Tag: neuroscience

🧠 NEUROSCIENCE: HOW THE BRAIN OF A CHRONIC LIAR WORKS

1. Reduced Gray Matter in the Prefrontal Cortex Research using MRI scans (e.g., Yang et al., British Journal of Psychiatry, 2005) found that habitual liars have less gray matter in the prefrontal cortex — the brain’s honesty and moral reasoning hub.👉 This means poorer impulse control, ethical judgment, and empathy regulation. 2. Overactive Reward Circuitry The nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area (VTA) — the brain’s reward… Read More 🧠 NEUROSCIENCE: HOW THE BRAIN OF A CHRONIC LIAR WORKS

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🧠 Neuroscience: The Brain Under Threat

When someone lies — especially when the truth threatens their self-image — their brain enters a defensive survival mode. Amygdala activation (the fear and threat center) increases when a person fears shame, exposure, or loss of control. Prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational thought and honesty) may shut down or twist logic to maintain a sense of safety. The brain releases stress… Read More 🧠 Neuroscience: The Brain Under Threat

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🧠 When Control Masquerades as Negotiation

The Neuroscience of Coercive Control After Divorce A year ago, I filed for divorce after thirty-two years together — twenty of them married. All I asked for was the bare minimum: the 50% that Spanish law entitles me to.I didn’t ask for hidden pensions, secret savings, or anything he’d spent years concealing.Just equality. Nothing more. His… Read More 🧠 When Control Masquerades as Negotiation

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🧠 Neuroscience & Psychology of Abusive Family Systems

When an entire family becomes abusive — locking you out, controlling finances, stalking, sending threats — this reflects a collective dysfunction of empathy, power, and fear.From both neuroscience and psychology, several key mechanisms explain this: 1. Collective Trauma & Learned Behavior In many abusive families, destructive patterns are learned, repeated, and reinforced over generations. Neuroscience: The brain’s mirror neuron system — which… Read More 🧠 Neuroscience & Psychology of Abusive Family Systems

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Serious warning signs

The intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and criminal behavior—specifically, when violent fantasies escalate beyond intimate or marital relationships and begin targeting others. Here’s a breakdown: 1. Psychological Basis Escalating Fantasies: Many abusers may start with controlling or violent thoughts aimed at their partner. When these fantasies expand to others, it often reflects deep-seated aggression, lack of empathy, and antisocial tendencies.… Read More Serious warning signs

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When an Abuser Takes Pleasure in Your Pain: The Neuroscience Behind Emotional Sadism

© 2025 Linda Carol Turner. Content protected by copyright.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form requires prior written permission from the author.
When quoting or referencing, please cite: Linda Carol, Psychology & Neuroscience Insights.

Some individuals derive satisfaction from inflicting emotional or psychological pain. This behavior, often called emotional or psychological sadism, is more than just cruelty—it’s rooted in specific patterns of brain activity and psychological traits. Understanding the neuroscience can help victims recognize the danger and reclaim their power. 1. Reward Pathways and Pleasure from Pain Research shows that in… Read More When an Abuser Takes Pleasure in Your Pain: The Neuroscience Behind Emotional Sadism

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🧠 Why Danger Escalates After Leaving

© 2025 Linda Carol Turner. Content protected by copyright.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form requires prior written permission from the author.
When quoting or referencing, please cite: Linda Carol, Psychology & Neuroscience Insights.

The period after leaving an abusive partner is often the most dangerous, and neuroscience helps explain why. Here’s a detailed guide on warning signs, brain-based responses, and why they shouldn’t be ignored, even when law enforcement is involved. 🧠 Why Danger Escalates After Leaving When a victim leaves, the abuser experiences it as a loss of control — literally a threat… Read More 🧠 Why Danger Escalates After Leaving

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