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

Motivated Reasoning

What Causes Terrorism, Mental Illness or Ideological Belief?

Joe Pierre M.D. on December 7, 2023 in Psych Unseen

Racial bias and motivated reasoning drive causal attributions of terrorist violence.

Racial bias and motivated reasoning drive causal attributions of terrorist violence.

Cannabis

Lord Shiva and Cannabis: Destroyer and Creator

Timmen L. Cermak MD on December 6, 2023 in Healing from Addiction

Why is the Hindu god Shiva, Lord of Destruction and Creation, intimately associated with cannabis? My lifelong study of cannabis science offers an explanation.

Why is the Hindu god Shiva, Lord of Destruction and Creation, intimately associated with cannabis? My lifelong study of cannabis science offers an explanation.

Health

New Mental Health Guidelines from the World Health Organization

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Side Effects

Newly updated guidelines from the World Health Organization prioritize psychosocial treatments over pharmaceutical ones.

Newly updated guidelines from the World Health Organization prioritize psychosocial treatments over pharmaceutical ones.

Parenting

Small Problems, Big Feelings

Lawrence J. Cohen Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Playful Parenting

When we understand why children have giant feelings about tiny problems, we can have more empathy and understanding.

When we understand why children have giant feelings about tiny problems, we can have more empathy and understanding.

Marriage

The Marriage Effect—Everything Changes

Catherine Aponte Psy.D. on December 6, 2023 in A Marriage of Equals

The changing landscape of marriage requires that we learn to manage the changes that occur during the life of the relationship.

The changing landscape of marriage requires that we learn to manage the changes that occur during the life of the relationship.

Education

PISA 2022 Results for Students Sense of Belonging at School

Kelly-Ann Allen Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Sense of Belonging

Pivotal insights on school belonging from PISA 2022.

Pivotal insights on school belonging from PISA 2022.

Relapse

When a Loved One Relapses

Beverly Conyers on December 6, 2023 in Addict in the Family

A Personal Perspective: Relapse is common in the struggle for recovery.

A Personal Perspective: Relapse is common in the struggle for recovery.

Mindfulness

Leave Burnout Behind, Embrace the Enchantment of Now

Mitch Abblett Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Momentology

A Personal Perspective: Instead of meditating to improve yourself or reduce stress, how about mindfully learning to connect with this moment's magic?

A Personal Perspective: Instead of meditating to improve yourself or reduce stress, how about mindfully learning to connect with this moment's magic?

Authenticity

When You Don't Love the Season

Alli Spotts-De Lazzer, MA, LMFT, LPCC, CEDS-S on December 6, 2023 in MeaningFULL

Strategies for your complicated relationship with this time of year.

Strategies for your complicated relationship with this time of year.

Grief

Managing Grief During the Most Wonderful Time of Year

Amy Smith Ph.D., LMFT, CFLE on December 6, 2023 in Healthy Communication in Hard Situations

This time of year can be particularly challenging for those who are grieving. These tips can help you to successfully navigate the season after experiencing loss.

This time of year can be particularly challenging for those who are grieving. These tips can help you to successfully navigate the season after experiencing loss.

Self-Help

Why You Should Go on a Retreat

Diana Hill, Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in From Striving to Thriving

Magical things will happen for you.

Magical things will happen for you.

Forgiveness

You Can Stop Holding Grudges

Temma Ehrenfeld on December 6, 2023 in Open Gently

Being able to forgive others makes you more resilient. You can learn to let go of anger and bitterness.

Being able to forgive others makes you more resilient. You can learn to let go of anger and bitterness.

Family Dynamics

How to Prevent Conflicts With Aging Parents

Stan A. Goldberg Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in What to Do as You Grow Older

Intergenerational conflict is often sparked by not understanding how our aging parents have changed.

Intergenerational conflict is often sparked by not understanding how our aging parents have changed.

Creativity

Wild Ideas Can Save Lives

Ellen Jefferson DVM on December 6, 2023 in Helping People Help Pets

A Personal Perspective: Discover how a veterinarian's outside-the-box thinking about her bathtub saved thousands of lives and changed an entire sector.

A Personal Perspective: Discover how a veterinarian's outside-the-box thinking about her bathtub saved thousands of lives and changed an entire sector.

Neuroscience

How Our Neurobiology Shapes Our Daily Lives

Damian K. F. Pang M.Sc. on December 6, 2023 in Consciousness and Beyond

A better understanding of our neurobiology could help us make desired changes and lead healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives.

