Dr. Gary Bell's Absurd Psychology

In psychology, temptation is a motivational conflict where an immediate, short-term reward clashes with a long-term goal or value. It triggers a struggle between the brain's emotional reward centers and logical self-control systems. Tune in and learn all about temptation and how to work through it!

In pop psychology, as well as everyday conversation, people often toss around phrases like “I just want to feel safe” or “Being numb helps me cope.” But as research and clinical observation show, emotional safety and emotional numbness are distinct psychological states, and confusing the two can slow your growth, isolate you from support, and leave you stuck in patterns that feel safe but aren’t. Tune in and learn how so many people live this way without even recognizing it!

Doomscrolling is the compulsive habit of endlessly reading negative or scary news online. It happens because our brains are wired to look for danger to stay safe. Phone apps use random rewards—like a slot machine—to keep us swiping for more. Tune in and learn all about doomscrolling and its effects on our lives!

Psychologically, stubbornness is a defense mechanism rooted in anxiety, a desire to protect one's ego, and a need for control. It often stems from an inability to tolerate the discomfort of being wrong, leading people to rigidly stick to familiar habits rather than risk the unknown. Tune in and learn how to deal with these kind of people in your life!

Insight in psychotherapy is defined many ways, but most experts agree it is a new way of understanding your experience which resonates emotionally. It is not a thought, but a discovery that reverberates in your bones. When a dawning insight is then put into words, it can revise our self-narratives (beliefs). It’s important to recognize that insight is not merely an intellectual exercise. If you are simply using your mind to analyze yourself or rework a familiar story, this may be interesting, bu

Recognizing how resentment can act as a psychological safeguard offers a profound perspective on trauma recovery. Resentment is an intricate emotion, often lying beneath the surface, yet it can greatly influence our mental health and relationships. Unlike the more familiar emotions of joy, fear, or anger, resentment tends to be more subtle, quietly shaping our inner experiences. Its hidden nature and potential impact on our well-being make it crucial to understand and address. Tune in and learn

As parents, we want ALL of our children to grow up healthy, happy and to live a fulfilled, productive life—no matter their gender. This is a difficult enough task to accomplish in today’s complex world. In a society with many, often conflicting, messages on what it means to be a strong, successful, beautiful woman, raising a girl to be strong, competent and engaged can feel like a daunting task. Hearing your I’m Stumped questions, we want to offer you insights and approaches that might make this

Popularity boils down to a mix of likability, visibility, and emotional intelligence. Rather than just being loud or having "clout," truly popular people consistently make others feel valued, possess high empathy, and exhibit confident, magnetic personalities. Tune in and learn all bout wht draws people to you!

What is human nature? This is a question that has perplexed philosophers and psychologists throughout the ages. Are people essentially socially constructive and altruistic or are they destructive and selfish in nature? Tune in and learn all about what it is to be human!

The psychology of marriage centers on the shift from survival-based unions to models of self-actualization. Historically, marriage was an economic and political institution. Today, partners view each other as sources of emotional fulfillment, which introduces higher expectations and greater psychological pressures on relationships. Tune in and learn how marriage has worked historically and how expectations have evolved!

Entitlement is an enduring personality trait, characterized by the belief that one deserves preferences and resources that others do not. Like boundaries, we recognize entitlement chiefly by its effect on us: envy, anger, and frustration. "Why do they think they deserve it any more than I do?" we wonder. And then, "Is it them, or is it just me?" Tune in and learn how to recognize and deal with entitled people!

There are some things that are so awful they really can derail people. And there are some people who are so fragile they are more easily derailed. But there’s a whole lot of people — most of us — who need to get on with our life and take responsibility for what we do with it. Staying stuck in the victim role completely undermines that process. Tune in and learn how peole acquire victim mentality and operate with it!