When Autonomy Turns Into Rigidity: How Children Learn to Say “No” — and Why Some Never Stop
Despite endless books on children’s behavior arriving on bookshelves every year, many parents still find it strangely difficult to “manage” their own toddlers. As British pediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott once remarked, “It is in playing, and perhaps only in playing, that the child is free to be creative.“ So the real question becomes – what kind of space do children actually need, and what kind only looks like guidance but quietly hardens into resistance?
Punishment: Effective or Simply Barbaric?
Have you ever been punished and thought: ‘How is this supposed to help me?’ It wasn’t just in your head. Punishment rarely teaches anything, it mostly creates frustration, fear, and very little real change. So why do we still rely on it? And what actually works better for helping people grow? Let’s break it down.
Ti è mai capitato di essere punito e pensare: “In che modo questo dovrebbe aiutarmi?” Non era solo una tua impressione. La punizione raramente insegna qualcosa: crea soprattutto frustrazione, paura e pochissimo cambiamento reale.…
The Bilingual Brain: Functioning and Benefits
Did you know that being bilingual is not only a cool skill to impress your friends with, but a factor shaping your brain’s structure and functioning? Research shows that bilingualism rewires the brain language system as, when a bilingual person is speaking in one language, the other is active at the same time. Being bilingual comes with many lifelong advantages. Bilingual individuals tend to have better conflict management skills, multitasking abilities, and attention-inhibition focus. Moreover, speaking more than one language protects the brain’s cognitive resources, slows natural age-related decline, and…
“It’s Just Her Time of the Month” – How does the treatment and understanding of PMDD embody wider patriarchal views on women.
“It’s just her time of the month” – In 2013, PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a severe mood disorder, affecting over 31 million women globally was added to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) And yet, a decade later, related knowledge and treatments remain frighteningly limited. This article explores what this gap and society’s attitudes towards women’s suffering disclose about their role in a patriarchal society.
Cotard’s Delusion: A Case Study Analysis
Reading time: 5 minutes Cotard’s Delusion (CD), commonly referred to as the Walking Corpse Delusion, is a neuropsychiatric condition in which a person experiences nihilistic delusions. These are false beliefs that involve denying one’s own existence or body parts. Individuals may insist that they have lost their blood, organs, or even that they are entirely dead. The delusion was first described in 1880 by a Parisian neurologist Jules Cotard, who documented a case of a 43-year-old woman known as “Mademoiselle X”. The patient claimed to have no brain, stomach, or…
A simple guide to connecting with your inner child
Reading time: 5 minutes Have you ever felt unexpectedly overwhelmed by a simple situation—like a tiny voice inside reacting strongly when you don’t quite understand why? That voice might just be your inner child speaking up. The idea of the “inner child” isn’t just a poetic metaphor. It’s a real psychological part of you shaped by early experiences, emotional memories, and sometimes unmet needs. Carl Jung first introduced this concept, and it’s been developed through psychotherapy, neuroscience, and attachment theory. Why should you care? Whether you’re a student juggling deadlines,…
Intelligence, Novelty Seeking and Substance Use: trying to overcome stigma
Reading time: 5 minutes The topic of substance use is highly important, both in psychology and, perhaps even more, in everyday life. Worldwide, over a billion people are dependent on nicotine, more than 100 million on alcohol, over 5 million on marijuana, and more than 28 million on illicit drugs, in addition to prescription medications. Beyond traditional drugs, technology addiction has also become increasingly widespread in recent years: today, about 27% of the world’s population is addicted to smartphones — roughly one in three people. Despite the prevalence of these…
The Familiar Unknown: Understanding Déjà Vu
Reading time: 5 minutes “I can’t explain it, but I’ve lived this moment before.” Does it feel relatable to you? According to the scientific community, déjà vu is a common experience that nearly every human being experiences at least once in their lifetime. The word déjà vu actually originates from French, where it means “already seen.” Although it is widely recognized, its exact neural and psychological mechanisms remain unclear, which has led many scientists and researchers to speculate about its origins and has opened the door to release different theories…
The Power of the Mind Over the Body
Reading time: 7 minutes Have you ever wondered whether it’s possible to influence what happens deep inside your body just by using your mind? The idea might sound mystical, but more and more research, and even mainstream documentaries like Heal, suggest there’s real science behind it. The documentary Heal explores how our emotions, beliefs, and mindset can affect our physical health. It challenges the traditional Western view that diseases are purely biological, proposing instead that the mind and body are deeply interconnected. One of the central messages is that we…
The role of virtual reality in the workplace: a brief journey through some scientific studies and new possible insights
Reading time: 7 minutes “Live your life in real time − live and suffer directly on-screen. Think in real time − your thought is immediately encoded by the computer. Make your revolution in real time − not in the street, but in the recording studio. Live out your amorous passions in real time − the whole thing on video from start to finish.” ― Jean Baudrillard, The Perfect Crime (1996) This is how French sociologist Jean Baudrillard (1996) describes virtual reality in his work “The Perfect Crime”. Here, Baudrillard turns…
World Mental Health Day 2025
Reading time: 4 minutes Every year on October 10, the world celebrates World Mental Health Day in order to raise awareness, fight stigma, and promote stronger systems of support for mental well-being. World Mental Health Day was first established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health as a way to raise global awareness and mobilize support for mental health. What began as a small campaign has grown into a movement recognized in more than 90 countries. Each year, the day focuses on a specific theme, varying from everything…
World Smile Day – Exploring The Power Of Smiling
Reading time: 5 minutes Emotions are often thought of as internal states, invisible to the outside world. Yet the human body can reflect these psychological states, becoming a powerful means of communication with the outside world. This is the case with smiling: happiness or joy is represented by the lips curved upward, often accompanied by crinkling around the eyes. It turns out that what seems like a simple facial expression is more complex and beneficial than it appears. The science of smiling Smiling engages 13 of the 43 facial muscles,…
When the Limb is Gone but the Pain Persists: The Brain-Body Paradox of Phantom Limb Pain
Reading time: 5 minutes Her alarm went off, and with a look outside of her window, she realized immediately that this was going to be a gloomy morning. How cozy it could have been to just stay in bed, turn around, and stay warm and comfortable. “But money doesn’t grow on trees,” she thought to herself and pushed herself out of bed. The moment she finally had found some motivation to tackle the day, she felt a sudden stitch-like pain running through her arm, something that had happened quite often…
