Latest news with #validation
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
People Are Sharing The Modern Addictions Nobody Really Thinks About, And Yes, Dopamine Is On This List
When we think of addiction, our minds typically go to substances like drugs or alcohol. But addiction can take many forms — some so subtle and normalized that we don't even recognize them as problematic. So when a now-deleted Reddit user asked, "What's an addiction that nobody considers?" the responses revealed how our modern world has created countless ways to chase dopamine hits and develop unhealthy dependencies. Here's what they had to say: 1."Validation addiction, aka the compulsive need for approval, praise, or recognition from others." —u/RevealIntelligent737 2."Nasal spray. This one is kind of obscure, but the thought of having a stuffy nose and needing more and more and more of that stuff is kind of scary." —u/TazzzTM "I literally cut myself off 10 years ago because it was causing me problems." —bobbutson "This happened to me in fifth grade! It was so severe that I needed to use it at least once an hour, or my nose was completely blocked up. The addiction lasted weeks. I would bring it to school and sneak huffs of it from my backpack during class, pretending I was rummaging for something." —u/iamnotahermitcrab 3."Habits that put us into the same patterns we're already familiar with. For example, let's say someone was previously abused and has low self-esteem, so they now gravitate toward people who mistreat them, etc." —u/crypticcryptidscrypt 4."Food." —u/LivingSalt9816 "This doesn't get talked about enough. Someone can truly quit any of these other addictions. You cannot quit eating. And even if we could, eating is the center of most cultures, communities, and fellowship." —u/GingerrGina 5."Shopping." —u/blissfulheadgames 6."Victim mindset." —u/tokenasian99 Related: 23 Cute, Happy, And Wholesome Posts I Saw On The Internet This Week That You Absolutely Need To See 7."Gambling is often overlooked. It's also not just lotto tickets and bingo. Casino apps, sports betting, online gaming 'mystery boxes,' and day trading are just a few examples of things that use the same mechanics." —u/threadbarefemur 8."Dieting, eating disorders and/or disordered eating, and counting calories." —u/Global_Concept1331 9."Social media." —u/Goddess_alma__ "It's a bigger issue than that. Social media falls under dopamine abuse, basically. It's just a constant onslaught of the pleasure ventures in the brain these days. Companies research ways to hit those centers and use the marketing to sell it. Small things like the action of swiping or flavors in food. Salt. Porn. Video games. Social media. YouTube showing you all the things you want but can't go for. All of these things are beneficial targeted one at a time, but goddamn, it fries people's brains all at once." —u/Klashus Related: Holy Crap, I Can't Stop Laughing At These 28 Painfully Awkward And Embarrassing Conversations 10."Working all the time." —u/MotherEarth1919 11."Dermatillomania, or skin-picking disorder." —u/strangekey2 12."Dating apps. They're like a game, and the incentive for winning is your orgasm." —u/Present-Loss5880 13."Porn." —u/PEACH_MINAJ 14."Sleeping in all the time." —u/Tough_Representative "Sleeping in general. I genuinely can't stop napping during the day. It's awful." —u/lights-camera-bees 15."Weed. While it's not an addictive substance, people definitely become emotionally dependent. One problem is that weed makes you okay with being unproductive and bored, and many people use it as a crutch." —u/8v9 16."Phones." —u/Then_Coyote_1244 "That's me — same with my iPad. When I iron my clothes, I put on YouTube on my iPad. Eating dinner? Netflix. Drinking a cup of tea? TikTok. Waiting on the bus? Reddit. My phone is always in my hand. I take it with me when I go to bed, when I take a shower, when I walk the dog, when I have to get something from the attic, etc. I miss growing up in the '90s and not having a phone — just being present in the moment. But somehow, I can't do it anymore." —u/Dazzling-Yam-1151 What do you think after reading these responses? Are you recognizing some (completely normalized) patterns in your own life or others? What hidden addictions do you think are affecting people today? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy. The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text 'NEDA' to 741741. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website. Also in Internet Finds: Lawyers Are Sharing Their Juiciest "Can You Believe It?!" Stories From The Courtroom, And They're As Surprising As You'd Expect Also in Internet Finds: 51 People Who Quickly Discovered Why Their Hilariously Clueless Partner Was Single Before Meeting Them Also in Internet Finds: People Are Sharing "The Most Believable Conspiracy Theories," And Now I'm Questioning Everything I Thought I Knew
Forbes
7 days ago
- General
- Forbes
3 Ways The ‘You're Not Like Others' Line Traps You — By A Psychologist
