The Psychology of your 20s
- Episódios
- 475
- Publicação
- várias vezes por semana
- Último episódio
- 22 out 2026
Sobre o podcast
A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Episódios 475
472. What ACTUALLY makes people compatible?
Is a 'spark' all that it takes to be compatible in the long-term? What about sharing the same interests, personality or sense of humour? Or is it something more deep and intangible? In today’s episode, we …
Notas do episódio
Is a 'spark' all that it takes to be compatible in the long-term? What about sharing the same interests, personality or sense of humour? Or is it something more deep and intangible? In today’s episode, we explore what ACTUALLY makes two people right for each other, and why the things that draw us together aren’t always the things that keep us together.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We discuss:
Chemistry versus long-term compatibility
Why shared values matter more than shared hobbies
The importance of feeling understood, appreciated and responded to (i.e the Gottman's theory of responsiveness)
How the belief in soulmates can shape your relationship
The Four Horsemen that erode connection
What an argument can reveal about your future together
Whether you’re dating someone new or reflecting on a long-term relationship, this episode explores what it means to build a love that lasts, through change, conflict and the thousands of little choices we make along the way.
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
471. The psychology of weddings
Why is there so much pressure for your wedding to be the best day of your life? And what happens when that pressure gets in the way of actually enjoying it? Today, we’re unpacking the psychology of weddings …
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Why is there so much pressure for your wedding to be the best day of your life? And what happens when that pressure gets in the way of actually enjoying it? Today, we’re unpacking the psychology of weddings: the expectations, money, family dynamics and friendship tensions that come with saying “I do”.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We explore:
Why the “perfect wedding” can leave us feeling disappointed
How weddings became such extravagant events
Social media, comparison and the pressure to spend more
The surprising relationship between wedding spending and divorce
Why weddings can expose cracks in our friendships
The psychology of elopements ...
Whether you’re planning a wedding, attending your sixth this year or wondering whether to skip the whole thing, let’s talk about keeping the celebration from overshadowing the relationship.
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
470. Are the love languages a big myth?
Do you really have a love language? And does learning your partner’s actually make your relationship better? In this bonus episode of our debunking psychology series, we unpack the truth behind one of the most …
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Do you really have a love language? And does learning your partner’s actually make your relationship better? In this bonus episode of our debunking psychology series, we unpack the truth behind one of the most popular ideas in modern dating. We explore:
Where the five love languages came from and their religious roots
The controversial advice in Gary Chapman’s original book
What the research actually says about love languages and relationship satisfaction
Why lasting love might need a “balanced diet” of affection
Partner responsiveness and what it means to feel understood, valued and cared for
Find all episodes of DEBUNKING PSYCHOLOGY: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected] The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
469. The psychology of embarrassment
We blush, we look away, we replay the moment for hours (or years) after it happened, becoming convinced that everyone noticed far more than they probably did. Embarrassment is an interesting and complex …
Notas do episódio
We blush, we look away, we replay the moment for hours (or years) after it happened, becoming convinced that everyone noticed far more than they probably did. Embarrassment is an interesting and complex emotion, but it can help us recognise social expectations and communicate how our behaviour affects others.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We explore:
• When we first develop the capacity to feel embarrassed
• Why we blush and the role of embarrassment in trust
• Why some of us feel embarrassment more than others
• The role of rumination
• The psychological and social role of embarrassment
• How we can form a better relationship with itFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0025403
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/desc.70024
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
468. The psychology of brain fog
Brain fog is so much more than just feeling tired. It's that frustrating feeling of knowing what you want to say or do, but your brain simply won't cooperate. And whilst it's incredibly common, we're only just …
Notas do episódio
Brain fog is so much more than just feeling tired. It's that frustrating feeling of knowing what you want to say or do, but your brain simply won't cooperate. And whilst it's incredibly common, we're only just beginning to understand what actually causes it.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
In today's episode, we're breaking down the fascinating new research behind brain fog, including:
The three main causes of brain fog, from physical depletion to cognitive overload and neurological disruption
Why chronic stress, anxiety and mental load can leave your brain feeling exhausted
The surprising links between brain fog, inflammation, long COVID and gut health
Why women may be more susceptible to brain fog
The science of sleep, nutrition and the brain's natural cleaning system
What actually helps clear brain fog, beyond just drinking more water and getting more rest
Extra links:
Brain fog and trauma: HERE
Brain fog and ADHD: HERE
Brain fog and food: HERE
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
467. The psychology of the cab theory
Does the taxi cab theory actually explain why some people suddenly become ready to settle down, or is it just another dating myth? In this episode, we’re breaking down the psychology behind the infamous, Sex …
Notas do episódio
Does the taxi cab theory actually explain why some people suddenly become ready to settle down, or is it just another dating myth?
