#psychology assignments examples

[caligvlasaqvarivm]

wanna ask how you feel about the eridan bpd headcanon/theory(?? not sure what to call it!) you're so good at your character analysis and i'd love to see your outlook on it

Since I don't have a degree or any formal training in psychology, I feel deeply uncomfortable diagnosing characters. I've made an autism joke before but only because I'm on the spectrum. He's definitely traumatized and anxious, but I mean those as descriptors of his behavior rather than capital-D Diagnoses. I try to focus on those when I can - the cause and effect of cognition, self-image, and behavior - and those factors may very well match up with DSM criteria, but I try not to touch an actual diagnosis with a ten foot pole unless the author has explicitly stated that X character has Y condition.

[yey56]

HARLEY SAWYER X PSYCHOLOGIST READER

You have been working at Playtime CO for some years now, you worked as the head department of psychology but most of your work consisted on providing profiles of the children in the lower levels or as your coworker called them, experiments.

Over the years of working with them and knowing what they are being turned into, you've learned to work with them pre and post experimentation. Another thing you've learned through time was to deal with the partner you were assigned for the project. Harley sawyer.

What is there to say about that man. He is the head scientist in the project but he is absolutely horrible at dealing with them, or with anyone. That's how you were assigned to work along side him . He made the experiments and you maintained them under control.

Initially the ones who needed to be under control where you two because of your crashing personalities. While he was a serious control freak and borderline antisocial you one the contrary seemed to not take things seriously, constantly taunting him and the other stuff and with a permanent sarcastic tone in your voice voice.

Of course at first he didn't like you much, and to be fair you didn't make it easy. Everything he said refering to the experiments was refuted by your obsession to keep a mildly stable mental health in the subject.

Dr Harley sighed heavily looking your way with an annoyed look- What now?- he asked

If you keep treating the subjects like that your are going to break them.-you said in the observation room with him while you were both supervising experiment 1355, a young girl turned into a smiley unicorn.

They're toys, they can be fixed easily- he responded as if he had repeated you that phrase for the 11th time (he did)

You know what I mean Sawyer, they are of no use if their minds break-you explained with a calm smile- or have you forgotten what kind of problems an unstable subject could bring?- your asked him, your question mocking him.

It turned out well with Yarnaby or have you forgotten Dr (Y/L/N)?- he said imitating your question

You laughed slowly- ah yes the kid you isolated as your pet, great example Dr-

Harley Sawyer was well known for working alone, he didn't like others company and whenever he got an assistant or a guard, he scared them off by being authoritarian or exposing them to dangerous situation. You were the only one at the company who actually could keep up with him.

In the interviews with the children you would lead the conversation while Harley observed and took notes. In the laboratory you were more of an assistant, helping the Dr with whatever tool he needed or just preparing the chemicals.

Even though he hated to admit it, his experiments have been more controlable and causing less troubles since you started working together.

You would be unbothered by the kids, showing enough compassion for them to not recognise you as a threat, but showing not an ounce of regret in your eyes while seeing how Harley turned them into toys.

Do I have to remind you that compassion is useless in this job?- Sawyer said while closing a wound he had made on the experiment while operating

You haven't realised how much time have passed since your prior conversation have ended. It was strange for the doctor to initiate them, usually preferring silence but you weren't complaining.

Compassion can make a person go through great lengths- you said- But I understand that in this line of work it's nothing but a limit, a wall that needs to be broken in order to obtain results.-

For once in a long time both you and Harley agreed on something.

He finally stopped sewing the toys fresh wound and started reading the inform you had redacted about the psychological profile of the child before the operation- you should do another one once she wakes up (Y/L/N)- he reminded you while reading the little notes and highlights you left about her.

You always reserved a space the paper work to express your personal opinions on the experiment and Harley always read them. It's another thing he started doing, considering your opinions and advice as something worth of noticing.

-Doc...-

-Sawyer...-

-Sawyer??...-

-HARLEY!!-

He looked at you not noticing how he had spaced out of his mind for a moment while reading your report.

What is it?- he asked actually surprised that he was actually distracted enough to not hear you.

I was asking you about the experiment 1322, Doey. How are the three conscience developing? are they getting used to they're new body?-you asked. Doey was your favourite experiment so far, it was the one you have showed more interest in and your involvement with him was way bigger than with others. Sawyer didn't understood your fascination with Doey.

Since you both started developing the project, you had shown special interest in the idea of three people combined in a toy. In fact, the reason you had starting working more time with the doctor was because of your eagerness to see how the experiment would turn out.

You have become much more comfortable with one another, even after years of coexisting with each other in the lower levels of Playtime.

Sometimes he would catch himself looking at you while you were with the kids in the interviews. He observed your calm demeanor through the crystal of the observation room. He could see how the children grew more confortable with you while you were joking.

The cognitive abilities of the toys were improving each day thanks to your work so of course the bosses permitted you both to perform as many experiments as needed.

Another thing Harley noticed about the last week's was how you would spend most of your time testing and conversing with 1322. He had grown so used to your presence that it was getting harder to work without you present.

He would never admit that he missed your sarcastic comments about the designs of the toys or how he missed to call you a germ, his germ, whenever you were getting to annoying.

Sometimes when you went to the cafeteria upstairs to get some coffee or a sandwich to eat, you would get him something too.

You haven't brought anything recently and that was because of your new obsession.

He finally finished the last transformation successfully, now the only thing left was for the experiment to wake up and for you to examine them.

Harley wandered through the corridors searching for the one room he knew you would be in, this time, he was the one bringing you a coffee.