A better understanding of our neurobiology could help us make desired changes and lead healthier, happier, more fulfilled lives.

Happiness

The Role of Adventure in Personal Growth

Mike Rucker Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in The Science of Fun

Adventure is not exclusive to having fun and thrill-seeking; it's vital for building resilience, personal development, and, more generally, living joyfully.

Adventure is not exclusive to having fun and thrill-seeking; it's vital for building resilience, personal development, and, more generally, living joyfully.

Spirituality

Are Resilience and Spirituality Connected?

Ilene Berns-Zare PsyD on December 6, 2023 in Flourish and Thrive

Renew your perspective as you navigate life’s vulnerabilities and challenges.

Renew your perspective as you navigate life’s vulnerabilities and challenges.

Mistletoe chronicles, or how to celebrate the season with your grown kids' new partners the way they want you to.

Self-Esteem

Five Minutes That Can Change a Teen’s Life

David Schwartz LMFT on December 6, 2023 in Adolescents, Explained

Comments of support can make a lasting difference in a child's life. Teenagers can gain confidence and self-esteem when they know we believe in them.

Comments of support can make a lasting difference in a child's life. Teenagers can gain confidence and self-esteem when they know we believe in them.

Grief

The Fingerprint of Grief

Mary-Joan Gerson Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in How Life Changes

The loneliness of loss: The varieties of grief and keeping the dead present.

The loneliness of loss: The varieties of grief and keeping the dead present.

OCD

Don't Be the Grinch!

Michael Alcee Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Live Life Creatively

Does your OCD anxiety spike during the holidays? The Grinch is here to help!

Does your OCD anxiety spike during the holidays? The Grinch is here to help!

Memory

Hiding Gifts from Your Family Is Harder Than You Think

Anne M. Cleary Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Quirks of Memory

Research explains why you can't remember where you hide things.

Research explains why you can't remember where you hide things.

Self-Control

Didn’t Make It to the Gym? How to Come Up With a Good Excuse

Janina Steinmetz Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in The Social Consumer

Many people fail at pursuing their New Year's resolutions. Here’s how to come up with a good excuse if you fail. Hint: Don’t say you had no time!

Many people fail at pursuing their New Year's resolutions. Here’s how to come up with a good excuse if you fail. Hint: Don’t say you had no time!

Dreaming

How and Why Does the Brain Create Dreams?

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Your Brain on Food

Dreams are not messages from the gods or omens of the future. They are way more interesting.

Dreams are not messages from the gods or omens of the future. They are way more interesting.

Creativity

The Constrained Creativity of Elf on the Shelf

Clay Drinko, Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Play Your Way Sane

Wishing you'd never started hiding that elf? This divisive holiday tradition can be a burden, or it can be an exercise in constrained creativity.

Wishing you'd never started hiding that elf? This divisive holiday tradition can be a burden, or it can be an exercise in constrained creativity.

Relationships

Six Key Reasons to Avoid Feeling Needy and Dependent

Leon F Seltzer PhD on December 6, 2023 in Evolution of the Self

If you can’t take care of your own needs, you’ll desperately depend on another to address them—and that almost guarantees that eventually the relationship will fail.

If you can’t take care of your own needs, you’ll desperately depend on another to address them—and that almost guarantees that eventually the relationship will fail.

Cognition

Art, Emotions, and Language: Why Words Matter for Aesthetics

Anjan Chatterjee MD, FAAN on December 6, 2023 in Brain, Behavior, and Beauty

While we might think that words and art are different forms of communication, words give form to otherwise nebulous affective states in art.

While we might think that words and art are different forms of communication, words give form to otherwise nebulous affective states in art.

Friends

A Lesson From Taylor Swift On "Bad" Friends

Mariana Bockarova Ph.D. on December 6, 2023 in Romantically Attached

Taylor Swift is no exception to experiencing disloyalty from friends: Her public betrayal nearly ruined her reputation. Instead, she reframed the situation and moved on.

Taylor Swift is no exception to experiencing disloyalty from friends: Her public betrayal nearly ruined her reputation. Instead, she reframed the situation and moved on.

Family Dynamics

Is it Sibling Rivalry or Sibling Abuse?

Fern Schumer Chapman on December 6, 2023 in Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

Violent, bullying behavior between siblings is often overlooked or dismissed as "normal." Here's how to tell what's rivalry and what's abuse.

Violent, bullying behavior between siblings is often overlooked or dismissed as "normal." Here's how to tell what's rivalry and what's abuse.