Stress

Does Interacting With Pets Reduce Blood Pressure and Stress?

By Hal Herzog Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Animals and Us

Will interacting with a dog decrease your stress levels and lower your blood pressure? Here's what 129 studies discovered about the biology underlying the human-dog bond.

Will interacting with a dog decrease your stress levels and lower your blood pressure? Here's what 129 studies discovered about the biology underlying the human-dog bond.

Relationships

Love Is No Reason to Get Married

By Madeleine A. Fugère Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Dating and Mating

There are good reasons not to get married even when we feel love for a partner. People who have doubts and still get married risk divorce, dissatisfaction, and marital distress.

There are good reasons not to get married even when we feel love for a partner. People who have doubts and still get married risk divorce, dissatisfaction, and marital distress.

Relationships

How Conflict Avoidance Fuels Commitment Issues

By Bernard Golden, Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Overcoming Destructive Anger

Fears of commitment may be powerfully influenced by conflict avoidance. Understanding and managing this tendency is a step toward enhancing commitment.

Fears of commitment may be powerfully influenced by conflict avoidance. Understanding and managing this tendency is a step toward enhancing commitment.

Resilience

Supporting the Mixed Emotions of Back to School

By Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on August 11, 2022 in Everyday Resilience

This school year, rise to meet the road that lies ahead with hope and curiosity about what is possible.

This school year, rise to meet the road that lies ahead with hope and curiosity about what is possible.

Integrative Medicine

What You Should Know About the Psychedelic Ayahuasca

By Rachel Allyn Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in The Pleasure Is All Yours

Are you curious about the psychedelic that celebrities, like football star Aaron Rodgers, have credited with improving their career and mental health?

Are you curious about the psychedelic that celebrities, like football star Aaron Rodgers, have credited with improving their career and mental health?

Education

Back-to-School Reflections: Freedom to Dream and Freedom to Be

By Janise S. Parker Ph.D., LP, NCSP on August 11, 2022 in Culture, Community, and Conscience

How can adults support Black and Brown youth during the new school year and promote mental well-being?

How can adults support Black and Brown youth during the new school year and promote mental well-being?

Parenting

Let Your Children Practice Solving Their Own Dilemmas

By Ronald Stolberg Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Parent Tips 2.0

Easy ways to build resiliency and self-confidence in our children.

Easy ways to build resiliency and self-confidence in our children.

Social Life

The Science Behind Social Influence

By Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in The Helpful Brain

Why do we follow the crowd? Social influence improves our learning, but it can also backfire.

Why do we follow the crowd? Social influence improves our learning, but it can also backfire.

Relationships

How to Foster Friendships Filled With Love, Heart, and Spirit

By Sean Grover L.C.S.W. on August 11, 2022 in When Kids Call the Shots

The ability to cultivate healthy friendships is genuine art; here are the tools you need.

The ability to cultivate healthy friendships is genuine art; here are the tools you need.

Self-Help

Why We Often Overspend While Treating Ourselves

By Joyce Marter LCPC on August 11, 2022 in Mental Wealth

Do you find yourself repeatedly indulging in lavish splurges that you later regret? Are you using shopping as a “cure” for dealing with your emotions?

Do you find yourself repeatedly indulging in lavish splurges that you later regret? Are you using shopping as a “cure” for dealing with your emotions?

Neuroscience

Unlocking the Cognitive Benefits of Play

By David Rock Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Your Brain at Work

Play isn’t just a way to relax and unwind during leisure time. Studies show that play is also a powerful way to increase employee creativity, innovation, and engagement.

Play isn’t just a way to relax and unwind during leisure time. Studies show that play is also a powerful way to increase employee creativity, innovation, and engagement.

Relationships

Do Nice Guys Really Sleep Alone?

By Hal Shorey Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in The Freedom to Change

Sometimes, nice, healthy people can seem boring. They do not make other people anxious. And, people mistake anxiety for attraction. If there is no anxiety, they don't feel interested.

Sometimes, nice, healthy people can seem boring. They do not make other people anxious. And, people mistake anxiety for attraction. If there is no anxiety, they don't feel interested.

Philosophy

Weakness of Will and the Persistence of Stigma

By John T. Maier Ph.D., MSW on August 11, 2022 in Philosophy and Therapy

We are in the habit of describing other people, and ourselves, as weak-willed. But this term bears a residue of stigma that we should reject.

We are in the habit of describing other people, and ourselves, as weak-willed. But this term bears a residue of stigma that we should reject.

Cognition

What Is Robust Decision-Making?

By Eva M. Krockow Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Stretching Theory

Are you facing the uncertainty of an unknown exam, adventurous trip, or new job? Robust decision-making can help by covering all eventualities and adapting choices as you go along.

