Exploring the forces that shape the human psyche
Trauma can be caused by any negative, life-threatening experience. People can be traumatized by other people, accidents, illnesses, natural disasters, political unrest, and the like. Childhood trauma is especially damaging because the minds of young children are highly impressionable. Since young children spend most of their time with their parents, most people have been traumatized …
While any family member can be toxic, parental toxicity is the most prevalent and damaging to an individual. Parental toxicity is characterized by a persistent pattern of toxic interactions where the victim is subjected to physical or psychological abuse. In short, any parental behavior that harms you in any way is toxic behavior. When parents …
People with abandonment issues fear losing their loved ones. This fear often stems from how they were treated by their parents in childhood. If one’s parents were accepting, responsive, and loving, they develop a strong sense of self and feel secure in relationships. On the other hand, neglect, indifference, and unresponsiveness from parents leave children …
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition in which the sufferer has obsessive thoughts and engages in compulsive behaviors. Obsessive thoughts: These are unwanted, unacceptable, and recurring intrusive thoughts that the person can’t seem to control despite wanting to. Compulsions: When a person experiences obsessive thoughts, they feel compelled to perform certain repetitive tasks and …
The full form of ADHD is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder. According to DSM-5, published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, the key symptoms of ADHD are: Inattentiveness Hyperactivity Impulsivity Those with ADHD feel restless and are unable to concentrate on activities like learning and working for long. The exact cause of the condition is not known …
The Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI) measures the degree to which people are rational and intuitive (experiential). This rationality and intuition test is based on the theory that there are two ways we process information when solving problems or making decisions. The first type of thinking is fast and intuitive, called System 1 thinking. The other type …
This Multiple Personality Disorder test utilizes the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), a questionnaire that measures your degree of dissociation. Multiple Personality Disorder (also called Dissociative Identity Disorder) is the extreme manifestation of dissociation and dissociative disorders. In dissociative disorders, people dissociate or break away from their core sense of self. For instance, in dissociative amnesia, …
The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is a Self-Report (SR) test that measures your level of social anxiety. This social anxiety test helps you determine whether or not you have social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia). Social anxiety refers to the anxiety that a person feels in social situations. At its core, it’s the …
The Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) was developed by psychologist Rod Martin, author of The Psychology of Humor. You can use this questionnaire to find out your dominant humor style- the type of humor that you like most and engage in most often. Humor is the glue of relationships and studies show that people with a …
The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is a depression self-test that measures your current depression level. It was originally developed by W.W. Zung to test the level of depression in patients diagnosed with depression. The Zung self-rating depression scale assesses the various psychological as well as somatic symptoms associated with depression. It measures common characteristics …