Dr. Gary Bell's Absurd Psychology

Everyone who chooses to be in a relationship will experience conflict at some point. There may be mismatched expectations about how often partners spend time together or different ideas of what quality time looks and feels like. Or, maybe the conflict is something more significant, like a difference in values or beliefs, the way one partner’s family drama affects the relationship, or intimacy or financial stressors. No matter what kinds of conflicts emerge, developing and practicing healthy communication skills can help us navigate issues that arise in relationships, and find resolutions that work for each partner. When it comes to communicating about challenging issues, everyone has both strengths and growth opportunities. Some communication skills we learn and practice when we are young through interacting with family and friends, and others are learned over time as we experience new relationships and situations. These all play a role in how we react to, and work through, conflict in our relationships. Tune in and learn all about how to improve your relationship communication!

Psychological warfare or mental warfare is the use of techniques and tactics designed to influence the attitudes, emotions, and behavior of an individual or a group of people. This has been used countless times throughout the ages by many armed forces but in this context, we are discussing mental warfare in everyday life between individuals and within an individual themselves. Tune in and learn all about the psychology and how the next war will be fought.

Sexual trauma is exposure to any amount of inappropriate sexual behavior that’s caused intense fear and anxiety. It’s also referred to as sexual abuse or sexual violence.  Sexual trauma comes in different forms. There are overt types of sexual trauma such as molestation or rape. But sexual trauma can also be covert such as sexual harassment, and unwanted exposure to sex as a child. Sexual trauma can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic background. Additionally, an experience of sexual trauma is subjective. What might have felt okay to one person could be deeply disturbing for another. The effects of sexual trauma can be physical, emotional, or psychological and last for a significant period after the sexual encounter has occurred. Sexual trauma doesn’t necessarily mean you no longer want to have sex. People who’ve experienced sexual trauma may still have regular sex. However, their sexual behavior is undoubtedly changed. The impacts of sexual trauma are not always obvious, especially to other people. Tune in and learn all about working through past trauma in a current relationship!

Good human traits typically refer to qualities or characteristics that contribute positively to individual well-being, interpersonal relationships, and societal harmony. These traits vary across cultures and contexts. Human traits, whether perceived as bad or not, often stem from a combination of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Tune in and learn all about what. we are made of!

There is a growing generation that few people have heard of. Within the next few years they will outnumber the Baby Boomers, and many of them will live to see the 22nd Century. We’re talking about Generation Alpha, the children of Generation Y, and often the younger siblings of Generation Z. Simply put, Generation Alpha are defined as those born from 2010-2024. More than 2.8 million are born globally every week. When they have all been born (2025) they will number almost 2 billion – the largest generation in the history of the world. While they are the youngest generation, they have brand influence and purchasing power beyond their years. They shape the social media landscape, are the popular culture influencers, the emerging consumers and by the end of the 2020’s will be moving into adulthood, the workforce and household formation, ready or not. Tune in and learn all about our future generation!

Gender is related to but distinctly different from sex; it is rooted in culture, not biology. The APA (2012) defines gender as “the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex. Gender conformity occurs when people abide by culturally-derived gender roles. Resisting gender roles (i.e., gender nonconformity) can have significant social consequences—pro and con, depending on circumstances. Tune in and learn how to navigate this politically charged issue!

The ever-increasing explosion of data puts more knowledge at our fingertips than ever before, but you need to know what to do with it. Otherwise, it is obsolete and ineffective. We see an increasing lack of insight with companies living in an “illusion of knowledge,” drowning in data, insight poor, and failing to turn information into intelligence. Why? The lack of shared understanding of what an insight is, and is not is one reason. An absence of the methodological rigor required for meaningful insight generation to happen is another. We see organizations frequently struggle to arrive at a standard definition of what an insight is, and a repeatable process for finding and articulating them. Most ‘insights’ we see are unfortunately nothing more than mere observations, reporting what has been seen in-field without any overt action or outcome attached. If we do not have a clear understanding of what ‘insight’ is, how can we possibly use it as a guidepost to define what’s next? Tune in and learn how to be married!

Gaslighting is an insidious form of manipulation and psychological control. Victims of gaslighting are deliberately and systematically fed false information that leads them to question what they know to be true, often about themselves. They may end up doubting their memory, their perception, and even their sanity. Over time, a gaslighter’s manipulations can grow more complex and potent, making it increasingly difficult for the victim to see the truth. Turn in and learn how we all are being gaslighted 24/7!

Mental illness in children can be hard for parents to identify. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment don't get the help they need. Understand how to recognize warning signs of mental illness in children and how you can help your child. Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person's ability to function.Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions. These problems are distressing to children and disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school or in other social situations. Tune in and learn how to identify them and what to do!

Online message boards and communities comprised of incels—men who are involuntarily celibate—have gained notoriety in recent years due to mass killing events that were reported as being inspired by a misogynistic ideology that emerges from this group. However, there has never been a systematic psychological investigation of this population. In a fundamental sense, incels are characterized by their identity being framed around a perceived lack of ability to form and maintain sexual and/or romantic relationships. In the media, they are often portrayed as hating women, harmful online, and misogynistic in their attitudes and behaviors. Tune in and we will take a deep dive into the Incel psyche!