Why does being appreciated for your uniqueness feel so validating? And what conditions does this ... More compliment come with? Statements like, 'You're not like other people,' 'You're not like the others I've dated,' or 'You're different. Special,' often land like compliments. They might even feel deeply validating, especially if you've spent much of your life feeling misunderstood. To be told you stand out, that you're exceptional, can feel like you're finally being seen after years of invisibility. Being singled out and appreciated touches something vulnerable: the part of you that's longed to be chosen for the very things that make you different. But these words that sound like flattery can subtly shape the way you show up in the relationship, pushing you to perform rather than simply exist. And when love hinges on being 'not like the rest,' it's rarely as unconditional as it first appears. Here's the psychology behind this common line, and why it may not be the compliment you think it is. Many people carry an internal belief that they don't quite fit in. It's a feeling often rooted in childhood exclusion, neurodivergence, trauma or simply being more observant than expressive. So when someone says, 'You're not like other people,' it speaks directly to that unhealed wound. It feels validating, even comforting, that someone finally sees your uniqueness. But what sounds like recognition can be performance bait. Instead of helping you feel safely understood, this kind of compliment can reinforce a sense of separateness. It puts you outside the circle of 'ordinary' people. And once you're placed outside that circle, it can become hard to relax or let your guard down. This has several consequences. A 2020 study published in Communications Research Reports, using the Communicate Bond Belong (CBB) theory, found that when people become more self-conscious about how they present themselves in social interactions, they tend to expend more social energy, experience less enjoyment and feel less connected in the moment. This is especially true in interactions where people feel they must maintain a certain image, often at the cost of their authenticity. So while being seen as 'different' may initially feel flattering, it often leads you into a silent performance loop. You start to self-monitor. You suppress your needs. You fear slipping up. Eventually, you may notice that you feel more tired after interactions instead of feeling more connected. Because what seems like a pedestal is often just a spotlight. And unfortunately, spotlights don't keep you company for too long. Once someone casts you as 'not like the rest,' you may begin feeling pressured to keep living up to that image. In romantic relationships, this pressure can feel especially heavy. You may find yourself: What initially feels like admiration can quickly become a role you're afraid to fall out of. Rather than building closeness, this dynamic breeds performance-based worth. One where you don't feel valued for who you are, but for how well you maintain the persona someone else admires. A 2015 study published in Self and Identity exploring how people present their relationships to others exemplifies this. It was found that individuals with high attachment anxiety (those more preoccupied with acceptance and rejection) engaged in heightened self-presentation when they anticipated interacting with another romantic couple. The study highlights how social comparison and relational visibility can intensify the drive to curate one's image, particularly for those already unsure of their worth. In essence, if you already fear being unlovable, being labeled as 'special' can heighten that fear. But when you start performing solely to feed your desire for approval, you also start losing your authenticity. In turn, the other person only connects with a polished version of you, not your whole, complex self. That's how flattery becomes a trap. Conditional affection starts as praise but ends in self-erasure. And when you finally show up as fully human, the admiration may disappear because it was never really you they loved, but the role that you played. If you've struggled with feeling 'not enough' in past relationships, it might feel validating when someone compliments you by putting others down. But, while these compliments may come across as genuine admiration at first, they're just comparisons in disguise. Comments like 'You're not like other girls,' 'You're not needy like my ex,' 'You're so chill, not like most people,' don't acknowledge who you are as a person. They merely shape you into someone more convenient — someone who won't ask for too much, feel too deeply or challenge their comfort. This is conditional positive regard in action. Research published in Journal of Personality in 2016 shows that, in romantic relationships, conditional approval (even when masked as praise) undermines relationship quality by threatening your sense of autonomy. When love is earned by meeting unspoken expectations, you begin to shrink yourself to stay accepted. The trap begins to close in on you when you start suppressing your needs, emotions and complexity out of fear of losing the admiration that once felt so affirming. What's worse, the person who once said, 'You're not like the others,' may one day say, 'You've changed,' or, 'You're just like the rest.' The compliment was never stable; it was a condition. You will know a connection is genuine when it doesn't ask you to compete with someone's past. It doesn't reward you for outperforming someone else. Rather, it makes space for your full, emotional, imperfect humanity, and still chooses you. Pay attention to what psychologically healthy dynamics sound like. Real, grounded connection is reflected in compliments like: These statements are anchored in specific behaviors and present-moment experiences, as opposed to vague comparisons or inflated ideas of uniqueness. They don't put you on a pedestal. While being seen as unique can feel wonderful, we have to be cautious when that uniqueness comes with pressure to uphold a fantasy, or worse, when it's built by tearing others down. Here's what you need to hear, or simply remind yourself: 'You don't need to be exceptional to be loved. You just need to be allowed to be yourself.' Because real intimacy isn't about being unlike others. It's about being truly known and loved, exactly as you are. Wondering if you can show up authentically in your relationship? Take the science-backed Authenticity In Relationships Scale test to find out.
