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Psychology

Could prison book clubs help combat Australia's domestic violence crisis?

A book teaching men to heal from their trauma will be given to domestic violence perpetrators in Australian prisons in an effort to lower rates of reoffending.
A group session.

Round rooms spark joy and creativity — here's why

Thinking outside the square when it comes to the environments we live and work in could not only make us happier, but also boost creativity, according to new research.
A middle-aged woman with glasses and a blue shirt stands inside a dome-shaped house, looking through a round window and smiling

This kidnapped heiress-turned-revolutionary was despised in America. Then a Hollywood star spoke out

Fifty years ago, a teenaged heiress with a famous last name was kidnapped from her California apartment by armed terrorists. What followed was one of the most confounding crimes in American history.  
Updated
A young woman in a three-piece suit and handcuffs is escorted by a man and a woman

Internet trolls may have latent psychopathic tendencies, researchers find

Psychologists say people with high psychopathic tendencies are able to explore their "true self" when they're not identifiable. 
A man types at a computer in a white room

There's a common trait among people with eating disorders, but many don't know about it

There's a strong connection between living with an eating disorder and having the perfectionism trait. As the negative impacts of that link rise, these experts are calling for better understanding.
With their back to the camera, a person in a grey hooded jumper with denim jacket over it, looks towards vast expanse of ocean.

One year since cut to subsidised psychology sessions

The change has forced some Australians to make difficult decisions in order to afford mental health care.
ABC News Current
Duration: 2 minutes 14 seconds

An ice bath is the 'most immersive mindful experience' Peter has had. He now recommends them to clients

Darwin-based trauma counsellor Peter Bourke has seen how ice baths, or cold-water exposure, can have positive impacts on his clients. He said the act of bringing the mind, breath and body back under control is beneficial for people who struggle with maintaining control over addiction.
A man lays in a white ice bath with his eyes closed. He looks peaceful.

US woman Gypsy Rose Blanchard released from jail after persuading boyfriend to kill abusive mother

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from a Missouri prison on Thursday after being jailed for secondary-degree murder over the killing of her abusive mother. 
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard wearing glasses hugs her mother Clauddine Blanchard as well as a small puppy

Digital detox retreat getting kids off phones while teaching 'lost' outdoor survival skills

A Queensland adventurer is on a mission to get children off their screens and into the bush — and a child psychologist says the health benefits are huge.
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A young boy wearing a white shirt and black cap closely ties a knot out of leafy material under a tree.

analysis:The secret to switching off from work lies in learning the art of detachment

It may not be enough simply to be physically away from work, particularly in an era when so many of us work from home. We also have to stop thinking about work when we're not there, writes Jane Gifkins.
A woman sits on the floor, leaning against a couch, using a laptop

There's a psychological reason why you find comfort in mediocre Christmas movies

Every year in December, countless new festive films flood streaming services — but they're not always quality. What is it about "bad" Christmas movies that viewers love?
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Jennifer Garner smiles, posing in a Christmas-themed photo with Ed Helms dressed as a candy cane.

Health professionals warn the expensive skincare products your tween wants for Christmas could be harming them

Social media "skinfluencers" selling the promise of dewy skin are driving tween and teenage interest in expensive skincare products, but experts warn pursuing the kind of perfection seen online can have long-lasting consequences.
A young girl applies powder makeup in front of a Christmas tree.

Despite mental health concerns during the war in Ukraine, experts say some are experiencing 'post-traumatic growth'

A group of Ukrainian mental health doctors are touring facilities across NSW to learn how to improve their country's mental healthcare and boost morale.
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A couple with with street lights either side dances on a footbridge near the Independence Square in Kyiv

Music helps Kev find his voice again after near-fatal motorcycle accident

Kev Mauger suffered horrific head trauma and injuries after being catapulted over his motorcycle handlebars four years ago. Despite being told he would never play guitar again, his love for music has been key in his recovery.
A man wearing a blue, black and white shirt playing the guitar to two young children

analysis:It's beginning to look a lot like burnout: How to take care of yourself before the holidays start

To finish the year feeling good, try putting these techniques into practice and prepare for a restful break, write Sophie Scott and Gordon Parker.
Close-up of young woman with curly brown hair and freckles, holding her hand to her forehead and frowning with eyes closed.

Mindfulness training fails the classroom test, a new study finds

When more than 1,000 teenagers engaged in eight weeks of dialectical behaviour therapy, their mental health did not improve, research shows.
A woman at a chair

What it's like to be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in China

Vivian Li didn't realise she had ADHD until she was an adult — but that's a common experience for many people in China. 
一位女性站在橱窗边

Before Tracey had her guardianship order revoked, she was asked to name the US president

An Aboriginal woman's fight for financial freedom has revealed what experts say is a deeper problem of "culturally biased" cognitive exams, as part of the NT's Public Guardian and Trustee system.
an aboriginal woman wearing headphones

analysis:Why are my kids good around other people and then badly behaved with me?

A child says please and thank you at a friend's house but is rude with their family. They follow the rules if they visit a neighbour but have to be constantly reminded about appropriate behaviour at home. Why? And is there anything you can do about it?
A child's legs and feet visible as he escapes through a window with a white curtin

Psychology study bottleneck restricts flow of graduates into in-demand profession

A psychology student says there is a logjam of candidates trying to finish their studies while forced to wait years for placements that are crucial to gaining their qualifications.
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generic photo of psychologist's hand holding a pen with a patient

Meet the rapping psychology lecturer inspiring young minds through song

When he's not pondering the depths of the human mind, Michael Thai is coming up with psychology-themed song parodies for his students at the University of Queensland.
A man at a uni campus

Huge demand for mental health help in Tasmanian schools, but average wait time for psychologist hits 168 days

Susannah is one of the thousands of young Australians who have struggled to see a school psychologist. And as the load gets heavier, experts say too much is being expected of teachers who are trying to respond to complex mental health challenges.
Updated
Susannah Mannie stands in outdoor setting.

Calls for more psychologists in schools amid increase in mental disorder

There are calls for an increase in the number of psychologists in schools after the new ABS data showed nearly 40 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 24 suffer from mental disorder.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 53 seconds

Why do we scapegoat? A gay Catholic priest explains

James Alison knows what it's like to be a scapegoat. He's devoted his life to understanding why we do it. 
Updated
Silhouette of person with short hair standing against a large window with clear expanse.

How surfing is helping Andrew deal with 16 years of trauma from his job as a paramedic

As the sun rises on a chilly Wollongong morning, a group of about 20 people gather for the Waves of Wellness program, each with their own unique story to tell.
A group of people sit in a circle on surfboards, on a beach at sunrise.