The Psychology of your 20s

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: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 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.

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 it
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
Our favourite sources:
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0025403
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry/article/not-intended-still-embarrassed-social-anxiety-is-related-to-increased-levels-of-embarrassment-in-response-to-unintentional-social-norm-violations/F4143AB3B88D41FB18F9962696A77151
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.

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.

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 stuck
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
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.

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 personalities
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
Our favourite sources:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02309.x
https://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.