Narcissists often lack empathy but crave attention and admiration from those around them. They use a mix of subtle and overt tactics to keep others under their influence. They may dominate conversations, manipulate loved ones, or even resort to deception for personal gain. While it’s natural to want to avoid…
Have you ever startled awake, wondering, “Why are my dreams so violent?” Maybe you had a dream about a creepy clown chasing you, insisting on giving you a shot. Maybe you dreamt about getting in a violent fight with someone you know. Whatever it might be, a scary or violent…
From elementary school through high school, many children experience bullying from their classmates every year. Bullying is harmful to all parties and can cause lingering emotional trauma that affects children well into adulthood. In an effort to protect kids and limit bullying’s damaging effects, October has been recognized as National…
Life can get stressful and overwhelming, and sometimes our methods of dealing with it are helpful in the short term but become more problematic over time. These unhelpful behaviors are referred to as “maladaptive behaviors” or, more specifically, actions or responses that are not suitable or effective in a given…
Though having and raising a child can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience, giving birth certainly comes with its tribulations. A myriad of emotions often accompanies the grueling process of giving birth. Some new parents might feel tired, anxious, unhappy, or even angry during the hard process of postpartum recovery. …
Your 12-year-old son keeps getting in trouble at school — for picking on his classmates, lying to his teacher, and even stealing other kids’ things. You think he’s just “acting out.” Until you find out he’s been sneaking out at night for the last 6 months. It becomes apparent that…
“Little did I know that in these dark moments of early motherhood, I wasn’t simply reacting to the stress-inducing challenges of being a new mom. I was also unexpectedly dealing with a series of present-moment triggers that were causing me to relive the excruciating traumas of my youth.” Lindsay’s daughter,…
New research suggests that handgun purchasers with a previous DUI conviction are more likely to commit violence crimes than handgun purchasers without a DUI record. Researchers identified every individual between 21 and 49 years old who legally purchased a handgun in California in 2001; researchers then identified any violent crime…
Do you know someone who becomes increasingly aggressive when they drink? I do. A friend from college was always a loose cannon at the bars. The night would start out tame enough—we’d camp out at a table, typically in the corner, and chat over a couple drinks. But after John…
Sometimes, symptoms of depression are accompanied by signs of aggression, which can signify agitated depression. Agitated depression isn’t a distinct depression type, but rather a clearer explanation for cases of depression that also include acts of aggression. Symptoms include your normal depression symptoms, like depressed mood and lack of interest…
A coworker or superior’s display of aggression in the workplace can feel threatening and uncomfortable; fortunately, you can follow a few steps to handle this situation properly. First, consider whether you feel unsafe—if you do feel unsafe, you should talk with human resources about the event and how it made…
We have long disagreed over whether aggressive behavior is inborn or learned—which has led to many research efforts, including the Bobo doll experiment. This study concluded that children become aggressive through observational learning; that is, through watching someone else conduct the same behavior. However, other studies disagree—or at least note…