In this episode, we’re breaking down the psychology behind the infamous, Sex and The City taxi cab theory and asking whether timing really can determine who we end up with. We explore commitment readiness, the social clock, why our relationship priorities change as we age, and the painful psychology of watching someone give their next partner everything they refused to give you.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We discuss:
• The psychology behind the taxi cab theory
• Why someone can suddenly become “ready” for commitment
• The foster girlfriend phenomenon
• Why timing matters, but compatibility matters more
• How to tell when someone is genuinely serious about you
• Why waiting for someone’s “light to switch on” can keep you stuckFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
466. How your environment programs your behaviour (and how to deprogram yourself)
How much of your behaviour is really “you” - and how much has been shaped by the environments around you? In this episode, we explore how childhood, relationships, social expectations, habits and physical …
Notas do episódio
How much of your behaviour is really “you” - and how much has been shaped by the environments around you? In this episode, we explore how childhood, relationships, social expectations, habits and physical spaces can influence the way we think, feel and behave. From nervous-system responses and beliefs about what is possible for us, to the people we pursue, the habits we repeat and the versions of ourselves that present in different places, we look at the psychology of how environments programme our behaviour.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We explore:
● What our ‘environment’ can include
● Impacts of childhood experiences on our nervous system
● Where our belief of what it possible or attainable comes from
● How relational environments shape our pursuit of love
● How our environment shapes our habits
● The impact of our physical environment on our personalitiesFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02309.xhttps://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-33544-001
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.883795/full
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-08705-013
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
465. The psychology of the placebo effect
In this bonus episode, we’re looking at the placebo effect - what it is, how it became an important part of medical research, and why an inactive treatment can sometimes produce genuine changes how we feel, and …
Notas do episódio
In this bonus episode, we’re looking at the placebo effect - what it is, how it became an important part of medical research, and why an inactive treatment can sometimes produce genuine changes how we feel, and what this tells us about the relationship between the brain, body and experience of receiving care.
The FULL Debunking Psychology playlist: HERE
We explore:
• How placebos became an important part of scientific research
• Some of the earliest placebo experiments
• Why our expectations can change the way we experience symptoms
• Whether the placebo effect produces real, biological changes
• Why the ritual of receiving care may itself influence how we feel
• Whether placebo effects represent genuine, lasting changeFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
464. The psychology of cults
From abusive MLM’s and wellness programs to doomsday sects and UFO religions, we’re all fascinated by cults. Their mystery offers us a way to explore the darkest recesses of human behaviour, while remaining …
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From abusive MLM’s and wellness programs to doomsday sects and UFO religions, we’re all fascinated by cults. Their mystery offers us a way to explore the darkest recesses of human behaviour, while remaining seemingly out of their reach. But how do we actually define a cult?
