Psychology Archives

What Is Critical Thinking in Psychology?

What is critical thinking in psychology? What are some things you can do to improve your critical thinking skills? In psychology, critical thinking is an active process of thinking that involves understanding and applying the various levels of cognition to enhance one’s understanding. Specifically, critical thinking involves evaluating information for weaknesses, drawbacks, and inconsistencies. Below, we’ll explore what critical thinking is, what happens when it’s lacking, and why modern culture discourages it. Then, we’ll provide a few suggestions for developing your critical thinking skills.

Why Is It So Hard to Focus? Distractions & Attention Fatigue

Why is it so hard to focus? What are you missing when you get distracted? How is attention like a muscle? Daniel Goleman believes that you can improve your attention—by strengthening it with training and restoring it when it’s fatigued. First, you must understand what weakens and disrupts your attention in the first place. Continue reading to learn why it’s so hard to focus, especially these days.

How to Get Your Focus Back: Advice From Daniel Goleman

Are you often distracted? Do you ever suffer from attention fatigue? Just as your body needs time to rest and recover from strenuous physical exertion, your attention needs restoration after it becomes fatigued. In Focus, Daniel Goleman provides advice on how to get your focus back. Keep reading to learn how Goleman’s recommendations can help you get back on track.

How to Increase Mental Energy and Focus

How to Visualize the Life You Want to Have in 3 Steps

Do you always feel mentally tired? What are some things you can do to increase your mental energy so you can focus for longer and think more effectively? The best way to increase your mental energy is to eliminate the amount of information you consume. This will give you more mental bandwidth to devote to mentally taxing pursuits. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to increase mental energy and focus.

Richard Schwartz: Working With IFS Protectors

Who are “protectors” in IFS? What role do protectors play in our psyche? “Protectors” are the parts of ourselves that guard our “exiles”—the youngest and the most vulnerable parts of ourselves—from unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and memories. In other words, protectors are the defense mechanisms we use to avoid getting hurt. Keep reading to learn about the concept of IFS protectors and how to work with them in therapy.

Daniel Goleman: Self-Awareness Is an Essential Life Skill

How do we initially realize our purpose and values? What is “meta-awareness”? Why is self-awareness easier for some? According to Daniel Goleman, self-awareness is an essential life skill. Developing an awareness of your physical and emotional sensations and accurately interpreting them is key to forming a strong sense of “self” and living a meaningful, healthy life. Continue reading to learn how self-awareness enhances your life.

IFS Exiles: The Roles Our “Inner Children” Play

Who are “exiles” in IFS? What role do exiles play in the psyche? Exiles are key concepts in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. Exiles are the most vulnerable parts of ourselves that get triggered when we experience intense negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, or shame. Keep reading to learn about the concept of IFS exiles and how exiles manifest in our behaviors.

What Are Subpersonalities? Psychiatrist Explains

Have you ever felt like a part of you is telling you one thing, while another part is saying the opposite? Why do we sometimes desire and feel things that contradict one another? According to psychiatrist Richard Schwartz, conflicting internal voices are totally normal. He suggests that, instead of being only one person, we all hold subpersonalities within ourselves that relate to each other in the same ways that members of a family might relate to one another. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind subpersonalities.

Ryan Holiday: How to Strengthen Your Mind

What does it mean to have a strong mind? How do you cultivate mental strength? A strong mind is a calm and clear mind. According to Ryan Holiday, the author of Stillness Is the Key, the key to developing mental strength lies in cultivating wisdom and humble confidence. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to cultivate mental strength so you can be free from worries and immune to ignorance.

IFS Unburdening: Release Your Emotional Weight

What exactly is “unburdening” in the IFS? What is the purpose of the unburdening process? In the Internal Family Systems (IFS), unburdening follows unblending: When we’re no longer blended with our parts, we can start the process of helping our parts unburden, or let go of the emotional weight that keeps them trapped in their roles. Unburdening is key to healing the Internal Family Systems. Keep reading to learn about IFS unburdening.