Showing results for "The Trap" in Social Psychology & Interactions

In our increasingly distrusting and polarized nations, accusations of hypocrisy are everywhere. But the strange truth is that our attempts to stamp out hypocrisy often backfire, creating what Michael Hallsworth calls The Hypocrisy Trap. In this groundbreaking book, he shows how our relentless drive to expose inconsistency between words and deeds can actually breed more hypocrisy or, worse, cynicism that corrodes democracy itself.

You’ve mastered your career and secured your finances—yet when it comes to love, even the smartest men can be blindsided. Maybe you’ve watched a colleague lose years and a fortune in a breakup that turned into a courtroom battle. Maybe you’ve felt that quiet unease when someone seems more drawn to your lifestyle than to you. Or you’ve asked the same painful question: “How didn’t I see this coming?” Modern dating hides risks that don’t look like risks at first.

The definitive edition of the classic, myth-shattering history of the American family Leave It to Beaver was not a documentary, a man's home has never been his castle, the "male breadwinner marriage" is the least traditional family in history, and rape and sexual assault were far higher in the...

Do you feel trapped in a toxic relationship with someone who manipulates, controls, or constantly makes you question your worth? Narcissistic abuse can leave you feeling powerless, confused, and emotionally drained — but you don’t have to stay stuck.

When we’re in the Certainty Trap, we tend to view people who disagree with us as hateful, ignorant, or just plain stupid. When it comes to heated social and political issues in particular, many of us know this feeling well—a consuming state of righteous indignation and moral outrage. By committing to challenging and clarifying our thinking—by avoiding the trap certainty sets for us—we can increase social trust, reduce political polarization, and better address the world’s pressing challenges.

Threat management expert Spencer Coursen offers proactive strategies to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of hostile encounters and emergency situations in The Safety Trap: A Security Expert’s Secrets for Staying Safe in a Dangerous World.