Psychology Archives

4 Negative Effects of Peer Pressure & How to Avoid Them

Why do people tend to copy what others do? What are the negative effects of peer pressure? As a social species, humans often rely on the opinions and directions of others to feel accepted. Sometimes, peer pressure can have a positive effect on people, but there are instances where peer pressure can cause bad habits or hurt someone’s mental health. We’ll first look at why people want to conform, and then we’ll explain the negative effects of peer pressure and how to overcome them.

23 Questions About Bad Habits to Ask Yourself to Break the Cycle

What routines do you have that don’t serve your goals? What harmful behaviors would you like to stop doing? Everyone has bad habits. One of the best ways to tackle them is to engage in serious self-exploration. We’ve put together several questions about bad habits that will help you identify and understand your habits, identify replacement behaviors, and then implement those replacements. Continue reading for five exercises that will propel you toward a healthier, happier life.

Anxiety Discussion Questions: 13 Exercises to Find Peace

Are you a bundle of nerves? Do worried thoughts occupy your mind? Is anxiety keeping you from living the life you want? Self-exploration is a powerful way to combat anxiety. It’s easier to deal with your worries when you know what they are and where they come from. We’ve put together 13 exercises based on concepts in several books—from classics to new titles, from secular sources as well as Buddhist and Christian works. Read on to find dozens of anxiety discussion questions based on the concepts in The Art of Happiness, Unwinding Anxiety, The Power of Positive Thinking, and How

10 Affirmation Exercises to Fill & Rewire Your Mind for Good

How do you start and end your day? What small changes can you make to fill your mind with positive and truthful thoughts that carry through to your beliefs and behaviors? No matter what you do, your mind is filled with thoughts. You can take control by deliberately thinking specific thoughts throughout the day. We put together affirmation exercises based on The Big Leap and Good Vibes, Good Life—and we included Christian affirmations from The Power of Positive Thinking. Keep reading for several simple exercises that can change your thinking and, ultimately, change your life for good.

8 Radical Acceptance Exercises to Help You Be Fully Present

Is anything negative going on in your life right now? Is your body trying to tell you something? Are you holding on to any regret or resentment? Radical Acceptance is a practice in which we acknowledge what we’re experiencing—positive or negative—and welcome it. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to be fully present in each passing moment. It helps us avoid getting stuck in our own heads. Continue reading for eight Radical Acceptance exercises based on the book of the same name by Tara Brach as well as books by Eckhart Tolle and Ryan Holiday.

The True Definition of Love (and What Love Isn’t)

What’s the true definition of love? How does bell hooks define love? According to bell hooks in her book All About Love, we struggle to talk about love because we lack a shared definition of what love is. She insists that having a shared meaning is a critical starting point for creating a culture that’s more rooted in love. Keep reading to learn what the true definition of love is, and what love isn’t.

bell hooks’s Definition of Love: Aiding Spiritual Growth

What is bell hooks’s definition of love? Why does love require reciprocity and trust? bell hooks’s definition of love is an act that develops one’s spiritual growth. Although she uses this definition in her book All About Love, she credits the meaning of love to M. Scott Peck. Continue reading to learn more about Peck and hooks’s shared meaning of love.

The Status Game by Will Storr: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why do humans care so much about social hierarchies? What are the rules and symbols of status games? What happens when a status game goes wrong? You might think of yourself as the hero of a story about a traveler on a journey. But in The Status Game, Will Storr says you’re just a player in a game. Read below for an overview of The Status Game to learn more about how these social games work.

Managing Emotions in Communication: 4 Ways to Keep Your Cool

Do you tend to raise your voice or stop listening when you get frustrated? When you’re angry, do all of the right words come out in the right order? Emotions are a huge part of life. So is communication. When emotions and communication come together, the message often gets lost. That’s why James Williams identifies emotional control as a core communication skill. Continue reading to learn how to effectively handle emotions in communication.

What Love Isn’t: How Families Create Unhealthy Love

Do you have a good idea of what love is? What’s considered unhealthy love? Unhealthy interactions between family members can distort people’s version of love. bell hooks’s book All About Love says these interactions can also create a cycle of unhealthy love. Below we’ll discuss what love isn’t so you can have a better understanding of what love truly means.