The Big Five Personality Traits, also known as the Five-Factor Model (FFM), represent one of the most robust and empirically supported frameworks for understanding human personality. Developed through decades of psychological research and refined through lexical and factor-analytic methods, the Big Five provide a systematic way to describe personality across five broad dimensions: Openness to..
Read moreProximity Panic
Proximity Panic: When Emotional Closeness Triggers Withdrawal Overview 'Proximity panic' refers to a patterned fear response that arises when another person seeks greater emotional intimacy than the individual feels safe to allow. While often seen in romantic partnerships, it can also occur in close friendships, mentoring relationships, or even therapeutic settings. This reaction is not..
Read moreThought Terminating Cliches
Thought-terminating clichés (TTCs), also known as semantic stop-signs or loaded language, refer to commonly repeated phrases or idioms used to end discussions, deflect inquiry, or suppress dissent. Coined by psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton in his 1961 work, Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, these clichés are central to controlling communication in high-control groups and ideological systems,..
Read moreCognitive Load
Cognitive Load in Psychology: Understanding the Categories and Implications Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort required for working memory. Originally developed within the framework of Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) by John Sweller in the 1980s, the concept has become foundational in understanding learning processes, instructional design, and therapeutic practice. By recognising the..
Read moreHigh-Control Groups
High-control groups, sometimes referred to as "totalist" or "authoritarian" groups, are characterised by a rigid hierarchy, coercive social structures, and intrusive regulation of members’ beliefs, behaviours, and relationships (Lifton, 1961; Hassan, 2015). These groups often employ systems of psychological manipulation, such as thought reform, information control, and emotional coercion, to maintain loyalty and suppress dissent...
Read moreTangential Communication
The Dynamics of Tangential Responses in Interpersonal Communication: Insights from Ruesch and Bateson Introduction Effective communication is a cornerstone of human interaction, facilitating the exchange of ideas, emotions, and intentions. However, not all responses in dialogue align with the speaker’s intent, leading to breakdowns in understanding. In their seminal 1958 work Communication: The Social Matrix..
Read more(Video) A conversation with Andrew T. Austin about human behaviour and psychology
In this video, Roni Matar has a conversation with Andrew T. Austin about human behaviour and psychology. We discuss how people approach planning and problem-solving differently, using an example from my relationship. Andrew explains the concepts of feeding forward and feeding back in human responses. We delve into childhood experiences and their impact on adult..
Read morePsychological Social Contagions
Ever wondered if the world really is getting ever more crazy? I think your observations are well-founded – it's utterly bonkers, but trust me, it seems much less bonkers when you turn off your computer and smartphone and venture outside without them. Why? Well, it's because of the effects of psychological social contagions. The term..
Read moreThe Chambermaid Study
The "Chambermaid Study", conducted by Dr. Ellen Langer and her colleagues, examined the impact of exercise beliefs and expectations on hotel chambermaids. The study, published in 2007, is an exploration of how mindset and beliefs can influence health outcomes. The researchers divided the chambermaids into two groups. One group was informed that their daily work..
Read moreForensic Linguistics
Forensic linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that involves the application of linguistic techniques and theories to legal issues and the criminal justice system. This field plays a crucial role in solving crimes, as it helps to identify the source of written and spoken evidence, determine the authenticity of documents, and assist in investigations. What is..
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