Article co-authored with @PSY.CORE___ The Rorschach Test represents one of the most complex and studied psychodiagnostic tools in the history of clinical psychology. Introduced by Hermann Rorschach in 1921, the test is based on the idea that the perception of ambiguous stimuli can reveal profound aspects of psychological functioning, not always accessible through self-report methods (Rorschach, 1921).  Contrary to the collective imagination that reduces it to a simple interpr

Article written in collaboration with @GIULIAMATO.PSICOLOGA The contribution of the Palo Alto School and, in particular, Paul Watzlawick, Janet H. Beavin, and Don D. Jackson, represented a turning point in the study of human communication. With the publication of Pragmatics of Human Communication (Watzlawick, Beavin, & Jackson, 1967), communication is observed not only as the transmission of content, but as a circular, complex and decisive process for the construction of rela

Article written in collaboration with @_psicoparole What Are Lucid Dreams Lucid dreams are a phenomenon in which individuals become aware, while dreaming, that the experience they are living is in fact a dream. This particular form of awareness has been described in the scientific literature as a hybrid state combining cognitive processes typical of wakefulness with the vivid imagery of REM sleep. The first systematic experimental work on lucidity dates back to Stephen LaBerg

Post written in collaboration with  @luisazaccarelli_psicoterapeuta Introduction Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a clinical construct introduced by Somer (2002) to describe an intense, prolonged, and difficult-to-control form of imaginative activity, characterized by complex, narratively structured, and highly emotionally engaging fantasies. Unlike common mind-wandering or normative daydreaming, MD is associated with a significant impairment of daily functioning, interfering

Article written in collaboration with: @inpsycheveritas_ Introduction Cognitive dissonance is a fundamental concept in social psychology, introduced by Leon Festinger in 1957. It describes the psychological discomfort that arises when our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors are not consistent with one another. This phenomenon is not limited to major life decisions; it also manifests in everyday choices, such as time management or eating habits (Festinger, 1957; Cooper, 2019). Un

Article written in collaboration with @ro.clemente_psi Introduction In recent decades, mindfulness has gained an increasingly central role within clinical psychology and scientific research. Initially associated with contemplative practices of Eastern origin, mindfulness has progressively been integrated into Western psychological models through rigorous conceptual and methodological operationalization. This process has made it possible to transform a traditional practice int

Introduction In the context of social interactions, individuals frequently tend to perceive themselves as the object of intense and constant attention from others. This belief, although subjectively compelling, is often disproportionate to the actual attention received. Social psychology has identified this phenomenon as the spotlight effect , conceptualizing it as a systematic distortion of social judgment. Understanding this effect is essential for explaining many experienc

Article written in collaboration with @ ape_info Introduction The Robbers Cave Experiment conducted by Muzafer Sherif and colleagues in the ’50 years is considered one of the most influential studies in social psychology on intergroup dynamics and the genesis of conflict. The three-phase experiment reconstructed in a controlled manner how group identity, competition for limited resources, and cooperation toward shared goals could rapidly transform relationships between groups

What Are Sensitive Periods in Development Sensitive periods in development are time windows during which the nervous system shows heightened receptivity to specific environmental inputs, making certain forms of learning faster and more efficient than at other stages of life. During these phases, the interaction between neurobiological maturation and experience plays a crucial role in shaping cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. The concept originates from developme

Article written in collaboration with  @sofiapsicoterapia  The Therapeutic Alliance: Theoretical Foundations and Its Role in the Healing Process The therapeutic alliance is considered one of the strongest predictors of psychotherapy outcomes, regardless of the theoretical model adopted. In his influential formulation, Bordin (1979) defines it as a construct composed of three key elements: agreement on goals, agreement on tasks, and the emotional bond. This definition has made

Article written in collaboration with @UNA.PED Introduction to Meaningful Learning The idea that “we don’t learn by heart, we learn what makes sense” is rooted in learning psychology and constructivist theories, which emphasize that the mind is not a passive container but an active system of interpretation. Learning becomes deep when new content integrates with what we already know, generating understanding, connections, and personal meaning (Ausubel, 1968). Numerous studies

Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko  remains one of cinema’s most haunting and multifaceted explorations of the boundary between psychosis, existential crisis, and metaphysical possibility. The film invites not only speculative fan-interpretation, but grounded psychological reflection: its protagonist (Donnie Darko) inhabits a world in which time, causality, self, and the world itself fracture — a fitting metaphor for major psychopathology, yet also a poetic allegory of meaning-maki

Post written in collaboration with @DOTT.SSA_AURORAANSALDO A psychological reading of our bond with smartphones, social media, and digital environments In recent years, everyday life has become increasingly intertwined with technology. Smartphones and digital platforms are no longer mere tools: they have become constant companions, relational spaces, and places where we build and express our identity. The online world is not an “elsewhere,” but an authentic extension of our l

Post written in collaboration with @lastanzadellapsy Introduction: The expectation of immediate transformation Many people enter therapy with the hope that the psychotherapist can provide clear answers, direct suggestions, or some sort of magical indication capable of dispelling complex doubts and dilemmas. This expectation does not arise from naivety, but from an understandable desire to quickly alleviate suffering and regain stability. In contemporary culture, oriented towa

Psychological Time: Elasticity, Perception, and Subjective Experience In his iconic painting The Persistence of Memory  (1931), Salvador Dalí explores the fluid nature of time through his famous “soft watches.” This visual distortion corresponds closely to what cognitive psychology describes as psychological time , the time as it is perceived , not measured. Research on temporal perception shows that humans do not experience time as a stable, uniform line but as a highly vari

Article written in collaboration with @ neurosnack_official Read the original article  What is sleep paralysis and why it happens Sleep paralysis is a state in which the person becomes mentally awake while the body still remains in typical REM sleep paralysis. At this moment, one is completely aware of the environment, but unable to move or speak (Farooq & Anjum, 2023). This condition results from a lack of synchronization between brain awakening and the end of REM muscle ato

Post written in collaboration with @blueadhd In recent years, we have been hearing more and more about neurodiversity and neurodivergence, two terms that seem similar but which, in reality, refer to distinct concepts. Understanding the difference is essential to promoting a more inclusive and scientifically correct view of the human mind. The concept of neurodiversity The term neurodiversity was born in the ’90s thanks to sociologist Judy Singer (1999), who proposed to consid

Written in collaboration with @psicoavventure Referenced Article : Paranjothy, S. M., & Wade, T. D. (2024). A meta-analysis of disordered eating and its association with self-criticism and self-compassion. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 57(3), 473–536. Introduction In recent years, research on eating disorders has progressively been oriented towards a more complex and integrated vision, which considers not only eating behaviors and body image, but also the cogniti

Created in collaboration with @gioquasipsy Human development is a continuous, complex, and multidimensional process involving biological, cognitive, emotional, and social factors. It does not follow a linear path, but is built through dynamic interactions between the individual and the environment (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). Major developmental theories have sought to understand how these components intertwine throughout life. Freud, Erikson, Piaget, and Vygotsky represent four f

In 2025 (I refer to the update performed on 29/10/2025), the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS)  released the updated version of the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children and Adolescents . The document, developed by a multidisciplinary working group  coordinated by Maria Luisa Scattoni  and Primiano Iannone , constitutes an essential reference for clinical practice and the organization of