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

Fantasies

Writing Psychologically-Realistic Characters in Fiction

Monica N. Starkman M.D. on May 16, 2024 in On Call

Can psychiatrist-novelists write more psychologically-realistic characters?

Can psychiatrist-novelists write more psychologically-realistic characters?

Free Will

When Disagreements Are Caused by Talking Past Each Other

John A. Johnson Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Cui Bono

When smart people looking at the same evidence disagree, the reason might be that they define basic concepts differently and talk past each other.

When smart people looking at the same evidence disagree, the reason might be that they define basic concepts differently and talk past each other.

Relationships

3 Surprising Signs That You’re Emotionally Unavailable

Roxy Zarrabi Psy.D. on May 16, 2024 in Mindful Dating

Think you know the telltale signs that a person is emotionally unavailable? These signs may surprise you.

Think you know the telltale signs that a person is emotionally unavailable? These signs may surprise you.

ADHD

3 Signs of a Truly ADHD-Compatible Partner

Alise Conner Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Authenticity for the Win

What really makes a partner ADHD-friendly? Here’s how to spot a great match.

What really makes a partner ADHD-friendly? Here’s how to spot a great match.

Career

Your Boss Was Fired. Now What?

Robert Kovach Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in The Psychology of Work

When a boss you like and respect gets fired, it's natural to become stressed. Be prepared for professional change by having resources to help you transition.

When a boss you like and respect gets fired, it's natural to become stressed. Be prepared for professional change by having resources to help you transition.

Therapy

The Problem With Unconditional Positive Regard

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Our New Discontents

However well-intended, our empathy and support can have a paradoxical effect. We can fail to take others seriously or appreciate their suffering as a response to moral demands.

However well-intended, our empathy and support can have a paradoxical effect. We can fail to take others seriously or appreciate their suffering as a response to moral demands.

Evolutionary Psychology

Is There an Ideal Size for Human Social Groups?

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Out of the Ooze

The maximum number of individuals one can maintain any sort of meaningful social relationship with at any given time appears to be about 150. What are the implications of this?

The maximum number of individuals one can maintain any sort of meaningful social relationship with at any given time appears to be about 150. What are the implications of this?

Resilience

Why an “Everyone Wins” Attitude Is Making Our Children Lose

Megan Shen Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in How to Grow Hope

Personal Perspective: Protecting children from losing with an "everyone wins" attitude can prevent them from developing resilience.

Personal Perspective: Protecting children from losing with an "everyone wins" attitude can prevent them from developing resilience.

Neuroscience

How Two Brains Synchronize in Conversation

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Mind, Brain, and Value

What enables effective, accurate communication? It comes down to the similarity of two brains during communication, a phenomenon known as neural coupling.

What enables effective, accurate communication? It comes down to the similarity of two brains during communication, a phenomenon known as neural coupling.

Marriage

Is “Bridgerton” Right to Be Obsessed With Love Matches?

Isabelle Morley Psy.D. on May 16, 2024 in Love Them or Leave Them

"Bridgerton" challenges us to decide if it's preferable to marry for love or security.

"Bridgerton" challenges us to decide if it's preferable to marry for love or security.

Psychiatry

What’s Needed in Child/Adolescent and Geriatric Psychiatry

Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Demystifying Psychiatry

We face critical shortages of child and adolescent psychiatrists and geriatric psychiatrists. How can we maximize the impact of those already in these subspecialties?

We face critical shortages of child and adolescent psychiatrists and geriatric psychiatrists. How can we maximize the impact of those already in these subspecialties?

Media

Navigating the Mental Health Effects of Partisan News

Amir Levine Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Things to Consider

Partisan news can have a deleterious impact on our relationships. Learn effective ways to manage these effects and build bridges to those with different views.

Partisan news can have a deleterious impact on our relationships. Learn effective ways to manage these effects and build bridges to those with different views.

Diet

Culinary Medicine for Eating Disorders

Leslie E. Korn Ph.D., MPH, LMHC, ACS, FNTP on May 16, 2024 in Rhythms of Recovery

Culinary medicine helps people make personal decisions about accessing and eating high-quality meals that help prevent and treat disease and restore well-being.

Culinary medicine helps people make personal decisions about accessing and eating high-quality meals that help prevent and treat disease and restore well-being.

Neurodiversity

Get More Out of Your Teams by Embracing Neurodiversity

Ed Thompson on May 16, 2024 in A Hidden Force

A manager's core responsibility is to maximize the output of their team. This requires embracing their team’s neurodiversity. Those able to do so quickly see the benefits.

