Selfies for developing identity: the influence of social media self-presentation and mindfulness

Social media has become a big part of our lives. Not a day goes by for most of us where we haven’t checked Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other medium. By far the largest group that uses social media is adolescents. While most research focusses on the negative effects of social media, Yang, Holden and … Read more

Countering children’s fear

Over the years, anxiety has been treated mostly by using exposure treatment. During exposure, the client faces their fears, usually in steps. The idea is that the client experiences that nothing bad happens after being exposed to the thing they fear. Over time, the fear reduces. The counterpart of exposure in the lab is extinction. … Read more

Avoid when anxious: Avoidance bias in anxious people

Imagine this: you are walking down the street when all of a sudden you see someone walking with a big dog by their side. You’re terribly afraid of dogs, so instead of walking past the dog, you cross the street. Why? Because, according to a recent study by Mkrtchian, Aylward, Dayan, Roiser & Robinson (2017), … Read more

Siblings versus dogs: who do we like better?

Thinking about getting another child? Don’t bother, just get a dog! According to one recent study, the relationship between a sibling and a pet seem to be quite similar; especially when looking at dog owners. “Comparisons of early adolescents’ pet and sibling relationships revealed that participants were more satisfied with their pets, and engaged in … Read more

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