Happy Gut, Happy Mind
Reading time: 5 minutes Over the years, the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) has gained popularity in research and amongst professionals due to compelling scientific evidence indicating that the gut and brain are closely connected, and that this link can affect mood, behavior, and overall mental health. This concept, which was initially introduced by William Beaumont in the 1840s, has created a shift in society’s attitude towards the importance of diet, stress, and lifestyle on mental wellbeing. As a result of this, interest has also grown in probiotics, which are live microorganisms…
THE ROLE OF TRAUMA IN IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
Reading time: 5 minutes Identity development is a complex process in which individual shapes their unique sense of self. It is particularly important during adolescence and early adulthood, as it forms the foundation of self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and life choices. Traumatic experiences can negatively influence this process, causing disruptions or delays along the path. This article examines how different types and severities of trauma influence the process of identity formation. Moreover, how emotional regulation and meaning making affect this process. The disruptive role of trauma in the process of identity…
The Power of Expectations: Understanding the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, Pygmalion, and Golem Effects
Reading time: 5 minutes Have you ever felt empowered simply because someone believed in you? Or, conversely, found yourself underperforming when others seemed to expect little from you? These experiences aren’t just anecdotal, they are rooted in well-established psychological concepts known as self-fulfilling prophecies. At the heart of this phenomenon are two compelling effects: the Pygmalion effect and the Golem effect. What Is a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when an individual behaves in ways that align with others’ expectations of them, thereby causing those expectations to come true.…
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
Reading time: 4 minutes The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression falls on June 4th, and it was established by the United Nations in 1982 as a way to remember the devastating impact that wars and other violent conflicts have on the children of the nations undergoing these situations. This day is meant to emphasize the need to protect children’s rights and their well-being, as these conflicts put their life and safety at risk physically as well as psychologically. The United Nations emphasized how in these situations, children…
An additional slogan for a change: individual thought is a threat to unity
(with italian translation) Reading time: 8 minutes What are the seeded roots of thought, our reasoning and mindset, values and opinions? Are they fundamentally congenital or fully based on external sources surrounding us? Constantly speaking and preaching and whispering and claiming. How are our views and stances formulated? There are several conditioning factors that frame our thought processes, including various influences directed onto us coming from the people we rely on, people we trust and perceive as credible. All the information we acquire is regenerated in our own consciousness and…
The Groundbreaking Case Study of Patient H.M.
(with italian translation) Reading time: 6 minutes Henry Gustav Molaison, or “H.M.,” is one of the most studied case histories in neuroscience and psychology for his remarkable contribution to the study of memory functioning and organization in the brain. For over five decades, from the medical surgery he underwent in 1953 until his death in 2008, H.M. had dedicated his life to scientific research, leading to valuable insights into the science of memory. At the age of 7, H.M. was knocked down by a bicycle and started to suffer from…
The Psychology of Control
Reading time: 5 minutes Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did that happen to me?” after going through a difficult experience, such as failing at something or not receiving the response you were hoping for? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. People tend to look for explanations for events, especially when they don’t go as planned. Psychology states these circumstances are connected to our need for control. Our Brain Doesn’t Like Uncertainty Our innate ability to identify patterns in the world helps us feel in control and…
Compensating for the Natural Decline in Executive Functions: The Role of Physical Exercise
Reading time: 5 minutes As we grow older, it’s normal to notice small changes in how our minds work. Maybe it takes a bit longer to make decisions, or it’s harder to stay focused or remember things. These changes are often linked to something called executive functions, that are mental skills that help us plan, stay organized, and control our behavior. Over time, these functions can slowly decline, which can make everyday tasks more difficult. But there’s good news: research shows that physical exercise doesn’t just help our bodies, it…
Attachment Styles and Adult Relationships: How Early Bonds Shape Emotional Life
Reading time: 6 minutes IntroductionOur earliest relationships with primary caregivers play a critical role in shaping how we connect with others throughout life. This process is central to attachment theory, a foundational concept in developmental psychology. The attachment patterns developed in childhood do not simply fade away. They continue to influence emotional intimacy, trust, and conflict resolution in adulthood. In this article, I explore the development of attachment styles, how they manifest in adult relationships, and why understanding them can be transformative for emotional well-being and mental health. The Origins…
Developmental Dyslexia: A breakdown of debating theories and possible interventions
Reading time: 5 minutes Developmental dyslexia is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting up to 10% of children. Dyslexia can turn school into a frustrating experience and make every day reading tasks feel overwhelming. But what causes it? And how can we help those who struggle with it? Over the years, researchers have suggested conflicting theories to explain its origin and are not able to agree on its cause. This article breaks down the leading theories behind developmental dyslexia and explores some alternative interventions. What is developmental dyslexia…
WRITE IT OUT: JOURNALING AS A TOOL FOR EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Reading time: 6 minutes In a world that never slows down, keeping our emotions in check isn’t always easy. However, what if there was a simple yet scientifically proven method to help us regain control over our emotions and clear mental clutter? Enter journaling, a practice that has been shown to improve emotional balance and enhance mental clarity. Far from being just a hobby, journaling is a powerful tool for emotional regulation, offering a safe space for individuals to process, reflect, and reframe out thoughts. Supported by science, this writing…
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCAPEGOAT CHILD
Reading time: 5 minutes Dysfunctional families are marked by unhealthy dynamics that influence the emotional, through this, psychological, and behavioral development of children, often shaping their self-perception, relationships, and coping mechanisms throughout life. During childhood, those children often take on some common roles, which influence their relationships with both parents and siblings. One of them is a scapegoat role, which is commonly known as the “problem child”. In this article focuses on the characteristics, mechanisms and the developmental outcomes of those children. The scapegoat child role The term “scapegoat” originates…
