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Today's Essential Reads Today's Essentials

The Unaddressed Moral Dimensions of Trauma

By Jeffrey Jay Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Menders

Victims of trauma often take action that no other innocent person suffers from the trauma. It is time to understand and join them in their bold actions.

Why We Should Take Our Time on Psychedelic Therapy

By Lantie Elisabeth Jorandby M.D. on October 28, 2022 in Use Your Brain

Some see this therapy as risky, controversial, and inappropriate. Others think it should be used far more widely than it is. A middle-ground approach may be best.

3 Ways to Break Free from Feeling Flat and Uninspired

By Mark Travers Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Social Instincts

A habitual lifestyle is not necessarily unhealthy. But too much of it can be.

Kindness and Compassion Are Good for Your Brain

By Barbara Koltuska-Haskin, Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in How My Brain Works

Research shows that practicing kindness and compassion makes positive changes in our brains.

The Latest

Human Nature Is a Challenge for Everything Blockchain

By Po Chi Wu Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Jacob's Staff

How can a social organization (DAO) be governed by software (blockchain) running without human management?

Frustrated Women and Hopeful Men: Is There a Connection?

By Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Lifetime Connections

If you're feeling more frustrated lately, you are not alone.

Melanin and Mental Health

By Mackenzie Littledale on October 28, 2022 in From Margin to Mainstream

A new podcast aims to acknowledge racism in therapy and change the face of therapy so it serves BIPOC communities.

4 Questions to Ask for Better Conversations

By Chuck Wisner on October 28, 2022 in The Art of Conscious Conversations

How to uncover the patterns of thinking that serve or hinder us in conversation.

Vaccines Don't Need to Be Limited to Infectious Diseases

By Stuart Blume D.Phil. on October 28, 2022 in A Means of Ingress

Personal Perspective: A COVID-19 vaccine is just the start. Imagine what's in the pipeline.

Kindness Matters More Than You Think

By Polly Campbell on October 28, 2022 in Imperfect Spirituality

Personal Perspective: We might fail to recognize the importance of our random acts of kindness. This is why we shouldn't.

How Gender Stereotypes Influence Career Interests

By The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues on October 28, 2022 in Sound Science, Sound Policy

A more nuanced understanding of gender stereotypes may help us better understand gender differences in career interests and provide ways to decrease gender inequality.

Brown Noise and ADHD: What’s the Scoop on the Latest Buzz?

By Joel Nigg Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Helping Kids through ADHD

A new treatment for ADHD, brown noise, is scientifically appealing but not scientifically proven, it's although low-risk.

The Self-Destruction of Kanye West

By Kevin Cokley Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Black Psychology Matters

Personal Perspective: Why Kanye West's untreated anti-Blackness must be addressed.

5 Myths About Trauma

By Katherine Cullen MFA, LMSW on October 28, 2022 in The Truth About Exercise Addiction

Trauma has become an increasingly popular topic in recent years. But its widespread recognition risks diluting the truth about what it actually entails. Here's some clarification.

Which Is the Happiest Generation?

By David Rettew M.D. on October 28, 2022 in ABCs of Child Psychiatry

The association between age and well-being may have shifted in recent years, according to a new study.

Why More Businesses Should Consider Sabbatical Leave

By Benjamin Miller on October 28, 2022 in Humans, the Greatest Resource

I'll be gone for the year.

Lessons Learned From a Medical Emergency

By Roni Beth Tower Ph.D., ABPP on October 28, 2022 in Life, Refracted

Personal Perspective: When a medical emergency rearranged my calendar, opportunities to follow good psychological practices helped my husband and me partner with each other and doctors, benefiting all.

Politics

People-Pleasing, Trussonomics, and Tussles in Parliament

By Caroline Kamau Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in The Science of Mental Health

How free speech and a boisterous Parliament contrasted with treachery against a friend and tax-cutting economic policies. Why trying to please many can end up pleasing very few.

Are You Parenting Your Partner?

The Parent Partner

The Parent-Child Marriage

Spot the Emotionally Immature

Where Are the Adults?

Attachment

The Risks of Love

By Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

The risks of love are preventable and treatable but left on autopilot, they grow like cancer. Prevention takes effort, self-regulation skills, and dedication to humane values.

Sleep

My Life Hack for Insomnia

By Gina Vild on October 28, 2022 in A Buoyant Life

A Personal Perspective: How I fall asleep and stay asleep without medication.

Health

Making Lifestyle Changes From a Body-Positive Perspective

By Martha Kauppi, LMFT, CST-S on October 28, 2022 in Relational Intimacy

I truly believe if you want to make healthful changes in your life, the only way is to love yourself through it. Here’s some advice for how to do it.

Relationships

How Twins Can Make the Best of the Holidays

By Barbara Klein Ph.D., Ed.D. on October 28, 2022 in Twin Dilemmas

“Who is the most successful twin” has a sharp edge at this time of year.

Sleep

How To Cope With The End of Daylight Saving Time

By The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on October 28, 2022 in Evidence-Based Living

A large body of research demonstrates that daylight saving time harms our health and well-being. Here's what you can do about it.

Media

When Characters on the Screen Help You Feel Seen

By Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on October 28, 2022 in Mirror, Mirror

When a TV show is a "Heartstopper": Why is it so meaningful to see yourself (and others) on the screen?

Marriage

Building a Healthy Marriage Begins Long Before You Say 'I Do'

By Cortnie S. Baity Ph.D., LMFT on October 27, 2022 in Make It Make Sense

A Personal Perspective: Discontinuing and creating cultural norms.

Relationships

Do White Lies Help or Hurt Your Relationship?

By Jason Whiting Ph.D. on October 27, 2022 in Love, Lies and Conflict

White lies are easy, and many people assume they are harmless or even helpful. However, research suggests that they cause unexpected distance.

Peppersmint, Surasak, Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock Photos, Collage by R.Luster

Self-Help

When Painful Memories Haunt Us

By Rodney Luster Ph.D. on October 27, 2022 in More Than a Feeling

Everyone has memories they would rather forget, and they may deal constantly with the triggers that bring them bouncing back. But what if there was a way to help alleviate this?

Icy Waves, from the series On The Edge, Suzan Woodruff, 2022

Caregiving

Difficulties, Dilemmas, and Joys of Spousal Caregiving and Caretaking

By Bruce Bauman on October 27, 2022 in Surviving Forty Years of Therapy

As a full-time caretaker/caregiver for my wife Suzan for four years, I found a difference between “caregiving” and “caretaking.”

Therapy

5 Steps to Creating and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries

By Rubin Khoddam Ph.D. on October 27, 2022 in The Addiction Connection

Feeling resentful or walked over? Learn these 5 skills to help you set healthy boundaries.

Animal Behavior

The Truth About Black Cat Bias

By Christian L. Hart Ph.D. on October 27, 2022 in The Nature of Deception

A recent study sought to figure out why people are biased against black cats. Here's what the researchers found.

Psychopathy

Understanding Antisocial Behaviour and Psychopathy

By Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on October 27, 2022 in The Helpful Brain

Defining and diagnosing disorders of antisocial behaviour or psychopathy can be highly controversial, but new advances in science might have the answer.