We often think of smiling as a reflection of happiness, but what if the act of smiling itself has the power to shape how we feel? My latest Southern Star column looks at the latest global research into the so-called facial feedback hypothesis.
Most of us can look back at who we were 10 or 20 years ago and recognise how much we’ve changed. But here’s a question for you – do you think you will continue to change, or will you be much the same person in 10 or 20 years’ time? Most of us seem to assume that who we are today is who we’ll be for the rest of our lives, but the research is clear on this point - we're going to change more than we think.
In my last column, I talked about anger – or, more specifically, hostile attribution bias, a thinking style that leads people to misinterpret others’ intentions as hostile or malicious, even in benign or ambiguous situations. This mindset drives anger and conflict and damages relationships and mental well-being. My latest Southern Star column asks: how can it be tackled?
A hostile thinking style is like wearing anger-coloured glasses. You see the world as a place where people can’t be trusted and are often out to get you. My latest Southern Star column explores how a hostile thinking style can create a self-reinforcing cycle of anger.
We all know that life’s routines can become, well, routine. Events and interests that once seemed exciting can, with time, lose some of their sparkle. This gradual fading of pleasure is due to something called hedonic adaptation: our tendency to get used to the good things in life until they seem less remarkable. My latest Southern Star column explores how adding a dash of novelty to familiar experiences can bring back some of the joy we initially felt.
06. February 2025
In my last column, I explored why some people seek criticism to confirm their negative self-views. In this follow-up piece, let’s shift gears and look at how to break free from this cycle and embrace a healthier way of relating to yourself and others.
"I probably messed up, didn’t I?", "You probably think I’m a bad friend, don’t you?", “It’s okay if you think I’m not smart enough, I know I’m not” – my latest column asks: why do some people routinely invite criticism?
Are you thinking about making mental health a top priority in 2025? Here are some pointers to consider.
Could you miss a gorilla in a room full of people? It sounds impossible, but it happens more often than you might think, as documented in a famous psychological experiment. My latest column explores the gorilla experiment, and how we can be blind to the obvious when our attention is elsewhere.
We all know what it's like to walk into a room, fumble a word in a meeting, or trip in front of a crowd – and feel like all eyes are on us. But are they? My latest column explores the so-called spotlight effect, and how we are more likely to assume others are judging us when we're feeling anxious.