He watched you through the crystal of the observation room. You always insisted on talking face to face with Doey. The mass of doe seemed calmer with you around. The two more peaceful personalities of Doey talked to you, voicing their regrets and fears. Though the violent part of the creature always seemed reluctant to talk to you. Not responding what was asked of him or simply not responding at all.

Dr ( Y/L/N), your presence is required in the observation room number 29- Sawyer interrupted your conversation. Doey seemed afraid for a moment only to turn his expression into an angry one. With a gesture of your hand you calmed him down and signaled silently for Harley to turn on the ice so the doe wouldn't scape.

You exited the room to find your coworker handing you a cup of coffee. You looked at him with a raised brow but accepted it either way.

Well, look who it is.-you said with satisfied grin- I thought you were supervising Yarnaby?- you commented

Yes I was, are you aware of how much time you spend with that... Mass?- he said with contempt- what's so fascinating about him anyways? He's only been trouble.

You're only trouble as far as I'm aware- he rolled his eyes you sipped again- he's a time bomb and I want to be there to see it explode- you finally responded- I want to be the germ that makes him mutate.

Germ... It's a fitting name for you- he laughed with a smooth voice.-

You both stayed silent in the middle of the room, he looked at you calmly while you ended your coffee. He was looking at you trough his glasses without blinking, with his tired eyes.

You looked back at him and when you realised he had his fist raised at you, brushing with his tumb the remaining coffee right next to your upper lip.

Neither of you realised how close you where, the dim light of the room illuminated both of your bodies. Yours against the door and his right in front of you, your external layers of clothing touching lightly.

He got even closer, feeling his breath against your own. His thumb caressing your cheek

He thought about everything that had happened recently. How Pierre and the ones closer to him had started to go against you both in the semanal meeting with the executives regarding the experiments. Pierre's demands being met by your indifference, claiming that you will keep securing the experiments as much as possible.

The doctor remembered how you, just as him, were completely devoted to the project. He had became paranoic for the past months. More irritable, unwilling to socialise with someone who wasn't you or the toys

He got even closer to you, he though he heard you whisper his name. You closed the gap between the both of you. Hands on his shoulders

Lip against lip, his hand still in your face. You felt that Harley was the only human you could trust down here. No one understood you like he did. Your desperation to contribute to humanity, your desire of achieving a more lasting body. One that could endure more.

If you ever shared this with anyone else, you'll probably be in trouble.

Your closeness with Harley and his with you was out of understanding, a feeling of trust and comfortability that had just materialised thought he kiss you were sharing with each other.

He slowly pulled apart, his breathing uneven and one of his locks of hair misplaced a slight smile on his face. His forehead touched yours and he whispered just above your lips- My germ~

Only if you knew... That exact same week Harley Sawyer would be reduce no nothing more than a system, a screen, a conscience.

At the mercy of playtimes desires while you... Well ... Your whereabouts were unknown, even though they knew you didn't get out of the building.

Somewhere... hiding between wires and toy corpses...

I'm in love with the voice of the doctor AKA Harley Sawyer.

My drawing of Harley Sawyer:

[elishebagraser]

Kansas lawmakers plot threatening attack on civil rights

In their supposed eagerness to save money and do right by taxpayers, perhaps Kansas Republican leaders could try passing laws that don’t trample on the rights of their constituents.

 Two transgender teenagers and their parents are challenging a new Kansas law that bans gender-affirming care for minors.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the national ACLU filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Douglas County District Court on behalf of a 16-year-old trans boy and a 13-year-old trans girl. The lawsuit argues the new law violates state constitutional rights for equal protection, personal autonomy, and parenting.

Senate Bill 63 prohibits health care providers from using surgery, hormones or puberty blockers to treat anyone younger than 18 who identifies with a gender that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. Health care providers who break the law may be subject to civil penalties and stripped of their license.

The ACLU is seeking an injunction to block enforcement of the law while the case is being litigated.“Every Kansan should have the freedom to make their own private medical decisions and consult with their doctors without the intrusion of Kansas politicians,” said D.C. Hiegert, a legal fellow for the ACLU of Kansas. “SB 63 is a particularly harmful example of politicians’ overreach and their efforts to target, politicize, and control the health care of already vulnerable Kansas families.”

The GOP-led Legislature passed SB 63 and overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this year, ignoring overwhelming opposition from Kansas social workers, teachers, medical providers and members of the LGBTQ+ community who said gender-affirming care saves lives by acknowledging and supporting vulnerable kids for who they are.

The ACLU lawsuit points to medical guidance established by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society and others surrounding gender identity, gender expression, and gender dysphoria. The guidelines require medical providers to confirm a minor has demonstrated a long-lasting and intense pattern of gender nonconformity, that the condition worsened with the onset of puberty, that coexisting psychological or social problems have been addressed, and that the patient has sufficient mental capacity to provide informed consent.

The lawsuit says both families have looked for care in other states as a result of the new law.

Harper Seldin, senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ and HIV Project, said all transgender Kansans should have the freedom to be themselves.“Bans like SB 63 have already had catastrophic effects on the families of transgender youth across the country,” Seldin said. “These bans have uprooted many families from the only homes they’ve ever known while forcing many more to watch their young people suffer knowing a politician stands between them and their family doctor’s best medical judgment.”

In addition to banning gender-affirming care, SB 63 bans the use of state funds for mental health care for transgender children, bans state employees from promoting “social transitioning,” which is defined to include the use of preferred pronouns, and outlaws liability insurance for damages related to gender-affirming care.