Watch on Netflix: HERE
In this episode, we look at popular examples of cults, understand how they’re organised and recruit followers, and examine what makes some people so vulnerable to joining. We unpack:
• How a cult is defined, featuring the BITE model of authoritarian control
• What makes cult leaders so distinctive - and dangerous
• The (often surprising) tactics cults will employ to get people to join
• How people behave during and in the aftermath of leaving a cult
• Why there are cults all around us today, and people are still drawn to themFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
463. The 5 reasons you’re not as behind as you think
In our 20s, we’re all vulnerable to feeling that we’re falling behind. Whether it be chasing the perfect job, relationship, friends, living situation, trip abroad, or something else, we’re led to believe that …
Notas do episódio
In our 20s, we’re all vulnerable to feeling that we’re falling behind. Whether it be chasing the perfect job, relationship, friends, living situation, trip abroad, or something else, we’re led to believe that there’s a certain window of time that we should be achieving certain milestones within. In this episode, we unpack:
• Why social media makes us compare ourselves with ‘the best’
• The figures behind what people in their 20s really have - and don’t
• How milestone anxiety and the social clock make us panic
• How we can reframe envy as a useful compass
• Why life circumstances mean we might have a different ‘starting line’ to other people
• Why you’re not delulu - things really are getting harder!Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40888380/
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/uk/savings/average-savings-by-age-in-uk/
https://jessup.edu/blog/cultural-impact/why-do-adults-adhere-to-a-social-clock/#:~:text=Social%20psychologist%20Bernice%20Neugarten%20identified,purchase%20a%20home%2C%20and%20retireThe Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
462. The truth about the Stanford Prison Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment is one of the most famous studies in psychology, but also one of the most controversial. In this bonus episode, we look at what actually happened in the basement of Stanford …
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The Stanford Prison Experiment is one of the most famous studies in psychology, but also one of the most controversial. In this bonus episode, we look at what actually happened in the basement of Stanford University in 1971.
We explore:
- The landscape of psychological research at the time of the study
- How participants were selected and assigned roles
- The theatrical procedure of the study
- The unexpected outcomes and why it was stopped early
- Ethical lessons around consent and researcher responsibility
- Why the study is so influential to our understanding of institutions, power and authority
The Debunking Psychology series: HERE
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
http://pdf.prisonexp.org/ijcp1973.pdf
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol10/iss1/5/
https://gen.medium.com/the-lifespan-of-a-lie-d869212b1f62The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
461. 10 things I NEEDED 21 year old me to know
If I could sit down with my 21-year-old self, there are a few things I would definitely want to say. Today, I'm going to say them, like 'don't even THINK about moving in with that guy, use your savings account …
Notas do episódio
If I could sit down with my 21-year-old self, there are a few things I would definitely want to say. Today, I'm going to say them, like 'don't even THINK about moving in with that guy, use your savings account, care less about grades' and a few more. I also asked you guys, the listeners, about your biggest regrets from your early 20s so we can all learn from each other (how nice is that).
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We discuss:
- Why the right relationship should expand your life, not shrink it
- Why you shouldn’t rush into adulthood
- Financial avoidance and learning to actually save
- Why audacity can matter just as much as hard work
- Caring less about grades and more about experience
- Why nobody can tell you exactly how to live your 20s
Happy listening and drop yours below!
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
460. The psychology of 'good girl' syndrome
Many of us are conditioned to believe that being described as kind, nice, accommodating and generous are the key to overall happiness. But when these traits veer into Good Girl Syndrome, we can be left with a …
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Many of us are conditioned to believe that being described as kind, nice, accommodating and generous are the key to overall happiness. But when these traits veer into Good Girl Syndrome, we can be left with a pathological need to please others, be hypervigilant towards others’ emotions, and ultimately suppress how we really feel. In this episode, we explore the origins of Good Girl Syndrome, understand the mental and physical cost of emotional suppression, and learn how to challenge this early social conditioning.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We unpack:
- Why women are particularly vulnerable to Good Girl Syndrome
- How trying to be liked shows up personally and professionally
- The link between a high score on the Silencing the Self Scale and depression
- Why it can be harder to break Good Girl habits as we get older
- The ways we can challenge Good Girl Syndrome traits
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://reachlink.com/advice/general/good-girl-syndrome-why-compliance-destroys-mental-health/
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a34642791/good-girl-complex/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362662346_Appendix_A_The_Silencing_the_Self_ScaleThe Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
459. I'm so tired of being ambitious
Ambition feels like my entire personality and I'm trying to fix that. Who are we beyond our ambition? In a world that only cares about success, output and productivity, what do we feel like we'll lose when we …
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Ambition feels like my entire personality and I'm trying to fix that. Who are we beyond our ambition? In a world that only cares about success, output and productivity, what do we feel like we'll lose when we slow down?
