A new study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that staring at your phone while your partner is trying to connect with you—what many call "phubbing"—can lead to some nasty relationship behaviors.

In plain English, ignoring your partner in favor of doomscrolling might make them more likely to lash out.

The study found that people who feel snubbed by a screen get aggressive in ways that mess with emotional intimacy.

And for women, the gap between how much support they want from their partner and how much they get plays a big role in that aggression.

Once upon a time, in a world where people sincerely believed that love conquers all—and yet kept making dating apps with increasingly complex algorithms to help people avoid the wrong kind of love—some researchers decided to study romantic attraction through the lens of racial ideology.

Because, you see, humans are strange creatures.

They want to believe in free will but also prefer to be shackled to patterns they don’t even notice.

One such pattern, known to the social sciences as homogamy but to your Aunt Cheryl as “birds of a feather flock together,” is the tendency to be romantically drawn to people who resemble us in some fundamental way.

Same hobbies, same religious upbringing, same favorite childhood TV show. And yes, same race.

Let’s start with the obvious: life is a chaotic mess.

Some people manage the chaos by meditating.

Others do it by impulse-buying decorative candles.

And some, according to a new study published in Sexes, do it by having more sexual partners.

That’s right.

Researchers have taken a long, hard look at how women navigate rapid emotional highs and lows and whether their tendency to observe their own thoughts (or not) influences their romantic statistics.

The findings?

If you tend to oscillate between euphoria and despair faster than a stock market crash, and if you don’t really notice your thoughts much, you might just have more sex partners.

As wildfires become more frequent and severe due to climate change, a new and alarming consequence is coming to light: exposure to wildfire smoke may significantly increase the risk of dementia.

A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that folks exposed to wildfire-generated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) faced an 18% higher risk of developing dementia—far greater than the risk posed by other air pollutants (Elser et al., 2024).

This finding raises serious concerns about how environmental factors, particularly air quality, shape long-term brain health.

It also underscores the disproportionate burden of pollution-related health risks on vulnerable communities, making it an urgent issue for public health, environmental justice, and dementia prevention.

Esther Perel’s concept of the metacrisis is an ambitious attempt to describe the convergence of multiple existential challenges—climate instability, political upheaval, economic precarity, and technological alienation—that are reshaping not only society at large but the very fabric of our interpersonal relationships.

It is an idea that acknowledges the deeply intertwined nature of crises rather than treating them as isolated problems.

However, while her framework is thought-provoking, it warrants deeper scrutiny, both in terms of its explanatory power and its limitations.

Losing weight—especially with the help of medications like Ozempic or Wegovy, or through bariatric surgery—can be a game-changer for health and self-confidence.

But what happens to your relationship when one partner undergoes such a major transformation? While the health benefits are clear, the emotional and relational impacts can be more complicated than you’d expect.

Research shows that these changes can bring couples closer or create unexpected tension (Svensson et al., 2018).

The Emotional Shifts That Come with Weight Loss

Heartbreak is never easy, but for those who have experienced childhood maltreatment, the emotional toll of a romantic breakup may run deeper than we realize.

A recent study published in the European Journal of Neuroscience explores the link between early-life adversity, the end of a romantic relationship, and brain structure—offering new insights into how past wounds can shape our ability to navigate loss and resilience in adulthood.

Researchers found that folks who endured childhood maltreatment and later went through a romantic breakup had smaller hippocampal volumes—a crucial brain region involved in memory processing and emotional regulation—compared to those who had similar early-life experiences but had not experienced a breakup.

This suggests that the stress of losing a significant relationship may intensify the lasting effects of childhood trauma, leading to observable changes in brain structure.

Let’s face it: masculinity has always been a high-stakes game.

For generations, being “manly” meant adhering to a strict code of stoicism, assertiveness, and the occasional inability to ask for directions.

But as society rethinks gender norms, some men are strategically distancing themselves from traditional masculinity, a phenomenon dubbed “strategic masculine disinvestment.”

The catch? A recent study published in Sex Roles suggests this shift might not come without its own psychological growing pains.

What Exactly Is Strategic Masculine Disinvestment?

As wildfires become more frequent and intense, the health implications of prolonged smoke exposure are under increasing scrutiny.

While the respiratory and cardiovascular risks of inhaling wildfire smoke are well-documented, emerging research suggests a lesser-known yet alarming impact: neuroinflammation triggered by exposure to wood smoke particles.

Could this be a wake-up call for communities exposed to chronic air pollution? Let’s explore the latest findings.

Unpacking the Research: How Wood Smoke Affects the Brain

As a marriage and family therapist who has navigated my own history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), I often see firsthand how early trauma can shape the way people perceive safety and respond to threats.

A recent study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research delves into this connection, revealing how ACEs—such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—may increase the likelihood of defensive gun use (DGU) among adults with heightened threat sensitivity.

These findings add valuable insight into the lasting impact of trauma and how it influences behaviors like firearm use for self-protection.

Passive aggression is the emotional equivalent of putting a "Kick Me" sign on someone’s back while offering them a warm smile.

It’s a masterclass in non-confrontational conflict, where emotions run high but communication runs... side-eyed.

But how did we, as humans, get so good at this? Why is it sometimes gendered? And why, oh why, does it feel so satisfying (yet leave everyone miserable)?

Let’s go deeper—into the psychology, the gender dynamics, and the societal forces shaping passive aggression. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about avoiding conflict.

How Do We Become Passive-Aggressive?

Wildfires are more than natural disasters; they are emotional and psychological earthquakes, shaking our sense of safety, stability, and connection.

In regions like Los Angeles, where wildfires are an ever-present threat, the mental health consequences ripple through families and communities, leaving long-lasting scars.

This post explores the mental health impact of wildfires and incorporates social science research to discuss these challenges.