Here’s what an intense desire for a fictional character looks like. getty Fictophilia, fictosexuality and fictoromance refer to the intense and enduring emotional attachment, love, infatuation or desire that individuals experience for fictional characters. Many individuals or “fictophiles” who experience this wonder if it’s normal or healthy, often facing social stigma, shame and confusion about …
How can the impulse to wallow in negativity be harnessed to gain deep personal insights? getty Brooding, often misconstrued as fixating on negative thoughts, can surprisingly act as a catalyst for personal growth. When approached with mindfulness, brooding evolves from a passive indulgence in negativity into a valuable instrument for self-discovery. For example, a study …
We are now able to translate human thought into text and images with the help of artificial … [+] intelligence. Is this the end of privacy? Here’s everything you need to know. getty Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently published a groundbreaking paper in Nature Neuroscience that seems straight out of a …
Sometimes, stepping back to rediscover our individual needs, far from the repetitive cycles of … [+] contention, can be the key to unlocking a new path forward as a couple. getty Couples counseling, a traditional beacon for those experiencing marital troubles, often emphasizes the importance of talking things out, aiming to reach solutions through dialogue …
Ghosts of relationships’ past haunting your holidays? Turn the page on the past with three powerful … [+] strategies. getty The holiday season can unexpectedly bring forth ghosts from the past in the form of an ex-lover reaching out—a phenomenon now known as “Marleying.” This term, inspired by Jacob Marley from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas …
Could your self-esteem reflect what’s in your bank account? getty Research consistently shows that individuals with higher incomes tend to have higher self-esteem, which refers to more positive self-evaluation and perception. A new study published in Psychological Science found that not only do individuals experience a rise in their self-esteem once they start earning more, …
A psychologist explains the importance of authenticity over toxic positivity in romantic … [+] relationships, and how it can be measured. getty Relationships can be messy and complicated, yet they remain the most beautiful connections we can form. But what happens when a partner tells you to put on a happy face and to stay …
From secret self-esteem boosts to moral dilemmas, the common but complicated joy we feel at the … [+] misfortune of others can be both beneficial and detrimental. getty Have you ever felt a little rush of joy after seeing the downfall of someone you don’t particularly like? This is what psychologists refer to as “schadenfreude”—the …
While forming a “work bestie” relationship is not seen as a deliberate pursuit, actively nurturing a … [+] confidant in the workplace can elevate your career trajectory. getty We spend about 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. In the debate about socializing with coworkers, there are extremes—some view workplace friendships as unnecessary, while others …
Taking a side without hearing the whole story leaves you vulnerable to ideological exploitation. getty An echo chamber is a social environment or platform where individuals are exposed to information, opinions and viewpoints that align with their preexisting beliefs and perspectives exclusively. It’s a place where dissenting voices are muffled or entirely absent and where …