Are you the sort of person that loves horror films? Or do you hide behind a cushion at the scary parts? Psychologists call the behaviour of people who love scary movies sensation-seeking. But what draws some of us to risky and scary stuff and not others? The Science of Sensation-Seeking…
Should we dwell on the past? Until recently, psychologists would likely have argued not to. However, longing for the past, otherwise known as nostalgia, is now gaining recognition as a useful tool for people fighting anxiety and depression. As a result, nostalgia is a growing focus of global inquiry and…
Saudade is a Portuguese word. Its meaning is so complex that cannot be translated into one single word. It has a notoriously complicated definition which can be difficult to explain. There is no English word that it translates to, instead, we use entire phrases, to sum up, its depth. Saudade…
If you have a hard time understanding the actions of others, you may be suffering from the hot-cold empathy gap. Psychologists are constantly trying to understand human behavior. However, it can be almost impossible to predict how an individual will act in a given situation. We can even struggle to…
Do you have a fear of commitment? How do you even know whether you or someone you love struggles with this issue? What are the ways you can tackle this irrational fear? “What are you doing on Friday? Can we meet up in the evening?” (Painfully awkward pause) “I’m not…
Ennui (pronounced on-we) is a word we’ve stolen from the French language and literally translates to “Boredom” in English. While the translation is quite simple though, the meaning we’ve given it is much more complex. It describes a much deeper feeling than that of being bored. Moreover, you’ve probably felt…
When it comes to psychopaths, we tend to focus our attention on men. I mean, off the top of my head I can think of many male psychopaths. For example, there’s Ted Bundy, BTK, Jeffery Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Dennis Nielsen, and Richard Ramirez to name a few. But what…
High emotional intelligence is increasingly being linked to overall life success. Rather than the standard cognitive intelligence (IQ) test, research suggests that emotional intelligence (or ‘EQ’) is more important in determining an individual’s success when it comes to work, relationships and general well-being. On the flip side, low emotional intelligence…
