Let's Talk Psychology

If you have ever tried to read an academic paper or a research study, then you know how tough it can be to decipher what exactly it is trying to say. While some of the field jargon is a necessary part of a professional write up, I do feel that some of the confusing terms lead to the gatekeeping of interesting and valuable information from the general public. And to make matters worse, this complex language has contributed to the spread of misinformation by the media because non-experts are reporting about research studies without understanding what the findings truly mean. To help you navigate and better understand scientific research, I will be teaching you about the differences between some of the most confusing and misleading words used in most research papers. These words are tricky because they are often treated like synonyms to each other when in reality, they mean completely different things. By understanding the concepts below, you will 1) sound super smart (and who doesn't...

  For whatever reason, the most insightful relationship advice can come from the last place you would expect. In this case, the unlikely love guru takes the form of a cognitive psychologist named Robert J. Sternberg, who created a theory known as the "triangular theory of love." Dr. Sternberg's theory applies to not just romantic love, but can also break down any kind of relationship you are involved in (platonic, romantic, friends-with-benefits, you name it!). So if you find yourself in some relationship issues, allow me to share some wisdom! THE INGREDIENTS OF LOVE Alright, first thing to know about Dr. Sternberg's unique little love triangle is that there are three main components of love: Intimacy : Feelings of closeness, bondedness, connectedness Passion : Drives leading to romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation Commitment : Making the short term decision that you love another, and eventually the long term decision to work at maintaining that love ...

One way or another, you have likely heard of the term "anti-vaxxers," or people who disagree with the use of vaccines. The arguments defending anti-vax lifestyles may vary, but one particularly ugly misconception is that vaccines cause autism in children. Despite the rumor being completely, unquestionably proven wrong, the harmful effects of spreading this lie are beginning to show. Outbreaks of viruses "eradicated" long ago are beginning to plague our society once again, and even newer diseases such as COVID-19 are posing a threat to a public reluctant to be vaccinated. But before we go into the current situation, let's start at where the vaccine-rumor was first started. ANDREW WAKEFIELD There are a lot of words to describe Andrew Wakefield and his work, and none of them are nice. Andrew Wakefield was a former British doctor who suggested there was a connection between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism in children. His "findings...

What do you do when you are facing tough times? For my friends and I, the remedy for life troubles was simple: we would pile into someone's car, pick up smoothies or bubble tea, and go for a drive. Our town is about ten minutes from the beach, and so we would simply ride up and down PCH. We enjoyed being between the rich beach houses and the expansive sea. The salty wind would blow through open car windows and help us breathe as we talked out our problems. And honestly, this sea-inspired cure never failed. I had always believed this trick to simply be a personal preference until I learned about "blue mind science." Blue mind science is the phenomenon of how people in or around aquatic environments experience a wide variety of health benefits. These environments could involve an ocean, lake, river, any kind of aquatic ecosystem. Studies have demonstrated water to be a positive perceptive experience in urban environments, particularly related to restorativeness. Many people...

  Astrological signs, tarot cards, palm readings, healing crystals, spiritual/touch therapy... the list of pseudopsychology examples could probably go on forever. But it only takes the mentioning of one of these words to get a disappointed sigh and dramatic eye roll from most research psychologists. Yes, it is true: we as a field aren't buying it.  Now, this does not mean that you can't have fun or partake in activities like astrology horoscopes and tarot card readings! However, it is important you understand how much value to put into these kinds of readings and "scientific" insights. For instance, of course I'm going to take this Buzzfeed Quiz called  "We Know The Name Of Your Next Lover Based On The Food You Order From McDonald's,"  but should I rush to date the first Morgan I meet? Probably not... unless the potential boyfriend in question is Agent Morgan from Criminal Minds (this is the only exception). Anyways, I'm here to help you enjoy th...