Today's Essential Reads Today's Essentials

Happiness

Adventures in Gratitude

By Abigail Fagan on November 13, 2018 in Brainstorm

Author A.J. Jacobs explores the benefits of being thankful.

Philosophy

A Universe Made for Us? Some Philosophy and Physics

By David P. Barash Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Pura Vida

According to some experts, the physical constants of the universe shows that it was made, somehow, for us. Others disagree.

Media

The Surprising Downside of Instagram Compliments

By Renee Engeln Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Beauty Sick

Research shows that reading compliments about appearance made on other people's Instagram posts can make you feel worse about your own body.

Evolutionary Psychology

The Beauty of Human Imperfection

By Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Beastly Behavior

Of all the species that have ever walked the earth, we may be the most flawed, but we are certainly the most beautiful.

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Work

Stressing? Proactively Attack Root Causes

By Thomas S Bateman D.B.A. on November 13, 2018 in Getting Proactive

You already know the standard recommendations for dealing with stress. But you're probably still stressing. Here are more proactive ways to cope.

Resilience

Self-Care In Your Pocket

By Elana Premack Sandler L.C.S.W., M.P.H on November 13, 2018 in Promoting Hope, Preventing Suicide

Not everyone can do green juice, yoga, and a 30-day sabbatical. This text-based reminder helps you fit self-care into your daily life.

Therapy

Can One’s Sexuality Be “Cured”?

By American Psychoanalytic Association on November 13, 2018 in Psychoanalysis Unplugged

If you're struggling with your sexuality, seek out therapists that offer neutrality and openness.

Animal Behavior

How Important Is the Animal In Animal-Assisted Therapy?

By Hal Herzog Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Animals and Us

Yale University researchers report that free play with therapy dogs enhances the well-being of stressed out kids.

Self-Help

Back to Human: A Book Review

By Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Lifetime Connections

Getting “Back to Human” is an important goal and the book provides a blueprint for understanding ways that you can do just that.

Relationships

Three’s Company: The Fantasy and Reality of Sexual Threesome

By Noam Shpancer Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Insight Therapy

The ‘threesome,’ is a notion that seems to reside on the hyphen between excitement and trepidation, between problem and solution, adventurousness and carelessness.

Resilience

Beware the Absolutes!

By Kate F. Hays Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in The Edge: Peak Performance Psychology

Sometimes our basic mental performance techniques—positive thoughts, goal setting, imagery, tension management, and self-talk—need adjusting.

Cognition

3 Healthy Lies We Tell Ourselves

By Joe Pierre M.D. on November 13, 2018 in Psych Unseen

When and why is self-deception associated with mental health?

Animal Behavior

An Essential and Critical Overview of Animal Studies 

By Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Animal Emotions

Wesleyan professor Lori Gruen's edited book "Critical Terms for Animal Studies" is a must read for everyone interested in the study of animal-human relationships.

Philosophy

“Sorry, I'm Gonna Have to Let You Go" as an Act of Bad Faith

By Jonathan D. Raskin, Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Making Meaning

Ever end a call by saying "I'm gonna have to let you go?" Let's examine why this is a small example of existential bad faith.

Parenting

Parenting Classes: Helpful at Any Age

By The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on November 13, 2018 in Evidence-Based Living

Research shows parenting courses are helpful for parents and kids of all ages.

Sex

Revolutionary to Retro: Reading, Then Meeting, Erica Jong

By Bella DePaulo Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Living Single

In the '70s, second-wave feminists like Erica Jong preached marriage plus career for all women, and tried to silence singles. Now we're loud, proud, and heard.

Addiction

When Someone You Love Relapses

By Sean Grover L.C.S.W. on November 13, 2018 in When Kids Call the Shots

3 ways to help yourself today.

Relationships

Is Silence Golden in Love?

By Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in In the Name of Love

Silence is sometimes golden in intimate relations. However, in profound love, silence is rather noisy and its sound is rather unpleasant.

Matthew Henry Unsplash

Mea Culpa

When people can’t admit that they’re wrong

I'm Never Wrong

Jumping to Conclusions

The Embarrassment of Hypocrisy

Why People Ignore Facts

Parenting

College Dreams Dashed

By John T. Chirban Ph.D, Th.D. on November 13, 2018 in Age of Un-Innocence

The rising number of suicides at college require parents and schools to reassess their plans.

Child Development

When a Parent Is a Child's Only Language Source

By Francois Grosjean Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Life as a Bilingual

Raising a bilingual child is a challenge when one parent is the only source of the second language. A father shares how he goes about it with his three-year old.

Sleep

4 Ways That Sleep Deprivation Can Harm Your Emotional Health

By Michael J Breus Ph.D. on November 13, 2018 in Sleep Newzzz

We all know, through experience, how sleep deprivation puts us on a short fuse: Lack of sleep makes you testy, irritable, and short-tempered.

Neuroscience

Can I Have a Hug? The Surprising Neuroscience of Embracing

By Sebastian Ocklenburg, Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in The Asymmetric Brain

We all need a hug sometimes, but science is only beginning to understand this fascinating behavior.

Psychiatry

10 Things Every Doctor Who Sees Kids Should Know About BFRBs

By Tara Peris Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Touchy Subject

Body-focused repetitive behaviors often go undiagnosed for years. Here's what every doctor who treats children should know about spotting and treating these disorders.

Education

We Dismiss Higher Education to Our Own Detriment

By Glenn Geher Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Darwin's Subterranean World

Our nation is burning. Literally. Like it or not, higher education will be a key to addressing such critical issues as the California wildfires into the future. Here’s why.

Depression

It's Time to Stop Lying to Myself

By E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Black Belt Brain

For years after my car crash I carried on in my life just as before with a brain that wasn't just as before. This was a straight path to depression and dysfunction.

Politics

How Not to Fall Apart When the World Is

By Judy Carter on November 12, 2018 in Stress Is a Laughing Matter

An extremely scary thing happened to me that should be a warning to all of us who are repelled by the outbreak of all the recent mounting hate and violence. I realized that...

Media

Does “Instagram-itis” Wreck Your Holiday Spirit?

By Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. on November 12, 2018 in Positively Media

Instagram is a great place to get holiday ideas.  It’s also a great place to beat yourself up with unrealistic expectations. Here's some tips on how to combat Holiday Dread.

Parenting

Why Do Young Children Commit Suicide?

By Marilyn A. Mendoza Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Understanding Grief

The reasons why some children want to die.

Parenting

Is Your Child a High Achiever?

By Brian D. Johnson, Ph.D. and Laurie Berdahl, M.D. on November 12, 2018 in Warning Signs for Parents

We want kids to succeed in school and activities. But high achievement goals and expectations can lead to harmful perfectionism. Knowing warning signs and what to do helps.

Environment

False Choices: Should Science or Values Take Priority?

By Chris Kutarna Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Age of Discovery

Here is what I value, and here is the evidence that helps explain why it’s good.

Health

Cultivating Gratitude while Living with Chronic Illness

By Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LMSW on November 12, 2018 in Chronically Me

Gratitude is the buzz word for November. Giving thanks is a powerful tool for better health!

Work

Segment Theory for Time Management

By Tara Well Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in The Clarity

Want to get more done? Try this new approach and find the sweet spot between structure and freedom.

Self-Help

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

By Erin Leonard Ph.D. on November 12, 2018 in Peaceful Parenting

Being emotionally invested while maintaining a logical perspective is key to both healthy relationships and good decision making. Here's how to do it.

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