Psychology

Before I took my leap of faith and adopted my dog, Mila, I surveyed everyone in my life to see what they thought. Did they think I could handle it? Did they think it was a good idea? Did they think I was ready for the responsibility? The overwhelming answer…

In addition to providing love, support, and companionship, dogs are beneficial to our health and overall wellbeing. When we pet a dog, we form a bond and release the hormone oxytocin, which helps to relieve us of stress and anxiety. Dogs also promote an active lifestyle, which helps us to…

We have long disagreed over whether aggressive behavior is inborn or learned—which has led to many research efforts, including the Bobo doll experiment. This study concluded that children become aggressive through observational learning; that is, through watching someone else conduct the same behavior. However, other studies disagree—or at least note…

Assertive and aggressive behavior are two totally different approaches to communication and, often, confrontation. But one often reaps better benefits — learn about the difference between the two and which you should turn to. What Is the Difference Between Assertive and Aggressive? In my junior year of college, I spent…

We employ different ways of thinking. Some of us take a creative approach, while others are more analytic; some are focused on the short-term, while others think about the long-term. While we all have unique minds, our tendencies have been summed up into five recognized thinking styles: synthesists, or the…

We all lie—we say we’re younger than we really are, we claim to be okay when we’re not, and we tell our friends they look great when they don’t. I stand by the argument that lying is okay in certain instances, such as these, when the effects are virtually harmless….

The Hawthorne effect says that increased observation equals increased productivity. This theory explains why we might perform better when our boss is in the room or when we’re working out with others. This effect was first observed during a series of experiments, which intended to understand how different factors at…

Flow is a concept in positive psychology that refers to a state of being completely concentrated on the task at hand. Artists and athletes are known for entering flow, as they often “lose” themselves in their work, whether they’re painting a masterpiece or getting in the zone during a game….

Many of us celebrate Thanksgiving by helping ourselves to a plate stacked high with turkey, potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie—but the holiday isn’t just for eating delicious food! The whole point of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for all of your fortunes such as the incredible people in your…

WARNING: Movie spoilers included! Thanos: Sociopath with a Heart “…and then, to gain the Soul Stone, I killed my daughter, my Gamora, who was my everything…” By the time this client told me this about his past, I had already diagnosed him with both Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Antisocial…

According to Alisha Powell, licensed clinical social worker, “counseling for Black men and women needs to be rooted in person-centered therapy. Most don’t come into therapy wanting to be told that everything will be okay and that they shouldn’t worry,” she says. “It’s important to create a safe space for…

Let’s get straight to business. First and foremost, what in the world are positive affirmations? Positive affirmations are statements that help us overcome those negative thoughts that clog up our minds. For example, “I forgive myself for my imperfections, I’m only human,” or simply, “I believe in myself and my…