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

Happiness

Happiness Can Be Learned

Francine Toder Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Enhance Your Vintage Years

The ability to find the positive, and celebrate it, is universally available. Learn to gather these moments in your memory.

The ability to find the positive, and celebrate it, is universally available. Learn to gather these moments in your memory.

Self-Esteem

Reflected Glory and the Guillermo Rodriguez Phenomenon

Lynn Zubernis Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in The Science of Fandom

Many fans are rooting for Guillermo on Dancing With The Stars. The psychological phenomenon of "Basking in Reflected Glory" explains why his unexpected success feels so good.

Many fans are rooting for Guillermo on Dancing With The Stars. The psychological phenomenon of "Basking in Reflected Glory" explains why his unexpected success feels so good.

Family Dynamics

Why Boomer Parents and Millennial Daughters Miscommunicate

Allison M. Alford, Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Good Daughtering

Why do loving parents and adult daughters keep misunderstanding each other? Three everyday phrases reveal the hidden emotional labor that can turn connection into conflict.

Why do loving parents and adult daughters keep misunderstanding each other? Three everyday phrases reveal the hidden emotional labor that can turn connection into conflict.

Relationships

What Women Say They Want From Men May Surprise You

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Lifetime Connections

Women weren't seeking perfection. They were seeking trust, respect, emotional support, communication, and a partner willing to share life's journey.

Women weren't seeking perfection. They were seeking trust, respect, emotional support, communication, and a partner willing to share life's journey.

Intelligence

Why Mass Hysteria Still Explains ‘Havana Syndrome’

Robert Bartholomew Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in It's Catching

‘Havana Syndrome’ a decade later: what we know.

‘Havana Syndrome’ a decade later: what we know.

Bias

What People Get Wrong About Skepticism

Christopher Dwyer Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Thoughts on Thinking

Skepticism isn't about being cynical or close-minded; it’s about being both cautious and willing to consider all perspectives and evidence.

Skepticism isn't about being cynical or close-minded; it’s about being both cautious and willing to consider all perspectives and evidence.

Vagus Nerve

Our Next Revolution in Medicine? The Bioelectronic Frontier

Lawson Wulsin M.D. on October 9, 2026 in Deep Dives

Over the last century, pharmacology has revolutionized the practice of medicine. Our next revolution in medicine may come with bioelectronic treatments that reduce inflammation.

Over the last century, pharmacology has revolutionized the practice of medicine. Our next revolution in medicine may come with bioelectronic treatments that reduce inflammation.

Anxiety

On Becoming a Connoisseur of Anxiety

Stephen A. Diamond Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Evil Deeds

How becoming a connoisseur of your anxiety can help to constructively transform it.

How becoming a connoisseur of your anxiety can help to constructively transform it.

Artificial Intelligence

Is AI Making Work Better, or Just Making More Work?

Jaclyn Margolis Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Shifting Workplace Dynamics

AI promises to save us time, but what if it's actually creating more work? Here's why doing less may be the key to making the most of AI.

AI promises to save us time, but what if it's actually creating more work? Here's why doing less may be the key to making the most of AI.

Altruism

Do Me a Favor!

Joachim I. Krueger Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in One Among Many

When we are pressured to do a favor, emotional and material costs accrue. The behavioral dynamics resemble the ultimatum game.

When we are pressured to do a favor, emotional and material costs accrue. The behavioral dynamics resemble the ultimatum game.

Decision-Making

Why We Ignore Warning Signs Until It’s Too Late

Raj Panjabi M.D. on October 9, 2026 in Safer

Normalcy bias tells us tomorrow will look like today. Lessons from the White House Situation Room can help you act on warning signs before they become crises.

Normalcy bias tells us tomorrow will look like today. Lessons from the White House Situation Room can help you act on warning signs before they become crises.

Addiction

Is There Such a Thing as an Addictive Personality?

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

Can we explain and evaluate someone’s behavior by claiming it springs from an addictive personality? We shouldn’t but we do.

Can we explain and evaluate someone’s behavior by claiming it springs from an addictive personality? We shouldn’t but we do.

Positive Psychology

Jazz as Storytelling

Robyn Fivush Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in The Stories of Our Lives

Improvisational jazz is a conversational story between players and the audience. It creates an emotional resonance that connects us all.

Improvisational jazz is a conversational story between players and the audience. It creates an emotional resonance that connects us all.

Anxiety

Why Can't I Look Away?

Whitney Coulson LCSW on October 9, 2026 in The Mood Lab

Here’s the psychology that explains why we can’t look away, and how to tell when staying informed has started to cost you more than it gives.

Here’s the psychology that explains why we can’t look away, and how to tell when staying informed has started to cost you more than it gives.

Family Dynamics

8 Questions to Transform Your Adult Child-Parent Connection

Susan Newman Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Singletons

Parents still ignore your boundaries? Make you feel guilty? These starter solutions can eliminate what drives you crazy and liberate you from your “child” role.

Parents still ignore your boundaries? Make you feel guilty? These starter solutions can eliminate what drives you crazy and liberate you from your “child” role.