The model legislation, labeled the “Help Not Harm Act,” was supported by faith-based anti-LGBTQ+ groups in and outside of Kansas.

When the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto in February, Brittany Jones, director of policy and engagement for Kansas Family Voice, said lawmakers voted on the side of “common sense.”

“Every child deserves to be loved and protected — not manipulated into making life-altering decisions by individuals who profit off of those decisions,” Jones said. “We celebrate this new day in Kansas in which Kansas children are protected.”

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Hi there! I had an idea for either series!ENA or BBQ!ENA interacting with a reader who's like a therapist or something. Like Ena says something kinda messed up and reader's like "no, that's not normal. Are you ok?" Both these girls need so much therapy, or at least a friend. I think reader becoming protective of Ena would be cute. Reader getting mad at the other entities for being mean to Ena without any real reason (that they know of). If you can't/don't want to do this for any reason, that's OK! Take your time and put yourself first!

I can do both!

..........

Series!ENA

Even though Ena (in Power of Potluck) talked to the Therapist, got rid of Mask, and tried to find joy in the little moments--he believes that someone should still keep an eye on her.

That's where you come in, befriending her just to see how she's been handling life in general ever since her session.

Mask hasn't returned, but right off the bat she looks troubled as you explain who sent you and why, although you reassure her it's normal for your boss to request that you checked up on his past patients.

During your talks, her happier side has no complaints really, always grateful to have a new friend. But she does admit to being bothered by her sad side--mainly the effects it had on people she knew.

She's constantly apologizing for her emotions getting "out of hand", even in front of you, and tries burying that sadness--but she gets a wakeup call after you explain how that can do more harm than good.

Eventually, you build enough trust with Ena that she'll willingly turn into her sadder form, and remain in that state long enough for you to make meaningful progress with her.

You notice her tendencies to jump to nonsensical negative conclusions/inaccurate perceptions of herself.....and of course, she has a lot of crying fits/glitches that you gotta help her cope with.

"I-I don't know, I just feel..stupid and worthless sometimes..a-and everyone around me agwees.."

"You believe everybody thinks of you that way? Can you give me an example?"

"W-Well..this one guy asked me for diwections yesterday, a-and...and I couldn't help him!"

"So...he called you those things as an insult?"

"No, h-he thanked me for twying and w-was polite. But I know that's what he weally wanted to say!! Because I'm too stupid and worthless to give anyone diwections!!"

"How do you know for sure he was thinking that?"

"......I....I-I don't know, actually.."

You've gotten better at redirecting her negative thinking, and making her realize that a lot of her assumptions are kinda silly...

Least to say, she feel better coming to you for advice.

Some days she wants to ramble about her day with Moony or what she saw in the sky. Other times, she just needs a hug and a shoulder to cry on. And you're more than willing to offer those at any time.

Outside of your work, you've tagged along in her many adventures, seeing for yourself how rude other entities act towards her---and knowing so many languages helps you easily back sass those who insult her.

They always assume you can't understand them...until you leave them (and Ena) shocked when you suddenly speak their same language.

Dream BBQ!ENA

"So the Genie of the Lonely Door basically told me I'm unforgivable and should be punished for being born.......but that's not even the worst part of that day-"

"P a u s e."

That pretty much sums up your sessions/hangouts with this Ena.

As soon as she was done dealing with the Boss, she finally took time off of work to get some much-needed counseling.

Fortunately, you were a friend she met during one of her assignments who happened to be pursuing psychology, travelling far and wide to study the minds of everyone you've met.

You suggested that she gave therapy with you a try and, holy hell...you were in for a surprise.

She was willing to pay you in chocolates, fatty catties, etc. for your services....which was perfect compensation considering you may need therapy for yourself.

Salesperson yaps about the most recent absurd/rude thing an entity did or said to her...while pretending like it's just another day in the workweek, looking confused when you point out how that's not normal at all.

Meanie, on the other hand, is a different beast. And is honestly the half you're more worried about.

Since she represents the typical fatigued worker who's trapped in their job and feels like they can't afford to have any fun or luxuries without suffering for it.....she vents a lot, and her opening up about it is like her chipping through a brick wall.

Her anxiety over even mentioning the things that bother her is enough to make vines creep onto her body.

And one time, her broken green form showed up at your doorstep, which was terrifying at first glance....but then you recognized that she desperately needed your help--and you let her in, consoling her until she was able to restabilize and explain what led to that state.

Luckily that's the only time you've ever seen that form, and the vines on her body have grown smaller and weaker to the point where they were barely visible.

It quickly becomes apparent to you that Ena is struggling with some form of PTSD, as though she was a soldier trying to find her place in regular society again--returning from a war that you had no idea even occurred.

You've been trying to uncover the mystery of what she's done in the past...and if that was connected to why so many people seemed to hate her.

Regardless of the reason, though, you hoped to remain her friend and that she'd keep visiting you as often as she needed.

