Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioural therapy that utilizes exposure therapy to treat anxiety and phobias. South African psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe first developed this approach in the 1950s. It has since become a popular technique for treating various anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and specific phobias, such as the fear of snakes or…
Category: Psychology
Certain cues — whether they be particular people, places, or things — can elicit potent cravings for frequent use in people who are addicted to drugs. A new University of Michigan study has discovered that brain signals previously associated with inflammation contribute to people’s susceptibility to addiction. Some people develop an inability to control their…
A team led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers has identified a specific intestinal immune cell that influences the gut microbiome, which in turn may affect brain functions linked to stress-induced disorders such as depression in mice and humans. Targeting changes mediated by these immune cells in the gut with drugs or other therapies could lead…
According to new research from Washington University in St. Louis, modern gender norms and biases in Europe have deep historical roots dating back to the Middle Ages and beyond, implying that DNA is not the only thing we inherit from our forefathers. The findings explain why, despite significant advances made by the international women’s rights…
Your perception of time is not continuous and may stretch or contract with each heartbeat, new research from Cornell University suggests. “Time is a dimension of the universe and a core basis for our experience of self. Our research shows that the moment-to-moment experience of time is synchronized with, and changes with, the length of…
Most people value honesty while also admitting that it is sometimes advantageous to be dishonest. Because of this tension, people engage in behaviours that push the boundaries of honesty, such as strategically avoiding information, dodging questions, and making misleading statements. A new paper proposes a framework emphasizing how honest behaviour entails far more than the…
Are those with higher incomes happier in their daily lives? Although it seems like a simple question, previous research has produced conflicting results, leaving uncertainty about the answer. Foundational research from Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton of Princeton University, published in 2010, found that daily happiness increased as annual income increased, but above $75,000, it…
It has been known for awhile that poor sleep may increase people’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and that as the brain ages, it cannot precisely coordinate slow wave sleep spindles as well. New research adds to the growing body of evidence on sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment with the discovery of significant links between three…
According to a new study from researchers at the University of South Australia, physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counselling or the leading medications. Women who were pregnant or had just given birth, people with depression, healthy people, and people with HIV or kidney disease benefited the most. The review is the most…