Psychology

bliss molecule

bliss molecule: a popular name for the chemical compound anandamide, the neurotransmitter that transmits blissful messages within the human brain; also found in cannabis. *** TROVELOG *** So far, research from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has shown that patients with PTSD have lower levels of anandamide, also known as the body's "bliss molecule," an [...]

memory palace

memory palace: a mnemonic device – often a place or spatial arrangement imagined by an individual – for use as a familiar memory aide in ordering and recalling specific words, images, numbers, or ideas. Also known as: the method of loci; mind palace; memory journey; memory theater. Credited to fifth century B.C. Greek poet, Simonides of [...]

Dunbar’s number

Dunbar's number: the idea that human beings have a cognitive limit to the number of close relationships (about 150) they can maintain; theory proposed by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar of the University of Oxford. *** TROVELOG *** It also turns out there’s a maximum number of people you can maintain relationships with at any given time. That [...]

financial infidelity

financial infidelity: the undisclosed or deceptive consumption, investment or borrowing practices of a spouse or significant other, especially activities that burden joint finances. *** TROVELOG *** Your husband committed what’s referred to as financial infidelity, Spent. Like sexual infidelity, the healing can’t begin until the partner who committed the betrayal stops doing it. Your husband hasn’t done [...]

rage room (aka: “anger room”)

rage room (aka: “anger room”): a facility that charges customers fees to smash objects: household items, office machines, electronics, furniture, human effigies or any of the customer's personal items. *** TROVELOG *** Donna Alexander, proprietor of the Anger Room in Dallas, can barely keep her business stocked with printers for customers to crush. “Rage rooms,” as they’re [...]

lunch shaming

lunch shaming: engaging in stigmatizing practices against children who have not paid for school meals whether that is by refusing to serve them hot meals, requiring them to do chores or wear some identifying stamp or wrist band. *** TROVELOG *** What is “lunch shaming?” It happens when a child can’t pay a school lunch bill. In Alabama, [...]

Dodo effect

when two or more psychotherapies seem to yield results with little or no difference.        [W]hen two different types of psychotherapies [for the same condition] have been directly compared -- and there are more than 100 such studies -- it has often been hard to find any differences between them.   Researchers aptly call [...]

Carrie Fisher/bipolar

       Q. Just to clarify, do you suffer from manic depression or bipolar disorder? FISHER They say bipolar now. It’s the same as manic depression. I think manic depression is more descriptive. Bipolar sounds like a gay bear.       [Italics added.] See article at: NYT 05Dec10: "No Business Like Their Family Business" [featuring a joint [...]

third places

  The Great Good Place, a book by the urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg, talks about the social and psychological importance of what he calls "third places."  He designates home as "first place" and work as "second place". He describes "third place" as somewhere neutral, convenient, comfortable and welcoming. It’s where regulars gather and where conversation [...]

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