Availability heuristic: how our brains trick us into misjudging danger
Reading time: 4 minutes What do you think is more dangerous flying in an airplane or driving a car? Most people, recalling dramatic plane crashes from the news, would say flying. However, statistics show that car accidents cause far more deaths than plane crashes. When we need to quickly assess the risk or urgently make a decision, our brain has a set of special strategies to be used. The reason we fear flying more than driving is the availability heuristic availability heuristic – our brains give more weight to vivid,…
The Flynn Effect: Rising IQ Scores and What They Mean for Society
Reading time: 5 minutes For decades, psychologists have observed a fascinating trend: IQ scores have been steadily increasing across generations. This phenomenon, known as the Flynn Effect, was named after James R. Flynn, a researcher who extensively studied and popularized it. While the rise in intelligence test scores has been widely documented, the reasons behind it—and its implications—continue to be subjects of debate and research. Understanding the Flynn Effect The Flynn Effect refers to the consistent increase in IQ scores, averaging around three points per decade. This trend has been…
Parental Phubbing
Reading time: 5 minutes Introduction: Phubbing is a recent phenomenon which refers to individuals ignoring others in their presence because they are too preoccupied with their mobile phone. Parental phubbing is when this occurs in parents towards their children, ignoring them by being on their phone instead of interacting. This may also involve being distracted from the parent-child interaction by a phone call or message. In any context in which it occurs, phubbing decreases the perceived quality of the relationship, and it may be considered a new form of social…
Doomscrolling – Addiction To Bad News and Its Negative Consequences on Health
Reading time: 5 minutes In a world dominated by the media, news—especially negative news—is unavoidable and omnipresent in our everyday lives. Social media, television, and radio constantly provide fresh updates on political, economic, criminal, or war-related events from all over the world, minute by minute. This uninterrupted flow of news has dramatically changed society’s knowledge and perception of the world, leading to both positive and negative outcomes, as happens with all revolutions. On the one hand, people have increased their awareness and knowledge of current affairs; on the other hand,…
Psychodrama as a Psychotherapeutic Approach
Reading time: 5 minutes The methods of psychodrama, and group psychotherapy were developed and described in the 1930s by the Romanian-American psychologist and psychiatrist Jacob Levy Moreno. Psychodrama – psyche (soul) + drama (action) – is a method of group psychotherapy that consists in participants acting out scenes from their lives, in which conflict situations are recreated and the opportunity to freely respond to them is created. It combines diagnostic capabilities, stage performances (spontaneity theater), group dynamic sessions and analytical group work. Moreno described psychodrama as a process that brings…
Love, AI, and the Illusion of Choice: A Deep Dive into Foe
Reading time: 9 minutes When do the ends justify the means? Are the final solutions, argued to serve a prospective welfare of the society, worth interfering into individuals’ personal lives and subjecting them to distress, and enormous emotional pressure? In a psychological sci-fi thriller called “Foe” (starring irish actors Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal) the events take place in a farm, between the empty lands of our planet earth, in the near future, when and where natures resources are fully depleted, so our planet begins to die. The main character…
The power of perception: How your mind shapes your body
Reading time: 4 minutes Scientists have been fascinated by the connection between mind and body for a long time. Although once thought to be independent, current research start to suggest that our thoughts, beliefs, and expectations can directly impact physical health in many different ways. Everything from stress affecting the immune system to optimism influencing recovery of illness, the power of the mind in shaping health outcomes is undeniable. Pagnini (2019) suggested the concept of “illness expectations”, as a factor that may influence the progression of diseases. This concept describes…
Familiar Faces, Foreign Emotions: Understanding the Capgras Syndrome Paradox
Reading time: 4 minutes Imagine waking up one day convinced that your loved one is not who they claim to be, but an imposter perfectly mirroring their appearance. People with such experiences have a rare neurological disorder called Capgras Syndrome (CS), which is characterized by the persistent belief that someone close to them—typically, one’s spouse, family member, pet, or even a random object—has been replaced by an identical imposter. The disorder was first described in 1923 by a French psychiatrist, Joseph Capgras, in a paper detailing the case of a…
Metaverse on Mental Health of Adolescence and Young Adults
Reading time: 5 minutes The metaverse, a digital ecosystem that combines Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has completely changed how people connect with one another, work, and play. It offers young adults, who are digital natives, both opportunities and challenges and is increasingly relevant to the mental health of young adults (López et al., 2024). This article aims to briefly discuss both the benefits and risks associated with the effects of using the metaverse on mental health in adolescents and young adults. It delves into…
Navigating the Digital Labyrinth: Adolescents and Social Media
Reading time: 5 minutes In the past decade, social media has become a cornerstone of adolescent life. What was once a casual pastime has transformed into a powerful influence on identity, relationships, and self-perception. As students and future psychologists, it’s essential to understand both the promises and pitfalls of social media in adolescent development. Social Media as an “Identity Lab” Adolescence is a critical period of self-discovery, and the digital world offers a unique space for this exploration. Social media platforms enable adolescents to experiment with identity through curated profiles,…
Logotherapy
Reading time: 6 minutes Introduction: Throughout the development of psychology, there have been different movements regarding what the focus of therapy should be and where the roots of contemporary problems stem from. Logotherapy, described by some as the “Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy”, is a meaning-centered approach that focuses on the future meaning to be fulfilled by the patient, seeing man’s central motivation in life is his search for meaning. Victor E. Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist who, with the rise of anti-semitism, in 1942 was taken into…
UNDERSTANDING BPD: BREAKING THE STIGMA AROUND BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
Reading time: 7 minutes Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a condition that is located in the “cluster B” of personality disorders, which is characterized by erratic behaviors. It is a disorder that severely impacts a person’s ability to regulate their emotions. It is mainly characterized by instability in self-image, interpersonal relationships and mood. Those people might create a difficulties in life of others, but they cause at least as much difficulties and instability for themselves. That’s why it is important to spread the awareness and break the stigma about people…
STENDHAL SYNDROME – CAN ART MAKE YOU ILL?