[thebirthofvenusfly]

hi i was raised in a home daycare for over 20 years and studied child development and psychology in school for 3 and would like to gush about why i love how bonnie was written and how they're one of the few kids in games i've played that Actually Feel Like a Kid:

firstly: bonnie's diction

bonnie cursing like a sailor is honestly pretty accurate for a kid aged like 9-14 and i distinctly remember having a huge cursing phase of my own at that age too so LMAO

they ask a lot of questions adjacent to a kids' understanding/confusion of things, social norms, situations, feelings, etc. (the conversation about the actors kissing in that play they saw and how they MUST have had an invisible paper between their lips because nobody would REALLY kiss on stage in front of everybody!)

they can be incredibly blunt but often not with the intention to hurt feelings rather than genuinely acquire information (sometimes with some sass b/c of previous conditioning.) ex. "Our teacher always tells us we have to speak up more... You're an adult so why don't you speak up more?" (Precedent/Conditioning; "Adult in position of power and authority has ingrained it is important to use my voice." -> "Why don't you, an adult who should know better, use yours more then?")

they have a tendency to confidently and casually use words and phrases they don't fully understand or know ("Air-no-no-nomic" -> this especially being something picked up by a fellow kid and just trusted that) (struggling to say, "pomegranate" (very cute watching odile help them with it :,) ) (struggling to say onigiri -> purposely messing this up to get a playful reaction out of dile, a party member they're especially close to, was also very sweet)

it's hard to discuss feelings. they're more likely to use a vessel as a means of connecting to someone else before being able to assign words to everything (offering a peach to siffrin in the classroom because they recognize he's upset without fully understanding why, then waiting for him to address the situation)

secondly: how bonnie handles feelings towards the others and about their Scenario

tendency to hold onto hard, serious, difficult-to-breach subjects and then explode and scream when addressed (ex. Rotten Adults quest)

slightly more partial to physical touch than verbal affirmation (hugs, hugs, hugs! including the little half-hugs they do where they just run into siffrin's side...)

jabbing siffrin in the stomach as a show of example for touching them LMAO???

recounting stories and information that interests them without regard for how socially appropriate it is or why others may react poorly (ex. talking to the party about how nille ran away with them and why she did)

unspoken guilt and trauma causing disconnection from people they love (siffrin's eye situation)

just a few examples and thoughts i liked

[auren-zagarra]

Hello! I've been trying to see if your requests are open, if it isn't please ignore this and I apologize.

First I just want to say that I appreciate your disclaimers on every post on your character analysis as someone struggling with my mental health and is seeking irl professional assistance.

That being said, may I please kindly request for a character analysis on Cater Diamond?

Thank you very much!

Cater Diamond: A Psychological Analysis

Disclaimer: Although this post is written by a professional psychologist, it is not intended to serve as a formal diagnosis. Rather, it is a character analysis of Cater Diamond, created out of personal interest and passion for world-building. In psychological practice, accurate assessment should never be based solely on external observation.

Author Notes: Aw, I’m so glad to hear you’re seeking professional help, Anon! I truly hope your overall well-being improves - struggling with mental health can have such a deeply negative impact on daily life. Everyone deserves access to therapy and the fact that you’re taking that step is genuinely amazing. Please keep staying strong - I’m rooting for you! Also, ignore this post is quite huge... I love Cater so much and this is basically a reformulated analysis - I had the base content already because he is my fav. <3

Cater Diamond is a third-year student of Heartslabyul Dorm. His profile describes him as “casual and carefree”, an “expert room-reader” and mediator between others, always abreast of the latest trends and deeply engaged in social media. In the narrative, Cater often plays the role of a social connector and peacemaker. Even when faced with potential conflict (such as when classmates challenged the dorm leader Riddle), he responds with pragmatic concern: “Did they even try to think this through? I'll just pray this doesn't end up causing more trouble”. This illustrates Cater’s tendency to de-escalate or avoid confrontation. Thematically, Cater functions as a bridge-builder and mood-lightener. Though a playful attitude pervades his scenes, his narrative role is that of the affable socialite: he lubricates group dynamics, diffuses tension, and embodies the “cool” connector in the Heartslabyul clique.

Personality Analysis

Cater’s behavior aligns with several established personality models. In the Big Five (Five-Factor) model, he scores very high on Extraversion – he is outgoing, social, and gains energy from interactions (at least, that’s what he shows on the surface… In his Personal Story from the SSR Halloween card, he hints that maintaining his cheerful persona is exhausting - and there are several other moments where he reveals just how tiring it truly is.). He loves parties and group events, and can be a bit of an attention-seeker in social media settings (e.g. taking pictures for clicks), all typical of a high-Extraversion individual. His Openness is also high: he eagerly embraces new experiences and frequently tries new cafés and trends. He is curious and perceptive (the wiki notes he’s “very perceptive with great communication skills”) - for example, he understands and applies knowledge of others’ backgrounds - as he did with Leona during his R School Uniform personal story.

In terms of Agreeableness, Cater is generally warm and cooperative: he empathizes with people and despite being manipulative, he seems also very forgiven in the surface. He tends to defuse conflict rather than escalate it. These traits suggest above-average agreeableness. Conversely, his Conscientiousness appears lower: he often avoids academic effort and seeks the easy route on assignments, enjoying life’s pleasures instead of discipline - shown again in the R card, during the moment when Cater admits he only tried to host a party for Rosaria because he wanted her to give him the answers of a history test. Finally, his Neuroticism is moderate to low outwardly – he rarely panics and maintains a relaxed façade. However, private moments hint at underlying anxiety or sadness (discussed below), so he may internally rate moderately on neuroticism.

Coping Mechanisms and Behavior Under Stress

When under stress or emotional strain, Cater tends to avoid direct confrontation and use humor or social engagement as coping. For instance, during the challenge between Riddle and Ace (Book 1, episode 21), Cater responds not with anger but concern for group harmony. He steps back rather than escalating the conflict, demonstrating a conflict-avoidant stance. This suggests Cater may have an avoidant coping style: he backs off from arguments and focuses on prevention of conflict.

