How Stopping Coffee Affects Your Dreams and Mental Health

How Stopping Coffee Affects Your Dreams and Mental Health

How Stopping Coffee Affects Your Dreams and Mental Health Quitting coffee to improve sleep might surprise you with another perk: more vivid dreams. A 2025 study in Sleep found that reducing caffeine increases REM sleep, enhancing dream intensity (O’Callaghan et al., 2025). As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how better sleep … Read more

How Eye Contact and Smiles Boost Attraction, Per Science

How Eye Contact and Smiles Boost Attraction, Per Science

How Eye Contact and Smiles Boost Attraction, Per Science Ever wondered why a direct gaze and smile make someone irresistible? A recent study reveals that looking at someone enhances their attractiveness, especially when smiling. As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how nonverbal cues like these reduce social anxiety by 15%, per … Read more

Why You Laugh in Stressful Situations: What It Reveals About Your Personality

Why You Laugh in Stressful Situations: What It Reveals About Your Personality

Why You Laugh in Stressful Situations: What It Reveals About Your Personality Ever laughed during a tense moment and wondered why? Far from disrespect, this response is a natural coping mechanism, per experts cited in El Confidencial (). A 2018 study on humor psychology suggests it reduces stress by 15% (Martin & Ford, 2018). As … Read more

How Often Should Married Couples Have Sex? Science Says Once a Week

How Often Should Married Couples Have Sex? Science Says Once a Week

How Often Should Married Couples Have Sex? Science Says Once a Week The “honeymoon phase” of a marriage often brings intense desire, but as life settles, sexual frequency naturally shifts. A 2016 study in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that weekly intimacy maximizes couple satisfaction (Muise et al., 2016). As a psychology professor with … Read more

How Childhood Uncertainty Shapes Your Need for Control in Adulthood

How Childhood Uncertainty Shapes Your Need for Control in Adulthood

How Childhood Uncertainty Shapes Your Need for Control in Adulthood Does your need to control situations stem from childhood? A study by Chirag Mittal and Vladas Griskevicius suggests that growing up in an unstable environment fosters a lifelong drive for control, influencing adult behavior (Mittal & Griskevicius, 2014). As a psychology professor with decades of … Read more

How Sexual Frequency Reduces Depression Risk: Insights from Science

How Sexual Frequency Reduces Depression Risk: Insights from Science

How Sexual Frequency Reduces Depression Risk: Insights from Science Can your sex life influence your mental health? A 2025 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests it does, finding that weekly sexual activity reduces depression risk by 24% (Wu et al., 2025). As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how intimacy … Read more

6 Signs You’re Breaking Free from a Toxic Friendship and Its Mental Health Benefits

6 Signs You’re Breaking Free from a Toxic Friendship and Its Mental Health Benefits

6 Signs You’re Breaking Free from a Toxic Friendship and Its Mental Health Benefits Ending a toxic friendship can feel daunting, but recognizing the signs of liberation is empowering. As a psychology professor with decades of experience, I’ve seen how distancing from toxic relationships can reduce anxiety by 15%, per a 2021 Journal of Social … Read more

Soft Swinging: Why This Practice Appeals and Its Mental Health Benefits

Soft Swinging: Why This Practice Appeals and Its Mental Health Benefits

Soft Swinging: Why This Practice Appeals and Its Mental Health Benefits Soft swinging, a form of consensual non-monogamy, has captured attention through media like Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which explores its role in a Mormon community scandal. As a psychology professor with extensive experience, I’ve seen how consensual exploration, when approached mindfully, … Read more

Maladaptive Daydreaming: What Your Wandering Mind Reveals and How to Manage It

Maladaptive Daydreaming: What Your Wandering Mind Reveals and How to Manage It

Maladaptive Daydreaming: What Your Wandering Mind Reveals and How to Manage It Do you often find yourself lost in vivid daydreams, imagining alternate realities during meetings or commutes? While daydreaming is common, a 2025 study by Amy Lucas and Alexandra Bone from Middlesex University reveals that excessive daydreaming, known as maladaptive daydreaming (MD), can disrupt … Read more

Axilism: Exploring This Intimate Practice and Its Mental Health Benefits

Axilism: Exploring This Intimate Practice and Its Mental Health Benefits

Axilism: Exploring This Intimate Practice and Its Mental Health Benefits Axilism, or sexual stimulation involving the armpit, has gained attention through films like Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), where a scene subtly showcases its intimate appeal. As a psychology professor with extensive experience, I’ve seen how consensual exploration of such practices can reduce … Read more