Trust is a fascinating phenomenon and depends on risk-taking and the automatic judgment of others. There's reason to believe that trust may occur in species other than humans. The mechanism of trust in the brain has to do with the release of a hormone called oxytocin. One of us (Sara)...

Is Trust Uniquely Human?

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If you're a quiet type, these scenarios may sound familiar. Here's what mental health experts tell their clients who are dealing with them.

The 6 Most Common Issues Introverts Bring Up In Therapy

Romantic attraction is influenced by what we assume as well as what we actually see. What we assume about a potential romantic partner often arises due to cognitive biases. Three biases in particular need to be kept in check if you wish to be successful in romance. Three common but...

Decoding Romantic Attraction

Practice active listening: Engage fully, show empathy, and ask clarifying questions. Use “I” statements: Express feelings without blame using structured “I” statements. Be clear and concise: Avoid vagueness; communicate needs and expectations honestly. Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. It involves not only...

The Art of Listening: Improve Communication With Your Partner

The Wheel of Consent can help foster conscious, consensual, and fulfilling interactions between people. People can be more assertive and understand the dynamics of giving and receiving in intimate interactions. The Wheel of Consent is a practice of being mindful that brings freedom and integrity into your relationships. Establishing clear...

Boundaries and the Wheel of Consent

Previously, I wrote about the red flags you may be dealing with a female psychopath and how female psychopaths target their victims. But how do male psychopaths operate, and what kind of traits and behaviors do they seek in a potential romantic partner? Here are the four surprising traits psychopaths look for in women. Keep in mind that if you were targeted by a psychopathic person, it was not your fault, as they can use both your strengths and your vulnerabilities against you.

Psychopaths Look For Women With These 4 Surprising Traits In Romantic Relationships

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Shin

We all experience moments of social awkwardness, and that's perfectly normal. Being socially awkward doesn’t necessarily mean you lack social intelligence. In fact, many highly socially intelligent individuals, like Salma Hayek, Jessica Simpson, and Oprah Winfrey, have been labeled as awkward at times.

The 5 Mistakes a Socially Intelligent Person Will Never Make

Confirmation bias can make us unfairly interpret a partner's actions, reinforcing negative assumptions. Attribution error causes us to excuse our actions but judge our partner's, leading to misunderstandings. The availability heuristic makes recent conflicts seem more significant, overshadowing positive interactions. Rational thinking, open communication, and empathy can help mitigate cognitive...

Mind Games: Unmasking the Biases Sabotaging Your Love Life

K.D. Lewis

Dark empaths present a unique challenge in relationships. They combine empathy with dark traits like narcissism or Machiavellianism, using their understanding of others' emotions to manipulate and control.

Protect Yourself from the Emotional Manipulation of a Dark Empath

People-pleasers often endure ongoing invalidation based on how others treat them. Pleasing others doesn't win their love and respect. It's essential to re-evaluate perceptions and decisions about what it means to be a good person. Many people believe that being kind, gentle, and agreeable will guarantee love and acceptance from...

Breaking the Pattern of the Need to Please

There are generally no foolproof lie detection methods. Dishonesty has many disadvantages, and metaphors can help us to visualize the potential impediments. Approaching the truth is often difficult, counter-intuitive, and ultimately provides more freedom. Lying and dishonesty are much more common human behaviors than most people realize. Episodes of untruthfulness...

Lying Unmasked

Difficult interactions with other people can activate our nervous system's fight/flight/freeze mode. When we're defensive and reactive, we often feel empowered and in control; in reality, we've lost control. Our greatest power and strength comes when we can access our full selves, and that requires taking a pause. As a...

Your Peace Is Your Power

In the midst of our inner emotional storms, we often forget to turn to each other for support and connection. Emotional intimacy and empathy can protect against marital strain and create an emotionally resilient bond. In emotionally fulfilling marriages, partners continuously work on deepening their emotional connection. A new study...

Two Hallmarks of a Marriage That's Emotionally Fulfilling

Stoic ethics is not simple self-improvement advice. Stoicism requires that agents be just. Contemporary accounts of justice may not require much of us in terms of personal ethics. If you are lucky, you are there for the moment when it becomes clear your teenager is becoming a decent person. It...

Good Values, Good Character, and Good Deeds

We say things about negative emotions we would never say about positive emotions. The emotional double standard is unfair to negative emotions. There's no reason to treat our bad feelings differently. “Don’t let your joy get the best of you.”. “Be careful: You might become a joyous person.”. “It’s...

The Emotion Double Standard

A relationship expert shares what he’s learned from years of observing couples. Anyone who gets married goes into it expecting a long-lasting union, but as we all know, many of them will turn out to be wrong. In fact, about 43% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce — and if you ask renowned psychotherapist John Gottman, the writing is probably on the wall from early on.

6 Signs That Your Marriage Is Headed For Divorce

It's often the things that are left unsaid that cause the most problems in our relationships: the expectations that we didn't communicate (which usually lead to disappointment and deep-rooted resentment). The times that we were actually hurt and said it was "fine" (resulting in disconnection and emotional distancing through the years). The lack of shared vision and values (transforming into passive-aggressive or just plain ol' aggressive interactions).

6 Conversations Every Couple Needs To Have, From A Marriage Therapist

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The phenomenon of men leaving women with children to create new families is a complex and multifaceted issue. It raises questions about commitment, societal pressures, and the challenges of modern relationships. This article delves into the reasons behind this behavior, offering insights into the emotional and psychological factors at play.

Why men leave women with children to create new families

Dissociation is a fractionation of the self into layers of identity and insufficiently communicating “parts.”. Love and compassionate recollection in safe transitional spaces are a great antidote to dissociations. A sense of self consists partly of beliefs about oneself and relational experiences. My favorite cinematic moments are those of...

"Didi": Insecurity, Dissociation, Cringe, and Sense of Self

In any relationship, finding common ground with your partner on each other’s needs is crucial for maintaining harmony and understanding. Relationships thrive when both partners feel heard, valued, and supported. However, navigating the complexities of individual needs can often be challenging. This article will explore strategies to help you and your partner identify, communicate, and align your needs effectively, fostering a stronger, more cohesive bond.

How to find common ground with your partner on each other’s needs

NewsBreak

The 4-Step Introvert-Extrovert Conflict Resolution Plan

Introverts need more time to process emotions related to conflict as compared to extroverts. Extroverts receive more of a dopamine reward from relating to others and...

The 4-Step Introvert-Extrovert Conflict Resolution Plan

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