Albert Bandura developed Moral Disengagement to explain something many people struggle to understand: How can someone hurt another person—and not seem to feel bad about it? His answer:They don’t usually stop having morals. They temporarily switch them off. That’s moral disengagement. Moral Disengagement The core idea Most people have an internal moral code: When behavior violates that code,… Read More Moral Disengagement
Finally disclosing years of distress to someone’s family and receiving a cold, transactional response like “You must sell the villa quickly”—can feel deeply shocking because it violates what your nervous system expected: empathy, concern, protection, accountability. Psychology would call emotional invalidation. Emotional Invalidation That can be profoundly destabilizing—but also clarifying. What that response may indicate psychologically There… Read More Family systems protecting themselves
Personality psychology studies the consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that make people unique—while also explaining why people can act similarly in certain situations. It asks questions like: Foundational Figures Gordon Allport (1897–1967) Often called the father of personality psychology. Key contributions: His big idea: people are unique, and psychology should study the individual—not just groups. Carl Jung… Read More What is Personality Psychology?
Personality psychology is an academic field within psychology that investigates the enduring patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that define individuals. It seeks to explain how personalities develop, how they differ among people, and how they influence human experience and interaction. The field blends theory, empirical research, and applied practice in understanding human individuality. Key… Read More Personality Psychology
In psychology, “sadistic traits” refer to patterns where a person may derive satisfaction from another person’s discomfort, distress, or humiliation. These traits exist on a spectrum and are not always obvious or extreme. In everyday life, they may show up in subtle relational dynamics rather than overt cruelty. It’s important to approach this topic with… Read More Understanding Harmful Interpersonal Patterns (Including Sadistic Traits)
Sadism isn’t just “being mean” or “cold.” Clinically and psychologically, it refers to a pattern where a person derives pleasure, satisfaction, or a sense of control from causing others discomfort, humiliation, or suffering. It exists on a spectrum—most people don’t meet any clinical threshold, but some traits can show up in everyday behaviour in milder… Read More Sadism
It isn’t your job to fix, rescue, or fundamentally rewire another adult’s personality. Neuroscience and psychology are quite clear on that. Core traits like empathy levels, attachment style patterns, emotional regulation habits, and relational “defaults” are shaped over years of development and repeated reinforcement — not corrected through a partner’s effort alone. In other words: you can influence, but… Read More You can’t re-engineer someone!
Cruelty isn’t just a moral idea—it has roots in how the brain processes threat, empathy, power, and control. When you look at it through both neuroscience and psychology, a clearer (and less mysterious) picture emerges. 🧠 The Neuroscience of Cruelty At a brain level, cruelty often reflects an imbalance between systems that generate emotion and those that regulate it. 1.… Read More 🧠 The Neuroscience of Cruelty
🧍♂️ 1. Individual grooming (one perpetrator) This is the most common pattern. What it looks like: Key signs: 👉 This is typically behaviour-driven and opportunistic, not organised. 🕸️ 2. Coordinated exploitation (networks or groups) This is more serious and less common, but does exist in investigations. What it looks like: Key signs: 👉 This is typically treated as organised… Read More Individual grooming vs coordinated exploitation (how to recognise the difference)
When people experience harmful or abusive behaviour in relationships, one of the most confusing aspects is repetition. The same dynamics appear again and again.The same excuses.The same cycles. And often, the same outcome. This is why it’s essential to look beyond isolated incidents and focus on patterns over time—because psychology shows us that patterns are rarely… Read More Pay Attention to Patterns: The Psychology Behind Repeated Abusive Behaviour
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 