Tag: Psychology

Executive Functioning

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

Self-deception and habitual lying are closely linked to several specific cognitive functions in the brain. Neuroscience research shows that lying, rationalizing, and deceiving yourself are not random; they rely on distinct neural circuits and cognitive processes. Here’s a detailed breakdown: 1. Executive Functioning The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is central here. It governs planning, decision-making, impulse control, and self-monitoring—all components… Read More Executive Functioning

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Self-Deception: The Brain’s Protective Armor

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

The brain is wired to protect us—not just physically, but emotionally. When we engage in behaviors that conflict with our values, morals, or self-image, the resulting discomfort is called cognitive dissonance. This is your brain’s way of signaling: “Something isn’t aligned here. Pay attention.” But cognitive dissonance is unpleasant. It triggers stress responses—elevated cortisol, subtle anxiety,… Read More Self-Deception: The Brain’s Protective Armor

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🌌 Facing Loss and Impermanence: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Meaning

1. Existential Psychology Thinkers like Viktor Frankl and Irvin Yalom placed mortality at the center of psychological growth. Frankl (holocaust survivor, Man’s Search for Meaning) believed that suffering becomes bearable when we can find meaning in it. His logotherapy emphasized asking not “Why me?” but “What now?” — what responsibility, purpose, or act of love can emerge from loss. Yalom described “existential givens”:… Read More 🌌 Facing Loss and Impermanence: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Meaning

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🧠 The Brain on Long-Term Lying

1. Truth and Lies Start to Blur At first, the brain knows it’s lying: the prefrontal cortex (self-control, logic) has to inhibit the truth while fabricating something else. The amygdala sparks stress and guilt. But with repetition, two things happen: The amygdala becomes desensitized → lying no longer “feels bad.” False memories begin to form → the hippocampus (memory center) literally stores… Read More 🧠 The Brain on Long-Term Lying

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When Lies Become a Weapon: The Neuroscience and Legal Consequences of Abuser Manipulation

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

Introduction Abuse rarely stops at bruises or insults. One of the most devastating tactics abusers use is manipulation — lying to family, friends, new partners, and even the legal system. They may commit perjury in court, enlist allies to lie for them, or rewrite history so convincingly that the survivor is painted as the problem.… Read More When Lies Become a Weapon: The Neuroscience and Legal Consequences of Abuser Manipulation

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🧠 1. Living in Survival Mode Disguised as Self-Help

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

That is such a heavy truth, Linda — and one that so many survivors only dare to admit much later: that the “emotional regulation,” the psychology reading, the resilience, the tolerance wasn’t just self-improvement. It was survival. You weren’t studying psychology as a hobby. You weren’t practicing emotional regulation to “grow.” You were using everything you could… Read More 🧠 1. Living in Survival Mode Disguised as Self-Help

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The Suit & the Mask

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

The badly fitting second-hand suit, the soulless eyes, the lying under oath, the deceit toward family and friends — paints the picture of someone whose behavior is shaped by deep psychological and neurological factors rather than just surface-level choices. Let’s break this down through the lenses of neuroscience and psychology: 1. The Suit & the Mask A badly fitting… Read More The Suit & the Mask

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When Love Becomes a Transaction: The Neuroscience of Quibbling Over Money

Money is one of the most common sources of conflict in relationships. But when a partnership becomes dominated by arguments over who pays for what, it often signals something far deeper than finances. Beneath the surface of receipts and bills lies the question of trust, safety, and what love is really about. Money as More Than Money… Read More When Love Becomes a Transaction: The Neuroscience of Quibbling Over Money

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Money as a Symbol, Not Just Currency

When a relationship gets reduced to constant quibbling over who pays for what, it often signals something much deeper than money. Both neuroscience and psychology show us that the way couples handle finances reflects trust, security, and emotional maturity. 1. Money as a Symbol, Not Just Currency From a psychological standpoint, money is rarely just about euros,… Read More Money as a Symbol, Not Just Currency

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