regardingpsychology

social & any psychology matter

[regardingpsychology]

Brief introduction to my blog page

This is Diana and my blog page is shaped by the curiosity and everything known about psychology. To put it easier because the term of ‘psychology’ is itself broad to debate on, I look over topics of current interest in order to raise awareness. This awareness brings a sense of hope for those who are looking to discover more about themselves, be it depicting onto some symptoms or just are curious about the human kind. I hope the resources used across these posts find you to be helpful, and will eventually lead you to a broader knowledge of psychology and behavioural patterns!

(By the way - The lotus flower,also known as Nelumbo nucifera,is a sacred symbol of for purity, rebirth, and strength. Because lotuses rise from the mud without stains, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity.)

[surqrised]

“Despair is the price one pays for self-awareness. Look deeply into life, and you’ll always find despair.”

— Irvin Yalom

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Mardi Gras 1917 [my grandfather's albums]

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“The question of meaning in life is, as the Buddha thought, not edifying. One must immerse oneself into the river of life and let the question drift away.”

— Irvin Yalom, The Gift of Therapy: An open letter to a new generation of therapists and their patients

[regardingpsychology]

Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Evolving through Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development and reflecting upon them.

When I first came across Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect it to hit me personally. It sounded like one of those academic concepts you memorize for a test and then forget. But the more I read about it, the more I realized that Erikson wasn’t just laying out stages of human development—he was describing all of us. Our fears, our triumphs, our inner conflicts. His theory helped me reflect on the different chapters of my life in a way that felt weirdly accurate.

So, what is Erikson’s theory all about?

Erikson proposed that as humans, we go through eight stages of psychosocial development over the course of our lives. At each stage, we face a specific conflict or challenge that shapes who we become. The outcome of these conflicts—whether we resolve them in a healthy or unhealthy way—directly influences our personality and sense of self.

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)

This stage is all about whether we learn to trust the world around us, mostly through the care we receive as babies. If caregivers are consistent and nurturing, we develop trust. If not, mistrust can set in.

I obviously don’t remember this stage directly, but I do believe that the way we’re cared for early on creates a kind of emotional “blueprint.” For me, I’ve always had this underlying sense that things will somehow work out, and I think that might come from having a generally secure early environment. That kind of trust becomes the foundation we build everything else on.

2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddlerhood)

At this stage, we start to assert our independence—learning to walk, talk, and say that infamous toddler word: no. If we’re supported, we gain confidence. If we’re criticized too much, we may start doubting ourselves.

I remember being a really independent kid. I always wanted to do things by myself—whether it was tying my shoes or pouring milk. Even now, I catch myself associating independence with self-worth. But Erikson made me think: maybe this isn’t just a personality trait. Maybe it’s a reflection of how I worked through this exact stage.

3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age)

Here, kids begin to take initiative in their activities and play. Success leads to a sense of purpose, while constant criticism or overcontrol can lead to feelings of guilt.

Looking back, I definitely felt a strong desire to “do things right,” and sometimes I was overly cautious. I wonder if that early fear of messing up came from wanting to please others. Erikson helped me understand that it’s important to encourage curiosity and risk-taking in ourselves and others—not everything has to be done perfectly.

4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)

This stage is where we begin comparing ourselves to others. School becomes a big deal. Kids who are encouraged and praised develop a sense of competence; those who struggle or are put down may start feeling inferior.

This one hit home. I was a good student, but I constantly compared myself to classmates who were “better” at something—sports, academics, popularity. Even now, I sometimes carry that feeling of not enough. Erikson’s framework made me see how deeply those early comparisons can stick with us, and how important it is to redefine success for ourselves.

5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)

This is one of Erikson’s most talked-about stages. Teens are trying to figure out who they are. Success leads to a strong identity; failure can lead to confusion about one’s place in the world.

Honestly? I’m still in this one. Or maybe I’ve just come out of it. Either way, this stage has been real for me—asking the big questions: Who am I? What do I believe? What matters to me? It’s overwhelming at times, but also kind of exciting. There’s a sense of freedom in not having it all figured out yet. But reading Erikson gave me permission to see that confusion is part of the process—it’s not a failure, it’s development.

6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)

This stage is about forming deep, meaningful relationships. If we’ve formed a clear identity, we’re more able to connect with others. If not, intimacy feels risky or impossible, leading to isolation.

This one’s unfolding in real time for me. Building close relationships—whether romantic or platonic—has been both beautiful and terrifying. Vulnerability is hard. But Erikson helped me realize that the work of knowing myself in earlier stages directly affects how open I can be with others now. Without a strong sense of identity, real intimacy becomes hard to sustain.

