Suppression Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

Conventional wisdom says suppressing difficult thoughts is bad, but new research suggests it may be useful in some cases.

Conventional wisdom says suppressing difficult thoughts is bad, but new research suggests it may be useful in some cases.

The Role of Creativity in Grief and Recovery

Art and shrine-making provide paths to recovery from grief by helping us maintain bonds and enduring connections with departed loved ones.

Art and shrine-making provide paths to recovery from grief by helping us maintain bonds and enduring connections with departed loved ones.

"Killers of the Flower Moon," Civilization, and Discontents

Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" has garnered 10 Oscar nominations. What does it tell us about the dangers of the human psyche?

Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" has garnered 10 Oscar nominations. What does it tell us about the dangers of the human psyche?

Freud and Jung Sharing Their Dreams: An AI Revival

New advances in AI are making it possible to enhance, empower, and integrate Freudian and Jungian approaches to dream interpretation.

New advances in AI are making it possible to enhance, empower, and integrate Freudian and Jungian approaches to dream interpretation.

Failed Resolutions and Broken Promises

Humans often find themselves making the same mistakes. Such self-defeating behavior can only be reckoned with if one is willing to remember and work through past traumas.

Humans often find themselves making the same mistakes. Such self-defeating behavior can only be reckoned with if one is willing to remember and work through past traumas.

Updating Freud's Psychology

Let's summarize the core of Freud's psychology and then update the critical insights based on the unified theory.

Let's summarize the core of Freud's psychology and then update the critical insights based on the unified theory.

The Unknown vs. the Mysterious

The "mysteries" of concern to Freud and Jung were restricted to semantic processes, which today are not a mystery. But consciousness remains a true mystery.

The "mysteries" of concern to Freud and Jung were restricted to semantic processes, which today are not a mystery. But consciousness remains a true mystery.

Embrace the Sacred and Profane in Your Relationships

By loving and appreciating all aspects of ourselves and our partners, we can—ultimately, and with much practice—finally see one another.

By loving and appreciating all aspects of ourselves and our partners, we can—ultimately, and with much practice—finally see one another.

Rapture of Distress: Freudian Psychoanalysis Meets the Laws of Manu

How Indian women's sexuality adapts to the contemporary conditions of a patriarchal society.

How Indian women's sexuality adapts to the contemporary conditions of a patriarchal society.

A More Careful Look at Gambling Behavior and Addiction

What we've learned about compulsive gambling, what we got wrong, and where we could find answers now.

What we've learned about compulsive gambling, what we got wrong, and where we could find answers now.

How Alcohol Gets a Grip on People

How our search for joy and our dread of discomfort can both shape our drinking habits.

How our search for joy and our dread of discomfort can both shape our drinking habits.

Awareness and Change: How Psychodynamic Therapy Supports Healing

Deeper awareness can bring about long-lasting change in people’s lives.

Deeper awareness can bring about long-lasting change in people’s lives.

Freud Meets Netflix: Unraveling "House of Usher"

Netflix's hit show "House of Usher" explores Freudian concepts such as the subconscious, repressed thoughts and memories, the return of the repressed, and the doppelgänger.

Netflix's hit show "House of Usher" explores Freudian concepts such as the subconscious, repressed thoughts and memories, the return of the repressed, and the doppelgänger.

Two Takes on Narcissism

Let's examine two different views of narcissism, one by Freud and one by Kohut.

Let's examine two different views of narcissism, one by Freud and one by Kohut.

What's the Appeal of Werewolves?

Werewolves are folkloric beasts whose popularity taps into the elemental allure of feeling unbound.

Werewolves are folkloric beasts whose popularity taps into the elemental allure of feeling unbound.

Dreams of Losing a Sports Hero

A Personal Perspective: According to a new study, fans seem to have more sports dreams than the players themselves. What do fans dream about when their favorite players leave?

