psychological manipulation

  • You’re Probably Using These Psychological Terms Wrong on Social Media

    You’re Probably Using These Psychological Terms Wrong on Social Media

    When I first joined TikTok in 2020, I couldn’t go a day without seeing videos about narcissists, “toxic” exes, or emotionally absent parents. While narcissists obviously do exist, the content was so prevalent that you’d be forgiven for thinking narcissists were as common as people named Bob. Narcissism had become the new “OCD” — that…


  • How to Stop Smiling Awkwardly in Pictures

    How to Stop Smiling Awkwardly in Pictures

    I’m told I have a terrific smile when there are no cameras around, but the second someone points a lens my direction, I turn into a robot who cannot muster a genuine grin. I look like I’m being held hostage and forced to send a false signal of comfort back home with a ransom note.…