The Benefits of Bad Feelings

Guilt. Regret. Anger. Envy. We may think these are our worst emotions, but they can actually help us grow.

Unlock the Power of Feeling Bad

It's time to take off that Don't Worry Be Happy t-shirt.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/unlock-the-power-feeling-bad

Is Greed Ever Good?

The relationship between desire and spirituality.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/is-greed-ever-good

In Praise of Guilt

Guilt strengthens social bonds and fosters a sense of attachment.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/in-praise-guilt

Want to Change? Get Angry!

When feeling vexed helps you reach goals.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/want-change-get-angry

It's Not Me, It's You

Dealing with the Customer Service Representative from you-know-where

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/its-not-me-its-you

The Parenting Power of Understanding Your Emotional "Buttons"

Are you willing to "disable" yours?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-parenting-power-understanding-your-emotional-button

Does the Death of Bin Laden Help the 9/11 Families to Heal?

Bin Laden's Death Changes the Trauma Narrative of 9/11

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/does-the-death-bin-laden-help-the-911-families-heal

Can a Devastating Shark Attack Really Lead to a Better Life?

Posttraumatic growth, family, & spirituality in the Soul Surfer story

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/can-devastating-shark-attack-really-lead-better-life

Emotional Story-Telling after Stressful Experiences: A Way to Find Meaning

Can writing memoirs transform the meaning of trauma?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/emotional-story-telling-after-stressful-experiences-way

Celebrities Can Give Positive Health Behaviors a Shot in the Arm, Really!

For getting the shingles vaccination, fear is a strong motivator.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/celebrities-can-give-positive-health-behaviors-shot-in-

The Duchess of York’s Redemption Story Is Good Theatre

Sarah does the self-help thing without the personal responsibility thing

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-duchess-york-s-redemption-story-is-good-theatre

The Neuroticism Paradox

When worrying can help you cope more successfully

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-neuroticism-paradox

Laugh At Your Own Risk

Why Schadenfreude makes us miserable

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/laugh-your-own-risk

How Expletives Ease Pain

The soothing affects of swearing

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/how-expletives-ease-pain

Is Regret a Virtue?

There's more to it than just rumination

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/is-regret-virtue

Revenge Is Good for You!

Fantasizing about getting even

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/revenge-is-good-you

Whatever Happened to Guilt?

The problem with therapy's "guilt-free" attitude

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/whatever-happened-guilt

The Upside of Depression

When feeling down helps

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-upside-depression

The Sweet Smell of Failure

Getting what you want may not get you what you need.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-sweet-smell-failure

Do You Dare to Be Bad?

You can get unstuck creatively by saying "Hi" to your shadow.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/do-you-dare-be-bad

The Good Thing About Feeling Bad
Learn to experience bad feelings without behaving badly
http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-good-thing-about-feeling-bad

The Face of Resilience
Conan O'Brien's advice on failure and disappointment.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/the-face-resilience

Don't Fret Over Regret
How to Turn Regret into Opportunity and Growth
http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/dont-fret-over-regret

How to Express Your Anger
Feel like venting? You may want to think again, literally.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/how-express-your-anger

Why It's Good to Feel Guilty
Although guilt makes us feel rotten, it's actually good for us.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/the-benefits-bad-feelings/why-its-good-feel-guilty

How To Read People

Tips on sniffing out strangers, understanding lovers, and decoding body language like a pro.

Secrets of Special Agents

To get inside another person's head, ace mind readers build rapport—then watch for telling shifts in demeanor.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/secrets-special-agents

Who Are You? (And What do You Think of Me?)

How to make sense of a new hire, a touchy stranger, a potential lover, and other perplexing encounters.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/who-are-you-and-what-do-you-think-me

The First Impression

What we pick up on from the very start.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/the-first-impression

Want to Know If Someone Likes You?

There's a funny way to tell...

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/want-know-if-someone-likes-you

How to tell what your man is really thinking

What says more about a man, his words or his face?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/how-tell-what-your-man-is-really-thinking

Why Psychotherapists Write Novels and Plays

How therapy differs from fiction and theatre

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/why-psychotherapists-write-novels-and-plays

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Does group therapy help?

You change how people deal with narcissism, not the narcissist.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/narciissistic-personality-disorder-does-group-therapy-help

When Are Women Into Casual Sex?

Advice based on the latest research.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/when-are-women-casual-sex

Summer Lovin'

Time to prepare for YOUR summer romance!

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/summer-lovin

Ten tips for effective communication: From Freudian slips to body language

Don't let your Freudian slip show: Ten tips for effective communication

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/ten-tips-effective-communication-freudian-slips-body-language

Reading People by the Words They Speak

Word Clues present a noninvasive technique to effectively read people.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/reading-people-the-words-they-speak

Four Opportunities to Detect Deception

It's all about asking the right questions.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/four-opportunities-detect-deception

Some Things You Just Can't Hide

When the truth slips out.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/some-things-you-just-cant-hide

I Knew It All Along

You know more about a friend or lover than you think.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/i-knew-it-all-along

Annie Duke on Gut Instincts

Poker champ Annie Duke on gut instincts and bluffing.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/annie-duke-gut-instincts

Can You Learn to Read People?

