Psychology Archives

Emotions and the Brain: The Vital Role of the Right Hemisphere

How can a brain injury impact someone’s ability to process and express emotion? How does looking at different types of art affect the brain? Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist argues that the right hemisphere is more important than the left—and that a failure to recognize this threatens to rob our lives of meaning and happiness. One reason why he believes this is that the right hemisphere is primarily responsible for processing and expressing emotions. Continue reading to learn about McGilchrist’s important research into emotions and the brain.

Is ADHD Caused by Bad Parenting? A Doctor Explains

Is ADHD caused by bad parenting? How does the bond with your parent affect your cognitive-emotional development? ADHD is one of the most common disorders in the world, but many people are still unaware of the root causes of it. While this isn’t the case for everyone, Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté suggests that one explanation for an ADHD diagnosis is a negative relationship between parent and child. Continue reading for a more in-depth explanation of a parent’s influence on their child’s development.

How to Develop a Plot That Satisfies the Readers’ Expectations

How’s a story’s plot different from what your story is about? How can understanding how the brain works help you create a compelling plot? Lisa Cron explains the formula that the human brain expects to encounter in a story. Then, she shows how you as a writer can employ that formula. She provides tips on how to develop a plot—exploring elements such as conflict, cause and effect, hooking the reader, suspense and reveals, and pacing. Continue reading to learn how to develop a plot that satisfies the expectations of your readers.

How to Preserve Your Mental Energy & Empower Your Mind

What is mental energy? How does empowering your mind keep you energized? Just like you need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet in order to have a strong body, The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma says that you need to “feed” your mind with educational and empowering ideas in order to strengthen it. At the same time, you need to be aware of how much mental energy you’re using. Keep reading to learn how to use your mental energy wisely.

The 3 Different Types of Learning Styles: Which Are You?

What are the three different types of learning styles? How does understanding your learning style help you stay organized? There are three types of learning styles: auditory, visual, and tactile. According to Order From Chaos by Jaclyn Paul, your learning style determines how well your organizational system operates. Keep reading to learn more about how your learning style affects you, especially if you have ADHD.

How to Heal ADHD Without Medication (Adults & Children)

Can you heal ADHD? Why can’t medication treat ADHD? Since ADHD results from the underdevelopment of your brain and psyche, Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté theorizes that you can heal your ADHD by leveraging blain plasticity to your advantage. This is your brain’s ongoing reactivity to environmental stimuli. Here are Maté’s tips for how to heal ADHD in yourself and in your children.

How to Create Suspense in a Story: Insight From Neuroscience

Why does suspense keep people engaged in a story? Do you know how to provide useful hints without giving too much away? In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron shows writers how to create compelling narratives that satisfy our brains’ innate expectations of story. In her discussion of plot elements, she explains how suspense and reveals add excitement to a story and give readers a reason to keep reading. Read more to learn how to create suspense in a story by understanding why suspense draws people in.

5 Left and Right Brain Differences That Might Surprise You

What’s the difference between the left and right brain? Is one hemisphere more important than the other? In his 2009 book, The Master and His Emissary, Iain McGilchrist cites an array of scientific evidence intended to dispel the myth that the right hemisphere is “minor.” He contends that the right brain is actually dominant over the left brain and explains five significant differences between the hemispheres. Keep reading to learn about five left and right brain differences that speak to McGilchrist’s intriguing argument.

Living With ADHD: Organization Tips to Stay on Top of Things

What are some ways to stay organized with ADHD? What type of organizational system is right for you? The most important part of establishing an ADHD organization system is to find one that works for you. It should be both simple and sustainable, meaning it should require as little work from you as possible. Here’s the organizational system that Order From Chaos by Jaclyn Paul and David Allen’s Getting Things Done recommend.

How to Recover From Trauma: 2 Steps to Heal Your Heart

How do bad experiences weigh on your heart? How can you recover from trauma that’s affecting your future? Your heart can only take so much damage. The trauma that you experienced in the past will only hurt it more if you don’t confront it head-on. Here’s how to recover from trauma, according to The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma.