-
What is the Patriarchy? A Psychological Analysis of Gender Norms
It is no secret that women’s representation in many fields has increased since the early-to-middle 20th century. Moreover, female-oriented laws to protect women’s rights have also increased. However, it seems as if the patriarchal attitudes of society still persist. Women are still underrepresented in the STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) fields. Moreover, many…
-
Psychoanalysis: Understanding Doomscrolling Through Trait Theory
The internet and our digital devices continue to expand their functions. One product of this expansion is the concept of ‘doomscrolling.’ In early 2020, the word “doomscrolling” was used to describe a trend on digital media that became more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic and social withdrawal (Barabak, 2020). According to Slaughter (2020), doomscrolling is…
-
An Introduction to Machiavellianism
Written by Abdullah Qureshi Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a diplomat from Florence. He traveled to the courts of Europe and saw directly how the leaders he supported arose and then met their demise. He wrote The Prince in an effort to get along with the new king (Machiavelli, 1966). To put it briefly, The Prince…
-
Psychoanalysis: What is the Main Character Syndrome?
Written by Abdullah Qureshi Have you ever felt that you are the hero/heroine of your story? Do you feel as if everything in your world has an effect on your ‘story’? Or, let me put it this way: have you ever felt that you are completely different from everyone around you? If you have felt…
-
Tax Kum Karo: Analyzing the Relationship Between Income, Taxes and Mental Health in Pakistan
Written by Abdullah Qureshi “If money is the bond binding me to human life, binding society to me, connecting me with nature and man, is not money the bond of all bonds? Can it not dissolve and bind all ties? Is it not, therefore, also the universal agent of separation?” Karl Marx Pakistan has entered its 5th unofficial year of economic turmoil. While…
-
Overview of The Cognitive Triad
Written by Abdullah Qureshi Aaron Beck was one of the first people to say that the way people think about things can cause negative emotional experiences. In fact, the way people think about and process personal information can maintain this depressive state. In particular, Beck’s (1979) cognitive theory says that the cognitive triad is a…
-
An Introduction to Sadism
Written by Abdullah Qureshi Sadism is a psychological construct which has a relatively sparse amount of scientific literature. This is odd as sadism as a literary construct has been under study for centuries. According to Meloy (1997), sadism is basically getting pleasure from someone else’s physical or mental pain or from controlling and dominating them.…
-
Analysis: “95 percent of Women in Pakistan are ignorant”
Written by Abdullah Qureshi In the last days of June, 2024, an episode of Mukalma with Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar aired on Samaa TV. This show caused ripples of conversation all over the Pakistani internet. Mukalma with Khalil-ur-Rehman is a show which features discussions on various topics. These conversations are usually between the titular writer, Khalil-ur-Rehman, and…
-
The Effects of Trauma on Parts of the Brain
Animals and people are more likely to have cognitive-behavioral, mental, and physical problems later on if they have traumatic events early in life. In people, stressful events are strong indicators of mental sickness. More and more studies have focused on changes in the structure and function of the brain that show how genetic changes happen…
-
The Establishment: A Pakistani Archetype
Written by Abdullah Qureshi “The power of a popular delusion lies in its ability to tap into the deepest fears, desires, and insecurities of a society, offering a false sense of security or hope in the face of uncertainty.” Charles Mackay (1832) Over the course of Pakistan’s history, many institutions have been critiqued. Zulfiqar Ali…