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 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 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 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 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, 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 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, 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
Sweet Words or Gestures: What Science Says Wins a Heart When it comes to winning someone’s heart, do sweet words or thoughtful actions matter more? A 2019 study in Evolutionary Psychological Science suggests actions speak louder, especially for women (Li et al., 2019). As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen how small … Read more
Groundhogging: How This Dating Pattern Affects Your Love Life and Mental Health Ever feel like your love life is stuck on repeat, replaying the same relationship patterns with different partners? This phenomenon, dubbed “groundhogging” or “Marmot Practice,” draws from the 1993 film Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray’s character relives the same day endlessly. As a … Read more