A manager's core responsibility is to maximize the output of their team. This requires embracing their team’s neurodiversity. Those able to do so quickly see the benefits.

Resilience

The Value of Defeat in Developing Resilience

Nafees Alam Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Pop Culture Mental Health

Wins and lessons instead of wins and losses in youth sports.

Wins and lessons instead of wins and losses in youth sports.

Sex

Why Autistic People Might Experience Sex in a Different Way

Claire Jack Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Do you find intimate touch and sex overwhelming or unpleasant? It could have something to do with sensory processing differences.

Do you find intimate touch and sex overwhelming or unpleasant? It could have something to do with sensory processing differences.

Friends

3 Ways to Make Healthy, Sustainable Friendships as an Adult

Mark Travers Ph.D. on May 16, 2024 in Social Instincts

Maintaining friendships as an adult can be tricky. Here's how to do it right.

Maintaining friendships as an adult can be tricky. Here's how to do it right.

Anger

Do You or Your Child Confuse Hatred and Anger?

Corinne Masur Psy.D. on May 16, 2024 in Parenting Matters

If parents know the difference between anger and hatred it will be easier for them to withstand their child's cries of "I hate you."

If parents know the difference between anger and hatred it will be easier for them to withstand their child's cries of "I hate you."

Education

Education: The Great Equaliser or a Divider?

The Hungry Mind Lab on May 16, 2024 in Deciphering Our Differences

To be fair to all, education systems may need to adapt to students’ differential learning needs and backgrounds.

To be fair to all, education systems may need to adapt to students’ differential learning needs and backgrounds.

Boundaries

Is Your Workload Out of Control?

Megan Dalla-Camina on May 16, 2024 in Real Women

Practical tips to help you push back assertively and set boundaries with your manager.

Practical tips to help you push back assertively and set boundaries with your manager.

Decision-Making

The Joys of Vintage and Thrifting

Carrie Barron M.D. on May 16, 2024 in The Creativity Cure

There is more to vintage, thrifting, and secondhand shopping than meets the eye. The process provides opportunities for well-being in many ways.

There is more to vintage, thrifting, and secondhand shopping than meets the eye. The process provides opportunities for well-being in many ways.

Play

The History and Psychology of Chess

Neel Burton M.D. on May 16, 2024 in Ataraxia

Along with reason and pattern recognition, chess involves a great deal of psychology.

Along with reason and pattern recognition, chess involves a great deal of psychology.

Self-Esteem

Boosting Children's Self-Esteem During Summer Break

Yanet Vanegas Psy.D. on May 16, 2024 in It’s Not Just About the Food

Unlock the secrets to a summer filled with self-discovery and empowerment for your child.

Unlock the secrets to a summer filled with self-discovery and empowerment for your child.

Leadership

5 Ways to Become an Empathic Leader

Judith Orloff M.D. on May 16, 2024 in The Genius of Empathy

There’s a hunger for empathic leadership today in corporations, governments, medical centers, and small businesses across the globe.

There’s a hunger for empathic leadership today in corporations, governments, medical centers, and small businesses across the globe.

Marriage

4 Signs You Are in a Transactional Marriage

Stephen J. Betchen D.S.W. on May 15, 2024 in Magnetic Partners

Does your relationship remind you of a business deal?

Does your relationship remind you of a business deal?

Ethics and Morality

Dog-Eat-Dog or Civility? On the Road and in Life, You Choose

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on May 15, 2024 in Life Gets Better

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Leadership

How to Hire a Leadership Coach

James M. Kerr on May 15, 2024 in Indispensable Thinking

Use extreme caution when hiring an inexperienced leadership coach. There are five questions to help you get the coaching you want.

Use extreme caution when hiring an inexperienced leadership coach. There are five questions to help you get the coaching you want.

Leadership

The Seven Deadly Sins of Toxic Management

Jake Breeden on May 15, 2024 in Detoxing Management

Toxic leadership hides in plain sight. Uncover the subtle signs of toxic management to create a healthier, more productive team.

Toxic leadership hides in plain sight. Uncover the subtle signs of toxic management to create a healthier, more productive team.

Animal Behavior

Social Networks and the Complexity and Beauty of Animal Life

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on May 15, 2024 in Animal Emotions

In his fascinating new book, Lee Dugatkin writes about the flexible, intricate, and varied social networks many diverse nonhumans form and use daily.

In his fascinating new book, Lee Dugatkin writes about the flexible, intricate, and varied social networks many diverse nonhumans form and use daily.