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

Animal Behavior

The Emotional Lives of Pet Dogs

Zazie Todd Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Fellow Creatures

We know that dogs experience different emotions. Here’s how dog guardians can take that into account with training, enrichment, and helping the dog to feel safe.

We know that dogs experience different emotions. Here’s how dog guardians can take that into account with training, enrichment, and helping the dog to feel safe.

Bipolar Disorder

Borderpolar: A Diagnostic Whiplash

Laura J. Petracek Ph.D., LCSW on September 6, 2024 in The Psyche Pulse

Confused by the overlap of Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorders? Discover how to navigate the complexities of Borderpolar and find effective treatment strategies.

Confused by the overlap of Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorders? Discover how to navigate the complexities of Borderpolar and find effective treatment strategies.

Introversion

Introverts Are Not What You Think

Rebekka Grun von Jolk Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Maximizing Relationships and Happiness in Life

Understanding the true nature of introversion—and its cultural context—can help debunk many common myths.

Understanding the true nature of introversion—and its cultural context—can help debunk many common myths.

Consumer Behavior

Resisting Manipulation: Lessons From Political Marketing

Alisa Minina Jeunemaitre Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Consumption and Lifestyles

Explore how media and political marketing shape our beliefs daily, and learn how practicing information hygiene helps us regain control over our thoughts and decisions.

Explore how media and political marketing shape our beliefs daily, and learn how practicing information hygiene helps us regain control over our thoughts and decisions.

Resilience

The Secret Factor That Can Determine Success or Failure

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

Discover how accepting your struggles can be the key to unlocking your potential and achieving success.

Discover how accepting your struggles can be the key to unlocking your potential and achieving success.

Bias

Confronting Stereotypes About Blindness: "Who Takes Care of You?"

Jeffry Ricker Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Blindness Visible

Negative cultural stereotypes about blind and older adults cause people to question their ability to live independently.

Negative cultural stereotypes about blind and older adults cause people to question their ability to live independently.

Marriage

What's a Good-Enough Marriage?

Paul J Dunion Ed.D. on September 6, 2024 in The Secular Mystic Path

It's only too easy for couples to get distracted from what they want from one another and begin to fantasize about an ideal spouse.

It's only too easy for couples to get distracted from what they want from one another and begin to fantasize about an ideal spouse.

Child Development

Navigating Childhood Trauma: Fact vs. Fiction

Antonieta Contreras on September 6, 2024 in Traumatization and Its Aftermath

Recognizing myths about childhood trauma helps us to understand its nuanced nature and engage in more effective interventions for affected children.

Recognizing myths about childhood trauma helps us to understand its nuanced nature and engage in more effective interventions for affected children.

Grief

Productive and Unproductive Suffering

Shauna H Springer Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Free-Range Psychology

There are three critical differences between productive suffering and unproductive suffering.

There are three critical differences between productive suffering and unproductive suffering.

Relationships

Are You Unsatisfied in Your Relationship but Don't Know Why?

Suzie Pileggi Pawelski, MAPP and James Pawelski, Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Happy Together

Looking back to the past may help you improve your relationship and make a positive difference on future generations.

Looking back to the past may help you improve your relationship and make a positive difference on future generations.

Parenting

Don't Go Into the Tunnel: The Practice of Loving Detachment

Erin Dullea MAPP, CPPC on September 6, 2024 in Supporting Parents

If your child is going through a difficult time, try these five positive psychology-informed strategies for offering support while maintaining your own well-being.

If your child is going through a difficult time, try these five positive psychology-informed strategies for offering support while maintaining your own well-being.

Artificial Intelligence

Can Artifical Intelligence Be Conscious?

Darren J. Edwards Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Psychology in Society

Can artificial intelligence become conscious? How do we test this? What does this mean for society?

Can artificial intelligence become conscious? How do we test this? What does this mean for society?

Personality

Borderline Personality Diagnosis: Two Things That Matter

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on September 6, 2024 in From Both Sides of the Couch

Personal Perspective: With borderline personality disorder, it makes a difference when you are diagnosed, and at what age.

Personal Perspective: With borderline personality disorder, it makes a difference when you are diagnosed, and at what age.

Animal Behavior

What to Consider Before Getting a Dog

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists on September 6, 2024 in Decoding Your Pet

Are you thinking of acquiring a dog? Here are some things to consider before you do.

Are you thinking of acquiring a dog? Here are some things to consider before you do.

Resilience

10 Simple Habits and Practices to Support Your Well-Being

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on September 6, 2024 in Everyday Resilience

In times of change and uncertainty, our well-being can be heavily taxed. Lean into these simple and effective habits and practices that can serve you well in the messy middle.

In times of change and uncertainty, our well-being can be heavily taxed. Lean into these simple and effective habits and practices that can serve you well in the messy middle.

