Psychology

Recent research and expert insight are shining new light on a highly sophisticated form of emotional manipulation known as high-level gaslighting. For Thai readers navigating complex social, workplace, or family dynamics, recognizing this subtle psychological tactic is an emerging mental health priority. Drawing on the latest findings and expert commentary from psychologists published by Parade and AOL (Parade, AOL), this in-depth report explores the hallmark behaviors of high-level gaslighters, their impact on well-being, and practical strategies for protection—contextualized for Thai society.

A recently published article by HuffPost highlights a growing trend in personal relationships known as “dry begging”—a subtle form of emotional manipulation that, according to relationship experts, is both alarmingly familiar and widely overlooked in daily life. By relying on indirect hints rather than clear communication, individuals may inadvertently weaponize emotion to get their needs met, potentially sowing resentment and misunderstanding in romantic, familial, and workplace settings alike (HuffPost).

The concept of dry begging is gaining attention for its nuanced role in emotional dynamics and its relevance in both Western and Asian contexts, including Thailand, where indirect communication often plays a part in maintaining social harmony. As Thai society continues to embrace more open dialogue around mental health and emotional wellbeing, understanding this phenomenon is crucial.

A growing body of research is shedding light on a curious phenomenon: certain everyday sounds—including seemingly harmless ones like typing, chewing, and even the repeated beeping of a microwave—can provoke intense irritation or even anger, especially among highly intelligent individuals. These findings have important implications for how society, including Thailand, understands noise sensitivity in work, school, and public life, challenging cultural norms and opening up new debates about tolerance, productivity, and well-being.

New research and expert insights are shedding light on what people really do—and don’t do—when they’re authentically in love, offering lessons that could resonate strongly with Thai readers navigating modern relationships. A recent report from YourTango, based on interviews with relationship expert Julia Flood of New Start Therapy in San Francisco and recent behavioral science findings, reveals that love is much more than grand gestures or romantic declarations; it is grounded in everyday actions that can both surprise and challenge those experiencing it for the first time (YourTango).

A new neuroimaging study reports that regular mindfulness meditation increases bodily awareness, making the brain more receptive to subtle sensations. However, this heightened openness does not automatically improve accuracy in distinguishing real sensations from imagined ones. The findings offer important nuance for Thai practitioners and health professionals exploring meditation as a wellbeing tool. Research by a team at Georg-August University Göttingen highlights how mindfulness can shift brain processing, with practical implications for education, healthcare, and daily life in Thailand.

As the cool chill of winter replaces the blazing heat of Thai summers, a growing body of research is shining a spotlight on why women are more likely than men to feel a drop in mood and energy during the darker months. Recent studies confirm that women are significantly more susceptible to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of recurrent depression that emerges as daylight hours shrink—a pattern particularly relevant for urban residents of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where work culture and indoor lifestyles can limit exposure to natural sunlight during the year’s shortest days.

A groundbreaking international study has revealed that resilience—an individual’s ability to adapt positively to stress and adversity—can significantly buffer the development of psychopathic traits in people exposed to childhood trauma. Published in the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, the findings suggest that fostering resilience may be key to reducing the risk of harmful personality tendencies among those who have faced early adversity (PsyPost).

For Thai readers, where childhood trauma and its long-term impacts are often topics handled with caution or stigma, this new research underscores a vital message: not all individuals who suffer adversity in youth are inevitably set on a path toward antisocial or emotionally detached behavior. Instead, personal resources like adaptability, problem-solving, and persistence can dramatically alter one’s life trajectory.

A groundbreaking neuroimaging study published in the scientific journal Psychophysiology suggests that people who regularly practice mindfulness meditation are more likely to notice subtle bodily sensations, but this heightened awareness does not translate into greater accuracy when detecting real versus imagined stimuli. The research provides intriguing insights into how mindfulness affects the brain’s processing of sensory information—raising both exciting possibilities and important questions for Thai practitioners and health professionals interested in meditation for well-being (PsyPost).

