Psychology Archives

4 Cognitive Defusion Techniques to Help You “Unfuse”

What does “fusion” mean in therapy? What’s the problem with “fusing” with your thoughts and what can you do to un-fuse? When you mistake your thinking self—the part of you that thinks, judges, and acts—as a direct reflection of reality, you are in a state of “fusion” with your thoughts. The goal of cognitive defusion then is to acknowledge that your thoughts are simply stories the brain tells you in order to help you survive. There are a number of psychological techniques to do so. Below, we’ll explore four cognitive defusion techniques that can help you disentangle from unhelpful thoughts.

3 Ways to Practice Being in the Present Moment

Do you often find yourself lost in thought about the past or the future? Are you disconnected from the present? In his book The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris refers to being in the present moment as “connection.” Harris writes that connection is the practice of using our observing self to shift our attention away from the past and future in order to be fully engaged in the present. He offers the following three exercises for developing the skill of connection.

Ray Dalio: Meditation as a Tool to Generate Ideas

What are the benefits of meditation? How does meditation help with creativity? According to Ray Dalio, meditation can help sprout new innovative ideas by reconciling the two yous: the conscious you and the subconscious you. When you are only engaging your conscious mind, you are missing out on the fountain of creative ideas buried in your subconscious, Here is how meditation can help you unleash your creative potential.

Being Self-Reliant Is Not Necessarily a Good Thing

Are you the type of person who always tries to be the jack of all trades? Do you pride yourself on being self-reliant? Being self-reliant is generally a good trait to have but it has downsides. You will never be able to be proficient at all the things necessary to reach your goals. Be humble about this, and look toward working with good people to fill in those gaps. Here is why being self-reliant is not always a good thing.

Ray Dalio: The “Shaper” Archetype

What is the “shaper” personality type? What are the key traits of Dalio’s shaper archetype? According to Ray Dalio, “shaper” is a personality type characterized by a visionary outlook and critical thinking. The shaper comes up with unique and valuable visions and builds them out, despite the doubts of others. Keep reading to learn about the characteristics of shapers, according to Dalio.

The Different Personality Tests and Their Uses

What are the different personality tests used in personality typing? Is personality typing useful in the modern-day? Personality typing is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it can be traced back thousands of years. In the modern-day, personality typing is a useful tool when it comes to communication and human resources in the workplace. Below, we’ll go over the history of personality tests and their uses, with special attention to Thomas Erickson’s color model from Surrounded by Idiots.

What Is Codependent Behavior? Well, It’s Complicated

What is codependent behavior? Why is it so difficult to properly define codependency? The definition of codependency is constantly changing as the study of psychology evolves. Some doctors say that codependency is a situational response, while others go so far as to say it’s a disease. Below, we will explore the history of codependency and its many definitions.

The Effect of Culture on Body Image

How does modern culture encourage shame around the body? How does body shaming affect self-esteem? Cultural ideals have pressured women into achieving a certain body type for centuries. The effects of harmful messaging around the body are not so easy to overcome because our culture encourages them. According to Emily Nagoski, the two ways in which this is accomplished are by distorting self-criticism into something positive and convincing women that fat is something to avoid at all costs. Let’s look at the effect of culture on body image.

Why Do People Make Bad Decisions? The 5 Reasons

What cognitive biases stand in the way of making good decisions? Why don’t people learn from their mistakes to make better choices in the future? Barry Schwartz, the author of The Paradox of Choice, explores why people make bad decisions. Schwartz says there are five main reasons people act against their best interest: unreliable memories, the availability heuristic, anchoring and framing, prospect theory, and the endowment effect and sunk costs. Keep reading to learn why people make bad decisions.

Maximizers and Satisficers: Which One Are You?

What is the difference between a maximizer and a satisficer? Is there a benefit to being one over the other? When it comes to deliberating options, there are two types of people: maximizers and satisficers. Maximizers will deliberate until they have chosen the best possible solution, while satisficers will select an option that is good enough. There are pros and cons to both types of personalities. Continue reading to learn about the two types of deliberators, and learn which one will end up happier.