Reading time: 5 minutes “…I had an irregular heartbeat, life was ebbing out of me, I walked with the fear of falling”. Surprising as it may seem, this is not the onset of a severe illness, but what could be defined as a “side-effect” of art sensitivity described by the French writer Henri-Marie Beyle, better known by his pseudonym Stendhal, in his book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio. On one of his visits to Italy in 1817, Stendhal experienced a life-changing event while visiting the Santa…
Drifting Railways
Reading time: 8 minutes Beginning of December, soon to be a new slate, year 2025 coming up with a rather indeterministic visual of the upcoming situation regarding the political well-being in Georgia. Great devastation brought upon the population by our government, currently in the works of redefining our railway, originally heading towards Europe, now towards the most unimaginably unpredictable and binding direction possible. Now for many years the EU and NATO acted as a vital pathway of hope for many Georgians, something people strived and continuously worked for in order…
Social Anxiety: An Introduction
Reading time: 6 minutes Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is more than just shyness. It’s a persistent fear of social situations where one might face scrutiny and reacts in different psychological and physical ways: emotional arousal, increase of the heartbeat rate, increased sweating, trembling, anticipatory anxiety before social events, unreasonable worry about being negatively judged, negative thoughts about oneself and so on. Commonly the triggers are public speaking, meeting new people, group activities. Obviously, it’s not restricted to a single episode but to talk about this disorder symptoms must last for…
Perfectionism and Eating Disorders: A Psychological Interplay
Reading time: 5 minutes Perfectionism has emerged as a significant psychological construct that influences various aspects of an individual’s life, particularly in relation to mental health. Defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as the “tendency to demand of others or of oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance, in excess of what is required by the situation”, perfectionist traits can manifest in diverse forms. Two notable subtypes are self oriented perfectionism, where individuals impose unreasonably high standards on themselves, and socially prescribed perfectionism, where individuals believe…
The Role of Habits in Personal and Professional Growth
Reading time: 3 minutes In today’s fast-paced and achievement-driven world, individuals are constantly striving to meet the ever-changing societal demands. Success along with self-contentment, especially in professional settings, is strongly linked to versatility, but more importantly, to traits like reliability, effectiveness, and responsibility. These qualities, often seen as innate or aspirational, are actually rooted in the habits we cultivate. Behind the complex concept of habits are psychological mechanisms which are the driving force behind personal and professional success. Often overlooked, they serve as the foundation upon which every successful individual…
EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS FAILING TO MEET PSYCHOTHERAPY NEEDS
Reading time: 3 minutes Long waiting times, limited accessibility and fees are common obstacles faced by those seeking public psychological services in Europe. Shockingly, 56% of people diagnosed with depression in Europe receive no treatment at all (Purebl et al. 2015). This raises a crucial question: are European countries providing adequate psychological treatment through their public healthcare systems? To explore this issue, the Spanish newsroom “Civio” collected data to identify shortcomings within the public healthcare systems of the European Union (EU). Data collected Due to the absence of official data…
The Power of Situational Forces: Understanding Human Behavior through Prominent Psychological Experiments
Reading time: 4 minutes Our interactions with others, and the contexts in which we find ourselves, have an influence on our daily behavior. Whether unconscious or as part of conscious experience, our interpretations of objects, facial expressions, social cues, and words all depend on the context, and more particularly, are an essential part of our survival. For instance, before crossing the street, our survival instinct pushes us to look both ways to check for incoming traffic, in order to ensure that we make it across safely. In this way, everything…
Movie Review: “Fractured” (2019) – A Psychological Exploration of Trauma and Perception
Reading time: 7 minutes What happens when your mind turns into your worst enemy? In Fractured, a chilling psychological thriller movie by Brad Anderson, pulls us deep into a maze of trauma, paranoia and distorted memories. For anyone interested in the intersection of these genres, I personally believe Fractured as a must-watch. Everything you believed to be true about the protagonist, the plot, and possibly even our own sense of reality is called into question as reality falls apart in front of us. The unsettling narrative makes it a fascinating…
Music and Cognition: The Role of Attention and Memory in Music Listening
Reading time: 6 minutes Music plays an important and powerful part in the life of each of us. Friedrich Nietzsche said ‘without music, life would be a mistake’ and research suggests that we listen to music nearly 40 percent of the time (North et al., 2004). Music is an integral part of our lives, accompanying us through everyday activities and daily routines, gatherings with friends and family, and both pleasant and unpleasant emotional moments. Music is also a powerful cognitive experience and has a profound influence on our minds. Two…
The Five Love Languages: Understanding their Strengths and Limitations
Reading time: 5 minutes The concept of love languages, introduced by Dr. Gary Chapman, has been widely accepted as a tool for enhancing communication and emotional intimacy in relationships. These five love languages—words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch—are designed to help couples express and receive love in ways that are most meaningful to them. However, while this framework has gained popularity for its simplicity, many relationship experts argue that it oversimplifies the complexity of human emotions and the dynamic nature of love. This…
Terror Management Theory
Reading time: 4 minutes Foundation of Terror Management Theory (TMT) Before delving into Terror Management Theory it is important to precede by discussing Ernest Becker’s ‘The Denial of Death’ (1973), as it is a founding work for the theory at hand. Ernest Becker was an American anthropologist and in this book he argues that humans have an innate fear of death, death anxiety, which leads them to try and escape death itself through “culturally standardized hero systems and symbols.” We engage in the pursuit of “immortality projects” (also known as…
Body-Oriented Therapy: Holistic Approach
Reading time: 4 minutes Body-oriented therapy is a relatively new emerging approach within the broader spectrum of psychotherapy. However, it has ancient traditions of healing that highlight the importance of the balance between body and mind, and their intricate connection. Body-oriented or somatic therapy is based on the hypothesis that the body preserves emotional and psychological experiences and feelings. This approach differs from traditional forms of psychotherapy due to its direct engagement with the body, in particular through movements, bodily sensations, breathing techniques, and releasing tension. The central idea of…
Madonna-Mistress Complex: A Psychological Analysis
Reading time: 7 minutes Introduction The Madonna-Mistress Complex is a psychoanalytic concept first described by Sigmund Freud. It describes a deep-rooted dichotomy in the male psyche in which women are seen as either an idealized, pure “Madonna” or a degraded, sexually available “mistress.” This polarization has far-reaching effects on interpersonal relationships and the perception of femininity in our society. Origin and Development of the Term The term Madonna-Mistress Complex arose in the context of Freud’s theories on sexual development and the unconscious. Freud postulated that men suffering from this complex…
SPOTTING LIES IS HARD – BUT THIS NEW METHOD IS EFFECTIVE ANDETHICAL
Reading time: 3,5 minutes Most of us occasionally tell harmless lies, but in criminal investigations, where stakes are high, these lies can cause big harm. Traditional lie detectors, like polygraphs, have long been criticized for their unreliability. But what if there was a better way? A new study introducesthe AIM-method, a new way of detecting lies that increases accuracy and also is ethically sound. Polygraphs are lie detectors often used in criminal investigations. They measure the anxiety levels of individuals to determine their truthfulness. However, these methods are not reliable…
Self-Determination Theory: Which are the Contingencies Affecting Internal Motivation?
