Culture, Religion, and Psychology

Gratitude

Intentionally Cultivate Gratitude to Manage Chronic Pain

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on February 5, 2026

Even while acknowledging the challenges of chronic pain, there are meaningful ways to use gratitude for coping.

Even while acknowledging the challenges of chronic pain, there are meaningful ways to use gratitude for coping.

Chronic Pain

Lower the Emotional Volume in Chronic Pain

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on February 3, 2026

What is chronic pain? How might it affect people emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually? Dr. Joel Jin offers helpful insights on the psychology of chronic pain.

What is chronic pain? How might it affect people emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually? Dr. Joel Jin offers helpful insights on the psychology of chronic pain.

Parenting

Parents, Celebrate the Return to School. But Also Grieve It.

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 8, 2025

As children go back to school after a long summer break, parents love to express relief and even celebration. I contend that grief is also an important emotion during this season.

As children go back to school after a long summer break, parents love to express relief and even celebration. I contend that grief is also an important emotion during this season.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Heung-Min Son Cries. A lot. That's a Good Thing

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on August 7, 2025

Personal Perspective: Soccer star Heung-min Son's propensity for freely crying and showing strong emotions on camera is a good thing. Let me tell you why.

Personal Perspective: Soccer star Heung-min Son's propensity for freely crying and showing strong emotions on camera is a good thing. Let me tell you why.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Of Blackpink, Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters," and Assimilation

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on July 14, 2025

Personal Perspective: Attending a Blackpink concert with my child and watching Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" helped me reflect on cultural assimilation, belonging, and identity.

Personal Perspective: Attending a Blackpink concert with my child and watching Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" helped me reflect on cultural assimilation, belonging, and identity.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

“When Life Gives You Tangerines,” Be Kind to Yourself

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on April 28, 2025

Netflix's K-drama series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a beautiful, messy reminder of how self-compassion is part of the healing process when experiencing life's challenges.

Netflix's K-drama series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a beautiful, messy reminder of how self-compassion is part of the healing process when experiencing life's challenges.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

"When Life Gives You Tangerines," Turn to Your People

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on March 24, 2025

Netflix's K-drama series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a reminder of the real hope that comes when we are surrounded by a caring community.

Netflix's K-drama series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a reminder of the real hope that comes when we are surrounded by a caring community.

Grief

Grief is Too Complicated and Subjective for a Timeline

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on January 6, 2025

Though grieving is a universal psychological process, cultural norms shape what it looks like. But even within cultures—or within families—grief looks different for each of us.

Though grieving is a universal psychological process, cultural norms shape what it looks like. But even within cultures—or within families—grief looks different for each of us.

Education

“Something for Everyone”: A Conversation about AP Psychology

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on October 21, 2024

Psychology classes are popular across school levels. What's it like to take a psychology course for the first time? I talked to a 9th grader taking AP Psychology to find out.

Psychology classes are popular across school levels. What's it like to take a psychology course for the first time? I talked to a 9th grader taking AP Psychology to find out.

Loneliness

How to Cope with Homesickness During a Short-Term Trip

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

Missing home during a shorter trip, such as an intensive study abroad program, can trigger confusion and even guilt. Here are some ways to respond.

Missing home during a shorter trip, such as an intensive study abroad program, can trigger confusion and even guilt. Here are some ways to respond.

Memory

Why We Keep Returning to That Difficult but Good Experience

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 17, 2024

Sometimes, difficult experiences or activities pull us back in. Here are some psychological reasons as to why we circle back, despite our declaration that "this is the last time."

Sometimes, difficult experiences or activities pull us back in. Here are some psychological reasons as to why we circle back, despite our declaration that "this is the last time."

Trauma

To Visit the DMZ in South Korea Is to Embrace the Absurd

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 16, 2024

Personal Perspective: Have you struggled to make sense of the DMZ in South Korea? I visited recently with my American students. Here are some takeaways.

Personal Perspective: Have you struggled to make sense of the DMZ in South Korea? I visited recently with my American students. Here are some takeaways.

Personal Perspectives

Forced to Unplug at the Airport and Making the Most of It

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 2, 2024

Personal Perspective: I felt anxiety without Wi-Fi at the airport, but being unplugged for two hours was not that bad. Here are a few things I tried while offline.

Personal Perspective: I felt anxiety without Wi-Fi at the airport, but being unplugged for two hours was not that bad. Here are a few things I tried while offline.

Emotions

If You Often Say “Back in My Day," You Might Be Grieving

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on August 15, 2024

Personal Perspective: Why are cultural changes so difficult? Drawing from my Korean American experience, I suggest that a surprising psychological process can aid acceptance.

Personal Perspective: Why are cultural changes so difficult? Drawing from my Korean American experience, I suggest that a surprising psychological process can aid acceptance.

Reaction Formation

It's Complicated: A Psychologist's Take on an Olympic Gaffe

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on July 28, 2024

Why were the South Korean people so upset about a gaffe at the Olympic opening ceremonies? The answer might surprise you.

Why were the South Korean people so upset about a gaffe at the Olympic opening ceremonies? The answer might surprise you.

Caregiving

"Living Far Away Is Unfilial": Caregiving Across Cultures

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on June 18, 2024

When adult children care for parents living in a different country, unique challenges arise. Minhee Cho, LMFT, shares her experiences focused on Korean culture.

When adult children care for parents living in a different country, unique challenges arise. Minhee Cho, LMFT, shares her experiences focused on Korean culture.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

When Your Own Culture Says That You Don't Fully Belong

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on March 19, 2024

Personal Perspective: As a Korean American who regularly visits Korea, I sometimes encounter insults and slights from Korean folks. Here are a few coping responses I've learned.

Personal Perspective: As a Korean American who regularly visits Korea, I sometimes encounter insults and slights from Korean folks. Here are a few coping responses I've learned.

Social Media

What a Facebook Group Taught Me About Answering Questions

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on November 25, 2023

Are you looking to improve your skills in answering questions? Here are some insights based on my observations on a social media page.

Are you looking to improve your skills in answering questions? Here are some insights based on my observations on a social media page.

Mental Health Stigma

We Need More Precision When Discussing Mental Health Stigma

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on October 13, 2023

We regularly talk about the challenges of mental health stigma. But are we meaning what we intend to mean? The discussion would benefit from more specificity and nuance.

We regularly talk about the challenges of mental health stigma. But are we meaning what we intend to mean? The discussion would benefit from more specificity and nuance.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Intent Matters, but Impact Matters More

Paul Youngbin Kim Ph.D. on September 1, 2023

Intention matters, but there's lots of nuance, of course. Understand the proper place of intent in intercultural conflicts.

Intention matters, but there's lots of nuance, of course. Understand the proper place of intent in intercultural conflicts.