Cognition

Speaking in Tongues

Natalie Schilling Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Language in the Wild

The language of food is deeply tied to human culture, cognition, and physiology.

The language of food is deeply tied to human culture, cognition, and physiology.

ADHD

Why Do ADHD Stimulants Wear Off Early, and What Can Be Done?

Candida Fink MD on October 9, 2026 in Changing Minds

Why do many ADHD medications wear off just as homework starts? Learn why one size never fits all and how individualized treatment planning is essential to getting it right.

Why do many ADHD medications wear off just as homework starts? Learn why one size never fits all and how individualized treatment planning is essential to getting it right.

Career

Don’t Try to Understand Everything

Rod Judkins M.A., RCA on October 9, 2026 in Connect to Creativity

Discover how embracing uncertainty and delaying quick judgments can unlock deeper insights, foster creative innovation, and sharpen your decision-making in work and life.

Discover how embracing uncertainty and delaying quick judgments can unlock deeper insights, foster creative innovation, and sharpen your decision-making in work and life.

Creativity

Creativizing the Self

Jeff DeGraff Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Innovation You

Creativity doesn’t just change what we make; it changes us, often revealing meaning and possibility we couldn’t see before we began.

Creativity doesn’t just change what we make; it changes us, often revealing meaning and possibility we couldn’t see before we began.

Personal Perspectives

Are We Raising Bonsai Trees or Wildflowers?

Shermin Kruse J.D. on October 9, 2026 in The Stoic Heart, the Human Whole

Personal Perspective: We can respect our children's growing ambitions, even when we're unsure whether to nurture, challenge, or let go.

Personal Perspective: We can respect our children's growing ambitions, even when we're unsure whether to nurture, challenge, or let go.

Parenting

Stop Waiting for Perfection Before You Praise Your Child

Pamela D. Brown Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in School Culture

Don’t wait until your child does exactly what you want to offer praise. Reinforce smaller behaviors along the way to make reaching the ultimate goal more likely.

Don’t wait until your child does exactly what you want to offer praise. Reinforce smaller behaviors along the way to make reaching the ultimate goal more likely.

Identity

Letting Your Stories Be Co-Authored

Ariana Turner Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in The Stories We're Given

Whether we like it or not, our life stories are heavily influenced by others’ voices. Let’s talk about how to decide which perspectives are worth keeping.

Whether we like it or not, our life stories are heavily influenced by others’ voices. Let’s talk about how to decide which perspectives are worth keeping.

Personality

Choosing Leaders With Dark Personalities

Winifred Rule on October 9, 2026 in Surviving the Female Psychopath

Narcissists, Machiavellians, and psychopaths often succeed at manipulating, deluding and cheating others. But, how successful are they and how can they best be identified?

Narcissists, Machiavellians, and psychopaths often succeed at manipulating, deluding and cheating others. But, how successful are they and how can they best be identified?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Embedding Lived Experience in the Heart of CBT Practice

The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies on October 9, 2026 in CBT in Practice

Lived experience is essential to better cognitive behavioral therapy, and bringing public and practitioner voices into decision-making can strengthen standards, care and trust.

Lived experience is essential to better cognitive behavioral therapy, and bringing public and practitioner voices into decision-making can strengthen standards, care and trust.

Happiness

2 Ways to Kill the "Sunday Evening Blues"

Mark Travers Ph.D. on October 9, 2026 in Social Instincts

Here's how to avoid the shadow that looms over you every Sunday evening.

Here's how to avoid the shadow that looms over you every Sunday evening.

Therapy

How Psychodynamic Therapy Can Change Problematic Behavior

Fredric N. Busch, MD on October 9, 2026 in Skills Training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Problem-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy identifies psychological factors contributing to problematic behaviors and helps patients develop strategies for changing them.

Problem-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy identifies psychological factors contributing to problematic behaviors and helps patients develop strategies for changing them.

Low Sexual Desire

Want to Have More Sex? Here's How

Cheryl Fraser Ph.D. on October 8, 2026 in Falling in Love Is Easy

Waiting until you’re “in the mood” may be killing your sex life. Responsive desire and planned intimacy can help bring passion back.

Waiting until you’re “in the mood” may be killing your sex life. Responsive desire and planned intimacy can help bring passion back.

Trauma

We're Asking Sexual Trauma Survivors the Wrong Questions

Stacey R Pinatelli Psy.D. on October 8, 2026 in Hope and Healing

When survivors speak up, we often ask why they waited, stayed, or didn't fight back. But what if we asked a different question: What made it so hard to speak?

When survivors speak up, we often ask why they waited, stayed, or didn't fight back. But what if we asked a different question: What made it so hard to speak?

Fear

Why We're in a New Golden Age of Horror Movies

Mathias Clasen Ph.D. on October 8, 2026 in Why We Love Horror

Why are horror movies everywhere right now? One reason may be psychological: Scary movies help us cope with a scary world.

Why are horror movies everywhere right now? One reason may be psychological: Scary movies help us cope with a scary world.