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

Today's Essential Reads Today's Essentials

Law and Crime

What’s New in the Grand Jury Report on Priest Abuse?

By Thomas G. Plante Ph.D., ABPP on August 19, 2018 in Do the Right Thing

Clergy abuse in the Catholic Church made headline news yet again—the latest chapter in a long-unfolding story, and a reminder of what is required of our institutions.

Education

Should U.S. Students Do More Math Practice and Drilling?

By Paul L. Morgan Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Children Who Struggle

Practice that is brief, fast-paced, and provides corrective yet supportive feedback should help students have greater procedural fluency and conceptual understanding of math.

Relationships

How Narcissistic People Do (and Don't) Present Themselves

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Fulfillment at Any Age

People high in the "Dark Triad" traits are not exactly known for their manners. New research suggests tips for improving their etiquette.

Relationships

Winning the Game of Online Dating

By Sharon Sassler, Ph.D., and Amanda Miller, Ph.D. on August 17, 2018 in Cohabitation Nation

Is finding love in cyberspace impossible? Not if you're willing to take a few extra steps.

News

The Latest

Happiness

How Far Do You Have to Go to Find Happiness?

By Nina Shapiro M.D. on August 19, 2018 in Medical Myths

Is the remarkable cultural growth in recent centuries making us happier, or can a simpler life be better?

Stress

Are You Having a Bad Day? Exactly What to Do and Not to Do

By Marwa Azab Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in Neuroscience in Everyday Life

Every time a bad day does not destroy you, your brain keeps track of it as a small victory.

Environment

The Power of the Past

By Michele Wick Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in Anthropocene Mind

People who identify as politically conservative have more affection for the past than those who lean liberal. The researchers used this nostalgic frame to change minds.

Anxiety

Three Ways Anxiety Is Your Best Friend

By Harriet Lerner Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in The Dance of Connection

No one likes feeling anxious. But here are three reasons to respect and honor your fear and trembling.

Personality

Narcissism, the POTUS, and Us

By Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in The Pathways of Experience

Leaders come and go. Constant is the duty of ordinary people to select public figures whose character, temperament, social skills, and policies match the challenges of the day.

Self-Help

Lifelong Learning and Active Brains: R Is for RELATE

By Arthur P. Shimamura Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in In the Brain of the Beholder

Making memories stick: Integrate and elaborate.

Psychiatry

The Reality of Mental Illness

By Mark L. Ruffalo L.C.S.W. on August 19, 2018 in From Freud to Fluoxetine

Despite assertions by antipsychiatry critics that mental illness is a myth, psychiatric medicine is on firm philosophical ground.

Addiction

Kids’ Video Game Obsession Isn’t Really About Video Games

By Nir Eyal on August 19, 2018 in Automatic You

Instead of repeating the mistakes of previous generations with heavy-handed tactics, let’s understand the psychological source of the problem.

Harmful effects of excessive screen time

Parenting

Screen Time: The Impact on Kids and Parenting

By Azmaira H. Maker Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in Helping Kids Cope

Are your kids spending excessive time on electronics? Tips and tools for parents.

Law and Crime

Novel Research Methods Reveal More About Police Violence

By The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on August 19, 2018 in Evidence-Based Living

You can’t miss news stories about violent interactions between police and civilians, but based on media reports, it can be difficult to understand the dynamics across the nation.

Happiness

Being Mentally Healthy and Mentally Ill at the Same Time

By Jeff Corbin, MD MPH on August 19, 2018 in Rethinking Normal

Mental illness shouldn’t stop you from living a mentally healthy and happy life.

Anxiety

Conviction and Uncertainty

By Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on August 19, 2018 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

Conviction is the strong belief that your behavior is right, moral, and consistent with your deeper values.

Sleep

Does Our Fear of Sleep Mirror Our Fear of Death?

By Kathleen Frazier on August 19, 2018 in From Sleepwalker to Sound Sleeper

Many writers and artists have ruminated about the connections between nightly sleep and our final sleep.

Diet

Can You Be Fat and Healthy?

By Berit Brogaard D.M.Sci., Ph.D on August 18, 2018 in The Superhuman Mind

You don't need to be skinny to be healthy. Learn how to turn your white flab into active, youth-promoting beige fat.

Aretha Franklin's Quiet Message About Cancer

By Tim Wendel on August 18, 2018 in Cancer Crossings

The Queen of Soul's example will help others remember and understand.

Aging

Surprising Gifts of Later Life

By Susan Avery Stewart Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in The Gift of Aging

Later life brings many gifts that enhance our own well-being and enrich the lives of others, like audacious authenticity, creative ingenuity, and a growing capacity to savor life.

Relationships

A Simple Technique for a Closer Relationship

By Tina Gilbertson LPC, BC-TMH on August 18, 2018 in Constructive Wallowing

Do you ever wish you could feel closer to your partner, but aren't sure how? Here's one thing you can do to close the distance.

Sex

What Sexual Fantasies Can Do For a Relationship

By Gurit E. Birnbaum, Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Intimately Connected

Fantasies may affect the relational atmosphere as much as they reflect it.

Education

Are Schools Doing Enough to Prevent Bullying?

By Stephen Joseph Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in What Doesn't Kill Us

Are parents, teachers, and other adults sufficiently aware of just how damaging and widespread the effects of peer victimization are?

Sleep

Sleep and Apathy

By Patrick McNamara Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Dream Catcher

Being tired is different from being apathetic, and sleep deprivation can induce both.

Race and Ethnicity

"Crazy Rich Asians" and the Asian American Psyche, Part II

By Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 18, 2018 in The Pacific Heart

The hot new breakout movie is fun, and also informative about the Asian American psyche, both within itself and in the controversy it generated.

Creativity

What Is a Riddle?

By Marcel Danesi Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Brain Workout

Riddles are ancient, yet they still intrigue us. Here's why.

Integrative Medicine

Advocating for Wellness in the Age of Skepticism

By Gregory Scott Brown M.D. on August 18, 2018 in Green Psychiatry

Tired of wellness getting a bad rap? Let's turn to what the evidence might offer.

Personality

How Do Personality Traits Change from 16 to 66?

By Christopher Bergland on August 18, 2018 in The Athlete's Way

For the first time, data from a 50-year study reveals predictable ways we tend to stay the same and evolve from our high school years to our golden years.

Relationships

3 Non-Physical Traits That Make You Irresistibly Attractive

By Wendy L. Patrick, Ph.D. on August 18, 2018 in Why Bad Looks Good

Have you ever wondered why you are irresistibly drawn to someone who is not objectively beautiful? Here are a few reasons that might explain your attraction.