Reading time: 3 minutes Self-determination theory is a theory (technically it stems from six theories then grouped together) of human motivation positing that people are intrinsically motivated by three main components that must be present altogether which emerging result is healthy motivation, striving and ultimately a condition of generalized wellbeing and flourishing. The theory was developed by Deci and Ryan during the 70’s and then re-elaborated overtime. It’s based on the assumption that exist two different kinds of motivation: intrinsic motivation (personal implicit drive to seek accomplishments) and extrinsic motivation…
The Impact of Social Media on Various Stages of Development
Reading time: 5 minutes Social media includes any platform that allows users to create, share content, and engage in social networking, ranging from basic messaging apps like WhatsApp to platforms like YouTube. Nowadays, social media is a crucial part of our lives, affecting us both personally and as a society. Although it has introduced many positive changes, the negative effects at all stages of development, from infancy to adulthood, are frequently ignored. Infants and Parental Social Media Usage Infants do not have direct access to social media, so studies focus…
NEGATIVE BODY IMAGE AND BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER
Reading time: 5 minutes Negative body image and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are significant mental health concerns that can profoundly impact an individual’s well-being. While negative body image involves dissatisfaction with one’s appearance, BDD is a more severe condition characterized by obsessive focus on perceived physical flaws, often leading to substantial distress and impaired functioning. BODY IMAGEBody image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings that you hold about your body. For most people, it isn’t as simple as “I like my body” or “I don’t like my body.”…
Open Science: A Look Into the Future of Research
Reading time: 4 minutes Over the past couple of years, the scientific community has been marked with the rise of a movement regarding the reproducibility of studies. This movement, formally known as Open Science, was officially born in 2015 and aims to explore ways in which science can become more collaborative, transparent, replicable, accessible, and open. It looks to challenge the traditional gatekeeping method, commonly used in the scientific world, and aims to foster a more inclusive global research environment. The Open Science Movement was triggered by several occurrences within…
Understanding and Coping with Mommy Issues
Reading Time: 6 minutes In the symphony of human relationships, none holds the power to shape, mold, and influence quite like that of the mother. From the moment of conception, her presence, or absence, begins to imprint upon the soul of her child, leaving an indelible mark that echoes across a lifetime. Deep inside the shadows of our mothers, we find the echoes of our deepest wounds and wildest dreams, the silent whispers of unmet needs and unrealized potentials. The mother, like a mirror, reflects back to us our sense…
The beneficial nature of the musical experience
Reading time: 4 minutes Since the beginning of time, music has been a constant presence in the daily lives of people, and it has always been perceived as a universal language that sees no borders between cultures and provides nurture to the soul. However, its benefits are present far beyond the observable. Exactly this has inspired many researchers to explore the influence of musical experience on human functioning, particularly on cognitivefunctions. Musical experience can be distinguished into two separate domains, receptive musical experience and musical practice. The receptive musical experience…
Why meditation is important: an analysis on the main practices
Reading time: 4 minutes Meditation is a term associated with several contemplative practices spread both in western world and in Asia. A useful term to describe what I’m talking about is “dhyana” which literally means “to see, to look”, “to show” indicating a state of mind of complete awareness and concentration, a practice of detachment and mindfulness. This ensemble of adjectives can barely narrow the endless depictions of the practice of meditation because, overall, every tradition from Buddhism to Hinduism (and their countless school of thoughts) shares the idea of…
The Spread of Eating Disorders – A flip side of globalisation?
Reading time: 3.5 minutes Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) have long been believed to be disorders specific for industrialised countries, and only occurring in the western world. In the DSM-IV, anorexia nervosa was even classified as a culture-bound disorder, in other words a disorder with a locality-specific pattern of behaviour. However, in recent years, researchers recognized that the disorders are spreading among non-industrialized cultures. The question we ask ourselves is whether in an increasingly globalised and westernised world, can these eating disorders still be considered as western disorders?…
Bounce Back Stronger: How Couples can Overcome Challenges and Thrive
Reading time: 8 minutes “Resilience is a process and result of successfully adjusting to harsh or challenging life situations particularly through flexibility in one’s mind, emotions and behaviours and adjustment to external and internal pressures”. (APA Dictionary of Psychology) Resilience is a multifaceted construct that is influenced by personal traits, dynamic processes, environmental resources and one’s coping strategies. It has garnered significant attention across various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, and medicine. The exploration of resilience across disciplines illuminates its profound significance in understanding human adaptability and flourishing in the face…
Stress: types and stages
Reading time: 5 minutes We are used to believing that stress is the body’s reaction to the effect of an unpleasant, or harmful factor. It manifests through deterioration of the psycho-emotional state, even though the scientific view on stress is not as unequivocal and pessimistic. Our environment is constantly changing: air temperature decreases or increases, precipitation occurs, atmospheric pressure fluctuates, we achieve professional successes or failures. In all cases, our body must adapt to new challenges. If we are able to readjust, we will survive. There is a universal mechanism…
Exploring the Psychological and Physical Effects of Birth Control
Reading time: 5 minutes Birth control, a revolutionary advancement in reproductive health, has significantly transformed societal norms and individual choices. Beyond its primary role in preventing unplanned pregnancies, birth control methods have raised pertinent questions about their impact on mental health. The relationship between birth control and mental health is intricate and multifaceted. It is essential that while we explore the negative effects of these contraceptive methods we continue to acknowledge that they have been a life changing discovery, but must still proceed with caution. Before delving into this topic…
MALADAPTIVE DAYDREAMING
Reading time: 4 minutes Almost half of all human thoughts qualify as a daydreaming activity. In the past, daydreaming has been perceived as a universal experience, which is a part of a normal mental activity. Nowadays, we recognize the condition called maladaptive daydreaming, which is concerned with spending an unhealthy amount of time daydreaming. So, when does daydreaming cross the line and become an issue? Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a psychological condition, where people spend an excessive amount of time losing themselves in their own imaginary world. Their daydreams are…
When The Meaningless Becomes Meaningful: The Power of Mnemonics