Watch on Netflix: HERE
In this episode I explore:
- The psychology of highly ambitious people
- The lies that ambition tells us
- How ambition steals your joy
- How to value yourself beyond your output
- What matters more than ambition
- The way to slow ambition and why it builds more
If you can relate, this is the episode for you!
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
458. Can embracing stress actually help us?
Stress has a reputation for burning us out, torching our relationships and even causing our lives to end prematurely. But not all stress is created equal. In this episode, we explore the difference between …
Notas do episódio
Stress has a reputation for burning us out, torching our relationships and even causing our lives to end prematurely. But not all stress is created equal. In this episode, we explore the difference between eustress - good stress - and distress, understand why our experience of stress is rooted in our perception of it, and understand how we can harness stress as a powerful force for motivation, energy and well-being.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We unpack:
• The difference between eustress - good stress - and distress
• Why avoiding stress can actually cause cognitive decline
• The dangers of too much stress on our bodies and minds
• The Yerkes-Dodson law and the ‘sweet spot’ of stress
• How we can reframe our approach to stress to create our own ‘biology of courage’Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU&vl=en
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8384975/
https://www.healthline.com/health/yerkes-dodson-lawThe Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
457. The psychology of 'false' memories
We treat our memories like a reliable recording of the past. We remember what happened, how we felt, where we were, and what was said. But what if our account is more like a subjective recollection of events? …
Notas do episódio
We treat our memories like a reliable recording of the past. We remember what happened, how we felt, where we were, and what was said. But what if our account is more like a subjective recollection of events? In this episode, we explore the concept of false memories – how they form, why this matters in our everyday lives, and their more serious potential impacts.
We explore:
• The cognitive mechanisms behind false memories
• The misinformation effect and the car crash study
• Why our memories are open to imagination, repetition and social influence
• Potential consequences of false memories in news reporting and eyewitness testimony
• The importance of ethical therapeutic practices and memoryWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://innocenceproject.org/dna-exonerations-in-the-united-states/ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/memory-mind-and-media/article/fake-memories-a-metaanalysis-on-the-effect-of-fake-news-on-the-creation-of-false-memories-and-false-beliefs/B6A66A305AFD6724E1C1C56A68BB5CF2https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0021-9010.83.3.360
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022537174800113?via%3Dihub
https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/BF03196174
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
456. Why does feeling sad sometimes feel so good?
Why does feeling sad sometimes feel... so good? Whether it’s putting on the saddest song you know, rewatching a movie that always makes you cry, indulging in a little self-pity or finally letting yourself have …
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Why does feeling sad sometimes feel... so good? Whether it’s putting on the saddest song you know, rewatching a movie that always makes you cry, indulging in a little self-pity or finally letting yourself have a good sob, there is something strangely satisfying about sadness. And psychology may be able to explain why.
