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.
"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.