A Personal Perspective: According to a new study, fans seem to have more sports dreams than the players themselves. What do fans dream about when their favorite players leave?

Robert LeVine: A Founder of Psychological Anthropology

The pioneering work of a cultural explorer of the psyche who researched childhood around the globe.

The pioneering work of a cultural explorer of the psyche who researched childhood around the globe.

On the Freud Trail in Vienna

A personal perspective: Having just visited Vienna's newly reconceived Freud Museum, I take a fresh look at some of Freud's key Vienna places and their stories.

A personal perspective: Having just visited Vienna's newly reconceived Freud Museum, I take a fresh look at some of Freud's key Vienna places and their stories.

Our Mysterious Epidemic of Despair Has a History

While our malaise seems new, it goes back decades. Looking back helps us to see deeper roots in the wearing away of enabling institutions and traditions.

While our malaise seems new, it goes back decades. Looking back helps us to see deeper roots in the wearing away of enabling institutions and traditions.

Are Dreams Actually Subconscious? Maybe Not

Many people believe dreams to be "subconscious," but dreams are accessible to our conscious minds, just like the thoughts and feelings we have while awake.

Many people believe dreams to be "subconscious," but dreams are accessible to our conscious minds, just like the thoughts and feelings we have while awake.

Why Do I Beat Myself Up?

Balancing the need to be honest in recognizing our faults while at the same time doing so in a constructive and kind way is conducive to acceptance and change.

Balancing the need to be honest in recognizing our faults while at the same time doing so in a constructive and kind way is conducive to acceptance and change.

PTSD and the Concept of Human Maliciousness

Psychoanalysis says that individuals with PTSD operate under the higher-order axiom that people are basically good, all the time. Changing this assumption might alleviate the symptoms.

Psychoanalysis says that individuals with PTSD operate under the higher-order axiom that people are basically good, all the time. Changing this assumption might alleviate the symptoms.

"Succession" and a Freudian End

What would Freud have to say about Siobhan, Logan, and Tom from the hit show "Succession"?

What would Freud have to say about Siobhan, Logan, and Tom from the hit show "Succession"?

Psychological Vertigo: How Our Perversities Prevent Our Success

When life is stagnant, or you are not reaping the rewards you want, your instincts may be at play. A few steps can go a long way.

When life is stagnant, or you are not reaping the rewards you want, your instincts may be at play. A few steps can go a long way.

Advertising as Play

See if you can solve this playful and funny visual puzzle that sold convenience to women in the late 19th century.

See if you can solve this playful and funny visual puzzle that sold convenience to women in the late 19th century.

How Medicine Relegated Mental Illness to Secondary Status

Who thinks psychiatry needs to change? And does anyone think psychiatry can?

Who thinks psychiatry needs to change? And does anyone think psychiatry can?

Woman’s Voice Ignored in Pop Culture Asylum Depiction

A Hollywood classic, "The Snake Pit," is worth re-evaluating. It diverges in troubling ways from the source material.

A Hollywood classic, "The Snake Pit," is worth re-evaluating. It diverges in troubling ways from the source material.

Shakespeare’s Enduring Impact on Psychology

Although wild and dangerous, Shakespeare portrays the human imagination as a creative source of new critical awareness of ourselves, society, and the world around us.

Although wild and dangerous, Shakespeare portrays the human imagination as a creative source of new critical awareness of ourselves, society, and the world around us.

Sigmund Freud and the Nazi Nobelist

Sigmund Freud and Julius Wagner-Jauregg recognized each other's brilliance, though they disagreed strongly on where it had led them.

Sigmund Freud and Julius Wagner-Jauregg recognized each other's brilliance, though they disagreed strongly on where it had led them.

Psychoanalysts Put White-Collar Criminals on the Couch

Poor judgment—and failure of organizational leaders to identify it—may explain the Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failures.

Poor judgment—and failure of organizational leaders to identify it—may explain the Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failures.