Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Relationships

Two Signs a Couple Is Truly Compatible

Mark Travers Ph.D. on October 8, 2025 in Social Instincts

Quick and easy ways to measure compatibility for you and your partner.

Quick and easy ways to measure compatibility for you and your partner.

Mating

Is "Zip Coding" Hindering Your Dating?

Bruce Y. Lee M.D., M.B.A. on October 8, 2025 in A Funny Bone to Pick

When looking for the right romantic matches for you, are you ending up with zip? If you are "zip coding", that could be holding you back.

When looking for the right romantic matches for you, are you ending up with zip? If you are "zip coding", that could be holding you back.

Humor

5 Reasons People Prefer Good Humor Over Good Sex

Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D. on October 8, 2025 in In the Name of Love

Humor and sex both matter in love, but humor brings broader, deeper, and more lasting benefits, fostering joy and connection long after passion fades.

Humor and sex both matter in love, but humor brings broader, deeper, and more lasting benefits, fostering joy and connection long after passion fades.

Resilience

The Power of Positive Discomfort

Claire Lerner LCSW-C on October 8, 2025 in Zero to Six

In this age of "gentle parenting," the dictum to always follow their child's lead means parents are letting kids make unhealthy choices, like giving up when facing a challenge.

In this age of "gentle parenting," the dictum to always follow their child's lead means parents are letting kids make unhealthy choices, like giving up when facing a challenge.

Creativity

Are You Thinking Too Small About What You Can Change?

Tasha Golden Ph.D. on October 8, 2025 in Think Bigger

Believing big-picture change is impossible distorts our problems and limits our solutions. Here's how to recognize this pattern, rethink change, and expand your impact.

Believing big-picture change is impossible distorts our problems and limits our solutions. Here's how to recognize this pattern, rethink change, and expand your impact.

Artificial Intelligence

How to Teach Critical Thinking When AI Does the Thinking

Timothy Cook M.Ed. on October 8, 2025 in The Algorithmic Mind

When Deloitte consultants outsourced thinking to ChatGPT, they produced a $291,000 disaster. Students will fail the same way unless we teach dialogic engagement with AI.

When Deloitte consultants outsourced thinking to ChatGPT, they produced a $291,000 disaster. Students will fail the same way unless we teach dialogic engagement with AI.

Identity

The Remix Effect: How We Build Ourselves From What We Love

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on October 8, 2025 in Raising Resilient Children

We are remixes of the books, songs, films, and passions we love. Each layer shapes identity, making us unique while connecting us to others through shared culture.

We are remixes of the books, songs, films, and passions we love. Each layer shapes identity, making us unique while connecting us to others through shared culture.

Infertility

Reclaiming Control During Fertility Treatment

Lisa Schuman on October 7, 2025 in Building Your Family

It's often suggested that fertility patients use common stress reduction techniques to feel better. Yet the difficulties that many fertility patients face call for other strategies.

It's often suggested that fertility patients use common stress reduction techniques to feel better. Yet the difficulties that many fertility patients face call for other strategies.

Relationships

Noticing What Appears to be Hidden in Your Life

Kenneth Silvestri Ed.D. on October 7, 2025 in A Wider Lens

"Noticing" is recognizing that nothing is hidden in our subconscious. Yet, much is unseen and emerges when we go beyond our everyday "looking."

"Noticing" is recognizing that nothing is hidden in our subconscious. Yet, much is unseen and emerges when we go beyond our everyday "looking."

Psychopathy

When Narcissism Is a Psychopath's Weak Spot

Winifred Rule on October 7, 2025 in Surviving the Female Psychopath

Psychopaths are notorious for playing mind games with their targets. But is it possible for someone who suspects they are dealing with a psychopath to turn the tables on them?

Psychopaths are notorious for playing mind games with their targets. But is it possible for someone who suspects they are dealing with a psychopath to turn the tables on them?

Anorexia Nervosa

Fighting for, Not With, Your Teen in Anorexia Recovery

Melissa Gerson LCSW on October 7, 2025 in The Road to Recovery

When anorexia takes hold, parenting instincts can feel upside down. Teens recover best when parents step in with calm strength, honesty, and love, fighting for them, not with them.

When anorexia takes hold, parenting instincts can feel upside down. Teens recover best when parents step in with calm strength, honesty, and love, fighting for them, not with them.

Anxiety

In Transitions, Learn to Approach Instead of Avoid

Luana Marques Ph.D. on October 7, 2025 in Creating a Meaningful Life

Even Harvard psychologists get scared. But fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a training zone.

Even Harvard psychologists get scared. But fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a training zone.

Emotions

What Is It About Purple?

Robert N. Kraft Ph.D. on October 7, 2025 in Defining Memories

Purple brings out the most focused and enthusiastic devotion of all the colors. What is it about purple and purple lovers that creates such ardent fascination?

Purple brings out the most focused and enthusiastic devotion of all the colors. What is it about purple and purple lovers that creates such ardent fascination?

Emotions

3 Truths About Emotions That Most People Don’t Know

Jason N. Linder, PsyD on October 7, 2025 in Relationship and Trauma Insights

Think emotions are something to control? Think again. These 3 simple truths reveal why suppression backfires, sharing helps, and connection makes all the difference.

Think emotions are something to control? Think again. These 3 simple truths reveal why suppression backfires, sharing helps, and connection makes all the difference.

Gender

Gender-Affirming Surgery: Who Benefits? Who De-Transitions?

