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It is natural to assume “once a bully, always a bully.” But sticking a person who bullies with a label of “bully” for the rest of his life does not help prevent bullying. In fact, with hard work, some people who bully others can and do change. The key is to catch the bullying early and intervene. This early intervention involves not only disciplining the bully for his poor choices but also equipping him with the skills he needs to interact with others in positive ways....

Forensic psychology is a hot topic. Think about all the books, movies, and television shows about how delving into the minds behind crimes can help solve them and bring justice to victims. But for all its popularity in the media, forensic psychology plays an important role in real life. It involves the psychological assessment of those involved in the legal system. Here’s a look at how this fascinating specialty in the field of psychology evolved....

I feel stuck, in a sort of limbo where essences of life buzz around me, but I can’t access them. Life is at once too overwhelming and not engaging enough. Each task I do requires a search for motivation beyond anything I’ve ever known. I’m tired, burnt out, and not often excited, but also restless, eager to engage, and trying. Key Takeaways Sociologist Corey Keyes coined languishing as the opposite of flourishing....

People who have anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa are concerned about their body shape, size and/or weight, of course, but there’s another body image problem with which many people also struggle: body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder, which affects up to 2.4% of the general population, causes people to become overly concerned with outward appearance and perceived flaws. It may be seen in people with eating disorders, but is a distinctly different issue....

When I became a new mom in 2019, I was unaware of A) just how often I’d be shaking baby bottles with formula every day, and B) how important it is to prepare a bottle correctly to prevent gas. It wasn’t until I passed a social media post (during a late-night feeding session, of course) that I discovered the Dr. Brown’s Formula Mixing Pitcher. I immediately purchased it, and within days it was a feeding staple in my household....

Simply moving your facial muscles in a way that mimics a smile can trick your brain into a more positive state, according to a recent study published in the journal Experimental Psychology. Key Takeaways The act of smiling triggers brain chemicals related to positivity, even when the smile isn’t genuine, a recent study says.Just mimicking facial muscular activity, like holding a pencil in your mouth, is enough to generate more positive emotions....

The areola is a circular or oval area of skin on your breast that surrounds the nipple. It is darker in color than the rest of your breast or chest skin—usually a shade of red, pink, or brown. There is no “normal” size for areolas; they vary from person to person. They can also change in appearance and size over your life, including during pregnancy, your period, and while you are taking certain medications....

Coherent Breathing is a form of breathing that involves taking long slow breaths at a rate of about five per minute. Coherent breathing, or deep breathing, helps to calm the body through its effect on the autonomic nervous system. Whether it is practiced as part of yoga or meditation, or simply on its own as a relaxation strategy, coherent breathing is a simple and easy way to reduce stress and calm down when feeling anxious....

Stress is a natural response of our bodies. It’s a physiological response to our environment when we receive the message that there may be a threat. While it’s an important function, it can get out of control, and it can affect our lives in negative ways. You likely know that long term stress isn’t healthy, and you may be aware that it affects your immune system, but you probably aren’t familiar with the details of why stress is a problem for it....

Statistics tell us that most people who quit smoking gain some weight initially. On average, that weight gain is between 5 to 10 pounds. For a lot of folks, the gain is temporary and the extra weight is lost within the first year of quitting. For some, however, the extra weight stays on. Losing the weight may take some added effort due to quitting-related changes like shifts in your metabolism or your diet....

Sometimes being single can feel freeing or even empowering. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want without having to worry about what your partner is doing. But there are also times when being unattached can be lonely and frustrating. Even if you are struggling with feelings of isolation and longing for a partner—or at least some romantic prospects—there are things that you can do to help feel better about being single....

Teens are new to the surge of emotions that comes with changing hormones during puberty. Dealing with the mood swings can be overwhelming, and some teens handle it better than others. As a parent, the challenge is knowing how you can help your teen control their emotions and teach them to work through the rollercoaster in a healthy way. Luckily, adults can relate to these ups and downs. We’ve all been there and made it through one mood swing after another....

At one point or another, nearly all children will dig their heels in, look at their parents, and respond with an emphatic “No!” when they have been told to do something. As frustrating as that can be to hear, non-compliance can be part of a healthy child’s development. Overview When children test limits or assert themselves, they are trying to be more independent. And while budding independence is healthy, an ongoing pattern of defiance is not....

Oral thrush is an infection caused by a yeast fungus (Candida albicans). Sometimes this infection is brought on after antibiotic use, as this changes the environment of the mouth, making it easy for overgrowth of yeast to occur. In addition, if a nursing mother is experiencing a yeast infection, thrush can be passed on to her baby. In this case, both mother and child should be treated simultaneously. Symptoms Symptoms of thrush in babies include white or yellowish raised spots on the sides of the mouth and on the tongue....

The purpose of an introduction in a psychology paper is to justify the reasons for writing about your topic. Your goal in this section is to introduce the topic to the reader, provide an overview of previous research on the topic, and identify your own hypothesis. Before you begin: Start Your Psychology Paper Introduction by Researching Your Topic Search a journal database, such as PsychInfo or ERIC, to find articles on your subject....

When most of us think of dyslexia, a learning disability affecting about 15-20% of the population, we imagine hardship for children: Learning to read and write becomes a much more challenging task when letters, numbers, and words reorder themselves incorrectly. I, however, had no trouble with either. Instead, I flourished as a reader, reading at least 100 books a year for nearly every year of my life since I learned how to read in kindergarten....

On Thursday, March 11, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the “Mississippi Fairness Act” into law, barring transgender girls from competing in sports teams aligned with their gender identity. Key Takeaways On March 11, Mississippi enacted a law banning transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams.Over the past two years, states across the country have proposed similar, discriminatory laws without any merit behind their claims.These laws impact girls as young as elementary school and have detrimental psychological consequences....

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the best-known theories of motivation. Maslow’s theory states that our actions are motivated by certain physiological and psychological needs that progress from basic to complex. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory Abraham Maslow first introduced the concept of a hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper, titled “A Theory of Human Motivation,” and again in his subsequent book, “Motivation and Personality.” This hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs....

Your pregnancy is over, and you’re beginning to feel like your old self again. If you’re feeling inspired to get back into the sexual groove, you’ll be pleased to know you can physically reconnect with your partner (or yourself) once your healthcare provider gives you the green light. However, what happens when sex is more painful than pleasurable? Hormonal changes and birth-related discomfort can both impact your sexual experience postpartum. If you’re not enjoying sex after delivery, you’re certainly not alone, but you’ll be happy to hear solutions exist that can improve the situation....

Separation anxiety disorder and depression share many symptoms. As a parent, you are probably familiar with separation anxiety—the feeling an infant or child experiences when separated from their caregivers. You may be less familiar with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and its relation to depression. This article covers the difference between separation anxiety and SAD, as well as the symptoms of SAD. It also discusses how separation anxiety disorder can manifest in both children and adults, and how you can seek treatment for your child or yourself....