasingly common use of "vibe" may provide a clue.

Spirituality

"Spiritual but Not Religious"? Are You Sure?

Alfie Kohn on December 10, 2025 in The Homework Myth

Personal Perspective: Non-religious people may call themselves spiritual just because they don't realize that atheists, too, are moved by natural beauty and cosmic mysteries.

Personal Perspective: Non-religious people may call themselves spiritual just because they don't realize that atheists, too, are moved by natural beauty and cosmic mysteries.

Friends

A Surprising Secret to Maintaining Friendships

Marisa G. Franco Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Platonic Love

To keep our friendships sustainable over the long term, we should think of them as flexible not fragile. Here's what that means and how it can help you.

To keep our friendships sustainable over the long term, we should think of them as flexible not fragile. Here's what that means and how it can help you.

Trauma

When Trauma Looks Like ADHD

Jeanette Yoffe M.A., LMFT on December 10, 2025 in The Inner Life of Foster Care

Trauma can look like ADHD, but symptoms often derive from a child’s survival system, not a condition. Safety, regulation, and observation must come before considering medication.

Trauma can look like ADHD, but symptoms often derive from a child’s survival system, not a condition. Safety, regulation, and observation must come before considering medication.

Confidence

Tired of Faking It? How to Finally Feel Confident

Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in The Psychology of Relationships

Most people try to perform confidence, only to feel exhausted and unseen. Real confidence is quieter, truer, and the key to choosing love that actually fits.

Most people try to perform confidence, only to feel exhausted and unseen. Real confidence is quieter, truer, and the key to choosing love that actually fits.

Politics

America’s Nervous System Is Fried

Jesse Finkelstein PsyD on December 10, 2025 in Finding Your Wise Mind

We can’t fix polarization until we calm down.

We can’t fix polarization until we calm down.

Burnout

From Burnout to Belonging

Ryan C. Warner Ph.D. on December 10, 2025 in Leadership, Diversity, and Wellness

Small, consistent acts of workplace appreciation can boost engagement, reduce burnout, and create a culture where employees truly thrive.

Small, consistent acts of workplace appreciation can boost engagement, reduce burnout, and create a culture where employees truly thrive.