The Pathways of Experience

Relationships

Communication Styles as Self-Expression: Which One Is Yours?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on November 13, 2023

Are you aware of your own communication style and how it affects your relationships? Consider these issues.

Are you aware of your own communication style and how it affects your relationships? Consider these issues.

Social Life

Rethinking Self-Disclosure: When Should We Tell Our Secrets?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on October 23, 2023

We like to think we control the personal information we share with others. But they acquire it in many ways.

We like to think we control the personal information we share with others. But they acquire it in many ways.

Rationalization

False Necessities: How We Rationalize Our Choices

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on September 13, 2023

Does your decision-making feature reasons or rationalizations? Answer these five questions.

Does your decision-making feature reasons or rationalizations? Answer these five questions.

Identity

Our Social Identity: What We Do to Protect It

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on September 7, 2023

Increasingly, we interact with unfamiliar others, both face-to-face and online. What challenges does that pose to who we are?

Increasingly, we interact with unfamiliar others, both face-to-face and online. What challenges does that pose to who we are?

Marriage

The 4 Types of Marriage

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on July 24, 2023

Every type of marriage has its own dangers. Do you recognize them?

Every type of marriage has its own dangers. Do you recognize them?

Education

What Play Teaches Us

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on June 24, 2023

Play honors the role of everyone in knowledge-making. We need that openness now more than ever.

Play honors the role of everyone in knowledge-making. We need that openness now more than ever.

Habit Formation

Bad Habits: How Some Routines Undermine Our Better Selves

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on May 19, 2023

Our routine behaviors are very much connected to our visions of self and to the fundamental behaviors we employ to reinforce those visions.

Our routine behaviors are very much connected to our visions of self and to the fundamental behaviors we employ to reinforce those visions.

Friends

Moving On: Narratives Help Motivate Us to Change Our Lives

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

For complicated life shifts, we need narratives, publicly acceptable stories of why we're moving on.

For complicated life shifts, we need narratives, publicly acceptable stories of why we're moving on.

Friends

Why It's Hard for Many Men to Form Close Friendships

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on April 7, 2023

Most of my male friends through the years have been charming people who like to talk about their own activities. Precious few have been good listeners.

Most of my male friends through the years have been charming people who like to talk about their own activities. Precious few have been good listeners.

Happiness

3 Ways to Find Your Happy Place, Wherever You Are

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on January 27, 2023

The art of happiness is the application of the right frames of interpretation to life events.

The art of happiness is the application of the right frames of interpretation to life events.

Friends

The Selfie: It's a Lifestyle Now

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on January 14, 2023

Personal Perspective: Most of us partake of the "selfie mentality," but does it lead to problems?

Personal Perspective: Most of us partake of the "selfie mentality," but does it lead to problems?

Relationships

Can You Take "It" With You? Reflections on Life Planning

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on December 22, 2022

Is the money we earn “ours” to do with as we wish or is it simply one element in a family’s requirements of living?

Is the money we earn “ours” to do with as we wish or is it simply one element in a family’s requirements of living?

Animal Behavior

People and Pets: Why We Love Our Animal Friends

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on December 4, 2022

My students argue that pets are "nicer than people." Is that true?

My students argue that pets are "nicer than people." Is that true?

Play

Can We Really Make Ourselves Happy? Try These Ideas

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on November 17, 2022

Happiness is a commitment to building worthy relationships with the world. Life's principle challenge is being active in that way.

Happiness is a commitment to building worthy relationships with the world. Life's principle challenge is being active in that way.

Relationships

Why Americans Love Football

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on October 18, 2022

Football and baseball express two different visions of individual and social accomplishment. Which do you prefer?

Football and baseball express two different visions of individual and social accomplishment. Which do you prefer?

Fear

Televised Disaster: Our Fascination With Catastrophes

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on October 2, 2022

Do people find satisfaction in scenes of human misery and environmental degradation?

Do people find satisfaction in scenes of human misery and environmental degradation?

Career

Secrets to Being Happy: The Danish Example

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on September 20, 2022

Danes understand that wealth and happiness are public as well as personal matters.

Danes understand that wealth and happiness are public as well as personal matters.

Relationships

Why We Complain

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on August 21, 2022

Although a few of us may be compulsive curmudgeons, most of us are quite strategic about our expressions of grievance.

Although a few of us may be compulsive curmudgeons, most of us are quite strategic about our expressions of grievance.

Productivity

The "Productivity Compulsion": Do You Have It?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on July 21, 2022

Do you feel pressure to stay busy and be productive? Here are some questions to see if you're overdoing it.

Do you feel pressure to stay busy and be productive? Here are some questions to see if you're overdoing it.

Happiness

4 Ways of Being Unhappy: Do Any Apply to You?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on June 29, 2022

In modern societies, people commonly feel empty, unacknowledged, and adrift. Consider four sources of that discontent.

In modern societies, people commonly feel empty, unacknowledged, and adrift. Consider four sources of that discontent.