Tag: Psychology

The Psychology of the Illusion of Control

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment ©Linda C J Turner

From a psychological and neuroscientific perspective, this can happen. Some abusive individuals will make decisions that appear irrational—sacrificing relationships, finances, reputation, or even their own future—because the immediate need to dominate or avoid feeling powerless overrides long-term self-interest. The key point is that control is not the same as power. The Psychology of the Illusion of… Read More The Psychology of the Illusion of Control

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“I Wish I’d Gone After My Ex’s Pension”: What Comments Like This May Reveal

Sometimes a single remark tells us less about a person’s personality than it does about their values. A comment such as, “I wish I’d gone after my ex-wife’s pension. A teacher’s pension would have been much larger than mine. Maybe it’s not too late,” does not, on its own, prove someone is abusive or indicate a particular… Read More “I Wish I’d Gone After My Ex’s Pension”: What Comments Like This May Reveal

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The Sunk Cost Fallacy: “I’ve Already Invested Too Much”

One of the most powerful psychological barriers to leaving an unhealthy relationship is something economists call the sunk cost fallacy. A sunk cost is anything that has already been invested and cannot be recovered. This may include money, time, emotional energy, years of commitment, shared experiences, a home, a marriage, children, friendships, or dreams for the future. From… Read More The Sunk Cost Fallacy: “I’ve Already Invested Too Much”

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Why People Stay in Harmful Relationships: Understanding Trauma Bonding, Intermittent Reinforcement, Confirmation Bias, the Sunk Cost Fallacy and Cognitive Dissonance

One of the most common questions people ask after leaving a harmful relationship is: “Why didn’t I leave sooner?” Friends and family often ask a similar question: “Why couldn’t they see what everyone else could see?” These questions have been studied for decades by psychologists and neuroscientists. The answer is rarely about weakness, lack of… Read More Why People Stay in Harmful Relationships: Understanding Trauma Bonding, Intermittent Reinforcement, Confirmation Bias, the Sunk Cost Fallacy and Cognitive Dissonance

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Cognitive Dissonance: Why the Mind Sometimes Protects Us from Painful Truths

© 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.

In 1957, psychologist Leon Festinger introduced the theory of cognitive dissonance, proposing that people experience psychological discomfort when they simultaneously hold two or more beliefs, values, or perceptions that contradict one another. The human brain strives for consistency. When our beliefs and our experiences do not match, the resulting tension can feel deeply uncomfortable. Rather than immediately changing… Read More Cognitive Dissonance: Why the Mind Sometimes Protects Us from Painful Truths

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Why Do Friends and Family Sometimes Notice a Vindictive Personality Before You Do? The Psychology and Neuroscience Behind Chronic Vindictiveness

One of the questions people often ask after leaving a difficult relationship is: “Why did everyone else seem to notice long before I did?” It is surprisingly common to hear family members, friends, colleagues or even previous partners say, “We saw it years ago.” While this can be painful to hear, psychology offers several explanations for why… Read More Why Do Friends and Family Sometimes Notice a Vindictive Personality Before You Do? The Psychology and Neuroscience Behind Chronic Vindictiveness

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The Neuroscience and Psychology of Vindictive Personalities: Why Some People Become Consumed by Bitterness, Revenge and the Success of Others

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer.” While this quote is often attributed to the Buddha, modern neuroscience suggests there is truth behind the sentiment. Chronic bitterness and vindictiveness affect not only relationships but also the brain and body of the person who carries them. Most people experience jealousy,… Read More The Neuroscience and Psychology of Vindictive Personalities: Why Some People Become Consumed by Bitterness, Revenge and the Success of Others

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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

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Sadism

Sadism in families refers to situations where a family member gains satisfaction, pleasure, a sense of power, or emotional gratification from causing another family member pain, distress, humiliation, fear, or suffering. This does not always involve physical violence. In many families, sadistic behaviour is emotional or psychological. Examples can include: A key difference between ordinary… Read More Sadism

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