Tips on honing the skill

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/can-you-learn-read-people

Masks of Sanity

Detecting disguised personality disorders

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people/masks-sanity

On Fatherhood

Our relationship with our parents can be complicated—even rocky. But whether they're young or old, dads are just as important as moms.

Every Day Is Dad's Day

Why dads matter just as much as moms do

What Good Are Fathers?

The best are those who are actively involved

A Daughter's Gratitude

A woman with a good father is as lucky as an heiress

The Trouble with Parenting

The stereotypes good dads face

Battle Hymn of the Teddy Bear Psychiatrist

The Teddy Bear Psychiatrist takes on Tiger Mother Amy Chua!

Welcome to Daddy's Bird Cafe

Dad’s ingenious inventions fueled our laughter and creativity.

David Goldman: A Father's Love

A father's faith is tested when his wife abducts their son.

Coming Home from Psychology to Theatre: A Kind of Father’s Day Memory

How my parents and two women in theatre changed my life

Father's Day Cares on The Emotional Calendar

Why Father's day matters, no matter what.

Read My Lips: Politispeak

Politicians don't always mean what they say. But we can learn a lot about them—and what they're hiding—by zeroing in on their speech.

Between the Lines

Word for word, what candidates reveal

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/between-the-lines

Stop Soundin' So Elite!

How presidents switch up their speech patterns

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/stop-soundin-so-elite

Promises Not Kept

The harsh reality of the morning after

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/promises-not-kept

Should Politicians Lie?

When the ends don't justify the means

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/should-politicians-lie

Decoding Weiner

What the Congressman's body language tells us

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/decoding-weiner

Are You Disappointed in Obama?

Promises, promises. When a President does his own thing.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/are-you-disappointed-in-obama

Don’t Blame the Politicians

Why voters lie to themselves

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/don-t-blame-the-politicians

How to Dodge a Question

Sit in the hot seat with style.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/how-dodge-question

Displays of Aggression

When politicians bully each other

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/displays-aggression

I Was Wrong

Why nobody apologizes in politics

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/i-was-wrong

Talk Like Clinton

Why Bill gives such a good speech

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/read-my-lips-politispeak/talk-clinton

Battling Addiction

Nature has endowed us all with the ability to get hooked and—with considerable effort—unhooked.

The Surprising Truth About Addiction

More people quit addictions than maintain them, and they do so on their own.

Shame Doesn't Help

Without anonymity, would the stigma of addiction disappear?

Why Anyone Could Be An Addict

We're all wired for pleasure.

Distracted by Dopamine

The propensity to drink, overeat, and take drugs is a matter of attention gone awry.

Beyond Abstinence

Moderate drinking can work for those with a history of abuse.

Blinded by Biochemistry

Why our definition of addiction matters

The Myth of “Addictiveness”

In addiction, things are often not what they seem.

Why Cigarette Warnings Backfire

For hardcore smokers, scaring doesn't work.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/battling-addiction/why-cigarette-warnings-backfire

Cultivating Creativity

Inventiveness comes in many forms, and it's possible to give the insight process a big boost

How to Promote Visionary Thinking
Why we are more creative when mind and body are out of step.

Usually we perform best with mind and body in sync. With our thoughts tied to our actions decisions are made faster, we are more engaged and we feel at one with ourselves.

If you want to be creative, though, sometimes it pays to be out of sync according to a recent study by Huang and Galinsky (2011).

http://spp.sagepub.com/content/2/4/351

They had some people recalling a happy time in their life while at the same time frowning. Another group recalled sad memories while smiling. The idea was to get their minds going one way and their bodies going the other.

http://www.spring.org.uk/2011/06/how-to-promote-visionary-thinking.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PsychologyBlog+%28PsyBlog%29

Everyday Creativity

You have an innovator within. Here's how to access it.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/cultivating-creativity/everyday-creativity

How Renaissance People Think

Bend your mind like a polymath

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/cultivating-creativity/how-renaissance-people-think

How Renaissance Men and Women Think

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-barry-kaufman/renaissance-men_b_875453.html

The Innovative Personality

Top-notch thinkers deploy what's at hand to reach their goals.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/cultivating-creativity/the-innovative-personality

Go With the Flow

The path to novelty from preparation to incubation to inspiration

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/cultivating-creativity/go-the-flow

The secret of creativity: An oblique perspective

Why immigrants and gays are so creative

Elizabeth Edwards: Song and Sorrows

Remembering the emotional life of this author, attorney and activist.

Movie Taglines

Life is messy ... love is messier.
Catch and Release (2006)