Reading time: 7 minutes Did it ever happen to you that you could memorize something, no matter how hard you tried? That it seemed almost impossible to remember a certain piece of information, regardless of its length? If so, know that it happens to everyone and is a very frequent phenomenon. Sometimes, we have to learn meaningless items, which requires ‘learning by heart’, and the human brain does not seem to be very good at it. To remember something effectively, humans should extract as much meaning as possible from the…
The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon: When The Noticed Becomes Seemingly Unavoidable
Reading time: 4 minutes Have you ever started noticing a word or a concept more frequently after learning about it? Chances are that your answer to this question is yes, as it is an occurrence that most of us have experienced firsthand. Interestingly enough, it is not a mere coincidence, but an event that can be explained in psychological terms–and it is referred to as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. The Frequency Illusion, or the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, is a cognitive bias which occurs once an individual notices a particular word, phrase or…
Unraveling Jung’s Archetypes: The Hidden Patterns of Human Nature
Reading Time: 5 minutes In the complex tapestry of human consciousness, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung stumbled upon something profound: archetypes. These aren’t just ordinary symbols; they’re like secret codes embedded in our minds, shaping our thoughts, actions, and perceptions of the world. Jung’s exploration of these timeless symbols offers us a captivating glimpse into the essence of what makes us uniquely human. The Collective Unconscious Central to Jung’s concept of archetypes is the collective unconscious—a reservoir of shared experiences and inherited psychic material that transcends individual consciousness. Unlike the…
An exploration of the multifaceted power of bilingualism
Reading time: 5 minutes In the complex web of networks that is human cognition, language takes up a fundamental and central role, connecting together the notions of thought, perception and identity. In a way, our whole existence relies on the usage of language, it enables communication, self-expression and identity formation, culture development and transference…essentially, it is the glue that holds our lives together. At the intersection of language and psychology lies a fascinating phenomenon: bilingualism. The general definition captures this concept as the ability to speak and use two languages fluently,…
Transgenerational Trauma
Reading time: 7 minutes The topic of transgenerational trauma, often is closely related to the concept of “collective trauma”, which is a psychological trauma received by a group of people, even an entire society, as a result of a social, ecological or man-made disaster or criminal actions of other subjects. Some sources indicate that this is a trauma that affected a large number of people, but not in a historical context, but as a manifestation of public memory (collective memory) of terrible events that happened in the past. The main…
ATTENTION CONTROL AND ITS ROLE IN MENTAL WELL-BEING
Reading time: 5 minutes Attention control is the ability to regulate and direct our focus on specific stimuli while minimizing and/or filtering out distractions. It plays a critical role in various cognitive processes such as perception, memory and decision making and task performance. When attention control is functioning optimally, one can allocate their cognitive resources effectively. It enables more accurate perception and encoding of information. In memory, it helps prioritize what information is important and should be retained. In task performance, attention control is essential for maintaining focus and avoiding…
EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL: WHAT IS IT AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT
Reading time: 5 minutes Emotional blackmail is a toxic behavior that can appear in every type of a close relationship in your life. It might be your friend, your romantic partner or your parent that uses you for their own benefit. In this article you will get to know what an emotional blackmail is, how to identify it and how to deal with it. Emotional blackmail: what is it?Emotional blackmail is a powerful form of manipulation, where people close to us force us into behaving in a way that benefits…
Relapse in Major Depressive Disorder
Reading time: 6 minutes What is Major Depressive Disorder?Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a condition with variations in clinical symptoms that leads to alterations in mood, thoughts and concentration, psychomotor symptoms, and disturbances in neurovegetative functions such as appetite and sleep. It is currently one of the most common mental disorders which affects around 4% of the world population. There has been research on several risk factors, but it is important to keep in mind the discrimination between correlation and causation. Some of these risk factors include adverse childhood experiences,…
No Diversity Without Inclusion
Reading time: 8 minutes Starting in the 1960s, organisations have been increasingly concerned with workplacediversity and how to ensure as well as leverage diversity of their employee base. Diversitymanagement refers to actions taken by organisations to promote greater inclusion of minoritiesinto an organisation’s structure, achieved through the implementation of specific programs andpolicies. This concept has emerged as a pivotal area of study within the realm of work andorganisations, addressing the complexities inherent in modern workplaces, where diversityencompasses differences in race, gender, ethnicity, age, abilities, sexual orientation and more. Intoday’s globalised…
AGORAPHOBIA – THE FEAR OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
Reading time: 5 minutes Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving environments where an individual feels familiar with and safe. Individuals suffering from the condition, referred to as agoraphobics, generally tend to stay away from open spaces, crowds, and any area that does not seem to have an obvious exit. BRIEF HISTORY:The condition was first described by a German psychiatrist, Karl Westphal, in 1871. Through the observation of the behaviours of three of his patients in empty streets, bridges, and crowds, Westphal noted the occurrence of situational panic attacks. Upon further…
The Neurochemistry of Long-Term Love: Unravelling the Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin
Reading time: 5 minutes Ever wonder what makes long-term love tick? It turns out there are some chemical wizards at play, and their names are oxytocin and vasopressin. They’re like the behind-the-scenes maestros, making sure our love stories stand the test of time. So, let’s dive into the easy-to-understand version of how these chemicals make long-term love so special. Oxytocin: The Love Hormone Imagine those sweet moments like hugs, glances, and shared laughter with your special someone. Well, oxytocin is the superstar behind these warm and fuzzy feelings. People call…
Personality and Career Choices: How your personality influences yourprofessional path
Reading time: 5 mins In an era of ambition and achievement, where career success has taken center stage, it is quite intriguing to delve deeper into the question of whether we consciously choose our career paths or if our personality type makes that choice for us “subconsciously’’. We are constantly surrounded by situations that require us to make decisions that direct our personal and professional path, and the majority of individuals constantly find themselves at a crossroad: “Do I make a choice that fulfills me, or do I make a…
Stigma and Mental Health: can you distinguish the individual from the illness?