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Carolyn Hax: Will girlfriend's mean mom encroach on their future together?
Dear Carolyn: For a year, I've been dating 'Sylvia.' Sylvia is smart, funny, kind, fits well with my family and friends — she is a bright light and makes me a better person. The BUT is her mom. She demands constant attention and validation, and she is mean. She treats retail and waitstaff rudely and has unreasonable demands. She saw a picture of my sister and said she would be pretty if she weren't so fat (she's not fat!!). Talking about a cousin, she says unprintable things about her sex life. The mom will gaslight Sylvia for the smallest things, or say mean things about her weight, hair, underachieving at her job — and, five seconds later, pull her close and tell her she loves her. Sylvia is blind to her mom's meanness because she isn't willing or ready to see it yet. She excuses all her behavior and says her mom had a tough life. I can limit my time with her mom, but I love Sylvia. What happens if we get married and have kids? I wouldn't want kids influenced by her mom's nastiness. Do people break up because of their parents? I've asked Sylvia to go to therapy, but she says only doomed couples go to therapy before marriage. — Anonymous Anonymous: Not the right question. People break up because one of them chews too loudly. Plus, her 'doomed couples' view is a rigid, mindless, self-defeating response to a fair request from someone who seems pretty convincingly in her corner. So you have decent Sylvia reasons to question your future with Sylvia, before you even get to the mother. And that's before getting to deeply serious reasons: that the abuse from Mom that Sylvia ignores, excuses or doesn't comprehend is the abuse she is at risk, in some form, of carrying forward. Her nonsensical response to therapy is a little green shoot of extremist thinking. Readers with long memories will recall I once dismissed therapy this early in a relationship — so maybe it takes a mindless reflex to know one. I'll share what trained me out of mine, in hopes it can help you with Sylvia; given her intense family dysfunction, your opening her mind to therapeutic care in this small way could be handing her the proverbial file baked into a cake. First, every conversation about relationship health comes back around to trust. If you have conducted yourself as a decent human — meaning, you treat Sylvia's interests as inherently equal to yours vs. as props for your whims — then the good-faith answer to your therapy request, for your partner, is yes. Period. I mean, really. It's 50 minutes with a health professional. You're not insisting she juggle sharp things. Trust mechanisms, alas, tend to be the first casualties of abuse. In that case, couples counseling becomes a no — for good reason, maybe even for Sylvia. But talk about a six-word pitch for individual counseling: to be trust-challenged … and dating. Second, we all bring our stuff to relationships. When it reacts badly with someone else's, that's often a hint to break up. The younger me would advise that; why force it? But now I see how that becomes an easy excuse to hop from person to person, never admitting or fixing your stuff. It is both humbling and motivating to admit you want to get along with someone better than your current skills permit. Why quibble over the timing? So, third, for the Sylvias: 'Doomed' isn't from therapy itself, or admitting the need. It's from minds closed to new information. I hope she's ready to hear you.
Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Times
Why don't my wife's affairs bother me?
