All posts tagged: Insecure

People Who Truly Love Themselves In Midlife Tend To Let Go Of These 5 Insecurities | Nadine Macaluso

People Who Truly Love Themselves In Midlife Tend To Let Go Of These 5 Insecurities | Nadine Macaluso

Published by Jenni Sidey

Loving yourself in midlife doesn’t happen all at once; it’s something you grow into, often after years of second-guessing yourself, people-pleasing, or carrying around insecurities you didn’t even realize were shaping your life.  Research suggests that learning to truly love yourself is one of the hardest things to do, but people who truly love themselves in midlife have learned to stop letting certain insecurities control how they think and feel. Instead of chasing approval or avoiding discomfort, they start to trust themselves, speak honestly, and let go of the habits that once held them back. Here are the insecurities people who truly love themselves in midlife tend to leave behind. People who truly love themselves in midlife tend to let go of these 5 insecurities: 1. The need to suppress or avoid their emotions Miljan Zivkovic via Shutterstock Recall a time when you felt anger, sadness, or anxiety. You probably felt it in your throat, chest, heart, or stomach — this is the core of your body. A study helped show how you can self-reference by …

‘Deeply insecure’: Why Bangladeshi minorities are scared ahead of elections | Bangladesh Election 2026

‘Deeply insecure’: Why Bangladeshi minorities are scared ahead of elections | Bangladesh Election 2026

Published by Sam Flores

Dhaka, Bangladesh — Sukumar Pramanik, a Hindu teacher in Rajshahi city – about 250km (155 miles) from Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka – says the country’s upcoming national election could be his final test of trust in politics. Electoral periods in Bangladesh have seen spikes in communal and political violence throughout the country’s history, with religious minorities often bearing the brunt amid intense political competition and social tension. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list But since August 2024, and the end of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule, minorities in Bangladesh have felt under siege, with reports of attacks, killings and arson against their property, even though the government insists that most incidents were not motivated by religious hate. That backdrop has intensified fears ahead of the February 12 election, despite efforts by leading political parties to reach out to minority communities. “The leaders of major parties have assured us that we will be safe before and after the vote,” Pramanik said, but faith in politicians runs low in his community at the moment. After the …

Vulnerable narcissism is strongly associated with insecure attachment, study finds

Vulnerable narcissism is strongly associated with insecure attachment, study finds

Published by José Betancourt

A new meta-analysis provides evidence that the quality of emotional bonds formed in adulthood is connected to specific types of narcissism. The findings indicate that insecure attachment styles are strong risk factors for vulnerable narcissism, whereas grandiose narcissism appears largely unrelated to these attachment patterns. This research was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Psychologists classify narcissism into two primary subtypes that share antagonistic traits but differ in their expression. Grandiose narcissism is characterized by extraversion, aggression, and a dominant interpersonal style. Individuals with these traits tend to have an inflated sense of self-importance and often seek to control others. Vulnerable narcissism presents a different profile marked by introversion and high neuroticism. People with high levels of vulnerable narcissism possess a fragile sense of self and are hypersensitive to the opinions of others. They often display a defensive form of grandiosity that masks deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Narcissistic traits are associated with various negative outcomes in life, particularly within interpersonal relationships. Romantic partnerships involving narcissistic individuals often suffer from a lack of commitment …

If Someone Uses These 11 Phrases When They Talk To You, They’re Usually Ridiculously Insecure

If Someone Uses These 11 Phrases When They Talk To You, They’re Usually Ridiculously Insecure

Published by Jenni Sidey

Insecurity is something we have all felt at some point. Our nagging inner voice tells us we’re not good enough or that we’ll never amount to anything. Sometimes, it can be so overwhelming that it changes the way we interact with the people in our lives. We want to look as cool, calm, and collected as possible, but based on the words we use, people perceive us quite differently than we expect. Whether it’s putting themselves down for not knowing something or over-apologizing, if someone uses these phrases when they talk to you, they’re usually ridiculously insecure. For some, it’s easier to work through those feelings of insecurity; for others, it’s something they constantly struggle to cope with. They feel inadequate and like they’re never smart enough or good enough. When speaking with others, they may try to hide those feelings in ways that can end up being disastrous. Because instead of being upfront about their emotions, they appear as though they know it all as a way to convey a false sense of confidence. …

Trump supporters and insecure men more likely to value a large penis, according to new research

Trump supporters and insecure men more likely to value a large penis, according to new research

Published by José Betancourt

New research published in the journal Psychology of Men & Masculinities provides evidence that men who feel insecure about their masculinity are more likely to place a high value on having a large penis. The findings suggest that for some men, the penis serves as a symbol of status and dominance, and the desire for a larger one is partly driven by feelings of humiliation regarding failures to meet social expectations of manhood. Men’s concerns regarding penis size are often treated as a source of amusement in popular culture. Despite the comedic treatment, these preoccupations can have serious negative consequences for men’s mental health, sexual satisfaction, and romantic relationships. Previous observations by historians and scientists have suggested that the human penis functions as an organ of display intended to signal status to other men. The authors of the current study sought to empirically test the psychological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. “For many years, I had noticed that men seemed to have an interest in penis size and to admire large penises. I found it curious …

Insecure attachment is linked to Machiavellian personality traits

Insecure attachment is linked to Machiavellian personality traits

Published by José Betancourt

A new analysis of psychological data suggests that manipulative personality traits may stem from deep-seated insecurities regarding social bonding. Researchers found that individuals who struggle to form secure emotional attachments are more likely to exhibit characteristics associated with Machiavellianism. These findings indicate that dark personality traits may function as defensive mechanisms developed in response to unstable relationships. The study was published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. To understand these findings, it is necessary to look at two distinct areas of psychological research. The first area is the concept of Machiavellianism. This construct draws its name from Niccolò Machiavelli and his political philosophy. It represents a personality trait defined by a willingness to manipulate others, a cynical view of human nature, and a belief that the ends justify the means. Psychologists often group Machiavellianism with narcissism and psychopathy under the umbrella of the “Dark Triad.” People with high levels of this trait are often described as having a “cool syndrome.” They tend to detach emotionally from others to maintain control. They view other …

People Aren’t Lying About Reading. You’re Just Insecure.

People Aren’t Lying About Reading. You’re Just Insecure.

Published by José Betancourt

It’s that time of year again on the bookish internet: the time when we all gather together to talk about our favorite books of the year, our least favorites, and how we did on our reading goals. This should be a moment to trade book recommendations, celebrate our fellow readers’ wins, and look forward to all the excellent books coming out in the upcoming year. Instead, book influencers on every platform can look forward to an influx of comments that say something like, “Some of us can’t read that much because we have full-time jobs. And children.” Some will ask, “How do you read so much?” while others will subtly — or not-so-subtly — imply that the creator didn’t really read 50 or 100 or 400 books this year. Commenters rush in to litigate those numbers: audiobooks don’t count. And graphic novels don’t count. And romance doesn’t really count. Neither does YA. Or novellas. Some people even make their own TikToks to reassure others that no one is reading hundreds of books by any definition: they’re all lying about …