Ajda Tomšič
Bio
Stories (5/0)
Bus stop
This entire ordeal happened during the winter of the year I turned 17. At the time, a significant part of my weekly routine involved heading to the local gym to keep fit and healthy. I'd diligently commit to working out three to four times each week, followed by an uneventful ride back home on the public bus. However, on this particular Sunday, my routine took an unexpected turn. I had just wrapped up an intense workout session only to find out that I had narrowly missed the bus. Given it was Sunday, the buses ran on a less frequent schedule, compelling me to wait for the next one.
By Ajda Tomšič2 months ago in Horror
Story of three laughing monks
Once upon a time, in the mystical lands of ancient China, there were three enigmatic old monks whose names have been lost to the mists of history. This is not due to their insignificance, but rather because they chose to keep their identities a secret from the world. In China, they were simply referred to as the Three Laughing Monks, a title that reflected their unique approach to life and spirituality.
By Ajda Tomšič2 months ago in History
The science of laughter
Isn't it strange that a good joke can make us bare our teeth, mess with our breathing, make us weak and sore in some places, and sometimes even bring us to tears? Basically, why does laughter happen? When you laugh, the muscles in your belly really get a workout which makesIsn't it peculiar that when we find something hilarious, we tend to bare our teeth, alter our breathing, feel weak in spots, and sometimes even tear up? In other words, why do we engage in the strange activity of laughing? When you chuckle, your stomach muscles contract quickly. This changes how you breathe, increases chest pressure, and forces air out, which can sound like a snort, wheeze, or other noises. Since you're working your stomach muscles way harder than when you're just chatting, they might begin to get sore. Laughter also messes with your ability to control your muscles, which is why you might feel shaky on your feet.
By Ajda Tomšič2 months ago in Humor
Why does this flower smell like a dead body?
Deep in the Sumatran rainforest, a carrion fly is guided by the scent of its favorite egg-laying site: dead and rotting animal carcasses. But when it lands, it is not on liquefied flesh, but on the largest and perhaps strangest flower— in the world - Rafflesia arnoldii.
By Ajda Tomšič2 months ago in Earth
The psychology of narcissism
Way before the first selfie, the ancient Greeks and Romans had a myth about someone a little too obsessed with his own image. In one telling, Narcissus was a handsome guy wandering the world in search of someone to love. After rejecting a nymph named Echo, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in a river, and fell in love with it. Unable to tear himself away, Narcissus drowned. A flower marked the spot of where he died, and we call that flower the Narcissus. The myth captures the basic idea of narcissism, elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement. But it's not just a personality type that shows up in advice columns. It's actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. The psychological definition of narcissism is an inflated, grandiose self-image. To varying degrees, narcissists think they're better looking, smarter, and more important than other people, and that they deserve special treatment. Psychologists recognize two forms of narcissism as a personality trait: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. There's also narcissistic personality disorder, a more extreme form, which we'll return to shortly. Grandiose narcissism is the most familiar kind, characterized by extroversion, dominance, and attention seeking. Grandiose narcissists pursue attention and power, sometimes as politicians, celebrities, or cultural leaders. Of course, not everyone who pursues these positions of power is narcissistic. Many do it for very positive reasons, like reaching their full potential, or helping make people's lives better. But narcissistic individuals seek power for the status and attention that goes with it. Meanwhile, vulnerable narcissists can be quiet and reserved. They have a strong sense of entitlement, but are easily threatened or slighted. In either case, the dark side of narcissism shows up over the long term. Narcissists tend to act selfishly, so narcissistic leaders may make risky or unethical decisions, and narcissistic partners may be dishonest or unfaithful. When their rosy view of themselves is challenged, they can become resentful and aggressive. It's like a disease where the sufferers feel pretty good, but the people around them suffer. Taken to the extreme, this behavior is classified as a psychological disorder called narcissistic personality disorder. It affects one to two percent of the population, more commonly men. It is also a diagnosis reserved for adults. Young people, especially children, can be very self-centered, but this might just be a normal part of development. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual describes several traits associated with narcissistic personality disorder. They include a grandiose view of oneself, problems with empathy, a sense of entitlement, and a need for admiration or attention. What makes these trait a true personality disorder is that they take over people's lives and cause significant problems. Imagine that instead of caring for your spouse or children, you used them as a source of attention or admiration. Or imagine that instead of seeking constructive feedback about your performance, you instead told everyone who tried to help you that they were wrong. So what causes narcissism? Twin studies show a strong genetic component, although we don't know which genes are involved. But environment matters, too. Parents who put their child on a pedestal can foster grandiose narcissism. And cold, controlling parents can contribute to vulnerable narcissism. Narcissism also seems to be higher in cultures that value individuality and self-promotion. In the United States, for example, narcissism as a personality trait has been rising since the 1970s, when the communal focus of the 60s gave way to the self-esteem movement and a rise in materialism. More recently, social media has multiplied the possibilities for self-promotion, though it's worth noting that there's no clear evidence that social media causes narcissism. Rather, it provides narcissists a means to seek social status and attention. So can narcissists improve on those negative traits? Yes! Anything that promotes honest reflection on their own behavior and caring for others, like psychotherapy or practicing compassion towards others, can be helpful. The difficulty is it can be challenging for people with narcissistic personality disorder to keep working at self-betterment. For a narcissist, self-reflection is hard from an unflattering angle.
By Ajda Tomšič2 months ago in Humans