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Do “Instagram vs. Reality” Posts Make a Difference?

Interest in the psychological impact of Instagram has grown as the photo-based social media platform continues to increase in popularity.  Over 37 percent of U.S. adults are Instagram users, and teens use Instagram more than any other social media platform. The average user spends nearly a half-…

Nature’s Role in Mental Illness: Prevention or Treatment?

If you’re looking for some form of natural healing to achieve or maintain a positive mental state, what better place to start than outside in nature? You may instinctively feel the benefits of a day at the beach or a weekend wilderness jaunt, but is there any real evidence that being outdoors is…

The 'Stress Vaccine' May Be Another Step Closer To Reality

Bacteria was here long before us, will be here long after us, and never stops serving up secrets about how it affects us. A new study just revealed another big one concealed by bacteria living in the dirt beneath us that may bring us closer to the development of the long-theorized “stress vaccin…

Can Psychedelic Experiences Cure Alcohol Addiction?

Although various therapeutic and pharmacological treatments have been developed to help people with alcohol addiction, in most cases, they fail to achieve a long-term reduction or cessation in patients' drinking. For instance, research suggests that while behavioral therapy combined with FDA-app…

The Surprising Truth About Perfectionism in Millennials

The idea that millennials are narcissists who can’t apply themselves to their work has gained popular recognition despite evidence to the contrary. Because their parents coddled them, so the argument goes, an entire generation of young people has become unable to fend for themselves. Additionall…

Can Marijuana Improve the Quality of Your Relationship?

Not surprisingly, this question has been the source of controversy in academic circles and beyond. Some contend that substance use is associated with lower relationship satisfaction and higher rates of divorce and aggression. Others suggest that the effects of substance use on relationship healt…

Lavender Oil's Effects on Anxiety

Herbs, flowers, and other plants have been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. There is evidence suggesting that the herb yarrow was used as long as 60,000 years ago in what is modern day Iraq to treat wounds. Evidence also suggests that ancient Europeans used the fruit found in birch tre…

Parents' Love Goes a Long Way

The study looked at parental warmth in childhood, and then at measures of flourishing in mid-life. The association was clear and consistent: people who recall their parents as warm and loving are flourishing at much higher rates in adulthood. This was true even when the study controlled for soci…