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Jane Collingwood's Archive

An Overview of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is the modern term for mood swings that used to be called manic depression. It is a fairly common yet serious mental illness, affecting between one and five per cent of Americans of ... Read more... »

Is Happiness Natural?

While biology tells us that negative emotions are fundamentally human and difficult to eradicate, they can nevertheless be modified. Human brains developed to identify risks and dangers in the face of adversity. Consequently, negative thinking is ... Read more... »

The Importance of Friendship

The causes of modern social problems, from divorce to homelessness and obesity, are often thought to be based in areas such as poverty, stress or unhappiness. But researchers suggest we are overlooking something crucial: friendship. ... Read more... »

Intelligence Quotient Rising Worldwide

Genetics, social conditions and culture all may play a part in the rise of human intelligence levels around the world. But the best method of determining why some people are smarter than others is still ... Read more... »

Are Your ‘Money Myths’ Holding You Back?

According to social learning theory, our attitude toward money is learned behavior that is passed from generation to generation. Money hoarders live by the phrase "but I might need it someday" and resist spending, sometimes ... Read more... »

Trust and Vulnerability in Relationships

A willingness to be vulnerable is a significant feature of lasting relationships — ones in which partners are allies, not foes. The need to form a mutually protective alliance is innate, according to psychoanalyst John ... Read more... »

Streamlining Your Life

People frequently complain about a lack of time. Is there a realistic way can we steal back precious hours for what we really want to do? Streamlining your life may be the answer. Call a ... Read more... »

What’s Your Time Perspective?

We are all time travelers: We draw on past memories, experience the present and look forward to future rewards. But how easily we travel back and forth makes a crucial difference to how well we ... Read more... »

Historical Secrets to Happiness

Has the latest fad, "positive psychology," increased our happiness? Not according to a British author and cultural historian. Positive psychology, defined as "the study of optimal human functioning," has gained enormous popularity in the past decade. ... Read more... »

Finding the Work You Love

There's a quiet revolution going on in the workplace. Something fundamental has shifted in our attitude. Instead of money and status, we're increasingly looking for meaning and purpose, work that's truly worth doing. Just ten or ... Read more... »

Do We Have a Natural Bias Toward Superstitions?

A top British psychologist is attempting to explain the biological basis for superstitions. Professor Bruce Hood of Bristol University, UK, says these so-called irrational beliefs are perfectly natural and entirely understandable. Although some would insist that ... Read more... »

Realism and Optimism: Do You Need Both?

Optimism usually is viewed as a desirable attribute, but many believe it is really only helpful if it is realistic. Dr. Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association and legendary researcher in the ... Read more... »

Building Resilience

Strength in the face of adversity is one of the most important characteristics you can have. Challenges and disappointments are inevitable. Most of us will encounter relationship problems, health issues, financial stresses, work worries, or ... Read more... »

The Pain of Losing Your Faith

Our faith -- whether a religious conviction, a commitment to human rights, or another set of deeply-held beliefs -- informs many of our life choices. So what happens when we lose these guiding principles? Although ... Read more... »

Using Forgiveness To Move On

Forgiveness can be a powerful catalyst for change, benefiting anyone who hopes to let go of the past. Experts at the Hoffman Institute believe they have a unique take on personal development. At the ... Read more... »

The most important things in life aren't things.
-- Art Buchwald

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Jane Collingwood's Archive