Spoonerisms are those unfortunate slips of the tongue we all sometimes make. Most of the time, spoonerisms are purely accidental—although many comedians have used spoonerisms to great effect over the years as they are often highly amusing. But where does the term “spoonerism” come from and what are some popular spoonerism examples? The word spoonerism […]
What is Masochism?
What is masochism? Masochism is the opposite of sadism and a masochist derives pleasure from experiencing pain and humiliation. It is a term most often used in a sexual context, but it can easily apply to other areas of life. In psychology, masochism is a personality type who takes enjoyment from having humiliation and pain […]
What is Dyspareunia?
What is dyspareunia? Many women and some men experience painful sexual intercourse at some point in their lives. Most of the time the problem is a temporary one and sex soon becomes pleasurable again, but for some, the symptoms of dyspareunia persist and sexual intercourse continues to be painful event, marked by an absence of […]
What is Self Mutilation Disorder?
What is self mutilation disorder? Also referred to as self harming, self mutilation disorder refers to the deliberate act of causing harm or destruction to a part of the body. This is achieved in any number of ways, from cutting and burning the skin, to puncturing the flesh with needles or scratching incessantly. Some sufferers […]
What is a Delusion?
People described as “delusional” see or believe things that are not there. Remember the immortal line from the film The Sixth Sense: “I see dead people…”? If you were not a believer in ghosts, you would assume the boy was delusional. Of course it turned out he was not deluded in any way—there really were […]
“Fear of Death” Phobia: How to help People with a Fear of Dying?
As the old saying goes, the only real certainty in life is that one day you will die, but whilst most of us do not dwell unnecessarily on our impending death, apart from to hope that it is not any time soon, some people develop an irrational phobia about death and spend their days consumed […]
What is Grief?
What is grief? Grief is an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. Lots of things can trigger grief, including the death of a loved one or the loss of a beloved pet, and although grief is a perfectly natural emotion, some people find it very hard to cope with and struggle to work their way […]
What is Kleptomania and is there a Treatment for it?
Kleptomania is an uncontrollable urge to steal, even if the things you are pilfering are worthless. But unlike a petty shoplifter driven to steal goods because they prefer not to pay for them, a kleptomaniac has no control over their urge and even when they know the act is wrong and they are in danger […]
What is Gestalt?
What is Gestalt? Gestalt is a German word meaning “figure” or “configuration” and is used in a number of different contexts, including psychology. Musical pieces are often described as Gestalt because each individual note has a different characteristic compared to the melody as a whole. A sentence is the same: words strung together in a […]
What are Solitary Confinement Effects?
Solitary confinement is well recognised as a highly effective form of psychological punishment. It is used in prisons as a further punishment for inmates who are guilty of, or who are suspected of, committing further crimes whilst inside. Prisoners are also put in solitary confinement for their own protection if the circumstances warrant such a […]