Are you facing the uncertainty of an unknown exam, adventurous trip, or new job? Robust decision-making can help by covering all eventualities and adapting choices as you go along.

Relationships

Heavy Metal GWAR and the Power of Identity

By Michael Friedman Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Brick by Brick

"It was a matter of personal economics. It just started costing me more to do it than I was taking away from it. And so I had to stop.”

"It was a matter of personal economics. It just started costing me more to do it than I was taking away from it. And so I had to stop.”

Work

Recession-Proof Your Career

By Lynn Taylor on August 11, 2022 in Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant

Recession fears are on the rise, which could affect your job security in the weeks and months ahead. Now is the time to take proactive measures to bolster your career.

Recession fears are on the rise, which could affect your job security in the weeks and months ahead. Now is the time to take proactive measures to bolster your career.

Career

Mentors Versus Sponsors for Career Success

By Megan Dalla-Camina on August 11, 2022 in Real Women

Relationships are one of the most important factors in our careers. When we make the time and effort to invest in relationships, they can make a significant difference.

Relationships are one of the most important factors in our careers. When we make the time and effort to invest in relationships, they can make a significant difference.

Relationships

Is It Love or Is It Toxic?

By Mark Travers Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in Social Instincts

Deciphering the hidden meaning of your relationship.

Deciphering the hidden meaning of your relationship.

Animal Behavior

Education Is a Never-Ending Quest

By The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists on August 11, 2022 in Decoding Your Pet

Don't rest on your laurels and live the status quo.

Don't rest on your laurels and live the status quo.

Trauma

Feeling Disconnected From Oneself and Others After Trauma

By Anne P. DePrince Ph.D. on August 11, 2022 in From Awareness to Action

After trauma, we talk a lot about fear. What about alienation?

After trauma, we talk a lot about fear. What about alienation?

Relationships

Why Is Parental Alienation a Controversial Concept?

By Craig Harper Ph.D. on August 10, 2022 in Articles of Heterodoxy

Parental alienation is a term fraught with controversy in the area of domestic abuse research and practice, but what is it? New research reviews demonstrate its existence and meaning.

Parental alienation is a term fraught with controversy in the area of domestic abuse research and practice, but what is it? New research reviews demonstrate its existence and meaning.

Behavioral Economics

Understanding the Principles of Behavioral Design

By Liraz Margalit Ph.D. on August 10, 2022 in Behind Online Behavior

Lately, there has been a buzz around "behavioral design" and against those who deal with it, but we are all mind designers.

Lately, there has been a buzz around "behavioral design" and against those who deal with it, but we are all mind designers.

Animal Behavior

Feeding Animals Isn’t Always as Harmless as It Seems

By Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on August 10, 2022 in Animal Emotions

A new book looks at what's at stake when we feed animals, including killing some animals to feed others and political and environmental concerns.

A new book looks at what's at stake when we feed animals, including killing some animals to feed others and political and environmental concerns.

Intelligence

Understanding the Teenage Desire for Solitude

By Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on August 10, 2022 in Rethinking Mental Health

Smart teens need their solitude if they are to think and create. But that solitude produces dangers that a smart teen and his or her parents should recognize and address.

Smart teens need their solitude if they are to think and create. But that solitude produces dangers that a smart teen and his or her parents should recognize and address.

Relationships

Don't Miss the Point of Disappointment

By Assael Romanelli Ph.D. on August 10, 2022 in The Other Side of Relationships

Frustrations are normal and inescapable in every relationship. Instead of sidestepping them, reclaim disappointment as a valid, generative emotion in your relationship.

Frustrations are normal and inescapable in every relationship. Instead of sidestepping them, reclaim disappointment as a valid, generative emotion in your relationship.

Therapy

What Is the Psychedelic Experience Really Like?

By Peter Silverstone M.D. on August 10, 2022 in The Promise of Psychedelics

What can psychedelics offer when used with proper therapy?

What can psychedelics offer when used with proper therapy?

Parenting

Building Empathy in Children

By Stephanie Cox MS on August 10, 2022 in Family Prep

Help build the skills of empathy early and often.

Help build the skills of empathy early and often.

Relationships

Why Are Trios So Popular?

By Elisabeth A. Sheff Ph.D., CSE on August 10, 2022 in The Polyamorists Next Door

Sexual relationships among three people fascinate pop culture and are popular among those in consensual non-monogamous relationships with a range of outcomes.

Sexual relationships among three people fascinate pop culture and are popular among those in consensual non-monogamous relationships with a range of outcomes.