The Latest in Personality | Psychology Today

Essential Reads

Is the Perfectionism Plague Taking a Psychological Toll?

By Christopher Bergland on January 03, 2018 in The Athlete's Way

Every generation of young adults from 1989 to 2016 has felt increased pressure to be perfect, according to a new study.

12 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts on World Introvert Day

By Jenn Granneman on January 02, 2018 in The Secret Lives of Introverts

Introverts really know their stuff.

Why the Hard-to-Get Are So Very Hard to Get

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. on January 02, 2018 in Fulfillment at Any Age

The winners at the mating game may seem to be the hard-to-get, but new research shows why you should stay away. Hint: narcissism has something to do with it.

What Does Your Signature Say About Your Personality?

By Vinita Mehta Ph.D., Ed.M. on December 31, 2017 in Head Games

Research finds that the way you sign your name could reflect deep-seated personality traits.

Underlying Patterns: Hard to See and Painfully Obvious

By Meredith Resnick L.C.S.W. on January 05, 2018 in More Than Caregiving

Change and letting go by choice can trigger one’s own feelings of loss and abandonment.

The Psychology of Star Wars: Dark Side Edition

By David B. Feldman Ph.D. on January 05, 2018 in Supersurvivors

Star Wars makes lots of claims about our darker emotions. Are they accurate?

Are Writers as Weird as They Are Made to Appear?

By Lawrence R Samuel Ph.D. on January 04, 2018 in Psychology Yesterday

Writers have often been perceived and portrayed as quirky, eccentric, and occasionally belligerent – a reputation that is arguably well deserved.

You Don’t Really Want to Get Better

By Robert Firestone Ph.D. on January 04, 2018 in The Human Experience

Of course psychotherapy clients want relief from their symptoms. Yet, they are reluctant to change the defenses that would allow them to overcome their psychological maladies.

https://pixabay.com/en/eye-eyes-dark-watching-observing-2488227/

How Reality TV Preferences Reveal Personality

By Wendy L. Patrick, Ph.D. on January 04, 2018 in Why Bad Looks Good

Reality TV watchers love to live vicariously, fascinated with other people´s lives. Clinical voyeurism is different: a paraphilic disorder involving observing unsuspecting victims

Credits: Sony Playstation Pupeteer Images

Who's Pulling Your Strings?

By Atalanta Beaumont on January 04, 2018 in Handy Hints for Humans

Do you value what you stand for enough to withstand others’ attempts to dissuade you or undermine you?

William J. McCloskey "Girl in Red Hat" (1922)/wikimedia commons

Imprisoned by Hoarding

By Elizabeth Young on January 04, 2018 in Adaptations

“You may feel a need to escape once you get inside," Lark says as we stand on the landing outside her apartment.

https://pixabay.com/en/chocolate-dark-coffee-confiserie-183543/

Do Psychopaths Crave Dark Chocolate? Bittersweet New Study

By Wendy L. Patrick, Ph.D. on January 03, 2018 in Why Bad Looks Good

Afraid your new love interest is whispering bittersweet nothings? Study reveals a preference for bitter foods might reveal a toxic personality.

Calming Upset People Fast with EAR

By Bill Eddy LCSW, JD on January 02, 2018 in 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life

Statements that show Empathy, Attention and/or Respect can go a long way to connecting with anyone anywhere. It just takes practice to do it well.

Should others ever get to define me?

By J. P. Gerber, Ph.D. on December 31, 2017 in The Shape of Traits

Are there some things that can only be defined by others? Is that even fair in the modern world?

Why People Give Unsolicited Advice (Though No One Listens)

By Seth Meyers Psy.D. on December 31, 2017 in Insight Is 20/20

Why do so many people give unsolicited advice? Don't they know most of it goes unheeded? Moreover, do they do it for themselves or for the person they are supposedly helping?

An Analysis of Trump Supporters Has Identified 5 Key Traits

By Bobby Azarian Ph.D. on December 31, 2017 in Mind In The Machine

The president's backers share some consistent and troubling characteristics.

How Confirmation Bias Affects You Every Single Day

By F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on December 31, 2017 in Off the Couch

Confirmation bias affects you more than you realize. What is it and how does it work?

The Lie You Were Taught About Your Eyes

By J. P. Gerber, Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in The Shape of Traits

Do the pupils in your eyes adjust for what you think you will be seeing next? Thoughts on research and a trip to the zoo.

Freud and #MeToo

By J. P. Gerber, Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in The Shape of Traits

Have you wondered how Freud's views on mental illness relate to the #MeToo movement? It's not a happy story but perhaps we can do something about it.

The Top 5 Ways the Psychopathic Will Try to Manipulate You

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in Fulfillment at Any Age

It’s all too easy to be taken in by a person high in psychopathy. New research from an impression management perspective shows the 5 ways they’ll do this.

The Borderline Dad

By Mark Banschick M.D. on December 28, 2017 in The Intelligent Divorce

Borderline fathers can act out in destructive ways. And divorce can make it worse.

(Photo by: Mary Evans / UNIVERSAL PICTURES / Ronald Grant / Everett Collection)

Narcissist or Psychopath—How Can You Tell?

By Joe Navarro M.A. on December 28, 2017 in Spycatcher

We hear the terms all the time, but what is the difference?

The Stories of 2017: Singles-Shaming Is So Last Year

By Bella DePaulo Ph.D. on December 28, 2017 in Living Single

Out in 2017: Stories shaming single people. In: Stories celebrating them, acknowledging their issues, and calling them badasses

https://pixabay.com/en/blond-blonde-girl-grass-outdoors-1866951/

The Open Book: What Your Reading Choices Say About You

By Wendy L. Patrick, Ph.D. on December 27, 2017 in Why Bad Looks Good

You are what you read. Your choice in plot and complexity speaks volumes about who you are and how you think.

This Blog Is About You

By Liz Swan Ph.D. on December 26, 2017 in The Philosopher Is In

Ever wanted your own personal philosopher? Well, now you have one. Let's explore the light, the dark, and the various shades of grey of human nature together...

Please Break My Rules!

By Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on December 26, 2017 in Rethinking Mental Health

In the next installment of the Healing the Authoritarian Wound series, we look at why authoritarians want their rules violated and not followed.

Dickens' "Christmas Carol"

By Robert Berezin M.D. on December 23, 2017 in The Theater of the Brain

Charles Dickens, in " A Christmas Carol", taught us all we need to know about character formation, the effects of trauma, and the healing process of mourning.

Our Illusions of Role Models, Heroes, and Idols

By Saul Levine M.D. on December 22, 2017 in Our Emotional Footprint

Our role models (action heroes, movie stars, great minds, artists or world leaders), have been attributed wonderful qualities, but they're ordinary people, both worthy and flawed.

Break Out the Candles!

By Sally Augustin Ph.D. on December 22, 2017 in People, Places, and Things

Science-based insights are handy at the holidays.

Musical Preferences and the Brain

By David M. Greenberg Ph.D. on December 21, 2017 in The Power of Music

Can musical preferences be explained by differences in the brain? Neurobiological evidence for musical preferences is in its infancy, but we've developed some hypotheses.

Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, used with permission

Successful Teamwork for Introverts and Extroverts

By Nancy Ancowitz on December 21, 2017 in Self-Promotion for Introverts

New York Times bestselling authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton discuss how to foster effective teams and successful collaboration between introverts and extroverts.

The Schizoid Vs. the Depressive Personality

By Roberta Satow Ph.D. on December 19, 2017 in Life After 50

The markedly schizoid person cannot compromise, yet, ironically, his whole life is a compromise position (one foot in and one foot out) in order to avoid commitment.