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
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
3 Simple Rules to Build Trust and Strengthen Your Relationship Trust is the cornerstone of any thriving relationship, yet it can feel elusive when jealousy or doubt creeps in. As a psychology professor with decades of expertise, I’ve seen trust-building strategies reduce relationship anxiety by 15%, per a 2020 Journal of Social Psychology study (Lee … Read more
Are You Suffering from Gamophobia? Understanding and Overcoming the Fear of Commitment In the modern age of relationships, where casual dating and independence are often celebrated, some individuals find themselves overwhelmed with anxiety at the mere thought of commitment. This is not simply a hesitation or uncertainty about a relationship. It may be a deep-seated … Read more
Self-Sabotage in Love: How Your Fear of Intimacy Is Keeping You Lonely Do you ever feel like you will never find love, no matter how hard you try? Do you notice yourself withdrawing, avoiding, or rejecting potential partners before relationships can grow? You might be experiencing what psychologists refer to as self-sabotage in romantic relationships—a … Read more