National Bullying Prevention Month: Adult Bullies in Workplace, Friends and Family

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and, while most of the attention concerning the topic focuses on children in schools, adult bullying is a serious issue too. Bullying is an abusive behavior that involves intimidation and aggression with the bully’s intention to control another individual. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. The objective is to dominate and show some form of power psychologically, socially and/or physically. Often times people only think of bullying within the context of children in schools. While that is an ongoing issue that needs attention there are adults who are bullied that need to have their voices heard too. Manipulative adults abuse in many of the ways children do. However, it happens within the context of family, workplace, universities or colleges and cyber space. The four types of bullying include: 1. emotional and psychological 2. verbal; 3. physical; and, 4. cyber. Verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical and psychological abuse; therefore, it should not be dismissed because it’s not hands on. Bullies usually target their victims based on differences in socioeconomic status, image, demeanor, ethnic background, physical build, social status, gender, faith, political views and abilities. Race and gender are protected classes of people and  are protected by certain laws in the U.S.  Bullying can be person-to-person or it can occur in groups. It is referred to as peer abuse when it happens at school or at one’s job. It oftentimes involves abuse such as subdued behavior that isn’t immediately obvious. There are possibilities for bullying anytime human beings have contact or interact with each other. Notable environments include communities, homes, place of employment, schools, grocery stores, school...

The Psychology of Relationships: Lessons from the Bachelorette Andi Dorfman

The Psychology of Relationships: Lessons from the Bachelorette Andi Dorfman Just off the heels of the finale of another season of ABC’s The Bachelorette with Andi Dorfman, it’s a good opportunity to look at where our culture is regarding morals, relationships, and, sex. First Clare Crawley and Juan Pablo, then Andi Dorfman and Nick Viall. Before the season started, it was reported that Chris Harrison explained why Andi “was basically Sean Lowe.” We all know that was an erroneous projection. Conversely, morals and the sanctity of sex is fading. People’s standards of behavior and beliefs about what is and isn’t acceptable to do has to leave many concerned about future generations. In a recent interview with Huffington Post, Andi called Josh Murray’s proposal “sacred.” That had to have sent mixed signals to fans since she had a very different reaction to Nick Viall questioning her motive for “making love” to him in the fantasy suite. It seems a bit backwards since sex is sacred in many religions. Nick Viall appeared to be thrown off by Andi’s demeanor for the very reason that Andi was so upset with Juan Pablo Galavis after the fantasy suite experience. Andi said the fantasy suite experience with Juan Pablo was ”a disaster” and that she felt “cheap” the morning afterwards. She was so hurt and upset about her experience that she drilled him about it the next day and decided she couldn’t go on with the relationship. In a world that’s quickly changing in perspectives, morals, and values, it was refreshing to hear and see Nick express that his intimacy with Andi “meant something”...

Parenting: Ways to Deal With Defiant Teens

Ways to Deal With Defiant Teens It’s tough for parents to understand how to handle a defiant teen. The frustration comes with trying various strategies to deal with the seemingly out of control behavior and feeling like nothing is working. The ability to “get through to them” oftentimes leads to more parent teen differences and the loss of one of the primary adhesives to all healthy relationships: trust. The subsequent conflict sometimes sends teens down a road of more negative behavior. The key to turning the situation around and putting teens on a positive path is parental awareness and expressing understanding about how their teen feels. Here are some ways to do that: 1. Underlying Reason At the baseline of all of the raw emotions defiant teens express is an underlying reason. Teens have difficulties with peers, socializing, dating, school and other external relationships that may be causing misplaced aggression. For most teens, parents are their “cushion,” you are the place they go for comfort, consolation, encouragement, love and understanding. Sometimes they just want parents to listen. Then express empathy for what they are going through. Listening and empathy oftentimes turns a negative situation into a positive one. 2. Minimize Idle Time Busy teens who participate in activities tend to perform better in school, have healthier relationships with their parents and peers and are less likely to get involved with risky behavior. 3. It’s a Battlefield: Choose Wisely As teens gain more independence and continue to discover who they are as individuals, parent child differences increase. Choose situations to contend with based on their level of safety and importance....

Raising Teens: What Berkeley & Brooklyn Moms Have In Common

What Berkeley & Brooklyn Moms Have In Common Puberty’s effect on teens doesn’t begin to compare with it’s impact on moms. It is a common thread for all moms. There’s a storm of emotional, psychological, physical and social changes that occur during the adolescent years. What’s going on physically greatly affects an adolescent’s needs, desires, interests, and, emotions. As a tween and teen’s physical appearance changes, his or her social influence is altered as well. Great social influence is like putting a propeller on the range of emotional transformations adolescents go through. Physical changes, such as breast development, menstruation, facial hair, deeper voice and the like, affect children’s social experiences. Volatile hormones is not an excuse for extremes in moods and behavior, it’s a reality. Rapidly changing hormones is an explosion of chemicals racing through the body. Bodily changes can both positively and negatively affect a child’s social life. Teens who develop slower might experience less popularity than those who mature more quickly. The new attention or lack thereof affects a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Parents of teens share many of the same concerns, such as: Family Rules: Chores, Curfews, Driving, Hanging Out, Home Alone, Messy Room, Parties, Phones, Privacy, Screen Time, Social Networking, etc. ; Health and Behavior: Acne, Anger, Body Image, Cliques, Depression, Disorganization, Out of Control Teens, Eating Disorders, Fears, Friends, Insurance, Orthodontia, Passivity, Sleep, Spirituality; Activities, Events & Fun: Biking, Classes, Concerts, Friendships, Halloween, Moving, Parties, Prom, Sleepovers, Socializing, Spirituality, Sports, Summer, Travel, etc; Clothes, Grooming & Their Stuff: Acne, Allowance, Bras, Clothing, Credit Cards, Ebay, Gifts, Hair, Makeup, Phones, Tatoos, Piercings, etc.; and, Dating,...
Father Daughter Relationships: Do Daughters Marry Their Dads?

Father Daughter Relationships: Do Daughters Marry Their Dads?

The father daughter relationship is important because it is part of a girl’s foundation of love, trust and security. The father daughter relationship sets the standards for respect and what she “should” expect from boys and men in other areas of her life. A daughter’s relationship and interactions with her father is a significant predictor of the type of short-term and long-term relationships she will pursue when she starts dating, and, later on, gets married. It has been said that daughters marry their fathers. That’s largely because children learn a lot about love and life by what they observe growing up. If they observe love and kindness they tend to seek those attributes in other relationships. Alternatively, if they observe abuse and neglect, they are more inclined to seek relationships accordingly. http://www.ktxdtv.com/story/25770571/psychologist-dr-trevicia-williams-father-daughter-relationships A recent study showed that fathers and mothers bond differently with daughters: Dads feel more connected and close when they are actually “doing” things with their daughters whereas moms feel closest when they are having a conversation with their daughters. 1. Doing vs. Dialogue A recent study showed that a significant “Game Changer” with fathers and daughters sense of feeling close were shared activities especially sports! Other meaningful life events for fathers and daughters include: 1. leaving home; and, 2. getting married. While the Baylor Study showed that both fathers and daughters agreed that playing sports helped them bond the most, other activities dads said enriched their relationship included: 1. Engaging in faith based activities such as church; 2. Doing projects around the house together; and, 3. Giving their daughters driving lessons. The study also showed that...
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