How Worried Should You Be About Post-Election Violence?

Over 70 percent of Americans are concerned about violence in the aftermath of the U.S. election. With fears looming large, how can we safeguard our mental health and our democracy?

Over 70 percent of Americans are concerned about violence in the aftermath of the U.S. election. With fears looming large, how can we safeguard our mental health and our democracy?

The Season of Fear

Scary stuff is not just for children.

Scary stuff is not just for children.

Releasing Fear: Shake It Off!

A Personal Perspective: The phrase "shake it off" may be wiser than we think. I've started shaking and I think it's doing me some good.

A Personal Perspective: The phrase "shake it off" may be wiser than we think. I've started shaking and I think it's doing me some good.

When Horror Is a Hobby

Horror may act as a "fear vaccine," helping some individuals develop coping mechanisms for stress and fear in both fictional and real-world scenarios.

Horror may act as a "fear vaccine," helping some individuals develop coping mechanisms for stress and fear in both fictional and real-world scenarios.

The Psychology of Ghost Stories

Ghost stories have been around for thousands of years and continue to evolve; they’re fun, fulfill innate psychological pleasure, and provide valuable life lessons.

Ghost stories have been around for thousands of years and continue to evolve; they’re fun, fulfill innate psychological pleasure, and provide valuable life lessons.

The Many Faces of Fear

Despite our intuitions, we all experience fear differently and for different reasons. Here's what science says about why that is.

Despite our intuitions, we all experience fear differently and for different reasons. Here's what science says about why that is.

Feeling the Fear and Doing It Anyway

Are you willing to become a more courageous version of yourself? Gradually trying feared activities may help to create a more courageous mindset.

Are you willing to become a more courageous version of yourself? Gradually trying feared activities may help to create a more courageous mindset.

'Invasion of the Body Snatchers': A Projective Screen

When our culture produces variations on a theme like the 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' films, it's because it highlights a universal fear and predictable response worth knowing.

When our culture produces variations on a theme like the 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' films, it's because it highlights a universal fear and predictable response worth knowing.

Navigating Anxiety in Perimenopause and Menopause

Think you know menopause anxiety? Think again. Learn how to uncover the triggers, explore solutions, and regain your sense of peace and power.

Think you know menopause anxiety? Think again. Learn how to uncover the triggers, explore solutions, and regain your sense of peace and power.

Have You Become More Brave or More Anxious as You Age?

Do we become less brave as we age because we treasure our lives more fully, knowing them better, or does wisdom give us courage to act on our behalf as well as to help others?

Do we become less brave as we age because we treasure our lives more fully, knowing them better, or does wisdom give us courage to act on our behalf as well as to help others?

Perfectionism Detox

Perfectionism involves high expectations and self-criticism. Challenge unhelpful perfectionism by naming it, adjusting unhelpful rules, and finding a middle path option.

Perfectionism involves high expectations and self-criticism. Challenge unhelpful perfectionism by naming it, adjusting unhelpful rules, and finding a middle path option.

Five Ways to Cultivate Bravery

Want to become more brave? Step outside your comfort zone and lean into change.

Want to become more brave? Step outside your comfort zone and lean into change.

Great News on Breast Cancer Is Hidden by Alarmist Reporting

A new report on breast cancer carries positive news, and negative news, and the negative is getting far more attention, fueling our outdated fear of "the C word."

A new report on breast cancer carries positive news, and negative news, and the negative is getting far more attention, fueling our outdated fear of "the C word."

The Season of the Creepy Smile Is Upon Us

Halloween season summons our discomfort with big, creepy grins. Research and history tell us why.

Halloween season summons our discomfort with big, creepy grins. Research and history tell us why.

The Fear-Anger-Authoritarianism Connection

The challenge to civilized persons is to acknowledge the worth of as many people as possible, even complete strangers or those who hold viewpoints quite different from their own.

The challenge to civilized persons is to acknowledge the worth of as many people as possible, even complete strangers or those who hold viewpoints quite different from their own.

Pseudo Versus Solid Self

The solid self knows what it needs and desires, while the pseudo self reacts to those around it.

The solid self knows what it needs and desires, while the pseudo self reacts to those around it.

Obama’s Psychology Translator

Barack Obama’s 2024 DNC address was chock-full of psychological concepts. Learn more about the theory and research behind his message.

Barack Obama’s 2024 DNC address was chock-full of psychological concepts. Learn more about the theory and research behind his message.

Fear-Based Politics: The Psychology of Authoritarianism

The challenge of the civilized person is to acknowledge the worth of as many people as possible, even those who are complete strangers or with viewpoints different from one's own.

The challenge of the civilized person is to acknowledge the worth of as many people as possible, even those who are complete strangers or with viewpoints different from one's own.

Embracing the Extraordinary

Have you ever encountered an experience that defies the laws of physics? While these moments can be unsettling, they often lead to profound transformation.

Have you ever encountered an experience that defies the laws of physics? While these moments can be unsettling, they often lead to profound transformation.

I Hate the Thought of My Parents Aging. Here’s How I Face the Fear

Personal Perspective: Worried about your parents getting older? Learn how to face that fear and turn it into meaningful action.

Personal Perspective: Worried about your parents getting older? Learn how to face that fear and turn it into meaningful action.

Coercive Control, Gaslighting, and Recovery

The term gaslighting refers to a pattern of manipulation and control in which an abuser successfully convinces their victim that they are insane. It has devastating consequences.

The term gaslighting refers to a pattern of manipulation and control in which an abuser successfully convinces their victim that they are insane. It has devastating consequences.

Are You Lying to Your Therapist? Are They Lying to You?

The request for total honesty in therapy is a tall order.

The request for total honesty in therapy is a tall order.

Sorry, Not Sorry, but We Might Be Apologizing Too Much

Many of us over-apologize, resorting to the "anxious sorry," a common type of apology that can affect how we are viewed and cause unnecessary burden to others.

Many of us over-apologize, resorting to the "anxious sorry," a common type of apology that can affect how we are viewed and cause unnecessary burden to others.

How I Survived a Rare Autoimmune Disease

A Personal Perspective: Undiagnosed illnesses require persistence and courage.

A Personal Perspective: Undiagnosed illnesses require persistence and courage.

5 Ways to Find Peace on the Lonely Path of the High Road

Taking the high road can be a lonely, painful experience. We can find peace and rise above our instinct for revenge by releasing attachments.

Taking the high road can be a lonely, painful experience. We can find peace and rise above our instinct for revenge by releasing attachments.

What to Do After Someone Yells at You

What to do after someone yells at you and leaves you feeling jarred, overwhelmed, and downright drained.

What to do after someone yells at you and leaves you feeling jarred, overwhelmed, and downright drained.

The Art of Politics and the Use of Campaigns as Theater

If the presidential campaign is political theater, then emotional categories of aesthetic experiences can be used to frame current events.

If the presidential campaign is political theater, then emotional categories of aesthetic experiences can be used to frame current events.

Fearless on Friday the 13th

Dread of Friday the 13th looms large in the cultural consciousness, but it's really just a day like any other.

Dread of Friday the 13th looms large in the cultural consciousness, but it's really just a day like any other.

We Live in a World of Mistrust

Personal Perspective: In a world of fear and anger, each of us wants the same thing: to feel valued by others. By shifting the paradigm, we can help save the world.

Personal Perspective: In a world of fear and anger, each of us wants the same thing: to feel valued by others. By shifting the paradigm, we can help save the world.

Do You Suffer From Death Anxiety?

If even the mere thought of death—yours or someone else's—causes panic or despair, you can get help.

If even the mere thought of death—yours or someone else's—causes panic or despair, you can get help.