A growing body of research suggests a surprising link between everyday sounds and how the highly intelligent brain processes the world. Innocuous noises like typing, chewing, or a microwave’s beeps can trigger strong irritation or anger, especially for creative and high-achieving individuals. For Thai readers, this reframes workplace, classroom, and public life—challenging norms about tolerance and productivity and inviting a nuanced conversation about well-being.

At the center is misophonia, a condition marked by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds. Once seen as a fringe complaint, misophonia is gaining recognition within the scientific community. In recent years, psychologists, neuroscientists, and educators have begun to explore its prevalence and impact. The topic has entered mainstream discourse through articles that examine how people with high cognitive or creative abilities may be particularly sensitive to sound, prompting reflection on social expectations and personal health.

A new international study shows resilience—the ability to adapt well to stress—can lessen the development of psychopathic traits in people who experienced childhood trauma. The research, published in a psychology journal focused on trauma, suggests fostering resilience could help reduce harmful personality tendencies among those who faced adversity early in life. For Thai readers, this finding carries a hopeful message: adversity in youth does not determine one’s future, and personal strengths like adaptability and problem-solving can change life paths.

A recent HuffPost piece highlights a rising dynamic in personal relationships: a pattern described as “dry begging.” This subtle form of emotional manipulation relies on indirect hints rather than direct requests, leaving partners to guess and often feel pressured to read between the lines. Expert commentary suggests this behavior is common, yet frequently overlooked in everyday life and can strain romantic, familial, and workplace bonds. The article notes the pattern exists across Western and Asian contexts, including Thailand, where indirect communication helps preserve social harmony.

New research clarifies what truly signals authentic love. Based on expert interviews and recent behavioral science, love is less about grand gestures and more about everyday choices that shape lasting relationships. A recent YourTango piece cites relationship expert Julia Flood and studies on how couples grow together, highlighting that love involves steady actions beyond initial romance.

Love resonates deeply in Thai culture, from epic tales and luk thung songs about heartbreak to modern K-dramas and dating apps. These influences shape how Thais interpret romance in fast-changing urban life. Understanding new scientific perspectives can help couples reflect on their own expectations and paths to genuine connection.

A growing wave of science is helping explain why women are more likely to experience mood dips during the darker months. Research shows women have a higher risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of recurrent depression that tends to flare as daylight wanes. This trend is especially relevant for Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where indoor work and urban living can limit sun exposure during the year’s shortest days.

A recent study highlighted by Psychology Today has reignited debate over age-gap relationships by revealing fresh insights into who tends to be happier—the younger, or the older partner. The research, coming at a time of growing openness around non-traditional relationships in Thailand and globally, adds a nuanced layer to public understanding of how age differences impact romantic satisfaction.

In Thai culture, where traditional values often place an emphasis on marrying within similar age brackets, couples with large age gaps may still face societal scrutiny, despite some high-profile exceptions in celebrity and business circles. Similar debates play out internationally, prompting social scientists to explore whether these perceptions match lived experience for couples with notable age differences.

A fresh study, highlighted by Psychology Today, explores whether younger or older partners in significant age-gap relationships experience more happiness. The findings add nuance to how Thai readers understand romantic satisfaction amid growing acceptance of non-traditional relationships.

In Thailand, where traditional norms often favor similar-age marriages, couples with notable age differences still face social scrutiny despite high-profile examples in media and business. Globally, researchers are examining how culture shapes perceptions of age gaps and whether lived experiences align with common assumptions.

A new study challenges the age-old assumption that more sex always leads to happier relationships, suggesting instead that the link between sexual frequency and satisfaction is far more nuanced than previously thought. Using advanced statistical analyses on a large European dataset, researchers found that while frequent intimacy is indeed important for many couples, a significant minority can be perfectly content with little or no sex at all—a finding with meaningful implications for couples in Thailand and around the world.

