That bias, even though it’s unconscious, could play a role in why women are underrepresented in fields like science and technology, particularly STEM, where “success is perceived to depend on high levels of intellectual ability,” the study says. But it could also extend to other fields and parts of society, like politics, where there are gender stereotypes associated with agency and leadership. “If you swap out the stereotype about brilliance with other stereotypes, the same kind of mechanisms unfold in other domains where women are underrepresented,” says Andrei Cimpian, PhD, a co-author of the study and an associate professor in the department of psychology at New York University....

One phobia that has been discussed on many websites and blogs is known as anatidaephobia. While often presented as a real phobia, anatidaephobia is actually an invented phobia and not a medically-recognized diagnosis What Is Anatidaephobia? Anatidaephobia originated from the Far Side comic by Gary Larson, who defined it as: “The fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.” The definition was accompanied by a comic illustration depicting a man alone in his office, while a duck watches him from across the street....

What Is Dependent Personality Disorder? DPD is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the manual used by mental health professionals to establish diagnostic criteria, DPD is classified as a Cluster C, the cluster made up of anxious and fearful disorders. Other disorders included in Cluster C are avoidant and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders; all three show high levels of anxiety....

Many of us inadvertently develop dysfunctional strategies to help us cope with feelings of anxiety, stress, or panic. You may use these strategies because they relieve some discomfort in the moment. Ultimately, however, maladaptive behaviors don’t help you deal with the root cause of your stress. The relief that these behaviors provide is only temporary, and often leads to other issues or exacerbates existing ones. This article covers the definition of maladaptive behaviors, types of maladaptive behaviors, and which mental health conditions can be related to the use of maladaptive behaviors....

People diagnosed with panic disorder frequently use a mental filter to sift out all of the pleasant and fulfilling parts of their lives, while bringing more attention to their inadequacies and dissatisfaction. They may center on their feelings of loneliness and avoidance behaviors, failing to notice ways in which they have actually learned to cope with panic disorder. Anxiety levels will continue to rise as positivity continues to be filtered out, while the self-defeating thoughts are intensified....

Positive symptoms are characterized by the presence of unusual feelings, thoughts, or behaviors. Positive symptoms include such experiences as hallucinations or delusions. A hallucination could be hearing voices that no one else can hear or see things that are not really there. Negative psychotic symptoms are those characterized by absence or loss of experience. Negative psychotic symptoms include: A decrease in the ability to emotionally respond to people, events, etc....

If you experience problems with side effects, you should mention these to your doctor as they may be able to either give you strategies for coping with the side effects or prescribe a different antidepressant for you that has fewer or more tolerable side effects. Common Side Effects Some of the more common negative effects that people may experience with antidepressants include: Anxiety Blurred vision Constipation Dizziness Dry mouth Fatigue Feeling numb Insomnia Nausea Sexual side effects Weight gain...

Research has shown that gut health is inextricably linked to mental well-being. In an effort to further understand the gut’s relationship to mental health, a team of researchers analyzed past studies that examined the gut microbiome of individuals living with such mental health conditions as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Their findings reveal a biological overlap of certain gut bacteria in relation to these conditions. The Research Researchers looked at 59 case-control studies that evaluated gut-microbe diversity in adults living with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder....

People often describe the color orange as bright, happy, and uplifting. In some cases, however, it can seem too bright and overwhelming. Much like purple, orange tends to be a controversial color. People tend to either love it or hate it. Orange Color Meaning and Psychology How does orange make you feel? Do you associate orange with certain qualities or situations? It is important to remember that the symbolism and associations of the color orange are not universal....

Classes Provide Support and Education The organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) has a wonderful parent training program called Parent To Parent (also known as P2P). What is unique and bonding about P2P is that it is an educational and support program specifically designed for parents, by parents. The classes, which span a seven-week period, are taught by certified P2P teachers who are parents of children with ADHD themselves....

In healthy parent-child dyads, the parent provides tangible and emotional support to their child, says Dr. Romanoff. The role of the parent is to give and the role of the child is to receive. By taking care of the child’s physical and emotional needs, the parent gives the child room to explore, learn, and grow. However, parentification is a distorted dynamic where the roles of child and parent are reversed, with the child giving the parent more than they receive....

As this remains a public health crisis in the U.S., it’s more important than ever to take stock of what works in treating substance use issues. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that contingency management, a specific type of therapy that rewards patients for positive behavior, can improve outcomes of opioid use disorder. The Research Research has shown that contingency management effectively treats substance use and related disorders. It is a type of behavioral therapy in which individuals are rewarded for evidence of positive behavioral change....

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is made up of two divisions: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic system. Each part of this system plays a vital role in how information is communicated throughout the body. This article discusses what the peripheral nervous system is, how it works, and the influence that it has on how the body functions, including what happens when there is a problem affecting the PNS....

Pessimism is not a trait most people aspire to. It’s associated with negativity, a “glass half-full” attitude, depression, and other mood disorders. However, a healthy dose of negative thinking isn’t necessarily all bad. While we’re often told to smile, think of the bright side, and make lemonade from lemons, that’s not always practical, advisable, or healthy. In fact, sometimes a little pessimism might actually be a good thing. Pessimism vs....

During this stage, children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols. However, Piaget noted that they do not yet understand concrete logic. Characteristics of the Preoperational Stage The preoperational stage occurs roughly between the ages 2 and 7. Language development is one of the hallmarks of this period. During the preoperational stage, children also become increasingly adept at using symbols, as evidenced by the increase in playing and pretending....

Prozac Withdrawal Timeline The good news is that among the SSRIs, Prozac is the least likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. The reason for this is Prozac’s long half-life. A drug’s half-life is the time it takes for 50% of the drug to be removed from your body. Most SSRIs have a half-life of approximately one day, but Prozac’s half-life is four to six days. This is important because withdrawal symptoms typically begin when a drug is about 90% out of your body....

Overview As you think about the possible causes of this ignoring behavior, be sure to consider how well you are listening and holding space for your partner as well. Remember, it’s easy to blame your spouse, but often, faulty communication is a two-way street. A listening problem in a relationship could be related to many different issues. Common contributing factors include your (or your partner’s) method of delivery, personal issues that make either of you unable or unwilling to listen, or some combination of these elements....

Therapists use cognitive-behavioral interventions that are specifically directed towards the understanding of unhealthy thinking habits and behaviors linked to particular relationships. These techniques can identify recurrent patterns of behavior that are present during interactions with others due to past or current relationships. This therapy is also viewed as a way to connect and understand one’s relationship with their therapist. In doing so, an individual will also feel comfortable discussing sensitive information related to past and current relationships....