Welcome to the Weekly Medius PsychNews. Every week, we select five thought-provoking Psychology articles from hundreds published in journals and other media. Psychology Drives Everything.

 

 Explaining the power of curiosity – to your brain, hunger for knowledge is much the same as hunger for food:
Curiosity is a welcome trait in many respects and is the fuel that powers science. Yet literature is filled with fables that warn of the seductive danger of curiosity (think of how Orpheus loses his wife Eurydice forever after he succumbs to the temptation to glimpse at the underworld). In real life too, we all know the regret that can follow if we give in to curiosity – glancing at a private message that we shouldn’t have, for instance; reading a TV review when we know it contains spoilers; or trying out what happens if you put metal in a microwave (tip: don’t). Full article.


Why Put Meaning First?
The search for meaning is a megatrend of the new millennium. Other things being equal, people whom I would describe as living and working with meaning as their primary source of motivation are more passionate, more engaged, and more resilient than those who are unaware of the need for meaning or those for whom meaning is not a targeted destination on their life path. Against this backdrop, let’s take a look at some of the likely benefits from the commitment to put and keep Meaning First in everyday life and work. Full article.
What's the Best Way to Treat a First Bout of Depression?
Every year, millions of individuals come to know the pain of major depression for the first time. It can be a bewildering experience, with many people not even realizing their struggles are related to depression (as I've written about before in "Can You Be Depressed Without Knowing It? I Was").  In the midst of these difficulties, a person faces an important decision: What is the best way to treat my depression? Options include talking with close friends and family members, self-help books and apps, over-the-counter remedies, psychotherapy, and prescription medication, among others. Many people find these choices overwhelming and are not sure where to begin, especially because it's their first time dealing with depression. Full article.
The Fear of Being Alone:
In my work as a clinical psychologist, I’ve seen countless patients over the years with a similar presenting concern — the fear of being alone. They tell me about the discomfort they feel when spending time by themselves and their strategies for avoiding being alone. They describe spending time with people they don’t actually enjoy, compulsively talking on the phone to fill the silence, and reflexively turning on the TV when they enter their apartment, just to not have to experience being alone with themselves. Years ago, one patient even admitted that the primary reason she decided to become a mother was to protect herself from being alone. Full article.