Q. After more than 20 years of marriage, my wife had a brief sexual dalliance with a family friend. Since then I've been shocked to discover that I find the idea of her with another man both excruciatingly painful and extremely arousing, and she has had a few liaisons with other men, each of which I have known about. Is it perfectly healthy to accept that I find other men desiring my wife very erotic and she loves the validation of being desired? Or is this the beginning of the end for our marriage? A. This is a really complex question that on the surface challenges the concept of marriage being synonymous with fidelity. Dig a bit deeper, though, and it is really about why you choose to tolerate a situation that a majority of other people would find completely intolerable. Yes, it is true that a growing number of couples seem to be embracing polyamory and open relationships, but the story you tell does not fit that narrative. Your wife made a unilateral decision to have sex with a family friend and, when you found out about her betrayal, you were hurt — but you were also turned on. What happened next made things even more confusing. Because you didn't at any point hold your wife to account and seemed, in one sense at least, to enjoy the experience, she has felt at liberty to repeat her behaviour several times. What strikes me is how emotionally distant you are from what is happening. In my experience, most men would feel deeply humiliated in your situation. Perhaps you are in all other respects a very alpha person and your response to your wife's behaviour is an inversion of who you really are — it may be a clichéd sexual trope but there have been numerous exposures of very powerful men who enjoy being humiliated during sex. You ask whether it is healthy to accept that you find other men desiring your wife very erotic but that question is in itself a distortion. Yes, lots of men enjoy the envious glances they get when they are out in public with a desirable partner, but only because they know that their partner is not going home with any of them. Anything that is taboo can heighten sexual arousal — it's how and why porn is so successful — but within the confines of a marriage it could make for a pretty exhausting and risky relationship. You wonder whether tolerating this situation might be a way of licensing yourself to explore other sexual relationships in future. In all honesty, unless you and your wife come to some sort of agreement about what this is really all about, I doubt you will have a future together. If you want one, you need to figure out how you got to where you are now. That requires you both to be honest about what your relationship was like before your wife's extramarital sexual activity. Did you love each other? Did you like each other? Did you feel emotionally connected? Did you have regular sex with each other? And what changed after 20 years? Could her behaviour be a bid for recognition, an attempt to get some sort of response from a man who no longer 'saw' her? Are these flings really her way of trying to find a new partner to move on with? Are you both actually considering an exit strategy? These are difficult questions and it will be much easier for you to find the answers if you have the support of a good couples therapist. This may be the beginning of the end for your marriage but, whatever happens, it is a turning point. Send your queries to
Geeky Gadgets
29-05-2025
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Quickly Validate Your AI SaaS Idea Using This 2025 Workflow
What if you could take an idea for an AI-powered SaaS product—something that usually takes weeks or months to validate—and determine its potential in just 24 hours? It might sound like a bold claim, but with the right tools and mindset, it's entirely possible. In a world where speed often defines success, the combination of AI-driven insights and a lean development strategy called 'vibe coding' offers a innovative approach. Imagine sketching out your concept in the morning and, by the next day, knowing whether it's worth pursuing or pivoting. This isn't just about saving time; it's about making smarter, faster decisions in a fiercely competitive space. In this deep dive by Dr Alex Young, you'll uncover how to harness AI tools to analyze market demand, simulate user interactions, and even predict potential challenges—all without the guesswork. You'll also learn the principles of vibe coding, a rapid prototyping method that strips away unnecessary complexity to focus on what truly matters: solving problems efficiently. Whether you're a seasoned developer or someone with a spark of an idea, this guide will show you how to turn that spark into a validated concept in record time. The process is fast, but the insights you'll gain could shape the future of your product. Validate AI SaaS Ideas Fast The Role of AI Tools in Rapid Validation Artificial intelligence tools are indispensable for quickly evaluating the feasibility of your SaaS idea. These tools provide advanced capabilities to analyze data, simulate user interactions, and predict market trends, allowing you to make informed decisions with minimal effort. Key applications of AI tools include: Customer Sentiment Analysis: Natural language processing (NLP) models can assess user feedback, online reviews, or social media discussions to measure interest in your idea. Natural language processing (NLP) models can assess user feedback, online reviews, or social media discussions to measure interest in your idea. Behavioral Insights: Machine learning algorithms can identify patterns in user behavior, helping you uncover potential use cases and pain points. Machine learning algorithms can identify patterns in user behavior, helping you uncover potential use cases and pain points. Automation: AI can generate user personas, create mock datasets, and simulate real-world scenarios, such as customer interactions or operational workflows. For instance, if your SaaS idea involves an AI-powered customer support platform, AI tools can simulate common customer queries and responses. This allows you to evaluate how your product might perform in real-world conditions without requiring extensive manual testing. By using these tools, you can focus on refining ideas with the highest potential while avoiding unnecessary trial-and-error. Understanding Vibe Coding Vibe coding is a rapid prototyping approach designed to prioritize speed and simplicity. Unlike traditional development methods that