Cater also frequently uses intellectualization and rationalization to handle emotional issues. In his Halloween story, he reflects on his friendship patterns: “If I left, they remained there. That’s why I’d rather have a casual and happy time with everyone than deepen a friendship”. This quote shows him rationalizing emotional detachment as logical self-preservation. By framing his avoidance of deep bonds as a deliberate choice, he shields himself from the pain of goodbyes. This cognitive reframing is a classic defense mechanism: by analyzing his loneliness philosophically, he buffers the sting of relationships ending.

Another coping strategy is sublimation. Rather than dwelling on his own sadness, Cater channels his emotions into positive actions for others - even when most of his good actions are actually orientended towards his own benefit. He sublimates any personal loneliness into external creativity. He also uses social media (Magicam) as an emotional outlet. In the Halloween story he proudly says, “Magicam is the best! People from my school from three years ago contacted me out of the blue… My social circle is expanding”. Here he transforms the pain of permanent farewells into a more controlled form of connection: staying in touch online. This is both an emotion-focused coping (maintaining connections to ease solitude) and a distraction (focusing on online popularity rather than past losses).

On a behavioral level, Cater often makes light of discomfort with humor. When discussing his secret dislike of sweets in his Birthday Boy card, he turns it into a joke and a social gambit: instead of eating desserts, he says he’ll have Yuu eat them and just post photos. This evasion of direct discomfort (force-feeding by family) shows he copes by deflection. During emotional moments, Cater rarely cries or shows visible distress; instead, he laughs things off or cracks jokes. This suggests a defense mechanism of humor and cheerfulness to mask pain.

In sum, Cater’s coping mechanisms are largely avoidant and adaptive: he avoids conflict, rationalizes his detachment, and distracts himself with social activity. Psychological models would classify these as avoidance, rationalization, sublimation, and use of humor. While these strategies prevent immediate pain, they also underscore that Cater might suppress his deeper emotions rather than fully process them.

Family Background: Dynamics with His Sisters

Canon reveals that Cater grew up with two older sisters who essentially ran the household. The sisters are described as unreasonable bosses who constantly scrutinized and controlled him. For example, they insisted he redo things until they deemed them cute enough. One personal story describes young Cater’s excitement at a household sweets binge, only for his sisters to fill his plate until he was sick, leaving him “the worst at dealing” with their disappointed faces. He admits he kept forcing himself to eat desserts to avoid hurting them, and as a result can’t stand any kind of dessert now.

This family dynamic likely had deep psychological effects on Cater. His sisters’ domination taught him that asserting his own preferences would disappoint them, which may have ingrained a conflict-averse attitude and difficulty saying no - a pattern seen in how he copes with others. Yet they also clearly cared for him, celebrating his birthdays with over-the-top gifts (dolls, perfumes, etc.) until they learned his tastes. The net result is a mix of affection and frustration. Psychologically, one could say Cater developed a form of passive-aggressive compliance: he outwardly obeyed (eating the sweets) to avoid family discord, but inwardly resented the coercion (now despising sweets). This may have sown early seeds of anxiety about pleasing others and contributed to his later use of avoidance as a coping strategy.

Additionally, his father’s banking career forced the entire family to relocate globally every two years. This constant upheaval meant Cater never had a stable home or long-term peer group. The wiki notes he hadn’t had any long-lasting friends because of this and that he considers himself “a pro at quickly packing things”. Psychologically, growing up rootless can foster attachment difficulties. In Cater’s case, the combination of moving and domineering siblings may have made his home life feel chaotic and restrictive. Indeed, during winter breaks the canon says Cater preferred to stay with friend Trey’s family rather than return to his own, indicating a desire for emotional respite from his home environment. Overall, the family context - frequent moves, an overbearing figure (the sisters), and high expectations - likely pressured Cater into pleasing roles and difficulty with intimacy.

No Bonds? Social Attachments and Their Absence

Despite his friendly façade, Cater’s background underscores an absence of deep friendships. Moving constantly, he never settled anywhere long enough to form lasting bonds. In essence, Cater admits he maintained only superficial relationships to avoid future heartache. This coping strategy - keeping things casual - means he seemingly has no true intimate friends.

In interactions, Cater often flits among peers but rarely reveals deep emotions to them. There is also a statement that he “can’t relate” to homesickness because his sisters would be waiting at home that implies an emotional distance even from his own family (sadly, I cannot remember the font, but I think it was his Halloween SSR). Psychologically, this pattern suggests an avoidant attachment style: he values independence and social fun but shies away from closeness. Cater’s lack of enduring bonds is therefore significant: it reinforces a self-protective isolation, where he stays superficially friendly yet emotionally insulated. As the Halloween story explicitly reasons, “the more precious a relationship is, the more lonely it becomes” - a philosophy Cater seems to live by, avoiding deep ties to prevent the ultimate loneliness of loss.

This absence of close attachments also has consequences. For one, it might leave Cater feeling fundamentally lonely despite always being surrounded by peers. And indeed, hints of underlying loneliness surface in his personal reflections. From a psychological standpoint, lacking close relationships can increase vulnerability to mood problems, and it suggests Cater may rely on imagined or future connections (like online friends) to fill the gap. He explicitly turns to Magicam (social media) to stay connected across distance, but those are broad, shallow ties. Ultimately, Cater’s profile paints him as a social butterfly who nevertheless “didn’t have any long-lasting friends”. This dissonance - popular yet alone - is key to understanding his inner life.

