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.&nbsp;
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;

The Psychology of your 20s

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 forward
 Watch on Netflix: 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.

450. The psychology of the quarter life reinvention

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 curiosity
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 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.

449. The psychology of your shadow self 

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 reputation
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 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.

448. The psychology of reputation

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: 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.

447. The psychology of PMOS/PCOS ft. Dr Hazel Wallace

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 supported
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 Our favourite sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01112.x
 https://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.

446. The psychology of Stockholm Syndrome

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 tools
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 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-AGAo
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

445. Your guide to nervous system regulation

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: 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.

444. The psychology of angel numbers

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 courage
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 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.

443. How to be more interesting

If anyone tells you that they’re not even a little bit insecure, they’re lying, in denial, or both. It’s a fact of life that we all feel insecure at times - about how we look, behave, our achievements, and whether we are liked by others. In this episode, we examine the psychology behind common insecurities, recognise how we can be our own worst enemies, and consider the ways we can come to accept that we are all flawed, and might not actually need ‘fixing’. 
 We unpack: 
• The surprising evolutionary benefits that come with insecurity
• How our levels of insecurity change throughout our lives
• The ‘liking gap’, and why we think others like us less than they do 
• How being insecure can feed insecurity, in a vicious cycle 
• Why people pleasing and over confidence are often signs of insecurity 
• How we can address insecurities that negatively impact our lives
 Watch on Netflix: HERE
 Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
 Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
 For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 
 Our favourite sources: 
 https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/insecurity-leads-us-underestimate-how-much-others-us
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228079585_Self-Esteem_Development_Across_the_Lifespan
 https://www.centerforanxiety.org/what-is-hyper-independence-is-it-a-bad-thing/
 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.

442. The psychology of insecurity 

Uncertainty is the defining emotion of our 20s. Career paths, relationships, identity, purpose ... so much of this decade is marked by not knowing. Does that have to be as uncomfortable as we think it does? In today’s episode, we unpack the psychology of uncertainty: why our brains fear it, how it triggers anxiety and avoidance, and why trying to “figure it all out” might be doing more harm than good.
 We explore:
  
The neuroscience behind our discomfort with the unknown
 Why perfectionism is often a mask for our fear of uncertainty
 The cultural myths that make us believe we need a step-by-step life plan
 How to assign meaning to uncertainty and build resilience through it
 Practical strategies to take action even when the future feels unclear
  
If you've never felt more confused than you do now, and are unsure 'what's next', this episode is for you. 
 Watch on Netflix: 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.