Category Archives: Friday Factoids
Friday Factoids: Imposter Syndrome
Although the imposter phenomenon is not an official diagnosis listed in the DSM, it is a very real form of intellectual self-doubt that can significantly impact one’s social and emotional well-being. Further, imposter feelings are often accompanied by anxiety and … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Keeping the Magic of Santa
Around age of 6-9 years, children begin to question the idea of Santa Claus. Suddenly, rather than asking questions to learn more about “Santa’s magic,” they begin asking questions regarding the plausibility of Santa. It is around this … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Altruism–Is It Innate Or Taught?
Research has shown that altruism increases positive feelings. Many parents often wonder how they can increase their child’s empathy and kind behavior. There has been some debate as to whether this is a characteristic that individuals are born with or … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Avoiding the Holiday Blues
For many, the holidays become synonymous with stress: finding the perfect tree, having the perfect decorations, finding the perfect gift, and spending time with family. These things can quickly turn holiday cheer into holiday drear. However, there are … Continue reading
Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Strategies to Help People With Mental Illness During the Holidays
The Christmas season in America is thought to be carefree and whimsical, associated with joy, food, and fun. However, for some, especially individuals with severe mental illness, it can be a time of despair, loneliness and depressing memories. Turnbull … Continue reading
Friday Factoid: The Tryptophan In Your Turkey: What You Didn’t Know
Tryptophan found in turkey is believed to be the legendary reason why people always doze off for little naps on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, “Tryptophan is an amino acid that can be found in several foods, which include dairy products, … Continue reading
Friday Factoids Catch-Up: How Biological Processes Impact Sleep
There are many factors that contribute to sleep deprivation for example bathroom trips, sleep schedules, temperature, noise, and technological devices. However, there are biological processes that impact sleep as well. Specifically, there are three biological processes that are controlled … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: They Creep, They Crawl: Our Fear of Snakes and Spiders
With Halloween right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to talk about the things that go bump in the night, the things that send shivers down our spine, and the things that slither and crawl. Most people … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: How Fathers See Their Babies
Emotions are “contagious”, especially for babies (American Psychological Association, 2017; Waters, West, Karnilowicz, & Mendes, 2017). When mothers hold their babies, the mother’s affect is often “caught” by the baby. This emotional transmission can be seen when mothers are … Continue reading
Friday Factoids: Your Brain on Glycine
Until recently, research has suggested early psychosis has its roots in poor glycine production (Elsevier, 2017). This hypothesis was due, in part, to evidence that psychosis was caused by impaired NMDA receptors, glutamate-gated channels responsible for numerous biological … Continue reading