psychology

In the search for knowledge and self-understanding, the right words can be just what you need to spark insight or inspiration. The best psychology quotes have the power to reframe your thoughts, shed light on your habits, offer hope, or simply remind you of truths you already know deep down….

Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and the father of psychoanalysis, is one of the most influential men of the 20th century. When you think of psychology, you usually think of Freud, which is why we decided to dedicate this article to him and his most notable quotes. Sigmund Freud’s Life Work…

Positive psychology is a therapeutic approach that helps clients emphasize and learn from the positive aspects of life. Unlike traditional psychology, which often focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, positive psychology aims to enhance well-being by cultivating strengths and virtues.  This approach helps clients create a fulfilling and meaningful…

Mental health professionals are always looking to use the most successful techniques—and deciding which method or approach to use is highly dependent on the individual’s needs and wants.  One of the most successful and broadly-used methods in contemporary practice is known as solution-focused brief therapy. Solution-focused brief therapy offers a…

Mother’s Day is one of those special holidays that for so many of us, reminds us of the unparalleled closeness that can define a parent-child relationship. The bond between a mother and child is often life-long; forged by familial ties and tempered with years of both arguments and heart-to-hearts, and…

I’m stuck in four lanes of traffic for the next two miles. It’s late July in Texas, and not a single car is moving. It’s 93 degrees outside, plus 70% humidity to top things off. Sweating, frustrated,  and frankly quite angry, I lean into my car horn, uttering a few…

Jealousy changes with time—we envy what is to come more than we envy what has already happened. This, according to researchers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In the first phase of their study, researchers asked 620 participants to imagine a close friend living out the participant’s…

Humor can help us cope during embarrassing or uncomfortable situations, as well as manage stress and anxiety. However, it isn’t always helpful—it can stand in the way of our addressing serious challenges and even cause harm to our relationships. This makes determining the appropriate time and circumstances for humor important….

The big 5 personality traits make up a five-factor model, used to evaluate an individual’s main qualities; these qualities include openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Those who score high on the openness scale enjoy new experiences and are curious in nature; their downfalls can include unpredictability and a lack…

A new study says that your imagination can help you overcome your fears; this involves imagining an encounter with the fear and realizing it is not a threat. Researchers sought to understand how fears are learned and unlearned; this goal led to their conducting an experiment that involved auditory threat…

Within the field of positive psychology, we have learned that our happiness is comprised of three main components: 1) our genetics, 2) our life situation, and 3) our thoughts and behaviors. Our genetics account for approximately half of our happiness, but I used to think our life situation (e.g., health,…

The PERMA model is characteristic of the positive psychology movement; it offers a comprehensive understanding of how we can accomplish optimal wellbeing. P stands for positive emotions: it’s important we experience positive emotions like pleasure, love, inspiration, and gratitude. E stands for engagement: we experience engagement when we become completely…