often involve extensive planning and complex frameworks, vibe coding emphasizes creating a functional, minimal version of your idea—commonly referred to as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This approach allows you to test your concept quickly and efficiently. Key principles of vibe coding include: Quick Prototyping: Develop a basic version of your product that demonstrates its core functionality without unnecessary features. Develop a basic version of your product that demonstrates its core functionality without unnecessary features. Focus on Essentials: Concentrate on solving the primary problem your product addresses, avoiding overengineering or feature bloat. Concentrate on solving the primary problem your product addresses, avoiding overengineering or feature bloat. Use Existing Tools: Use pre-built APIs, libraries, or frameworks to save time and resources during development. For example, if your SaaS idea involves an AI-driven scheduling tool, you could start by building a simple interface that integrates with an existing AI API. This prototype could include basic features like scheduling suggestions or calendar integration, allowing you to test the core functionality without building the entire product from scratch. Use AI & Vibe Coding to Validate Any AI SaaS Idea in 2025 Watch this video on YouTube. Enhance your knowledge on SaaS by exploring a selection of articles and guides on the subject. A Structured Approach to 24-Hour Validation Validating an AI SaaS idea within 24 hours requires a clear and systematic process. By following these steps, you can streamline the validation process and make data-driven decisions: Define Your Core Idea: Clearly articulate the problem your SaaS will solve, the target audience it will serve, and the unique value it offers. Be as specific as possible to ensure focus. Clearly articulate the problem your SaaS will solve, the target audience it will serve, and the unique value it offers. Be as specific as possible to ensure focus. Use AI Tools: Use AI to analyze market trends, simulate user interactions, and identify potential challenges or opportunities. This step helps you gather actionable insights quickly. Use AI to analyze market trends, simulate user interactions, and identify potential challenges or opportunities. This step helps you gather actionable insights quickly. Build a Prototype: Apply vibe coding techniques to create a basic version of your product that highlights its key features and functionality. Apply vibe coding techniques to create a basic version of your product that highlights its key features and functionality. Test Feasibility: Share your prototype with a small group of users, stakeholders, or industry experts to gather feedback and assess market demand. Share your prototype with a small group of users, stakeholders, or industry experts to gather feedback and assess market demand. Iterate Quickly: Use the feedback to refine your prototype, focusing on areas that need improvement or additional functionality. Repeat this process as needed. This structured approach ensures that you can evaluate your idea's potential efficiently, minimizing wasted effort and resources. Evaluating Feasibility: Technical and Market Viability Feasibility testing is a critical component of the validation process. It involves assessing both the technical and market aspects of your SaaS idea to determine its overall viability. Technical Feasibility: Evaluate whether your concept is achievable with the tools, technologies, and resources available. For example, if your idea relies on advanced AI capabilities, verify that the necessary algorithms, APIs, or frameworks exist and are accessible. Evaluate whether your concept is achievable with the tools, technologies, and resources available. For example, if your idea relies on advanced AI capabilities, verify that the necessary algorithms, APIs, or frameworks exist and are accessible. Market Demand: Use AI-driven tools to analyze search trends, social media discussions, and competitor offerings. For instance, if your SaaS idea involves an AI-powered content creation platform, tools like Google Trends or social listening software can help you gauge interest in automated content solutions. By addressing both technical and market feasibility, you can identify potential challenges early and make informed decisions about whether to proceed with your idea or pivot to a different approach. The Value of Iterative Prototyping Iterative prototyping is a dynamic process that involves building, testing, and refining your product in cycles. This approach ensures that your product evolves based on real-world feedback, ultimately aligning with user needs and expectations. The iterative prototyping process typically includes the following steps: Initial Prototype: Develop a basic version of your product that demonstrates its core functionality and addresses the primary problem. Develop a basic version of your product that demonstrates its core functionality and addresses the primary problem. Gather Feedback: Share the prototype with potential users, stakeholders, or industry experts to identify usability issues, pain points, and areas for improvement. Share the prototype with potential users, stakeholders, or industry experts to identify usability issues, pain points, and areas for improvement. Refine and Repeat: Use the feedback to make targeted improvements, then test the updated version. Repeat this process until your product is polished and ready for market launch. For example, if your SaaS idea involves an AI chatbot for e-commerce, your initial prototype might reveal that users find the chatbot's responses too generic. Based on this feedback, you could refine the AI model by incorporating more specific training data or adjusting its algorithms. Each iteration brings you closer to a product that meets user expectations and delivers tangible value. Maximizing Efficiency in SaaS Development By combining AI tools, vibe coding, and a structured validation process, you can significantly reduce the time and resources required to evaluate your SaaS idea. This approach enables you to focus on high-potential concepts, address potential challenges early, and refine your product based on real-world feedback. In the fast-moving SaaS industry, this efficiency can be the key to staying ahead of the competition and delivering solutions that resonate with users. Media Credit: Dr Alex Young Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
