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What Wreck-It Ralph Knows About Being Told Who You Are
Ralph is told who he is long before he gets to decide for himself. This piece explores labels, belonging, self-concept and what happens when other people’s expectations begin to shape…
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Peeta Mellark: Keeping Hold of Yourself When Someone Else Controls The Story
Peeta’s greatest struggle is not simply staying alive, but retaining ownership of who he is when other people control his story, his voice and eventually his memories. A psychological look…
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What Emotional Regulation Actually Means and What It Doesn’t
Emotional regulation is often mistaken for calmness, compliance or making difficult feelings disappear. This piece explores what regulation actually means – including co-regulation, context, emotional acceptance and why being visibly…
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The Problem With Calling Everything a Trauma Response
Psychological language can help us understand ourselves – but what happens when clinical terms become everyday buzzwords? A look at trauma responses, concept creep and why trauma-informed should never mean…
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Katniss Everdeen: What Surviving Does to The Survivor
Katniss survives hunger, the Games and revolution, but survival does not leave her unchanged. A psychological look at trauma, agency, moral injury, responsibility and what it means to build a…
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Why Punishment Doesn’t Always Change Behaviour
Punishment can stop a behaviour in the moment, but stoping is not always the same as changing. What does psychological research tel us about consequences, learning, regulation and lasting behaviour…
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What Wile E. Coyote Knows About Trying Again
Wile E. Coyote fails spectacularly; and then tries again. What can psychology tell us about perseverance, learning from failure and knowing when trying again means changing the plan?
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Gale Hawthorne: When Oppression Changes Who Counts as Innocent
Gale Hawthorne is brave, loyal and capable of extraordinary acts of protection. So how does someone who saves hundreds of people become increasingly wiling to accept innocent lives as the…
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When “Bad Behaviour” is Actually Distress.
Behaviour is visible, but its meaning is not. Sometimes what looks like defiance, aggression or refusal may actually be distress. This piece explores why context matters before we decide what…
