Comparatively Speaking

Cognition

Repetitive Negative Thinking in Psychological Disorders

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on August 30, 2023

Repetitive negative thinking is a habit that can broken by focusing on what is effective rather than familiar.

Repetitive negative thinking is a habit that can broken by focusing on what is effective rather than familiar.

Psychiatry

Understanding the Limits of Psychiatric Diagnoses

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on April 21, 2023

People often use psychiatric terms and diagnoses as a way of defining other people. Those terms and diagnoses actually do not say much about what is happening with a person.

People often use psychiatric terms and diagnoses as a way of defining other people. Those terms and diagnoses actually do not say much about what is happening with a person.

Ketamine

Why Ketamine Treatment Is Not All That New

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on January 5, 2023

Ketamine, a hallucinogen, also called a "party drug," has received a lot of attention for "treatment-resistant" depression. Psychotherapy works on targeting the same problems.

Ketamine, a hallucinogen, also called a "party drug," has received a lot of attention for "treatment-resistant" depression. Psychotherapy works on targeting the same problems.

Sex

Understanding Asexuality

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on December 7, 2022

Asexuality is a sexual identity that is less accepted than others, primarily because of how we often mistakenly see sex as essential to the human experience.

Asexuality is a sexual identity that is less accepted than others, primarily because of how we often mistakenly see sex as essential to the human experience.

Psychiatry

Why "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" Exists

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on October 3, 2022

People question why the insanity defense exists. It's because "guilt" requires a person be able to reason abstract moral concepts of "right" and "wrong."

People question why the insanity defense exists. It's because "guilt" requires a person be able to reason abstract moral concepts of "right" and "wrong."

Narcissism

Narcissism Is Difficult to Understand Because of Its Imbalances

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 16, 2022

Narcissism is a complex problem to understand. Looking at similar behaviors that exist in the nonhuman animal world can give some insights into its nature.

Narcissism is a complex problem to understand. Looking at similar behaviors that exist in the nonhuman animal world can give some insights into its nature.

Addiction

Understanding Addiction as a (Very) Complex Behavior

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on November 12, 2021

Addictive behaviors are so clearly bad for the individual that they are often difficult to understand. Looking at the complexities of behavioral psychology provides some clarity.

Addictive behaviors are so clearly bad for the individual that they are often difficult to understand. Looking at the complexities of behavioral psychology provides some clarity.

Chronic Pain

Understanding the Psychology of Chronic Physical Pain

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on September 21, 2021

Handling chronic pain is difficult, partly because we often focus on words to judge, explain, and avoid it. However, there are alternatives.

Handling chronic pain is difficult, partly because we often focus on words to judge, explain, and avoid it. However, there are alternatives.

Guilt and regret make us feel terrible. But you cannot let them hold you back from doing better. Here are effective strategies for handling these difficulties.

Procrastination

Why We Procrastinate

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on June 9, 2021

Procrastination may be more natural than we think. Understanding our tendency to put things off can lead to some useful solutions.

Procrastination may be more natural than we think. Understanding our tendency to put things off can lead to some useful solutions.

Shaking hands can spread germs and could lead to illness. But it's not the only way to greet one another, research shows.

Psychology

Psychotherapy Has Gotten Too Easy. That's a Problem.

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 28, 2021

If psychotherapy often seems ineffective, it could because many therapists have moved away from a focus on challenging negative aspects of human psychology.

If psychotherapy often seems ineffective, it could because many therapists have moved away from a focus on challenging negative aspects of human psychology.

Sport and Competition

People Ain't Always That Great

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 20, 2021

People often treat us badly, and that can really hurt. Understanding why that happens can help us find ways of dealing with it better.

People often treat us badly, and that can really hurt. Understanding why that happens can help us find ways of dealing with it better.

Psychoanalysis

Where Psychoanalysis and Behavior Analysis Overlap

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 14, 2021

More people today are looking to clinical psychology for help. Investigating ways the different schools of clinical psychology agree can be helpful for understanding it better.

More people today are looking to clinical psychology for help. Investigating ways the different schools of clinical psychology agree can be helpful for understanding it better.

Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior and the Meaning of Life

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on December 28, 2020

In order to understand all behaviors, it is useful to take a look at how meaning and purpose might differ across species.

In order to understand all behaviors, it is useful to take a look at how meaning and purpose might differ across species.

Loneliness

Being Alone, but Not Feeling Lonely, This Holiday Season

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on December 21, 2020

Holidays can be tough for people who see being alone as being the same as feeling lonely. Even if we cannot change who we are around this year, we can change how we respond to it.

Holidays can be tough for people who see being alone as being the same as feeling lonely. Even if we cannot change who we are around this year, we can change how we respond to it.

Dementia (or "neurocognitive impairment") can cause considerable emotional distress for pets and their loving families. Here are some ways to understand what is happening.

Respectful behaviors tend to increase respectful behaviors. Finding ways to "pay it forward" can go a long way to improving how we all act towards each other.

Scent

Dogs Really Do Smell You More Than They See or Hear You

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on September 23, 2020

Dog owners know that smell plays a big part in how their canine friends function. New research shows just how important sense of smell is in their lives.

Dog owners know that smell plays a big part in how their canine friends function. New research shows just how important sense of smell is in their lives.

Deception

What's With All the Lying?

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on August 31, 2020

Lying seems to be all around us these days. How can we best understand and cope with it? Looking at how lying and deceit exist in animals can provide some answers.

Lying seems to be all around us these days. How can we best understand and cope with it? Looking at how lying and deceit exist in animals can provide some answers.