Relationships

First published in The Hindu, 2 September 2023  Imagine standing in a circle with a group of people who are throwing a ball. The ball passes to-and-fro as different people throw the ball to each other. However, the ball is never…

One of the more robust findings of psychology, to have withstood the tests of time, is the theory of infant attachment, first put forth by psychologist, John Bowlby and subsequently furthered by Mary Ainsworth. According to this theory, infants primarily exhibit three…

Have you ever felt miffed when friends or acquaintances pass judgments as if they know you better than you know yourself? Sure, you get good grades. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t forget to submit an assignment, especially under…

As your friends can influence your behavior in overt and covert ways, don’t be fooled into thinking that only young children or pliant people fall under the spell of peer pressure. Like many things in life, peer pressure is a…

Avoid giving unsolicited advice and draw boundaries when receiving it, to protect your “psychological space” Be it a well-meaning uncle, a do-gooder neighbour or a paternalistic boss, most of us have received unsolicited advice on a range of matters. You…

Tips to ensure that face-to-face meetings are both deep and meaningful Given that our social interactions have reduced considerably since the pandemic, many people may be craving company. Small pleasures like a coffee with a close friend, lunching with colleagues…

While it is normal to feel guilty for our wrongdoings, don’t let it consume you. A friend spilled out his heart to you about a recent break-up. While you didn’t mean to gossip, you conveyed this fact to another mutual…

Making friends takes time; perseverance is key – While popular students may take the camaraderie and comfort of friends for granted, not everyone is able to forge friendships in adulthood. In an article in Psychology Today, psychologist Marisa Franco confesses…

Using seemingly innocuous words like ‘I’ and ‘we’ reveals more about our psyche than we think. Language is one of the key faculties that sets humans apart from other primates. And, the way we use language speaks volumes about ourselves.