408. Are our phones killing intimacy?

Where did this myth that our frontal lobe develops at 25 actually come from? What does the death penalty and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? You've probably seen TikToks, videos, tweets, memes, but what is the truth about brain maturity? That is what we're breaking down today, including:  Why brain development is a lot more complicated than a number The specific role of the frontal lobe  The early 2000s research that defined how we see brain development  Why our brain actually develops in spurts  The good news for 20 somethings  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] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TW: this episode includes discussions of eating disorders.  What happens when millions of people watch you grow up online? How do you navigate change, love and making mistakes in front of a massive audience? And how do you rediscover your creativity after creating content about your life, becomes your job? In today's episode we talk to one of the original YouTube 'it-girls', Arden Rose, about early fame, body image, art and her life lessons as she enters her 30s. We discuss:  How making YouTube videos at 14 turned into a full-time job The dark side of Hollywood and the entertainment industry  The biggest opportunity she missed out on...and why  Veganism, diet culture and self-esteem  The path back to creativity Her greatest pieces of advice for people in their 20s  PLUS SO MUCH MORE  Happy listening! Watch on Netflix: HERE Follow Arden here: @ardenrose  Watch her YouTube HERE    More links below (sorry) 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.

Why does it suddenly feel like everyone has a diagnosis? From ADHD and autism to anxiety, trauma, burnout, and depression - mental health language is everywhere right now. But are rates actually rising? Or are more people finally being seen after years of being overlooked, misread, or excluded from the stereotype? In this episode, we unpack the psychology, politics, and culture of diagnosis: how diagnostic criteria have changed, why context matters, what social media has done to this conversation, and the tension between labels as affirming, or oversimplified. We explore:•        What the data actually says about rising diagnosis rates•        Why historically missed groups are being recognised more now•        The role of context in shaping our experiences•        The risk of pathologising ordinary human struggle•        When scepticism is useful - and why it should be aimed at systems, not individuals•        Why a label can still be meaningful, helpful, and nobody else’s business 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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7422602/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4810039/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11747871/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10251666/https://reference-global.com/article/10.58734/plc-2025-0009 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.

It can feel like the world - and our future - has never been more precarious or frightening. It’s a very normal response to feel anxious about it - and in many ways, being concerned is just a sign that you’re alive, switched on, and care about the what’s going on around you. But what happens when this anxiety becomes overwhelming, and we’re consumed by worry about the future? In this episode, we unpack: • Why we’re prone to anticipatory anxiety in our 20s• The evolutionary reasons for catastrophic thinking • Why long-term anxiety rewires our brain • When it’s healthy - and not healthy - to worry • How to rebrand anxiety as excitement 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]    Or favourite sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3086262/#:~:text=For%20some%20individuals%2C%20uncertainty%20about,%2C%20&%20Camerer%2C%202005 https://theconversation.com/how-chronic-stress-changes-the-brain-and-what-you-can-do-to-reverse-the-damage-133194 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24364682/ 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.

It’s not a hot take to say that most of us are incredibly addicted to our phones. But when our usage bleeds into full-blown ‘technoference’ - technology interference - there can be significant, harmful consequences. In this episode, we explore how phones can harm our friendships and romantic relationships, including: •  How phones are replacing in-person interaction •  Why we can't help but be addicted•  The impact of 'phone snubbing' on our loved ones•  How phones are killing our sex lives•  The ways we can break our habits and find our way back to intimacy 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]    Our favourite sources from this episode:www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jan/31/age-of-intimacy-famine-interact-with-phones-rather-than-loved-ones www.ericpickersgill.com/Removed https://www.sellcell.com/blog/phone-addiction-statistics-watch-out-your-phone-addiction-is-making-your-dating-sex-life-toxic/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are bombarded with ideas about how we should look, behave, and be. But instead of trying to constantly strive for the societal ideal, we can cut through the noise another way - and that’s by cultivating self-love. The funny thing is, psychology actually shows us that the more confident and self-loving we are, the more attractive we become. It’s a win-win… if we can get there. Today, we're going to talk about how loving ourselves makes us more attractive. We unpack: •  The power of the mind-body link and self-esteem•  Why plastic surgery might not make us happy •  The damaging physical effects of negative self-talk•  How simple behavioural changes affect how others see us•  Why cultivating self-love is the greatest gift we can give ourselves 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.

Your 20s are sold to you as the “best years of your life” - which is hilarious, considering how many of us spend them underpaid, overthinking, heartbroken, living in transitional housing, and finding a new identity every 6 months. So what does it actually mean to ‘romanticise your 20s’? In this episode, we break down romanticising as a real psychological skill - how your brain constructs meaning, why attention shapes what feels like reality, and why building a coherent life story matters most when your life feels messy. We explore:•        Why your attention changes your experience•        The neuroscience and cognition of meaning-making•        The role of emergent adulthood•        Why narrative psychology is so important•        Five grounded ways to romanticise your life 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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4324396/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224545.2025.2563539https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3045747/ 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.

Betrayal doesn’t just ‘hurt your feelings.’ It shatters your nervous system, hijacks your sense of reality, and rewires your brain for fear and hypervigilance. We can be betrayed - or betray someone else - in a myriad of ways, with life-shattering results. In this episode, we explore the psychological impact of betrayal, delve into the reasons people betray us, and explore ways we can heal. We explore: Why betrayal can appear in many forms How the act of being betrayed affects our brain Why someone might betray us Betrayal blindness and institutional betrayal Why the betrayal grief cycle is similar to losing a loved one How we can heal, move on, and learn to trust ourselves again 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.

Why is it that we can have a million visions, dreams and goals for how we want our life to be, but we can't seem to execute any of them? Is it laziness? Lack of discipline? Or fear? In today's episode, we break down the analysis paralysis that comes with wanting to do everything, and instead doing nothing at all. Our discussion includes:  The three types of fear keeping us stuck The most famous study on decision making!  The psychology of regret How to choose what path to follow first Dealing with the judgement of others And so much more! 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]  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.

The best things in life aren't always the easiest and it's often this exertion and extra effort that holds us back from diving in or fully committing. Whether it's a new routine, an ambitious study schedule or workout plan, knowing how we can use psychology and neuroscience to make hard tasks easier is incredibly valuable. In today's episode we discuss: • The 5 minute rule• The power of a persona• Using mental imagery and visualisation to do hard things• The power of learned industriousness• The 3 forms of motivation to know and implement This episode will make all the hard things you've been putting off infinitely easier. 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]    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.