Psychology

 Every suicide is a tragedy, and to some degree a mystery. Suicide often stems from a deep feeling of hopelessness. The inability to see solutions to problems or to cope with challenging life circumstances may lead people to see taking their own lives as the only solution to what is really a temporary situation, and most survivors of suicide attempts go on to live full, rewarding lives. Depression is a key risk factor for suicide; others include psychiatric disorders, substance use, chronic pain, a family history of suicide, and a prior suicide attempt. Impulsiveness often plays a role among adolescents who take their life. (To learn more about risk factors, see Mental Health or Social, Economic, and Genetic Influences.) If a person deemed at risk due to any of the above exhibits sudden mood changes—even a suddenly upbeat mood—or completely new behaviors, they may be actively suicidal. Those who speak about being a burden to others, having no reason to live, feeling trapped, or in ...

 Imagine that you're walking down the street when you see someone fall down on the sidewalk. You glance around, expecting that someone will help the other person up, but not one seems to be reacting. You hesitate and feel uncertain. If so many other people are ignoring the situation, does that mean that you should to? This troubling phenomenon is known as the bystander effect, where the more people are present during an emergency, the less likely anyone one person is to step in and help.1 There are many factors that play a role in why it happens, including things like fear of social judgment, diffusion of responsibility, lack of clarity, and even, at time, bystander apathy. Keep reading to learn more about why the bystander effect happens, the factors that can play a role, and the steps we can take to help overcome it. Meaning of the Bystander Effect The bystander effect, also known as bystander apathy, refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the...

 Genes can control hair type, eye color, and height. Due to the physical nature of these attributes, individuals do not often think of these areas as controlling factors in behavior. However, the concept of inherited behaviors posits that specific genes may control more than people believe. To understand whether there may be a genetic component behind how people act, it can be helpful to investigate behavioral psychology and studies on inherited genes. An elderly woman with blonde hair wearing a green blazer and glasses sits at her desk while working on her laptop in a bright shared office space.  Getty/AnnaStills Understanding human behavior can be complicated Talk with a licensed therapist for guidance Studying inherited behavior The science behind behavioral genetics isn’t fully accepted. While some evolutionary psychologists agree that some behaviors are controlled by genetics, which ones are controlled and to what degree is a topic of frequent debate. This debate may be p...