psychology

A Psychologist's Guide To Talking Politics — Or Not — This Thanksgiving
The task that lies before many of us at Thanksgiving is not unlike the task that faces us as Americans: How do we connect across painful differences?

Exercise Addiction: How To Know If You've Crossed The Line Between Health And Obsession
If you feel driven to work out daily, and do it even through illness and injury -- that could signal a problem. And if you feel guilty, anxious or out...

A Death, And A 'Changed Life': Traumatic Births Take Toll On Health Workers Too
In a study, more than one third of the midwives and obstetricians surveyed said that they always would feel some sort of guilt when reflecting on a traumatic birth.

Narrating Medicine: The Long Lasting Impact Of Child Abuse
Physical abuse is the second most common form of child maltreatment, impacting more than 15 percent of all children living in the U.S. per year.

How Unconscious Fear Of Death May Skew Your Judgment — In Life And 2016 Politics
"Subtle, even unconscious death reminders can radically skew everything from [people’s] political preferences to the way they take care of themselves,” says psychology researcher Sheldon Solomon.
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Opinion: Parents Can — And Must — Talk About Ugly 2016 Politics With Kids
A child psychiatrist argues that in this ugly political season, parents can't just chuckle and tell kids that politics is a contact sport; they have an obligation to step in...

Irving's: How Death Changes The Meaning Of A Miniature Magical Candy Store
For generations of schoolchildren, Irving's was the magical tiny toy and candy store where they bought after-school treats -- but now the beloved centenarian owner has died and the store's...

SharingClinic, To Help Patients Tell Their Stories, Opens At Mass. General Hospital
"Hospitals can be cold, scary, lonely places," said Dr. Annie Brewster, an MGH internist. "SharingClinic aims to build community and to lessen this sense of isolation."

Analysis: Can Mindful Eating Really Help You Lose Weight Or Stop Binging?
On the one hand, paying closer attention to how you eat and why seems like a no-brainer for improved health. But mindful eating is steeped in controversy.

Commentary: When Sexual Violence Survivors Give Birth, Here's What You Should Know
One survivor said that during labor and delivery it would be painful for health care providers to say things like, “you’re doing a good job, honey” or “just relax” because...

When It Comes To Happiness, Time Trumps Money, Study Suggests
Even a small choice about spending more time with family or friends might increase life satisfaction.

Deep? Or Pseudo-Profound B.S.? Psychologists Explore Why Some Can't Tell
BS is everywhere, from political speeches to infomercials, but only now are psychologists trying to study it empirically, exploring why some people fall for "pseudo-profound bulls---" (like randomly generated Deepak...

Parents: Kids Spurn Emotional Help For Fear 'They Might Think I'm The Next Shooter'
Parents of children with mental health needs report that some are refusing to get help for fear of being pegged as a possible "shooter," in the wake of recent mass...

Healthy Narcissism? 8 Ways To Be (A Bit) More Like Donald Trump
A Harvard psychologist who's expert on narcissism lays out eight ways you might want to be a little more like Donald Trump -- even if you can't stand him.

CDC: One-Third Of Children With ADHD Diagnosed With The Disorder Before Age 6
The median age at which children with ADHD were first diagnosed with the disorder was 7 years old.

Workout Supplements: Does Overuse Signal An Eating Disorder Among Men?
Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said they consumed the supplements instead of a meal.

Sexting Among Adults May Be More Common Than You Think, Survey Suggests
Even the AARP acknowledges the trend: “…more and more of the 50-plus set, both single and married, routinely use text messaging to send tantalizing pictures and provocative words to their...

Want Happiness At 50? Be A Social Butterfly At 20, Keep Friends Close At 30
That’s according to a new study looking at the health impacts of social networks over decades.

Brain Scientist: How Pixar's 'Inside Out' Gets One Thing Deeply Wrong
"Inside Out" is an entertaining film but you shouldn't conclude from it that your brain has distinct circuits or regions for certain emotions, a neuroscientist argues: "The inner workings of...

What If Your Doctor Really Listened Instead Of Just Telling You What To Do?
"Motivational interviewing," a subtle but powerful method for changing unhealthy behavior, is sizzling hot in medicine these days as doctors try to change the patient behaviors that drive illness.