In this episode, we explore the surprising psychological value of sadness, including:
- Why sadness can sometimes feel pleasurable
- The psychology of sad songs and sad movies
- The tragedy paradox
- Why a good cry can feel so cathartic
- Emotional suppression and why it exhausts us
- Hedonic adaptation and why happiness loses its intensity
- The surprising appeal of self-pity
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
455. Why does time start flying in our 20s?
It’s a known fact that time moves faster as we get older, but what does this really mean, and can we slow it down? In this episode, we’re going to try to make sense of why flies as we enter our 20s - from …
Notas do episódio
It’s a known fact that time moves faster as we get older, but what does this really mean, and can we slow it down? In this episode, we’re going to try to make sense of why flies as we enter our 20s - from memory, to novelty, eye movements and the effects of COVID.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We explore:
- Different types of time: measured vs. perceived
- What makes time feel fast and slow?
- The effect of the pandemic
- The relationship between time and age
- How social media is making time go faster
- The 4 ways we can feel like we have more time
Happy listening!
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
454. The oedipus complex
The Oedipus complex is one of Freud’s most renowned and shocking ideas. In this episode, we dive into the origins of the theory and whether anything really remains once its gendered assumptions and …
Notas do episódio
The Oedipus complex is one of Freud’s most renowned and shocking ideas. In this episode, we dive into the origins of the theory and whether anything really remains once its gendered assumptions and controversial sexual claims are stripped away.
We explore:
- How the Greek tragedy of Oedipus inspired Freud’s theory
- What Freud meant by unconscious childhood desire and parental rivalry
- The importance of the phallic stage
- How Freud believed it was resolved - and what fixation was thought to mean for adulthood
- His problematic gendered ideas
- The scientific and ethical problems surrounding the theory
- How modern psychoanalysis has reinterpreted Oedipal ideasWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2167-4086.2004.tb00151.x
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-3204.32.4.535
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
453. 7 facts you need to know about your brain
There are a surprising number of myths and misconceptions about the brain, particularly with regards to its development in our 20s. In this episode, we unpack a number of surprising facts and studies about the …
Notas do episódio
There are a surprising number of myths and misconceptions about the brain, particularly with regards to its development in our 20s. In this episode, we unpack a number of surprising facts and studies about the brain so that we can in turn better understand how to make the most of our 20s.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We unpack:
• The science of neuroplasticity and how our brain can rewire itself
• Why, on a cognitive level, a broken heart may not be so different from a broken arm
• How much of our brains we really use (hint - it’s more than 10%!)
• The gut-brain axis and why poor gut health can cause depression - not the other way around
• Why our brain needs to forget to function properly
• The real age our brain stops developingFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
452. How to get better at being alone
The fear of missing out or not seizing every moment are some of the biggest worries we experience in our 20s. However, spending time alone isn’t the same as being lonely or doing nothing - in fact, it’s quite …
Notas do episódio
The fear of missing out or not seizing every moment are some of the biggest worries we experience in our 20s. However, spending time alone isn’t the same as being lonely or doing nothing - in fact, it’s quite the opposite. In this episode, we explore why we resist being alone - but why learning to do so is psychologically positive, and can even be a superpower.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
• Why we culturally and socially villainise solitude
• How constantly being online interrupts our ability to be truly alone
• The creative and emotional benefits of spending time alone
• Why our capacity to be alone is a reflection of our overall maturity
• How we can embrace the power of solitudeFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://spsp.org/news-center/character-context-blog/social-costs-seeking-solitude
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts?language=en
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/02/quiet-please-the-remarkable-power-of-silence-for-our-bodies-and-our-mindsThe Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
451. Why you need to stop psychoanalysing the people you date
Dating can bring out the psychologist in us. One delayed reply, one vague comment, and we try to decode someone’s attachment style, childhood wounds, and capacity for commitment. But while psychological …
Notas do episódio
Dating can bring out the psychologist in us. One delayed reply, one vague comment, and we try to decode someone’s attachment style, childhood wounds, and capacity for commitment. But while psychological language can help us make sense of relationships, it can also become a way to avoid the much harder truth - sometimes we simply don’t know yet. In this episode we look at why overanalysing feels so reassuring, especially when we have been hurt before, and how the search for hidden meaning can distract us from direct communication, being present, and the person actually in front of us.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
We explore:
• The difference between noticing patterns and control rumination
• Why dating uncertainty makes labels feel so appealing
• Why overanalysing often comes from fear rather than insight
• Why this can stop us from being vulnerable ourselves
• Why behaviour matters more than the story behind it
• How to slow the spiral and regain clarity, communication, and self-trustFollow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_stop_overthinking_your_relationship
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X16300306?via%3Dihub
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.75.2.545
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-01742-003The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention
In this episode, we explore the psychology of the quarter life reinvention: the period that can come after the confusion, uncertainty and identity crisis of our early and mid-20s, when things finally begin to …
Notas do episódio
In this episode, we explore the psychology of the quarter life reinvention: the period that can come after the confusion, uncertainty and identity crisis of our early and mid-20s, when things finally begin to fall into place. We look at how the quarter life crisis can transform us, the stages we move through, and why sometimes everything has to fall apart before we can rebuild a life that feels more like our own.