7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)

In this stage, we want to feel like we’re contributing to something bigger than ourselves—through work, family, creativity, or mentoring. If not, we might feel stuck or unfulfilled.

I’m not quite here yet, but I see it in the adults around me. There’s a turning point where people either start building something meaningful—or they begin to feel restless, like life is just passing them by. I think that’s why I care so much about creating and learning even now. It’s a way of laying the groundwork for that future sense of purpose.

8. Integrity vs. Despair (Old Age)

The final stage. Looking back, people reflect on whether their life was meaningful. If they feel satisfied, they experience a sense of integrity. If not, they may feel despair over missed opportunities or unresolved regrets.

This stage gives me a weird sense of peace. Knowing that the choices I make now are shaping the story I’ll one day look back on—it’s grounding. Erikson’s idea of “integrity” isn’t about having a perfect life, but a meaningful one. That’s something I really hold onto.

What makes Erikson’s stages so powerful is that they’re not just about childhood—they’re lifelong. And they don’t happen in strict order either. We circle back. We revisit them. Sometimes we get stuck and have to go back to resolve an earlier conflict before moving forward.

This theory helped me realize that personal growth is a process, not a destination. It’s okay to still be figuring things out. It’s okay to feel a little lost, or stuck, or uncertain. That’s not a failure—it’s human development.

So, if you’re reading this and wondering where you “should” be, the answer is: exactly where you are. Growth doesn’t come from rushing through the stages—it comes from being honest about the one you’re in, and taking the time to do the work. Erikson didn’t just give us a theory—he gave us a map. And we get to walk it in our own time.

[regardingpsychology]

Short analysis on 'Staring at the Sun' by Irvin D. Yalom

If you’ve ever found yourself lying awake at night, thinking about the meaning of life—or worse, the inevitable fact of your own death—Staring at the Sun by Irvin D. Yalom is one of those books that’ll make you feel like someone else gets it. Yalom, a psychiatrist and existential therapist, dives deep into the human fear of death and how it shapes our lives, relationships, and decisions. I know I’ve often caught myself thinking, “What’s the point?” in moments of feeling lost or uncertain, and this book really challenged me to think about how I can live with death, not in spite of it.

At the heart of the book, Yalom tackles a question that’s been hanging around humanity since forever: How do we make sense of our existence when we know that we’re all going to die? He doesn't sugarcoat the existential terror that comes with confronting mortality. Instead, he uses it as a springboard to explore ways we can find meaning in our lives, even in the face of this unsettling reality.

One of the big takeaways from the book for me was this idea of using death as a motivator, not something that paralyzes us. We tend to avoid thinking about it, right? I know I’ve done it, pushing away thoughts of death whenever they pop into my head. But reading Yalom’s perspective on death awareness really shifted something in me. He talks about how, when we stop denying death’s inevitability, we actually free ourselves to live more intentionally. I realized that my own avoidance of these thoughts had been holding me back from truly appreciating the life I have. It’s like when you finally allow yourself to feel the weight of something difficult—it actually makes you feel more alive, more connected to the present.

Yalom doesn’t just talk about these ideas philosophically. He’s a psychiatrist with decades of experience, so the book is peppered with stories from his therapy sessions where he helps patients confront their own existential fears. One particular story struck me—a patient who felt paralyzed by her fear of death, constantly avoiding anything that reminded her of it. Yalom guided her through the process of accepting her mortality, and in turn, she was able to live more fully. I could relate to that, honestly. There have been times in my own life when I’ve avoided certain uncomfortable truths, thinking that if I don’t think about them, they won’t affect me. But what I’ve learned is that avoidance only makes the fear bigger.

Reading about how Yalom uses existential therapy to help people face their mortality and existential fears felt like a wake-up call. It made me reflect on the way I handle my own anxieties. It’s one thing to know something intellectually, but seeing how it impacts real people’s lives in his stories made the whole concept much more relatable.

Another key idea Yalom emphasizes is how relationships are crucial in confronting death. It made me think about my own relationships—how they shape my sense of meaning and security. There’s this idea in the book that when we’re faced with death, we often turn inward and isolate ourselves. I know I’ve done that, especially during moments of deep introspection or struggle. But Yalom’s work reminds us that our connections to others—whether it’s family, friends, or even our therapists—help us find comfort in the face of our existential fears.

This really clicked for me recently when I had a conversation with a close friend about some of the existential questions I’ve been wrestling with. We talked about how we both feel uneasy with the idea of life’s impermanence, but in that conversation, I felt this profound sense of connection. We didn’t have all the answers, but we shared the experience of facing these fears together. It was in that moment that I realized how much more manageable life feels when you share the burden with someone else. Relationships, in a way, give us the strength to face the big stuff.