Michael Castleman M.A. on October 7, 2025 in All About Sex

Most people who opt for gender-affirming surgery have no regrets and gain many psychological benefits. But some de-transition, especially those in one group.

Most people who opt for gender-affirming surgery have no regrets and gain many psychological benefits. But some de-transition, especially those in one group.

ADHD

ADHD Fluctuates Over Time

Becky Ready Ph.D., ABPP on October 7, 2025 in Your Quality of Life

ADHD was once thought to either get better over time or to be stable into and through adulthood. New data, from studies with children and adults, tell a different story.

ADHD was once thought to either get better over time or to be stable into and through adulthood. New data, from studies with children and adults, tell a different story.

Aging

Beware What You Wish For: Weight Loss and Aging

Meg Selig on October 7, 2025 in Changepower

Why was I having so much trouble eating a delicious salad? My dilemma turned out to be common in those over 60, who may experience weight issues and changes in eating patterns.

Why was I having so much trouble eating a delicious salad? My dilemma turned out to be common in those over 60, who may experience weight issues and changes in eating patterns.

Workplace Dynamics

It’s Time to Move Past Employee Engagement

Mark C. Crowley on October 7, 2025 in The Power of Employee Well-Being

Learn how we can prioritize well-being and build workplaces where people truly thrive.

Learn how we can prioritize well-being and build workplaces where people truly thrive.

Social Media

What Is TikTok Doing to Us?

Corinne Masur Psy.D. on October 7, 2025 in Parenting Matters

TikTok uses an algorithm that we may know little about, but we do know that its effects on users are often negative.

TikTok uses an algorithm that we may know little about, but we do know that its effects on users are often negative.

Psychoanalysis

Unlocking the Mind: The Imaginary Space of Psychoanalysis

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on October 7, 2025 in ExperiMentations

Learn about the rich history of modern psychoanalysis: Its core methods, the healing relationship, working through, and how change endures beyond therapy.

Learn about the rich history of modern psychoanalysis: Its core methods, the healing relationship, working through, and how change endures beyond therapy.

Gaslighting

How Gaslighting Rewires the Brain

Joni E Johnston Psy.D. on October 7, 2025 in The Human Equation

New research shows how psychological predators hijack their victims' reality, one synapse at a time.

New research shows how psychological predators hijack their victims' reality, one synapse at a time.

Relationships

Why Talking About Money Is the Last Great Taboo

Joyce Marter LCPC on October 7, 2025 in Mental Wealth

Why is money still the last taboo? Silence around finances fuels stress and conflict—and talking openly can transform your relationships, well-being, and financial future.

Why is money still the last taboo? Silence around finances fuels stress and conflict—and talking openly can transform your relationships, well-being, and financial future.

Body Language

Body Language for Sitting In-Person Media Interviews

Stephen A Furlich, Ph.D. on October 7, 2025 in What Others Are Not Saying

Subtle contextual cues and body language behaviors that can benefit in-person, sitting studio media interviews.

Subtle contextual cues and body language behaviors that can benefit in-person, sitting studio media interviews.

Addiction

Why Someone’s “Drug of Choice” Matters

Mark S. Gold M.D. on October 7, 2025 in Addiction Outlook

People with addictions often choose a drug that helps them feel normal, so an anxious person might choose alcohol or Xanax, or a depressed person might choose a stimulant.

People with addictions often choose a drug that helps them feel normal, so an anxious person might choose alcohol or Xanax, or a depressed person might choose a stimulant.

Religion

When and How Did the Brain First Invent the Idea of Gods?

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on October 7, 2025 in Your Brain on Food

Spirituality may have evolved during the Paleolithic from a brain circuit that was originally involved in the control of fear, pain, and altruism.

Spirituality may have evolved during the Paleolithic from a brain circuit that was originally involved in the control of fear, pain, and altruism.

Leadership

When Workplace Upheaval Turns Into Unresolved Grief

Mira Brancu, Ph.D. on October 7, 2025 in A New Look at Women's Leadership

When organizations betray trust, mid-level leaders experience ambiguous grief—mourning what's lost while still showing up. Here's how grief-informed leadership can help.

When organizations betray trust, mid-level leaders experience ambiguous grief—mourning what's lost while still showing up. Here's how grief-informed leadership can help.

Locus of Control

The Hidden Cost of Resistance

Keven Duffy LCSW on October 7, 2025 in The Subplot

When we fight reality, we keep ourselves stuck. Learning to accept what we resist is the first step toward freedom.

When we fight reality, we keep ourselves stuck. Learning to accept what we resist is the first step toward freedom.

Mass Shootings

A Path of Empathy—One Mother’s Choice to Forgive

Nina E. Cerfolio M.D. on October 7, 2025 in Esprit

Learn how Scarlett Lewis transcended loss to create a social-emotional curriculum that teaches love, belonging, and peace worldwide.

Learn how Scarlett Lewis transcended loss to create a social-emotional curriculum that teaches love, belonging, and peace worldwide.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism Is a Poor Defense for Emotional Vulnerability

Leon Garber LMHC on October 7, 2025 in Perfectionism

Perfectionism, at bottom, is a defense against one's sense of emotional vulnerability, which, counterintuitively, often aids in one's development, relationships, and health.

Perfectionism, at bottom, is a defense against one's sense of emotional vulnerability, which, counterintuitively, often aids in one's development, relationships, and health.