We explore:
• The difference between a quarter life crisis and a quarter life reinvention
• The ‘locked in’ and ‘locked out’ forms of the quarter life crisis
• The four stages of the crisis
• The signs that you’re entering your reinvention era
• How experimentation, risk taking and new experiences help us rebuild
• The role of narrative psychology and rewriting the story you tell about your life
• Why learning to tolerate uncertainty may be the key to finally moving forwardWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
449. The psychology of your shadow self
What is the shadow self? And how do we meet ours? In today's episode we explore what it means to get curious about the shadow parts of ourselves. We take a grounded look at shadow work - where the idea came …
Notas do episódio
What is the shadow self? And how do we meet ours? In today's episode we explore what it means to get curious about the shadow parts of ourselves. We take a grounded look at shadow work - where the idea came from, the layers of our psyche, and how the repressed parts of ourselves show up.
We explore:
• What Jung meant by the shadow and the persona
• How the dark or disowned parts of ourselves can develop
• Why anger, neediness, ambition, or confidence can feel uncomfortable to acknowledge
• The role of projection, triggers and repeated patterns
• How to approach shadow work cautiously and with curiosityWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
The book I spoke about: HERE
The YouTube video: HERE
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
448. The psychology of reputation
We're talking about reputation. On a fundamental level, our reputations are a signal of our qualities that make us worth associating with, and we tend to spend a large amount of time ruminating and even …
Notas do episódio
We're talking about reputation. On a fundamental level, our reputations are a signal of our qualities that make us worth associating with, and we tend to spend a large amount of time ruminating and even obsessing over what others think of us. In this episode, we explore why we need reputations as social creatures, understand why we can misinterpret others’ reputations, and think about what we can do to repair a bad reputation.
We unpack:
• Where our reputations come from
• Why two people can view the same person so differently
• The halo effect and how appearance biases our perception of others
• How our reputations can change over time
• Why we shouldn’t always believe what others say
• How we can repair a bad reputationWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8487743/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/ecology-of-minds/202509/what-makes-a-good-reputation https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349443219_The_halo_effect
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
447. The psychology of PMOS/PCOS ft. Dr Hazel Wallace
I was recently diagnosed with PMOS, and with that came a lot of questions: why is my body like this, what caused it, will I be able to have kids, how can I fix it? There's a lot of information (and …
Notas do episódio
I was recently diagnosed with PMOS, and with that came a lot of questions: why is my body like this, what caused it, will I be able to have kids, how can I fix it? There's a lot of information (and misinformation) online, so today I decided to sit down with an expert to ask all my burning questions on this condition.
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Dr Hazel Wallace is a medical doctor, registered associate nutritionist, women's health expert, author and founder of the platform, The Food Medic. In this episode, we discuss:
- The origins of PMOS/PCOS
- Why we had to change the PCOS name
- What causes PMOS and whether it's genetic
- How PMOS intersects with psychology and mental health
- The 5 things you should and shouldn't do if you have PMOS
- What actually helps
- How to deal with medical dismissal and misinformation
Happy listening!
