Comparatively Speaking

Animal Behavior

Veterinary Psychiatry: A Field in Formation

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on January 11, 2025

Can animals experience mental health issues? Veterinary psychiatry explores this evolving field, balancing behavioral insights and medication to improve animal well-being.

Can animals experience mental health issues? Veterinary psychiatry explores this evolving field, balancing behavioral insights and medication to improve animal well-being.

Animal Behavior

Animal Minds Often View Death Much Like Human Minds

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on December 3, 2024

Studying how nonhuman animals view death shows much about how their minds work.

Studying how nonhuman animals view death shows much about how their minds work.

Narcissism

Having a Strong Opinion Does Not Make Someone Narcissistic

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on October 21, 2024

"Narcissism" is not as common a problem as you might think given how often the term is used.

"Narcissism" is not as common a problem as you might think given how often the term is used.

Therapy

One Reason Why You May Feel Stuck in Therapy

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on September 28, 2024

Psychotherapy clients can benefit from discussing explanations of symptoms they present. Clinical research also shows this is one common factor of effective therapy.

Psychotherapy clients can benefit from discussing explanations of symptoms they present. Clinical research also shows this is one common factor of effective therapy.

Anxiety

What Animals Can Teach Us About "Living in the Moment"

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on September 23, 2024

Animals respond to situations with whatever information they have available, while humans often get bogged down by worrying about what their behaviors will mean.

Animals respond to situations with whatever information they have available, while humans often get bogged down by worrying about what their behaviors will mean.

Therapy

Maybe You Don't Really Need to Change

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on August 6, 2024

Is change always necessary? If you listen to many people you would think it is. But maybe what is needed more is for us to be happy with who we are and how we are.

Is change always necessary? If you listen to many people you would think it is. But maybe what is needed more is for us to be happy with who we are and how we are.

Narcissism

What Social Neuroscience Says About Narcissism

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on April 3, 2024

Social neuroscience provides important new information that helps explain narcissism, distinguishes the two types, and offers insight into how to treat this devastating problem.

Social neuroscience provides important new information that helps explain narcissism, distinguishes the two types, and offers insight into how to treat this devastating problem.

Compulsive Behaviors

Understanding Problematic Gambling Better

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on January 3, 2024

Gambling problems cause difficulties for individuals and families. Interestingly, research across different animal species can help us understand this problem better.

Gambling problems cause difficulties for individuals and families. Interestingly, research across different animal species can help us understand this problem better.

Cognition

Repetitive Negative Thinking in Psychological Disorders

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on August 30, 2023

Repetitive negative thinking is a habit that can broken by focusing on what is effective rather than familiar.

Repetitive negative thinking is a habit that can broken by focusing on what is effective rather than familiar.

Psychiatry

Understanding the Limits of Psychiatric Diagnoses

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on April 21, 2023

People often use psychiatric terms and diagnoses as a way of defining other people. Those terms and diagnoses actually do not say much about what is happening with a person.

People often use psychiatric terms and diagnoses as a way of defining other people. Those terms and diagnoses actually do not say much about what is happening with a person.

Ketamine

Why Ketamine Treatment Is Not All That New

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on January 5, 2023

Ketamine, a hallucinogen, also called a "party drug," has received a lot of attention for "treatment-resistant" depression. Psychotherapy works on targeting the same problems.

Ketamine, a hallucinogen, also called a "party drug," has received a lot of attention for "treatment-resistant" depression. Psychotherapy works on targeting the same problems.

Sex

Understanding Asexuality

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on December 7, 2022

Asexuality is a sexual identity that is less accepted than others, primarily because of how we often mistakenly see sex as essential to the human experience.

Asexuality is a sexual identity that is less accepted than others, primarily because of how we often mistakenly see sex as essential to the human experience.

Psychiatry

Why "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" Exists

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on October 3, 2022

People question why the insanity defense exists. It's because "guilt" requires a person be able to reason abstract moral concepts of "right" and "wrong."

People question why the insanity defense exists. It's because "guilt" requires a person be able to reason abstract moral concepts of "right" and "wrong."

Narcissism

Narcissism Is Difficult to Understand Because of Its Imbalances

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 16, 2022

Narcissism is a complex problem to understand. Looking at similar behaviors that exist in the nonhuman animal world can give some insights into its nature.

Narcissism is a complex problem to understand. Looking at similar behaviors that exist in the nonhuman animal world can give some insights into its nature.

Addiction

Understanding Addiction as a (Very) Complex Behavior

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on November 12, 2021

Addictive behaviors are so clearly bad for the individual that they are often difficult to understand. Looking at the complexities of behavioral psychology provides some clarity.

Addictive behaviors are so clearly bad for the individual that they are often difficult to understand. Looking at the complexities of behavioral psychology provides some clarity.

Chronic Pain

Understanding the Psychology of Chronic Physical Pain

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on September 21, 2021

Handling chronic pain is difficult, partly because we often focus on words to judge, explain, and avoid it. However, there are alternatives.

Handling chronic pain is difficult, partly because we often focus on words to judge, explain, and avoid it. However, there are alternatives.

Guilt and regret make us feel terrible. But you cannot let them hold you back from doing better. Here are effective strategies for handling these difficulties.

Procrastination

Why We Procrastinate

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on June 9, 2021

Procrastination may be more natural than we think. Understanding our tendency to put things off can lead to some useful solutions.

Procrastination may be more natural than we think. Understanding our tendency to put things off can lead to some useful solutions.

Shaking hands can spread germs and could lead to illness. But it's not the only way to greet one another, research shows.

Psychology

Psychotherapy Has Gotten Too Easy. That's a Problem.

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 28, 2021

If psychotherapy often seems ineffective, it could because many therapists have moved away from a focus on challenging negative aspects of human psychology.

If psychotherapy often seems ineffective, it could because many therapists have moved away from a focus on challenging negative aspects of human psychology.