Psychology of Relationships Archives -

Mindset Explained - CBT - Attachment-Based Therapy - Couples

Symbiosis in Relationships: What It Is & How to Deal With It

Have you ever been in a relationship where you and your partner almost felt like one person? Where you started saying more “we” instead of “I”. Your partner’s moods dictated your emotions, his or her happiness became your responsibility and the thought of being apart made you feel uneasy or even panicked? This intense emotional bond might feel like love, but it could actually be symbiosis at play. Symbiosis in relationships happens when two people become so deeply intertwined that their sense of self starts to fade. They begin to function as one, making decisions, regulating emotions and even defining their identities through each other. While this may sound romantic, especially in the early stages of love, it can quickly become unhealthy and restrictive if it leads to emotional dependence and the loss of individuality.

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Mindset Explained - Sunset - Communicate Better

5 Love Languages Explained: Find Yours & Improve Relationships

Lifestyle Articles

I consider myself lucky to have had several romantic relationships in my life, and in all of them, I did my absolute best to show my love and affection. I thought I was doing everything right, that my partner would see and understand me. I sent long, heartfelt messages and even took the time to write love letters from the heart, telling my partner how much they meant to me. I thought my words of love would make them feel special, but I didn’t get the response I was hoping for. I couldn’t understand why. Should I try even harder? Until that point, I didn’t even know about love languages.

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Mindset Explained - Parentification - Struggles As Young Adult

Parentification: How Adult Roles Harm Children

Psychology Articles

Parentification is a psychological phenomenon that affects many children in dysfunctional or difficult family environments. It occurs when children are placed in a role where they are expected to take on adult responsibilities; often caring for a parent, sibling or household chores, far before they are developmentally ready. Parentification can leave deep emotional scars that extend well into adulthood, making it a critical issue to understand, recognize and address. But what’s often not talked about is the emotional weight that comes with stepping into these roles at such a young age. For children who experience parentification, the line between childhood and adulthood becomes blurred. The impact isn’t just about doing extra chores or helping out with sibling care. It goes far deeper, touching on self-worth, emotional health and personal boundaries.

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Mindset Explained - Maslow - Pyramid of needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Explained for Beginners

Psychology Articles

Abraham Maslow, a renowned American psychologist, developed one of the most influential theories in psychology: the Hierarchy of Needs. This pyramid-shaped model explains human motivation, prioritizing the essential needs we all have, from survival to self-actualization. Understanding these levels can help you better navigate your own personal development and identify what drives your behaviour.

Maslow’s theory isn’t just a checklist of needs: it’s a dynamic process that evolves as you grow and change. It’s not about reaching self-actualization and staying there, life’s ups and downs mean that we might find ourselves revisiting earlier stages of the pyramid. It’s a reminder that growth is not linear and requires flexibility, self-awareness and the ability to adapt to new challenges. By reflecting on where you are on this journey, you can make more conscious decisions about how to fulfil your own needs and continue moving forward. Sounds complex? No worries, we will explain it for you in this article.

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Mindset Explained - Psychology - Individualism - Story Telling

Main Character Syndrome: A New Generation Phenomenon

Psychology Articles

In recent years, there’s been a rising psychological trend gaining attention: Main Character Syndrome. While it isn’t a formal clinical diagnosis, it’s become a hot topic, especially among younger generations, who are navigating a world dominated by social media, constant digital storytelling and a greater sense of self-awareness. Research shows that as social media and digital platforms continue to thrive, they’ve helped create a culture of individualism where people, especially Gen-Z and Gen Alpha, are building and validating their identities through online interactions (Tiggemann & Slater, 2014). In this digital world, it’s easy to see why some may start viewing their lives like a movie or a story, with themselves as the main character.

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Mindset Explained - I love you - Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence: 5 Skills for Better Romantic Relationships

Mindset Articles

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a game-changer in romantic relationships, yet it’s often overlooked in favour of more traditional advice about love and compatibility. While love lays the foundation for a partnership, EQ is the glue that holds everything together, ensuring the relationship grows and thrives over time. Unlike fleeting emotions or surface-level connections, emotional intelligence equips you with the tools to navigate the intricate dynamics of a relationship. It helps you managing misunderstandings, supporting your partner through challenges or creating trust and intimacy.

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Mindset Explained - Negative People - Emotions

7 Signs of a Negative Person & How to Deal with Them

Lifestyle Articles

When it comes to navigating relationships, whether with friends, family, or colleagues, one of the most crucial lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of recognizing the signs of a negative person. It’s something I’ve grappled with personally, especially during times when I felt particularly vulnerable. There were moments when I found myself surrounded by people whose energy seemed to pull me down rather than lift me up. It was as if they were magnets for negativity, and I often felt drained after spending time with them.

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Mindset Explained - Featured - Attachment - Styles - Psychology

Attachment Styles: The Influence and Impact on Us

Psychology Articles

Maintaining relationships is not easy, and communication can be particularly challenging with certain people. The underlying cause might lie in attachment styles, which are rooted in early childhood experiences with our primary caregivers. These attachment styles shape how we interact with others, influencing our capacity for intimacy, trust, and emotional regulation.

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How to Deal with Toxic People in Your Life

Psychology Articles

Not everyone goes through life with the same intentions, values and standards as you. It is an inevitable truth of life that toxic people will occasionally show up on our paths. They can pop up any time, sometimes disguised as “friends”, family members, colleagues or strangers. You might think you attracted negativity and toxicity when you are in a lower vibration and state of mind, but in fact toxic people can show up in any of our lives. We can’t control the presence of toxic people in our lives, but we can control how we respond to them. We have to prepare ourselves, and the most important first step in that is to be able to recognize toxic behaviour. Setting boundaries is the essential next step. By prioritizing our well-being, we can minimize the impact of toxicity and protect ourselves from unnecessary harm. Remember, encountering toxic people is not a reflection of your worth or value, it’s simply a part of life’s journey that teaches us valuable lessons about resilience, self-care, and the importance of surrounding ourselves with positivity and support.

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Mindset Explained - How to make Friends as an Adult – The Secret Battle against Loneliness

How to Make Friends as an Adult: Battle Against Loneliness

Lifestyle Articles

It is in human nature to connect and socialize, it is a fundamental need in the core of our being. I believe that it is not about quantity of friends but quality of friendships. This brings me to one of the biggest struggles I’m experiencing in my adult life at the moment: building and maintaining deep, meaningful connections. Nothing stays the same forever, and this definitely applies to friendships. Everyone is developing, changing, and moving all the time. Don’t get me wrong; I consider that a good thing. Change is inevitably embedded in our lives and is part of evolution. “The only thing that is certain is uncertainty”, read that again 😉 With constant change happening within all of us, our needs also change.

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