Dr Hazel's book HERE
Follow Dr Hazel HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
446. The psychology of Stockholm Syndrome
The term “Stockholm Syndrome” is used to explain why someone might defend, protect, or feel attached to a person who has harmed them - but why does this happen? In this bonus episode, we explore where the term …
Notas do episódio
The term “Stockholm Syndrome” is used to explain why someone might defend, protect, or feel attached to a person who has harmed them - but why does this happen? In this bonus episode, we explore where the term came from, some famous cases, and how the mind functions to keep us safe.
We explore:
• The 1973 bank robbery
• Famous cases linked to Stockholm syndrome
• The role of appeasement
• How it relates to trauma bonding
• Why dependence breeds attachment
• How those experiencing Stockholm syndrome are supportedWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01112.xhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20008066.2022.2161038
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/00048670701261178
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
445. Your guide to nervous system regulation
Tips for nervous system regulation are everywhere right now - from breathwork and cold plunges to conversations about burnout, anxiety, and trauma. But what does it actually mean to be regulated, and are we …
Notas do episódio
Tips for nervous system regulation are everywhere right now - from breathwork and cold plunges to conversations about burnout, anxiety, and trauma. But what does it actually mean to be regulated, and are we sometimes turning healing into another thing to obsess over? In this episode, we take a grounded, research-informed look at what your nervous system is really trying to do, why fight-or-flight is not the enemy, and how stress, trauma, lifestyle, and hypersensitivity can shape the way we feel in our bodies.
We explore:
• What the window of tolerance can teach us about overwhelm and shutdown
• Why your nervous system is trying to protect you
• The role of trauma, chronic stress, and lifestyle factors in dysregulation
• What a regulated nervous system can actually feel like
• How hypersensitivity can keep us stuck in symptom-monitoring
• Why sleep, safety, nourishment, connection, and routine matter more than expensive wellness toolsWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.4/jbremner
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789413000191?via%3Dihub
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/44/6/zsaa289/6053003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTJAjx-AGAoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
444. The psychology of angel numbers
Angel numbers have a way of showing up just when we need them. 111 symbolises new beginnings. 444 means divine protection. Why does our mind pay such close attention to these numbers, what is the history, and …
Notas do episódio
Angel numbers have a way of showing up just when we need them. 111 symbolises new beginnings. 444 means divine protection. Why does our mind pay such close attention to these numbers, what is the history, and what is their impact from a psychological standpoint? In today's episode, we break down:
- The ancient origins of angel numbers
- Why the founder of angel numbers now regrets them
- The meaning behind some of the most significant angel numbers
- Why our brain pays close attention to symbolism
- The emotional comfort of angel numbers
- Why people feel threatened by angel numbers
- When angel numbers can become harmful
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
443. How to be more interesting
I think we all instinctively know if we find someone interesting… or not. But how can we cultivate the skills of being interesting to others? In this episode, we break down the science behind what makes people …
Notas do episódio
I think we all instinctively know if we find someone interesting… or not. But how can we cultivate the skills of being interesting to others? In this episode, we break down the science behind what makes people interesting, talk about some easy things we can all do to tap into what already makes us unique, and focus on one of life’s greatest conversational hacks - learning how to be truly interested in others.
We explore:
• Why we all love interesting people
• How ‘digital saturation’ is making us more bored, and boring
• The importance of asking open-ended questions to unlock better conversations
• Why being truly unique is a status symbol
• The power of learning to talk to strangers
• Why social skills are actually just social courageWatch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: [email protected]
Our favourite sources:
https://tedbauer.medium.com/are-people-more-boring-now-98105e03e20c
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-12130-004
https://thevectorimpact.com/how-to-be-more-interesting/
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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