Reading time: 4 minutes “I’m not the illness itself. It’s hard not to feel like that when everyone treats you like one”. – Words on Bathroom Walls (2020) Can you tell apart the difference between illness and individual? Can you see the human being beyond the mental health? Can you go beyond the stigma that impacts mental illnesses still nowadays? These are some questions I often ask myself and that leave me without a clear answer. Honestly, I think most people would find it difficult to answer truthfully: perhaps they…
Mental Health Stigma in Today’s World
Reading time: 5 minutes Put simply, ‘mental health’ refers to the entirety of well-being, including its social, psychological, emotional, and physical aspects as well as its relationship to our physical health. It includes all of our actions, sentiments, and coping mechanisms that we employ in the face of difficulties. Mental health stigma refers to when someone is treated negatively because of their mental illness. The lack of knowledge about mental health goes hand in hand with the mental health stigma. Unfortunately, mental health stigma exists even today. In some parts…
Fear of Missing Out
Reading time: 7 minutes Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a syndrome that relates to the fear of missing an interesting event or an opportunity, it is a state of anxiety created by a compulsive worry that a person may miss out on an opportunity for social interaction or a new experience. One of the first articles in psychology to address this topic, defined FOMO as a “a widespread fear that others may have more useful experiences that one does not have” and described its structure as including two…
DEFENCE MECHANISMS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
The internet has become an integral part of our everyday life, altering the way in which it is communicated, connected, and presented to the world because of today’s Social Media dominance. But there is an exciting world under the carefully curated digital veneer, in which psychology and defence mechanisms play a role. In this article I aim to summarise the captivating interplay between our psychological defences and social media behaviour, unravelling the intriguing ways in which individuals employ defence mechanisms to navigate the complex social landscape of the digital age,…
Let’s connect! The role of psychology and psychologists in today’s society
Reading time: 6 minutes “It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.” – Ellen J. Langer This is how American psychologist Ellen J. Langer describes the bond between mind and body in her work “Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibilities”. In my opinion, these words are not only about this strong relationship, but also about the role psychology and psychologists play in contemporary society nowadays: psychologists are those professionals who are able to link these two universes, which…
War trauma in Ugandan child soldiers
Reading time: 5 minutes Uganda, a former British colony, became independent within the Commonwealth on 9 October 1962. The Republic was proclaimed exactly one year later. On 15 April 1966, Prime Minister Milton Obote assumed the presidency, until then reserved for the king of Buganda, creating a unitary constitution in 1967. Independence was followed by a long season of political instability. In 1971 power was seized by Idi Amin Dada, whose dictatorial rule lasted a decade. In 1986, Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army took the capital Kampala; since then Museveni…
On the Over Prescription of Drugs for Mental Health Disorders
Reading time: 5 minutes In recent years, there has been significant progress in the acceptance and understanding of mental illness and disorders within the field of psychology. This advancement has led to the development of new medications that can assist in the treatment of mental health disorders, offering individuals additional possibilities for healing. This progress is exciting and raises hopes for the future however, it has come with a cost. The over prescription of drugs used to treat mental illness has become a concern, partly due to the increased incidence…
Positive Psychology: Can we learn to be happy?
Reading time: 4 minutes Have you ever wondered why some people tend to constantly look happier than others? Or if money makes us happy? We certainly have wondered at some point how others have better relationships with their parents, friends, or partners. Until recently, psychologists have largely ignored these kinds of questions. Throughout the years, psychology mainly dealt with depression and rarely with happiness. It was thought that studying happiness is unimportant, even trivial. The first books on the psychology of happiness appeared in the 1980s. Then, a few professional…
The Scent-Filled Base of Memories
Reading time: 6 minutes Have you ever walked past some completely unfamiliar place, yet from the whiff of the smell of it, been transported to a personal moment of yours? Or perhaps that specific scent evoked an emotion you may have forgotten about or hadn’t experienced in a while, yet in that fleeting moment, you were reliving that seemingly forgotten piece of the past. The answer to these questions is likely to be yes, since, interestingly enough, you are sharing this confusing, yet delightful experience with, most likely, the majority…
WHEN DREAMING IS NOT THAT SWEET: PARASOMNIAS
Reading time: 3 minutes Parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders that cause abnormal movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, or dreams during sleep. These disorders affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on their quality of life. In this article we will provide an overview of parasomnias, including their types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options. There are many different types of parasomnias, which can be divided into two categories: REM (rapid eye movement) parasomnias and NREM (non-REM) parasomnias. REM parasomnias occur during the dreaming stage of sleep, while NREM parasomnias occur during the deeper stages of sleep. REM…
Debate: “What influences personality traits the most?”
Reading time: 4 minutes On March 24th the Language exchange team of A.P.E INFO held a lively American-style debate, where two groups of psychology students debated on a classic controversy, which has been discussed among experts for centuries – Nature vs Nurture: What influences personality traits the most? The debate was held by moderator Lisa Gunnarsson and consisted of two defense teams: nature group participants were Lara Lukaschewitsch and Cecilia Gremmo; nurture approach was defended by Selin Erol and Zerina Muftic. OPENING STATEMENTS The Nature team opened a discussion by highlighting that in the…
Weed and Schizophrenia: an increasingly clear correlation
Reading time: 5 minutes Substance abuse, and marijuana use specifically, is rising around the world. In the United States alone, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing their use of substances to cope with COVID-19 related stress or emotions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Although it is well known that early drug abuse correlates with a variety of problems later in life, many do not have a clear idea of the link between the drugs they are so frequently using and several psychological and psychiatric disorders, including specifically…
Attachment Theory: what is behind our relationships
Reading Time: 6 minutes Interpersonal relationships are at the core of every individual’s existence. From whichever angle they are perceived, they play a crucial role in the kind of life an individual is living. Starting from early childhood, the relationship that the child has with its parents, to the formation of their first friends, the roles in life they take on, the field of study and work they choose, the partner they connect with, all of these fundamental aspects of life are influenced by their interpersonal relationships and their perception…
Oncological disease in different cultures
Reading time: 3 minutes “Culture is the core, fundamental, dynamic, responsive, adaptive, and relatively coherent organizing system of life designed to ensure the survival and well-being of its members, being always shared to find meaning and purpose throughout life and to communicate caring. This system comprises beliefs, values, and lifestyles to enable successful adaptation within a biotic and abiotic geographic niche by using available technology and economic resources” (Kagawa-Singer, 2001). Western societies today seem to have freed themselves, at least partially, from that ignorance about oncological pathology that has permeated…
ARE YOU A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON?