Another key idea that Yalom explores is creating something that lasts beyond us—a legacy, in a sense. At first, I wasn’t sure how this idea applied to me, but as I kept reading, it became clear. Yalom talks about how we can find meaning not in avoiding death, but in embracing it and finding ways to contribute to something larger than ourselves. It doesn’t have to be world-changing; it could be something as simple as a personal project or the impact we have on someone else’s life.

I’ve been reflecting on this idea recently. In a way, this very project I’m working on—writing about psychology and sharing what I learn—is a small attempt to create something that lasts. It might not change the world, but it feels like a way to leave something behind that matters to me. Even knowing that one person might read this and feel a little less alone in their thoughts about life and death makes the idea of my own mortality feel a little less overwhelming. Maybe that’s the point—finding meaning in the things we can create and the lives we touch.

Staring at the Sun isn’t a book that gives easy answers, but it does offer a framework for embracing life more fully by coming face-to-face with death. Yalom invites us to confront our deepest fears and questions, not so we can find neat answers, but so we can live more authentically and with intention.

For me, reading this book felt like a permission slip to stop running from the uncomfortable truths of life and death. Instead of trying to escape them, I’m learning to lean into them, to let them shape how I live, love, and grow. Life is messy, uncertain, and short. But maybe that’s exactly why it’s worth living to the fullest.

So, if you’re feeling stuck in life or grappling with big existential questions (like, why am I here? or what happens when I die?), this book might just offer some comfort and perspective. It encourages us to live boldly, love deeply, and, perhaps most importantly, to accept the uncertainty of it all—because that's where the magic happens.

[regardingpsychology]

Social anxiety

Understanding Social Anxiety Through the Lens of Social Psychology

Social anxiety isn’t just about being “shy” or “awkward.” For many, it’s a deeply rooted psychological experience that affects how we perceive ourselves and how we believe we’re perceived by others. In social psychology, anxiety—especially in social contexts—is explored through cognitive, behavioral, and cultural frameworks that help us understand why people feel the way they do in group settings or under social scrutiny.

What Is Social Anxiety?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is defined by a marked and persistent fear of social situations where the person is exposed to possible scrutiny. This isn’t occasional nervousness before a speech—this is fear so intense it can disrupt daily life, relationships, and careers.

Some of these symptoms include :

- Fear of being judged or embarrassed in public;

- Avoidance of social or performance situations;

- Physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, or nausea during social encounters.

(This small section is supported by American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5)

The Psychology Behind It

One of the most widely recognized models in social psychology for understanding social anxiety is the Clark and Wells cognitive model (1995). This theory suggests that people with social anxiety have:

- Unrealistically high social standards;

- Intense fear of negative evaluation ;

- A tendency toward self-focused attention (e.g., constantly monitoring how they’re coming across).

This leads to behaviors like avoiding eye contact, rehearsing what to say, or completely withdrawing from social events. Ironically, these "safety behaviors" often reinforce the anxiety they’re meant to prevent.

( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2151931/)

How Culture Shapes Social Anxiety

Culture plays a critical role in how social anxiety is experienced. In collectivist cultures (like many East Asian societies), reserved behavior is often the norm. Here, the pressure isn’t necessarily to stand out, but to avoid causing social disruption. Meanwhile, in individualistic cultures (like the U.S. or UK), social assertiveness is prized, so not speaking up can be perceived as a personal failure—intensifying anxiety.

Understanding these cultural approaches is essential for psychologists and researchers, especially when diagnosing or treating SAD across different parts of the world.

(Source: Focus, Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry)

What can we do about it?

The main standard for treating social anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This therapy helps individuals reframe negative thought patterns, gradually face feared social situations, and build healthier behavioral responses. According to a 2022 meta-review, CBT significantly reduces symptoms and leads to long-term improvements in functioning aspects.

Other helpful approaches include:

- Exposure therapy;

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT);

- Medication (typically SSRIs for more severe cases).

(Source: Frontiers in Psychology)

Why Social Psychology Matters

Social psychology offers valuable tools for understanding the internal and external dynamics of anxiety in social situations. Whether it's navigating a job interview, joining a group discussion, or simply going to a party, people with social anxiety aren’t just "overthinking it." Their experiences are deeply rooted in cognitive patterns, cultural expectations, and emotional responses that deserve empathy and evidence-based support.

For those looking to explore further, studying the cognitive-behavioral models, DSM-5 criteria, and cultural research can provide powerful insight into what it truly means to feel anxious in the social world.