Current reporting, research and professional developments across Family & Relationships, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
Psychology says people who take their kids for play dates aren't simply arranging time for children to play. Parents may use playdates to help children learn social skills, prepare for school, build ...
Psychology can help explain why simple, repetitive routines may take on emotional significance, but no single habit can provide a complete picture of someone’s personality. For some parents, using ...
A psychologist says staying curious about your partner and asking better questions can help long-term relationships feel connected again.
Here’s why parent burnout happens, how it can impact your relationship, and what you can do to recharge without the guilt.
A new study of nearly 8,000 adults suggests that when it comes to our health, avoiding conflict may matter less than having a partner who truly supports us.
Across several marriage counselors, not one ever asked Kerala Goodkin the question that should've mattered most: Do you feel safe?
Lasting love has less to do with chemistry than with 10 quiet habits couples build over years. A psychologist explains what actually predicts a long term relationship.
Psychologist and relationship expert Mark Travers says the happiest couples have stopped fighting about who's doing more. Here's how to avoid it.
Well-meaning parent groups often silence clinicians and reward conformity, leaving misinformation—and those who profit from it—unchecked.
Psychologist and relationship expert Mark Travers says the happiest couples have stopped fighting about who's doing more. Here's how to avoid it.
New research suggests a crush outside your relationship isn’t necessarily a disaster. Risk grows with dissatisfaction and pursuit of alternatives.
The more estranged divorce parents are, the less information they feel they must share with one another. This post outlines when information sharing is a must.
Psychology does not support labeling someone a narcissist, psychopath or Machiavellian simply because they said something unpleasant behind your back. People can make mistakes, vent their frustrations ...
The Orange Peel Theory is based on relationship expert John Gottman’s idea of bids for connection. These are small attempts to connect with a partner, whether by asking a question, smiling, requesting ...
Getting engaged tends to come with a flood of good feeling, ring photos, cake tastings, a growing guest list. What often gets skipped is the quieter conversation about what actually worries each ...
"Parents don’t even realize they’re relaying a false message," says psychologist Juli Fraga, who's spent 20+ years working with parents. What to say instead.
Smart Parenting Tips: Parenting goes beyond merely educating children, instilling good values, or teaching the difference between right and wrong. Children also crave an emotional connection with ...
With collaborative consequence setting, kids have less of an opportunity to think that their consequence is unfair, since they have a part in setting the consequence; the parent becomes less of an ...
Overall, her research has found that adult children who go "no contact" with one or both parents choose estrangement as a last resort and to free themselves to create a chosen family environment that ...
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That should concern all of us. Because the family isn’t a political position. It’s a developmental fact.
Asking someone for their time, help, attention or a favor always leaves room for rejection, which can feel uncomfortable for everyone involved. To make the interaction feel less awkward, the person ...
Why does your child prefer one parent over the other? Children often prefer one parent over another based on changing needs and situations. Attachment theory explains this preference as seeking a ...
Names are especially noticeable words because they directly signal who is being addressed. This makes them useful fordirecting and managing attention. Research on forms of address suggests that using ...
The first ninety seconds of a couples therapy session rarely involve a single word about the actual problem. Long before anyone mentions finances, in-laws, or the argument that started it all, an ...
Sex and Psychology was founded with the goal of sharing the science of sex and relationships in a way that is informative, engaging, and accessible. Most of us never received the sex education that we deserved—we either…
Posted August 15, 2026 | Reviewed by Margaret Foley Most people expect that once established, a long-term romantic relationship should be exclusive. All other potentially romantic connections should be severed, and the…
Difficult childhood experiences shape lifelong attachment patterns, making extreme independence feel safer than relying on others. While that mindset can foster resilience and self-reliance, it can ...
The phrase "empty nest syndrome" has long been a staple of popular culture and self-help literature, yet its casual usage ...
Every couple keeps a few things to themselves. That's normal, even healthy. But there's a difference between ordinary privacy and the kind of secret that quietly eats away at trust until one day the ...
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