Resilience

The Importance of Failure for Kids

Corinne Masur Psy.D. on September 6, 2024 in Parenting Matters

College freshmen are having trouble handling disappointment. Counseling centers are inundated with kids who cannot manage failure. We need to start earlier to help.

College freshmen are having trouble handling disappointment. Counseling centers are inundated with kids who cannot manage failure. We need to start earlier to help.

Relationships

What Is It Like to Be a Porcupine in Love?

James V. Cordova Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Living Intimately

What if the greatest challenge to intimacy in our relationships is that we are all basically quill-covered porcupines?

What if the greatest challenge to intimacy in our relationships is that we are all basically quill-covered porcupines?

Grit

11 Commonsense Ways to Raise Gritty Children

David J Bredehoft Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in The Age of Overindulgence

Does your child persevere when faced with adversity or just give up? If the latter, maybe you should teach them to be gritty. Yes, grit can be learned.

Does your child persevere when faced with adversity or just give up? If the latter, maybe you should teach them to be gritty. Yes, grit can be learned.

Cognition

You Are Still an Animal

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in What Is a Human?

Self-consciousness is a very late product of evolution and cannot be expected to make us understand ourselves. We are more like animals than we want to admit.

Self-consciousness is a very late product of evolution and cannot be expected to make us understand ourselves. We are more like animals than we want to admit.

Trauma

How Do Abuse Victims View Justice?

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW-BACS on September 6, 2024 in Invisible Bruises

A conversation with trauma pioneer Dr. Judith L. Herman on how abuse victims view justice and how, rather than revenge, most want validation and acknowledgment of their abuse

A conversation with trauma pioneer Dr. Judith L. Herman on how abuse victims view justice and how, rather than revenge, most want validation and acknowledgment of their abuse

Flow

The Science of Collective Flow

Moses Ma on September 6, 2024 in The Tao of Innovation

Collective flow is a shift from traditional brainstorming to a state where group synergy ignites innovation.

Collective flow is a shift from traditional brainstorming to a state where group synergy ignites innovation.

Relationships

2 Secret Languages Commonly Spoken in Intimate Relationships

Mark Travers Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Social Instincts

Embarrassed about using "baby talk" with your partner? Here's why you shouldn't be.

Embarrassed about using "baby talk" with your partner? Here's why you shouldn't be.

Self-Help

Cultivating Good Mental Health

Nauman Naeem M.D. on September 6, 2024 in The Universe Within

Mental health has come to the forefront of societal issues in recent years. While there are various resources available in society to help us, this journey must start within.

Mental health has come to the forefront of societal issues in recent years. While there are various resources available in society to help us, this journey must start within.

Shame

We Don't Have to Be Ashamed of Aging

Bret Lyon, Ph.D., SEP, and Sheila Rubin, MA, LMFT on September 6, 2024 in Unlocking Shame

Personal Perspective: We all go through it, no one is immune, and nothing produces more universal shame in our society than aging.

Personal Perspective: We all go through it, no one is immune, and nothing produces more universal shame in our society than aging.

Optimism

Rational Optimism Across Life's Domains

Jessica Koehler Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Beyond School Walls

In a world full of uncertainties, how can you stay positive without losing touch with reality? Enter rational optimism—a mindset that blends hope with practicality.

In a world full of uncertainties, how can you stay positive without losing touch with reality? Enter rational optimism—a mindset that blends hope with practicality.

Cognition

What Do LLMs Really "Know"?

John Nosta on September 6, 2024 in The Digital Self

LLMs blur the line between human knowledge and machine inference, hinting at a techno-consciousness that challenges the very nature of understanding and what it means to "know."

LLMs blur the line between human knowledge and machine inference, hinting at a techno-consciousness that challenges the very nature of understanding and what it means to "know."

Eating Disorders

Building Connections for Eating Disorder Recovery

Cris E. Haltom Ph.D., CEDS on September 6, 2024 in Navigating the Maze

Eating disorders are illnesses of disconnection from oneself and others. Restoring these connections is a goal of recovery. Families can help.

Eating disorders are illnesses of disconnection from oneself and others. Restoring these connections is a goal of recovery. Families can help.

Parenting

Parent Stress Is a Serious Public Health Concern

Cara Goodwin, Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Parenting Translator

Here's why U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the current state of parenting and the unprecedented stress and mental health concerns of parents.

Here's why U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory about the current state of parenting and the unprecedented stress and mental health concerns of parents.

Animal Behavior

Lessons From 40 Years Among Wolves

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on September 6, 2024 in Animal Emotions

Diane Boyd's tireless efforts to learn about wild wolves in a career dominated by men is a riveting story of passion, resilience, and determination.

Diane Boyd's tireless efforts to learn about wild wolves in a career dominated by men is a riveting story of passion, resilience, and determination.