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It Takes Just One Question to Identify Narcissism

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Ohio State researchers believe they have developed and validated a new method to identify which people are narcissistic. And, the beauty is that the tool is only a single question. In a series of 11 experiments involving more than 2,200 people of all ages, the researchers found they could reliably identify narcissistic people by asking them this exact question (including the note): To what extent do you agree with this statement: “I am a narcissist.” (Note: The word “narcissist” means egotistical, self-focused, and vain.) Participants rated themselves on a scale of one (not very true of me) to seven (very true of me). Results showed that people’s answer to this question lined up very closely with several other validated measures of narcissism, including the widely used Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The difference is that this new survey — which the researchers call the Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS) — has one question, while the NPI has 40 questions to answer. “
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Psychology’s Five Revelations For Finding Your True Calling

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If, like many, you are searching for your calling in life – perhaps you are still unsure which profession aligns with what you most care about – here are five recent research findings worth taking into consideration. First, there’s a difference between having a harmonious passion and an obsessive passion. If you can find a career path or occupational goal that fires you up, you are more likely to succeed and find happiness through your work – that much we know from the deep research literature. But beware – since a seminal paper published in 2003 by the Canadian psychologist Robert Vallerand and colleagues, researchers have made an important distinction between having a harmonious passion and an obsessive one. If you feel that your passion or calling is out of control, and that your mood and self-esteem depend on it, then this is the obsessive variety, and such passions, while they are energising, are also associated with negative outcomes such as burnout and anxiety. In contrast, if
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High-Functioning Depression Explained

High-functioning depression, or dysthymia. may be harder to detect than major depressive disorder (MDD) because the people living with it are often high achievers who make you think everything is all right all the time. I had a difficult time beginning this piece because the topic hit very close to home.  I’ve suffered from depression pretty much my entire life. I have supportive and loving friends, family, meaningful work and engaging hobbies. I have a good appetite and sleep through the night—albeit with a few pee breaks and the occasional need for melatonin gummies.  While there are periods I exist in a miasma of sadness, more commonly my daily experience is a slight impairment of an ability to fully enjoy life. There is an ever-present emotional chalkboard scrape reminding me that to live means to co-exist with knowledge of human and animal suffering that I cannot prevent. Which is why I won’t leave home without my daily anti-depressant. (I’ve been taking medication for more th
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Exploring the Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and restructuring negative patterns of thought and behavior If you suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression, even the simplest activity, like going to school, work, or the grocery store, may at times feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to resign yourself to dealing with this distress every day. With the help of an approach called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you can gain better control of your situation. Many people who are coping with a variety of mental health diagnoses find using CBT helps them manage their fears, improving their quality of life and functioning. Unlike psychoanalysis, a common form of therapy that analyzes people’s behaviors and patterns to gain deeper understanding of motivations and reactions, CBT takes a more proactive approach to actually change disordered or negative ways of thinking. What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? CBT is a structured, action-or
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