Attempting to understand personality types has a subject of psychology since its inception. Over the decades, different personality theories have emerged and reemerged, but in recent years, the Five Factor (Or “Big Five”) framework of personality has been worked and reworked, where it has become the dominant approach to personality types. That said, however, there […]
Spring Officially Kicks of This Week
There’s an old saying that March is like a season unto itself. And every year this old adage seems true, as there can be warmer days and sunshine followed immediately by a late winter snow storm. And I’m willing to bet that after this year’s “Covid winter” that I am not the one yearning for […]
Why EQ Counts . . . A Look at a Well-Established Psychological Idea
Why EQ Counts . . . A Look at a Well-Established Psychological Idea The concept of emotional intelligence (EQ) has been around for the past few decades, and since establishing itself as a mainstream concept in popular psychology in the 1980s/90s, EQ has been applied everywhere from business to education to counseling. But despite its […]
Verbally Abusive Relationships
How can you tell if you are in a verbally abusive relationship? That’s in part the goal of author Patricia Evans’ book, “The Verbally Abusive Relationship,” originally published in the 1990s but updated more recently. According to the author, “Verbal abuse is the kind of battering which doesn’t leave evidence comparable to the bruises of […]
12-Step Isn’t Always the Right Step: An Opinion
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC), moderate alcohol use includes 1 drink or less in a day for a woman, and 2 drinks or less in a day for a man. Moreover, Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) impact millions of Americans each year. Those who abuse alcohol regularly can likely expect adverse […]
Styles of Distorted Thinking
It may come as a surprise to some people that thinking – yes, thinking – can arrive in our consciousness in a distorted way. In other words, thoughts are not always neutral. It seems to be embedded in our psychology that thoughts can come wrapped in biases: biases that trend toward too negative or too […]
Psychopaths
When the word “psychopath” is used, it is usually used in a casual context, when a person is describing someone they don’t like, or even, and ex-partner. But the disturbing truth is that individuals with psychopathy are more common than one would think. Also, a person does not need to conjure the name “Ted Bundy” […]
Celebrating ‘Imbolic’: The Halfway Point Between Winter’s Darkest Days and the Beginning of Spring
Although for most individuals, February 1 comes and goes without pause, it is a date of some significance: February 1 marks exactly the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In the northern hemisphere, the general consensus is that once the holidays are over – especially in the United States – most […]
‘How William James Can Save Your Life’: A Look at One of America’s First Psychologists
Last year, author John Kaag published, “Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life.” The title alone intrigued me, and I bought the book. William James, if you don’t know, is considered by most to be America’s first psychologist. In the late 19th and early 20th century, William James published many works […]
The Japanese Contentments: A Look at Wabi-Sabi and Ikigai
Although Western intellectuals have been narrowing ideas from Japanese culture for a long time, it has become en vogue lately for self-help and New Age gurus to promote different aspects of Japanese philosophy. And why shouldn’t they? As an island nation, which developed in isolation for many centuries, Japan has developed its own unique philosophies […]