pop culture
Representations of mental health in pop culture; dissect and discuss popular psychology, mental illness stigmas, and media depictions.
The Narcissist’s Glitch
Could it be that narcissists do feel empathy — but misinterpret it as manipulation? Maybe that flicker of awareness, that moment when they sense another human’s inner world, doesn’t feel like connection to them. Maybe it feels like danger. Like losing control. Like death.
By THE HONED CRONE5 months ago in Psyche
The Truth About Dark Empaths, Narcissists, and Wounded Healers
In the tangled web of online psychology buzzwords, few labels have sparked more confusion than the term dark empath. Depending on who’s talking, it’s either a chilling label for a manipulative narcissist—or a sacred survivor of abuse who has learned to transmute shadow into strength.
By THE HONED CRONE5 months ago in Psyche
The Weight of Labels
I did not get angry because I was attacked. I got angry because I felt invisible. That is what labeling does. It reduces a human being—a soul with thoughts, experiences, and convictions—into a set of categories that can be dismissed before they even speak.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast5 months ago in Psyche
Etsy Used to Be Magic. Now It’s a Failing Mall.
There was a time when Etsy felt like magic. It was the golden era of the handmade internet: the digital farmer’s market that honored the village markets of old, where artisans could finally make a living doing what they loved. Every listing felt personal. Every product had a story. You could scroll through the site or app, and find hundreds of items that were truly unique. It was once a space where the imagination was made tangible.
By Autumn Stew5 months ago in Psyche
When Inclusion Means Assimilation: Why We’re Done Playing ‘Normal’
Inclusion shouldn’t mean erasure. But for many disabled people, that’s exactly what it feels like. We’re told to “blend in,” “mask,” “act normal.” We’re praised when we suppress our natural communication styles, sensory needs, or mobility tools. We’re rewarded for being palatable, not authentic.
By Tracy Stine5 months ago in Psyche
Aurora by Stefano Labbia: Why we need films that tell our hiddens truths
We often think of cinema as spectacle—as grand gestures, sweeping vistas, and technological marvels. And yes, there is a place for that kind of awe. But the truest, most profound power of film doesn't reside in the size of the screen or the scale of the effects. It is found in its extraordinary capacity to reach into the quiet corners of our shared humanity, to articulate the silent struggles we all carry, and to knit us together through the simple, powerful act of storytelling. The magic is in the resonance. It is in the undeniable click of recognition when a story on screen mirrors a piece of the story within our own hearts, making us feel, fundamentally, less isolated.
By Kate Hydeen6 months ago in Psyche
How We Are Scientifically Becoming Dumber
Have you ever Thought... Wow... People Seem To Becoming Dumber? Well... It Seems like this is Actually a Reality. Now, Nearly Two Years Ago, I wrote an Article about How IQ is Not a Static Trait.
By Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)6 months ago in Psyche
The Daily Crime Against Your Own Brain
Feed your brain junk long enough and it starts acting like a suspect under pressure—fidgety, unreliable, and ready to snap. That isn’t poetry. It’s what shows up in psychological evaluations, probation reports, and medical charts across professions and age groups.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin6 months ago in Psyche
Riding the Middle Wave
Ever notice how people love to pick sides? It’s like we’re constantly asked to choose between two waves: you're either riding left or right, red or blue, good or bad. But here's the thing—life doesn’t work in black and white. It's mostly paddling through gray. And that’s where the trouble starts when we fall into a sneaky little brain trap called dichotomous thinking.
By Tony Martello6 months ago in Psyche
