Psychology Archives

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.

How to Remember Something and Make It Stick

What makes information easy to remember? What are some specific factors of memorability? If you want to get information to stick in your memory, it helps to recall it often. Of course, it also has to be memorable to begin with. Memorability increases as the information connects to more and more parts of your brain. Read more to learn how to remember something by making it more memorable in the first place.

What Causes Codependency? The Underlying Factors

What causes codependency traits to form? How are codependency and stress linked? Is there a way to combat codependent tendencies? In her book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie states that codependency is a reaction to prolonged stress. In most cases, you won’t even realize that your codependent tendencies are forming, because they build up over time. Below is an exploration into what causes codependency.

Too Many Choices: Beware the Consequences

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you’re hungry but can’t decide what to eat? Or you’re bored but can’t choose something to watch? Why does having too many choices stress people out this way? This is exactly the dilemma that Barry Schwartz explores in his book The Paradox of Choice. Schwartz says that it takes time and energy to make decisions and, when we have to deliberate every decision extensively, we get worn out and sometimes become unable to process even simple decisions. Continue reading to learn about the negative consequences of living in a world with expanded choices.

Stress and Sex Drive: How Stress Affects Libido

What exactly is stress? How does stress affect sex drive? Stress is an emotion-based systems in the mesolimbic cortex that greatly impacts our sexual arousal. It’s a process or system of changes in our minds and bodies that occurs in response to threats, and it underlies all types of negative emotions, including anxiety, fear, irritation, frustration, and anger. In this article, we’ll explore the issues around sex and sex drive and how understanding and managing the stress systems can positively affect our sexual experience.

Overwhelmed by Choices? Here’s How to Decide

Are you ever overwhelmed by choices and don’t know what decision to make? What tips can help you come to a decision that you’ll be satisfied with? You’ve probably experienced this before: you’re starving, but you keep scrolling through delivery apps and can’t decide what to eat. Finally, you get so frustrated that you just give up and heat up some leftovers, or you just pick something at random. We’ve all been there—it’s called decision paralysis. Here are 11 tips for how to make a decision when you’re overwhelmed by choices.

Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski: Book Overview

What is Emily Nagoski’s book Come as You Are about? What misconceptions about sex does modern culture perpetuate? In her book Come as You Are, Emily Nagoski uses scientific research and her years of experience as a sex educator to change the negative way that women talk, think, and feel about their sexuality. Arguing that a scientific perspective on sexuality can free women from unrealistic standards and help them to appreciate their individual experiences, Nagoski considers sexuality from every biological angle while dispelling cultural misconceptions along the way. Below is a brief overview of the key themes explored in the

The Link Between Sex and Emotional Attachment Style

What is the connection between sex and emotional attachment? How does attachment style influence sexuality? Depending on how our caregivers raised us as children, we develop different styles of attachment. According to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, your attachment style not only dictates your behavior in romantic relationships but also affects your sexual experience. Here is how people with different attachment styles approach sexuality.

The 3 Biggest Consequences of Low Self-Esteem

What are some of the consequences of low self-esteem? How can having low self-esteem make codependency traits worse? In her classic book Codependent No More, Melody Beattie goes over the three repercussions of having low self-esteem: attachment issues, bad communication, and caretaking. Thankfully, there are ways to recognize and repair these issues, if you’re willing to put in the work. Continue below to learn why low self-esteem is so dangerous.

The Paradox of Choice: The 3 Types of Choices

What are the three different types of choices? How can having more options make decisions even more difficult? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Professor Barry Schwartz discusses the three categories of choice: consumer choices, complex choices, and personal choices. Schwartz focuses on the fact that today we have more options than ever, and although that may appear to be a good thing at first, it actually causes more problems than it solves. Continue below to learn about each type of choice.