Reading time: 3 minutes Highly sensitive people have a very sensitive nervous system: they are born with a genetic trait that makes them more aware of their environment, including sensory input, such as sounds, smells, tastes, and touch. HSPs also tend to be more empathetic and emotionally responsive than others, which makes them more sensitive to the feelings and needs of those around them. In order to understand the positive or negative aspects of being a Highly sensitive person, we need to know their main characteristics. There are several…
Gaslighting as a From of Psychological Abuse
Reading Time: 5 minutes Emotional abuse is any action that intends to cause mental trauma, and is aimed at humiliating one’s dignity and reducing self-esteem (according to the McGraw-Hill Medical Dictionary). Emotional abuse can manifest itself in shouting, public humiliation, isolation, using offensive nicknames, devaluation of one’s knowledge and actions, insults about appearance and so on. What is gaslighting? Gaslighting is one of the aggressor’s ‘tools’, trying to control and manipulate feelings, thoughts, or words of another individual. It is a form of psychological abuse, the main purpose of which…
Unbearable emotions: what is survivor’s guilt?
Reading time: 7 minutes Guilt is a strong feeling. It occurs due to a negative assessment of one’s own behavior. Feeling guilt is experienced as a duty to oneself. Such emotions are destructive since they paralyze functioning, provoke arguments and conflicts, and lead to depreciation of oneself and one’s own actions. Most importantly, survivor’s guilt often affects individuals who were themselves traumatized by the situation, and who did nothing wrong. Even though it can manifest itself in different ways in different people, guilt is often connected to the feeling of…
The Roots of Gender Roles
Reading Time: 7 minutes Gender roles have permeated society for centuries, with the first examples going back to over 3,000 years ago. Gender roles are society’s expectation for how each gender is expected to conduct themselves, react to a situation, express themselves, and the activities they are supposed to do as well as what their preferences in color, beauty, and clothing should be. These exist in all ethnic groups, societies, and cultures, but can differ widely from social group to social group and can also change and evolve throughout time. …
PSYCHOLOGY AND ART: an unbreakable link
Reading time: 5 minutes Art and the Mind Art, in its various forms, has surrounded humans and even contributed to the shaping of their experiences, since the beginning of time. Each individual no matter what kind of a person they are, has some kind of a preference and emotional attachment to certain forms of artistic expression. The interpretation of art is subjective and tightly connected with the individual’s own feelings and thought processes, as well as their mental states. From this important link between art and the individual, the conclusion…
Depression and Success: A contemporary relationship
Reading Time: 4 minutes Success is something that almost everyone would aspire to achieve: the feeling of “having made it” and being appreciated and recognized by a large number of people (professionally or artistically speaking) is a dream for anyone. However, it’s common to hear about singers or artists who experience symptoms of depression, disappearing for months or years from the spotlight and facing much more than just “blue times”. It would be natural to wonder how it is possible for world-famous personalities, who therefore enjoy great success, money and…
Rosy retrospection and nostalgia as powerful marketing tools
Reading time: 4 minutes Did you know that our minds play various tricks on us to alter our understanding and perception of our world? Our brain is so incredibly complex that it can sometimes be our worst enemy. Our brain and its senses are capable of amazing things. Rosy Retrospection is one of the psychological phenomena that are considered cognitive biases: it refers to a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people tend to remember their past experiences as being more positive, or better than they actually were. However, it also…
Love skills: romantic skills in adolescence
Reading time: 4 minutes Romantic competence is a construct that includes a set of cognitive, emotional and interpersonal skills that allows the individual to adaptively deal with the sentimental experience, both the positive and the more challenging and potentially critical aspects that every relationship entails. (Bouchey, 2007) Adolescence represents a period of change and transition towards adulthood and during this phase of life many tasks are related to: If these changes are faced with commitment, exploration and experimentation by the adolescent, it will allow him to arrive at a definition…
DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS: THE HIDDEN CONSEQUENCE OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE
Reading Time: 8 minutes Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that develops in reaction to physical injury or severe mental or emotional distress. Although this disorder is widely acknowledged, few know about other disorders that are the aftermath of a traumatic event. Dissociative disorders are mental disorders in which an individual experiences a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. Usually developing as a reaction to sexual or physical abuse during childhood, the disorder is a way for the individual…
NOT JUST ONE TRAUMA….BUT PLENTY!
Reading time: 5 minutes People usually think of trauma as an isolated event in a person’s life, which can lead to more or less serious consequences, depending on the level of impact it has on the individual. These can vary according to the age of the individual, genetic variables, the attachment bond, and the social context. First, what is “trauma”? Simply put, a negative experience can become traumatic when a person (in this case, a child) feels powerless while facing it, and is not able to defend themselves. Traumatic experiences…
Traumatic events: differences between simple and complex trauma
Reading time: 4 minutes With trauma we mean the alteration of the normal psychic state following adverse, painful and negative experiences experienced by the individual. The response to trauma is subjective and varies according to the individual, contextual and social resources we have. A traumatic event is a stressful event, which cannot be avoided and alters or compromises the individual’s ability to use effective coping strategies as the stimulus is excessive and tends to overwhelm the subject, making him defenseless. There are several types of stressful events: Finally, the traumatic…
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