Venting makes you MORE angry?

Have you ever had a friend/girlfriend/homeless person ask you if they could just "vent" for a minute about something that bothered them? Have you ever heard someone say they're going to the gym to hit a punching bag for a while to get out some frustration?We commonly call these behaviors "venting." The idea behind venting is that by expressing anger...

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Why can't I cry? (user submitted)

Dear Edahn,Why can't I cry? I get close, but I just get choked up. Sincerely, Choking in Chile ~ ~ ~ Dear Choking, Crying is kind of like an orgasm except you don't feel guilty afterwards. If you are too self-conscious, you'll be tense and your awareness absorbed in your mind rather than in your body. I'm going to assume safely that as you approach...

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Have a question?

Whether it's a personal issue that you're seeking insight on, an interesting situation you encounter, or just intellectual curiosity, feel free to ask a question. I shall do my best to answer it. You can either comment under this post or send an email to TheAmateurPsychologist@Gmail.com . I won't publish your name unless you expressly authorize i...

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Narcissism: Think "Alpha-Envy"

On the surface, Narcissism can be thought of a condition of excess vanity. The term is based on the Greek myth of Narcissus. Narcissus was a sexy but cruel guy. As punishment, the gods make him fall in love with his reflection in a pool, where he ends up dying. Shoulda brought a Snickers.The DSM-IV defines Narcissistic Personality Disorder a “pervasive...

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Homework #1

I tried this when I was bored waiting for court to start one day. It got really interesting and I felt like I had some immediate insight into people. Imagine everyone around you was stoned. Some people talk a lot about themselves, others relax, others start chasing women, others might become sexually aggressive, some chat, some cry, some just want...

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How Memory Works

How do cognitive psychologists think about memory? I'm going to present the dominant models of memory and then end with some neat facts about memory that'll impress your friends, if you have any. I've put the psych jargon in italics for those who are interested.Atkinson & Shiffrin's Stage Theory There are a few popular models of how memory works....

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Transactional Analysis: A Guide to Deconstructing Dialogue

In the 1960, Erick Berne (formerly Bernstein) wrote an immensely popular book called Games People Play that kicked off the Pop Psychology movement. His book laid the foundation for a new set of tools to codify and understand human interaction, collectively named Transactional Analysis.At the core of Transactional Analysis lies Berne’s idea of “Strokes.”...

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Freudian Slipping

"Yesterday I had a Freudian slip at my in-laws' place over dinner. I meant to say 'please pass the carrots' but I accidentally said 'your mother's a stupid hooker.'" Ah yes, the Freudian Slip. Freud called it fehlleistung which I think is German for completely bullshit theory. While I dig a lot of Freud's work, I'm not a big fan of this particular...

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Why do men go for needy girls? (user submitted)

Dear Edahn,Why do men sometimes like women who I would characterize as crazy or disturbed or excessively needy? I have my own theory, but yours is probably more informed/better articulated. Curious in Cali ~ ~ ~ Dear Curious, To make sure I understood your question, I interpreted "crazy, disturbed, and needy" as the kind of girl who is always making...

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