What impression management can look like in practice

Impression management is a well-studied concept in forensic psychology and sociology. It refers to the ways individuals deliberately shape how others perceive them—especially to appear normal, trustworthy, or harmless while hiding behaviours, intentions, or risks that would damage that image. In the context of offending behaviour, it is often discussed in relation to “deceptive self-presentation” or “social masking.”… Read More What impression management can look like in practice

What is ASPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder)?

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a clinical diagnosis used to describe a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights, safety, and boundaries of others. It’s not about being “difficult” or having a bad temper. It’s about how someone relates to people, rules, and responsibility over time. Common features include: Importantly:Not everyone with antisocial traits has ASPD, and not… Read More What is ASPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder)?

Why Early Treatment for Psychosis Matters: What Happens to the Brain?

Psychosis is a medical emergency, yet many people live with symptoms for months—or even years—before receiving treatment. This period is known as the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). Over the past several decades, researchers have found that the longer psychosis goes untreated, the more difficult recovery can become for many people. Early treatment does not guarantee… Read More Why Early Treatment for Psychosis Matters: What Happens to the Brain?

What impression management can look like in practice

Impression management is a well-studied concept in forensic psychology and sociology. It refers to the ways individuals deliberately shape how others perceive them—especially to appear normal, trustworthy, or harmless while hiding behaviours, intentions, or risks that would damage that image. In the context of offending behaviour, it is often discussed in relation to “deceptive self-presentation” or “social masking.”… Read More What impression management can look like in practice

Why Most Survivors Are Not Susan Kuhnhausen

The story of Susan Kuhnhausen is extraordinary. She survived because she possessed a rare combination of experience, training, physical skill, and the ability to remain functional under extreme stress. She had spent thirty years as an emergency room nurse. She had treated violent injuries. She had encountered people in crisis. She had practised self-defence techniques,… Read More Why Most Survivors Are Not Susan Kuhnhausen

Mental illness itself does not automatically make someone violent or abusive.

Some people can become emotionally or behaviourally unstable when they stop taking prescribed psychiatric medication abruptly — especially if the medication was helping manage serious symptoms related to conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, severe depression, psychosis, or certain personality and mood disorders. But it’s important to say this carefully and accurately: mental illness itself… Read More Mental illness itself does not automatically make someone violent or abusive.

Mental Health, Medication, and Relationships — Why Stability and Honesty Matter

Entering a new relationship always involves trust, openness, and learning about another person’s emotional wellbeing. And one important lesson many people learn over time is this: the issue is often not the diagnosis itself — it is whether someone is taking responsibility for managing their health safely and consistently. Many people live full, loving, stable… Read More Mental Health, Medication, and Relationships — Why Stability and Honesty Matter

Distorted, underdeveloped, overactive, or impaired

When these systems are distorted, underdeveloped, overactive, or impaired, it can affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others. In Neuroscience this can happen because of genetics, development, injury, chronic stress, trauma, or learned patterns. In Psychology it shows up as patterns in personality and behavior. Important: “missing” is usually not literal—these systems… Read More Distorted, underdeveloped, overactive, or impaired