Self-esteem can be understood as existing on two related but distinct levels: rational self-esteem and emotive self-esteem. The former, evidence-based and logical. The latter, rooted in early experiences and unconscious emotions. Both contribute to our overall sense of self worth, but the emotive is often harder to navigate, but even more important to do so given its capacity to unknowingly contribute to psychological distress.

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is the part of your brain that’s active when you’re not focussed on a specific task – think how your mind wanders as you’re brushing your teeth or walking your commute. Its generally involved in daydreaming, self-reflection, envision the future, or understanding other people. Activity in the DMN is related to various neurological conditions, like Alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety. Meditation, or the conscious, non-judgemental engagement with present-moment awareness, has a particularly interesting relationship with the DMN.

Part Holocaust memoir, part spiritual survival guide, Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning is a profound and personal exploration of the eternal resilience of the mind and its ability to transcend the harshest of conditions. Through the exploration of his psyche during and following life in the concentration camps, he reveals the capacity of the mind to find meaning and purpose regardless of life’s inherent sufferings.

Sometimes the capacity to express oneself is inhibited by the constraints of language. Schadenfreude, Ikigai, Saudade are all words in other languages that capture feelings or experiences for which English has no equivalent. Тоска, however, might be my favourite.

This book is a raw, insightful, and deeply human exploration of addiction through the patients of Dr. Maté’s San Francisco clinic. It’s not just a fascinating guide for understanding addiction but represents a transformative understanding of its underlying mechanisms, which he argues are universal, and always rooted in pain.

Existential Psychotherapy is a branch of psychoanalysis that utilises the ideas of the existentialist movement of the mid-20th century to guide psychological treatment. In a nutshell, an existential psychotherapist acts as guide and companion on a client’s journey of self-discovery through engagement with the most profound aspects of the human condition, such as meaning, mortality, freedom, or authenticity.

Lisa Barrett’s second book adopts a much more accessible approach to writing, distilling a number of the most important ideas and debates in current neuroscience and psychology. This book is packed with interesting information, anecdotes, and myth-busting, all supported by scientific evidence, and is a fantastic example of how popular science writing should be done.

How does the brain take visual information and process it so that we can understand what we’re seeing? Current research suggests there are two key pathways, the ventral pathway for object recognition, and the dorsal pathway, for object-motion orientation.

The idea that either sex is smarter than the other has been the subject of scientific and public controversy, historically being used to affirm negative gender stereotypes. But is there really any evidence towards a difference? And if so, why?

The growing debate surrounding the legalisation of cannabis has encouraged research into its long-term effects, although its status as a Class B drug slows scientific progress. This review summarises recent research, finding a negative, but nuanced, association between cannabis use and psychological and behavioural outcomes.

Lashley’s principle of mass action, famously derived from lesion experiments on rats, argues that memory is stored in a distributed network across the cortex. This theory faces a lot of criticisms, but offers some important ideas about the distributed and flexible nature of the neurobiological substrates of memory.

Lisa Miller discusses her groundbreaking results from studies looking into the relationship between spirituality and mental illness. It was a good read, but I have a few criticisms. I do strongly support her notion of the ‘awakened brain’ and the ways it can help us all to be happier, more fulfilled, and more connected.

Millions take SSRIs everyday, and they are often the first order in treatments for those with depression, how do they work? Also, why is their name (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) so complicated?

Attributional biases serve important and interesting roles in maintaining our psychological wellbeing. This seems strange given that they are biases, and as such, tend to deviate from pure logical interpretation.

Twin studies offer important methods of psychological analysis. Given that they share either 50% or 100% of DNA, variances in manifestations of particular traits allow for a useful assessment of how environment shapes mental illness.

Is everything conscious? This is (sort of) what panpsychists believe. This school of thought argues that consciousness is not a uniquely human manifestation of our advanced cognitive evolution, but a ubiquitous and fundamental component of all things in the universe.

When a child’s brain is developing, what plays a greater role, the environment, or the child themself? This is the classic nature vs. nurture debate, this time applied to developmental cognition.

Stereotypes have negative impacts beyond their connection with prejudice and discrimination. They have also been shown to have the power to negatively (or positively) affect the way one’s performance and behaviour.

So many of our activities involve crowds: religious ceremonies, festivals, sporting events, protests etc. It’s a good question, why do we like it so much?

Great question. Visual experiences are a significant part of any trip. If you’ve never been able to see then what happens?

Why do we sleep for 1/3 of our lives? It seems counterintuitive. During this time we aren’t productive, we’re vulnerable to predators, we can’t sustain our needs. However, there are vital and interesting reasons why we, and all other animals, need sleep.

Why Do We Get Addicted To Things?

Why Don’t People with Addictions Just Stop?

How Can I Find Balance?

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927 – 1987) proposed that morality develops in six stages.

According to him, only 10-15% of people reach the final stage.

1. Can Mental Illness be Contagious?

2. Is Western Medical Science Too Obsessed with Clinical Diagnoses?

3. Can Illness Give Voice to the Voiceless