A breakthrough study reframes depression by showing that how we manage emotions matters as much as what we think. Researchers used network modeling to map how cognitive abilities, emotion regulation strategies, and depressive symptoms influence one another. The work highlights rumination as a central bridge between thinking and mood, offering new directions for treatment that focus on managing negative feelings. The findings, published in a leading journal of affective disorders, have meaningful implications for Thai clinicians and people seeking practical ways to build emotional resilience.

A recent breakthrough study is transforming our understanding of depression, revealing that the ways we manage our emotions—not just how we think—hold the key to mood disorders. Researchers using advanced network modeling have mapped out tangled links between cognitive abilities, emotion regulation strategies, and depressive symptoms, suggesting new hope for treatments targeting the heart of the problem: how we handle negative feelings, especially rumination. Their findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, have important implications for Thai mental health professionals and individuals seeking ways to build emotional resilience.

A recent wave of international rankings has put Singapore in the spotlight, designating the city-state as the third happiest city in the world, behind only Copenhagen and Zurich according to the 2025 Happy City Index (CNBC). Yet, this glowing reputation has triggered a complex reaction among Singaporeans themselves, echoing a broader debate across Asia—including Thailand—about what true happiness means in highly structured societies.

Singapore’s strong position on the index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, was determined by an extensive assessment across six key categories: citizens’ well-being, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Notably, 2025 marks the first year the index included health in its evaluation—an addition reflecting increased global concerns about physical and mental wellness after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A surge of international rankings has spotlighted Singapore as the third happiest city worldwide, after Copenhagen and Zurich, according to the 2025 Happy City Index. The result has sparked both pride and questions among Singaporeans and across Asia, including Thailand, about what true happiness means in highly organized, fast-changing societies.

The index, published by the Institute for the Quality of Life, evaluates six pillars: citizens’ well-being, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. Notably, 2025 is the first year health is included, reflecting rising awareness of physical and mental wellness in a post-pandemic era. While such metrics signal strength in public health, education, safety, and governance, residents on social media wonder about the daily reality behind the numbers: crowded urban life, long work hours, and the high cost of living can dampen perceived happiness even in top-ranked cities.

A new study challenges the assumption that more sex always means a happier relationship. Using advanced statistics on a large European dataset, researchers show that the link between sexual frequency and satisfaction is nuanced. While many couples benefit from regular intimacy, a notable minority report contentment with little or no sex. This has meaningful implications for couples in Thailand and beyond.

For Thai readers, the question is often delicate and personal: How important is regular sex to a successful partnership? Unlike metrics such as blood pressure or sleep, there is no universal standard for sexual frequency. This leaves partners negotiating private expectations and definitions of harmony within relationships. In Thailand, cultural norms around privacy, modesty, and family roles can intensify these conversations, occasionally making it hard to discuss sexual satisfaction even with relatives or counselors.

A wave of fresh scientific insight is reshaping how educators, parents, and society understand intelligence. It isn’t a fixed trait but a malleable, multi-dimensional ability that can be nurtured over a lifetime. Drawing on recent work in psychology and education, experts argue that intelligence evolves through a mix of genetics and environment and can be strengthened with targeted strategies at school and home, with insights shared by reputable sources in the field.

A wave of fresh scientific insight is reshaping how educators, parents, and society at large understand intelligence—not as a fixed trait, but as an adaptable, multi-dimensional capacity that can be nurtured across a person’s lifetime. Drawing from recent research published in Psychology Today and the seminal work “Tenacity in Children,” experts now argue that intelligence, far from being etched in stone, is instead an evolving skill—a product of both genetic wiring and environmental influences—that can be cultivated through focused strategies in school and home environments (Psychology Today).

A large international study identifies four psychological profiles among video game players, shedding light on how emotional regulation and attachment styles influence both healthy and problematic gaming. The research, published in Addictive Behaviors, analyzed responses from more than 5,000 gamers across 112 countries, offering nuanced insights that challenge stereotypes about gaming addiction and mental health. Research by leading psychology institutes shows that gaming can be a source of both comfort and risk, depending on individual emotional and social contexts.