Read our posts about Society

21Apr

How Social Media Gave a Child Sex Abuse Survivor a Voice

Louise Chunn

abuse, childhood, CSA, society, therapy

Mind

Child sex abuse is a subject that in the UK we are slowly waking up to after many decades of pretending it wasn’t there. How do the children who suffered the abuse ever recover? Sue Crocombe speaks to Louise Chunn about her experiences.
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16Apr

Why Happiness Matters

Anthony Seldon

happiness, self, society

Soul

The happier we become, the more energy we have, the more committed we feel and the more we engage with others. Headmaster of Wellington College Dr Anthony Seldon shares his 8-step pathway to happiness.
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13Apr

Are you Easy Prey for a Sociopath?

Jane McGregor

empathy, society, sociopath

Mind

In a new post from Dr Jane McGregor in our sociopath series, learn about the Sociopath-Empath-Apath Triad and find out if you are likely to be easy prey for a sociopath.
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10Apr

How to Lift a Boring Conversation

Chris Skellett

friendship, self, society

Soul

Have you ever found yourself locked into a conversation which seems purely mundane or felt the need to escape a boring conversation? Author Chris Skellett shares some tips on how to get more out of conversation.
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06Apr

The New Age of Loneliness

Susan Pinker

loneliness, self, society, wellbeing

Mind

We're more connected than ever, but lonelier too, especially younger people. Susan Pinker, author of The Village Effect, on why and what can be done about it
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27Mar

Why The Andreas Lubitz Case Shouldn’t Stigmatise Depression

Louise Chunn

depression, society, stress, suicide

Mind

​We are all shocked and saddened by the death of 150 people in the Germanwings crash in the French Alps earlier this week. But as reports arise that link the deaths with co-pilot Andreas Lubitz's history of depression, many have faulted the way the media is reporting this tragic story. Headlines such as Killer Pilot Suffered from Depression (Mirror), Madman in Cockpit (Sun) and Why Was He Allowed to Fly (Mail) have, according to a joint press release from the mental health charities Mind, Time to Change and Rethink Mental Illness, been overly simplistic.
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20Mar

International Happiness Day: Go Out and Play

Elisha Goldstein

anxiety, depression, happiness, society, stress, wellbeing

Soul

Children play. Nobody has to show them how to do it; they're just born knowing.  But as adults, we become so disconnected from it that we forget what it is and how to do it. Psychiatrist Stuart Brown, who founded the nonprofit organisation National Institute of Play in California, says: 'Play is an ancient, voluntary, inherently pleasurable, apparently purposeless activity or process that is undertaken for its own sake, and that strengthens our muscles and social skills, fertilises brain activity, tempers and deepens out emotions, take us out of time, and enables a...
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07Mar

Why We Need International Women's Day

Terri Apter

men, society, women

Soul

Explanations of women’s under-representation in science, technology, engineering and maths (only 14% of women entering University choose science related subjects, compared to 39% of boys) are usually stacked up like layers on a wedding cake. The bottom layer, the stodgy foundation, is about “hard wiring”.  Fortunately, claiming that gender career segregation is down to differences in women’s and men’s brains is now high risk; though this claim has helped launch one Cambridge professor as a star, it has also brought down one Harvard president. Girls opt for...
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25Feb

Under Pressure: Societal Goals and Stress

Michael Hyland

society, stress

Mind

Failure to achieve important goals induces stress. Although some of these important goals (such as the need for control, competence and relationships) are universal, there are substantial variations between societies in the way goals are expressed. People’s goals are determined to a large extent by the society in which they live. If, within a particular society, high value is placed on things that most people achieve, then most people will experience few stressors. However, if high value is placed on things that few achieve, then many people will experience...
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24Feb

Why You Need to Switch Off

Karunavira

mindfulness, self, society, stress, technology, wellbeing

Soul

We all recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance, but many of us still find it hard to switch off, even while we’re on holiday. A recent survey revealed that while the three main reasons for going on holiday were to spend time with loved ones (50%), to get some rest and relaxation (34%) and to take a break from work (22%), over two thirds (69%) continued to check their work email, with just under half (44%) admitting to checking in once a day or more. Why do we continue to act in ways that we know are not good for us and what is the impact of a...
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