A Deeper Look into Depression and Mood

Although Cater usually appears cheerful, canon provides subtle hints of melancholy and introspection, suggesting possible depressive undercurrents. In particular, his personal Halloween story includes a striking line: “However, I think the more precious a relation is, the more lonely it becomes… Why does it feel that way? I have lived a long life but the reason is still unknown to me". This confession reveals genuine sadness and existential questioning. He observes that deep relationships paradoxically lead to loneliness - a poignant, somewhat pessimistic insight. Expressing this thought implies he has felt loneliness intensely in relation to someone he cared about (possibly friends from whom he parted) and that it troubles him. 

Outside this scene, Cater does not scream depression outright. He laughs, jokes, and even uses slang and memes, which suggests a positive façade. On the Big Five axis of Neuroticism, he doesn’t exhibit overt anxiety or mood swings in the story scenes (often he’s calm and composed). However, the Halloween quote shows he experiences internal sadness, which likely bumps up his personal neuroticism score. In psychological terms, he may have a sublimated dysphoria: outwardly stable but inwardly questioning relationships. It’s also interesting to note that Cater’s mandrake in his Labwear card appeared quite gloomy - likely reflecting his own suppressed sadness - and in his Ceremonial Robes card, he comes across as rather apathetic by the end of the story.

Comparing to DSM-5, Cater does not meet criteria for major depressive episodes (there’s no evidence of prolonged deep depression, suicidal ideation, or severe functional impairment). However, one might notice elements of a milder, persistent mood disturbance. The quote above resembles what we might call dysthymic thinking: a chronic sense of emptiness about relationships. He also sometimes seems fatigued by feelings (joking about being “already up” or accepting things). His humorous replies to serious questions might be a mask for underlying low mood. We should also note how quickly Cater moves on after rejections; this resilience could either mean he genuinely is unaffected or that he is suppressing hurt. The story gives room to interpret that he does feel pain, but buries it under a breezy personality.

In short, Cater’s canon behavior includes just enough evidence to suggest he experiences loneliness or mild depression, but it is largely hidden. His spontaneous wit and social life keep overt symptoms at bay. The psychological significance is that he might exemplify a “smiling mask” – a vibrant exterior that conceals a more troubled interior. His case underscores that cheerful behavior does not preclude inner sadness.

Possible Diagnoses

His chronic avoidance of deep relationships and introspective loneliness hint at features of Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia): a long-term low mood and feelings of emptiness, without meeting full criteria for major depression. The hallmark of persistent depressive disorder is feeling down or hopeless for most of the day, for many days, across years. Cater often sounds weary of relationships and struggles with the idea of closeness. However, he does not display persistent fatigue, hopelessness, or dramatic mood swings in canon stories, so this would be a mild form.

Alternatively, aspects of Adjustment Disorder might be relevant. His background of frequent moves could cause chronic stress when forming new relationships, leading to anxiety and mood symptoms. He consciously adjusts by avoiding bonds (adaptive in his view) - an adaptive coping that suggests he made peace with change.

He may also exhibit signs consistent with Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD), particularly when examining his deep-seated need for attention, his emotionally performative behavior and his avoidance of authentic, vulnerable connections. HPD is characterized by a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior. Symptoms include discomfort when not the center of attention, rapidly shifting and shallow emotions, exaggerated expression of emotions and consistently using appearance or charm to gain approval.

Cater’s intense preoccupation with Magicam and social trends, coupled with his fear of becoming irrelevant reflects this need to remain in the spotlight. Despite his bubbly, extroverted demeanor, he deliberately avoids forming real bonds with others - often deflecting with humor or superficiality when things get serious. This emotional distancing aligns with HPD’s tendency toward relationships that are more theatrical than intimate. He is also quite flirty - as exemplified in the Japanese edition of Vil’s School Uniform card, in which he talks about taking him on a date - and straight up manipulative. The emotional performativity, fear of abandonment, and chronic reliance on external validation point toward a possible, subclinical expression of Histrionic Personality Disorder.

[inchesinbetweenus]

Daybreak (series) - One Year Ago

pairing: josh washington x fem!reader

warnings: mention of head trauma, mentions and descriptions of death serial killers, gore, anxiety, panic, and fire.

word count: approx. 3.5k

genre: thriller romance

summary: What if Josh wasn't the psycho? What if a real serial killer was hiding on the mountain? Would your favorite group of teens survive two real threats?

You've been friends with Chris since you were young, and when Josh came along, the three of you were inseparable. You've been invited to Blackwood Pines, the Washingtons' lodge, for the weekend. Expecting a good time to enjoy winter break and quality time with your friends, never would you have imagined it'd end with a police investigation.

One year later, Josh invites you all back up on the anniversary of his sisters' disappearances. You agree, but only because you want to be there for Josh. Otherwise, you'd never step foot in that place again. The Washington boy insists that it's safe now, but your gut tells you differently.

Will you make it to the end? Or will you be one of those the group tells the police about with tears in their eyes?

A tiny butterfly flapping its wings today may lead to a devastating hurricane weeks from now. The smallest decision can dramatically change the future. Psychology wasn’t your first pick that semester; something easier seemed more fitting for a first-year. Not something quite so introspective. There were positives, though. For example, Joshua Washington, one of your best friends, was in that class. Hence why, you were currently seated at a large granite kitchen island in the Blackwood Pines Lodge, a ski lodge on a mountain owned by the Washingtons. Technically, you were supposed to have a weekend getaway to celebrate the new year, but your grade was beginning to slip lower than you’d like. 

“No wayyy,” The male voice whined, a voice you knew too well. “Homework? Seriously, [Name], that’s so lame.” 

You looked up at the teasing blond. Your eyes rolled as Chris walked up to your kitchen spot. His boots tracked in snow, his hair and jacket wet from the melting ice. He grabbed a handful of chips from a bowl you had set out for a snack.  Josh walked in behind him. His brown hair was tucked under a white knitted beanie, his ears peeking out and slightly red. Playfully shoving Chris’s shoulder,  Josh came to your rescue. 

“Give her a break,” The older boy chuckled. “Our professor has been up her ass about turning in this assignment before Monday.”

“Which is tomorrow.” You popped a chip into your mouth, “I don’t have any other time to do it.”

Chris sighed in solidarity, “Major bummer, dude.” 

“Tell me about it.” You flipped the page of your textbook, but at least the worst of it was done.

Josh came up behind you, hands gripping your shoulders in an attempt to massage the tense muscles. 

“But she’ll finish by the time pizza gets here, right?” 

Your head rolled back slightly as Josh rubbed your shoulders, a sigh releasing. You tried to ignore the way your skin pricked under his touch. The warmth of his hands, along with their methodical movements, completely melted away the built-up stress. This wasn’t the first time, so he knew exactly how to help. 

“Oh definitely.” Your hand pointed to the document on your laptop: “I’m almost done with the essay questions.”

“Those were easy, you’ve got this.” With a final pat, Josh pulled his hands away from your shoulders. “I had it done in a night.”

“This stuff is totally your thing, of course you did.”

Chris laughed at the two of you. You had been pining over each other for years. The blonde is often caught between the two of you, hearing confessions from each party. Never to each other, of course. You both valued your friendship more than indulging in any “childish crush” (Chris knew it was much more than that). 

He couldn’t recall exactly when it started, but he was sure Josh fell first. 

If he had to guess, it was probably at the beginning of high school. The three of you had met in third grade. You were Chris’s neighbor, and he introduced you to Josh when the older male came to a playdate. Since then, you three have been inseparable. A friendship not many find. Even in high school, when you drifted into different social circles, you still found time for each other. You all worked together very well, contrasting each other yet fitting together perfectly. It seemed a miracle, and Chris couldn’t be happier with his best friends, except when they remained painfully stubborn about their feelings for each other. Chris loved playing matchmaker, but you both refused to humor the idea. 

It was moments like this, the two of you teetering on the edge of romantic affection, that Chris wanted to burst with all the secrets of feelings he had been entrusted with. He knew better than that. You’d both hate him forever, and it wouldn’t be as satisfying as if you two found each other yourselves. So here he found himself again, stuck between you two. A knowing smile grew on his face.

Between the massage, the gentle hum of the refrigerator, and the lack of proper sleep last night, you could practically fall asleep. Alas, you had an assignment to complete. Opening your eyes,  you caught the smug look on Chris’s face and had to suppress an eye-roll. Your fingers fidgeted with your pen. Your own grin growing on your face.

“So where’s this firewood you two went out to go get?” You raised an eyebrow at the two empty-handed boys. 

Chris’s smirk was wiped straight off his face, and Josh hung his shoulders dejectedly. Both let out an embarrassed chuckle.

“We couldn’t find the axe.” Chris admitted. 

To add to their embarrassment, you snorted. You were trying to stifle a laugh; it failed terribly. It was now your turn to be shoved by Josh.

“I’d like to see you try and look for that thing.” 

“I probably could, knowing you two.” 

Chris shook his head. “An animal probably ran off with it.” 

You turned towards Chris with a perplexed expression. A slight glance to your side showed Josh doing the same thing. 

“Or an axe murderer!” He continued, now with the tone of someone telling a ghost story.

“There isn’t anyone else on the mountain, Chris.” You corrected, wanting to shove any idea of there being a threat out the window. 

“Actually-” Josh began.

Your head whipped towards the brunette. “What? Your dad said we were the only ones here.” 

“Hey, hey, let me finish.” Josh chuckled at your paranoia, “There was this guy who told my parents not to build this place. It’s on indigenous land, 'belongs to nature' or whatever he said.” Josh shook his head, “A nutjob.”

An unsure silence hung in the air. You and Chris shared an unsettled expression.

“..But he doesn’t live here, right?” Chris asked, his voice wavering for just a second.

“If he does, nobody’s found him. My parents had rangers sweep the mountain and they couldn’t find any evidence of him currently living here.” Josh shrugged before leaning back against the cabinet behind him. His arms crossed as he rested there. “I seriously doubt it. It’s brutal out there.”

You found some comfort in his words, but a bit of paranoia couldn’t help but creep in. Like a scary story, someone told you as a kid that still hangs over you as an adult. One that still keeps you wary of your open closet door at night.

A shiver ran up your spine as you turned back to your laptop. Chris shook off the goosebumps, pricking the back of his neck. Before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door beside you three. 

“Hey! Let us in; we’ve got the pizza.” Beth’s voice yelled from the other side. She had gone with Mike, Emily, and Jessica to get the pizza. The three could’ve figured it out independently, but Beth didn’t want to risk them getting lost.  

“Hurry, I’m freezing my tits off out here.” Emily added from behind him.

Josh laughed at the comment as he pushed off the counter he was leaning on. 

“Finished with that assignment, [Name]?” A fleck of teasing in his words.

“Yes, actually.” You typed in the last few words of your completely bullshit attempt at the assignment. It would work, but it was definitely the bare minimum. Your usual in that class. 

“Good timing.” Josh grinned at you as he opened the door for the group.

❄❄❄

You squinted your eyes as you peered out the kitchen window. You tried your best to see Beth as she took out the trash, but the snow and the window’s glare made it difficult to see at night. Seeing her successfully dump the garbage, you focused back on the dishes. Hannah worked behind you, collecting more trash left around the room.

“Thanks for doing the dishes, [Name].” Hannah smiled at you. 

You turned to return the smile at the younger girl. Hannah and Beth were like little sisters to you. They were close with their brother, so naturally, they were close to you. They loved having an older girl to talk to whenever you came over. Josh’s family truly felt like part of your own. Another reason you couldn’t bring yourself to admit your feelings. You couldn’t risk losing them all.

“Of course, Han.” You dried a dish. “The others didn’t seem like much help.”

The rest of the group had gone upstairs, suspiciously all together. You were slightly confused by their giggles as you had watched them all ascend the stairs earlier, but you brushed it off as just teenage antics. It’s not like they would do any real harm. 

Hannah laughed at your comment, “They’re our guests, [Name]. I wouldn’t ask them to do that.”

“You’re too nice. They left such a mess in the kitchen. Should’ve made one of the guys take out the trash.” A grin spread across your face as you eyed Hannah reading a note on her laptop, “Like Mike⁓.”

Hannah’s face burned red at the mention of her little crush. You couldn’t help but giggle at her. She glanced down at her note before looking up at you. Her face was scrunched in an expression of confusion. You had turned back to the dishes, the warm water running down your hands. 

“Do you know something?” Hannah asked, a fleck of hope in her voice.

“I’m just teasing you, Hannah.” Your hands squeezed the blue dish soap out of the sponge. “I will say though, Mike doesn’t seem to happy with Emily.” You looked at Hannah over your shoulder. “Maybe he’s waiting for someone to come save him from being a lapdog his whole life.”

You felt bad for Hannah. She often beat herself up over her crush on Mike. Believing she wasn’t good enough or pretty enough for him. You knew it was the opposite, but she was too determined to pursue him. Sometimes, you would give into her delusions; hope kept people going. That was one of the few things you learned from your Psychology class. It wasn’t all bad.

“Maybe…” Hannah looked up at you with a bright smile, a look of excitement in her eyes. “[Name] can I borrow some of your makeup?”

The random question caused you to raise an eyebrow at the teen. “Sure, it’s in the guest bedroom next to Josh’s- but why?” 

Hannah had run up the stairs the second she heard you say yes. “Thank you, [Name]! You’re the best!” Her hurried escape left you even more confused. 

A sigh fell from your lips as you returned to finish the last dishes. The crackling of the fire filled the room as Hannah had turned off the music on her laptop. The rushing water of the faucet and the gentle scrubbing of the dishes were ironically peaceful from how it had been ten minutes prior. Beth’s entry into the lodge broke the quiet. She kicked the snow off her boots before stepping onto the hardwood. She took more care than most of them did. Her coat was hung next to the door, and Beth walked towards you in the kitchen. 

“Where’s Hannah?” She asked, noticing her twin’s absence.

You could only offer her a shrug, “Ran upstairs asking for my makeup. I don’t know what got into her.”

Beth shook her head with a sigh. She loved her sister, but she could be painfully naive sometimes. Beth often worried for her, knowing others would take advantage of her. 

“Does anyone ever know what she does?”

You laughed, knowing she was right. “At least she’s already smarter about drinking than her brother. Josh is wasted.” Your elbow pointed toward Chris and Josh, sleeping on the sofas. The twins had moved him to a comfier place to sleep than the kitchen counter. How he managed to crash there, nobody knew. 

“Everyone is smarter than Josh about drinking.” Beth made the jab at her brother. If he was awake, he would’ve retorted with something about Beth’s friend choices or music taste. But he wasn’t, so she enjoyed the silence that followed her insult. 

“Touché.”

Beth walked over to the sofas where the older boys slept. She chuckled at Josh’s sleeping face. Her hands reached out towards the fire, letting it warm her up. She turned around, catching a glance at Chris’s face. It was covered in drawings and squiggles. Another soft laugh left her lips as she got a closer look. 

“Who did that to Chris?” She asked you as you exited the kitchen. You had finished with the dishes and decided it would be good to help Beth get Josh and Chris in order. They still had their shoes on as they lay on the furniture. 

“Oh, that?” You rolled your eyes, but a smile pulled at your lips. “Emily and Jessica found a marker and couldn’t resist.” You had watched the group torment the sleeping blonde while you were preoccupied trying to keep Josh from falling off his chair. It was moments of childish pranks like those that you were glad you hadn’t aged out of yet. 

Beth laughed at the image of Emily and Jessica drunkenly drawing on Chris’s face. 

“Hope it’s not permanent.”

“I think it is.” You winced Beth, following suit. 

You moved over to the sofa, where Josh was currently asleep on. The warmth of the fire hummed against your skin even at this distance. Eyebrows scrunching as you saw Josh’s snow boots touching the leather sofa.

“Of course his boots are still on,” You thought, cringing at the mud drying on the leather.

Your hands carefully lifted Josh’s feet, giving you space to sit at the edge of the furniture. Resting his feet on your lap, you began carefully untieing his snow boots. The male squirmed under your touch, mumbling something incoherent. You and Beth shared a chuckle.

“They’re so gone.” She shook her head.

Beth pushed herself off the floor. The faint blue glow of Hannah’s laptop caught her eye. The music was turned off, but she had left it on? Beth stepped around the discarded beer bottles and cans on the floor. She made a mental note to pick those up later. Before Beth reached the laptop, she caught a glimpse of something moving outside. She could’ve sworn it was a person, but reason wanted to say otherwise.

“Hey, did you see that? Dad said it would just be us this weekend… Josh?”

“He’s out cold.” You rolled your eyes at how dead asleep he was. You tried poking at his side, a spot he was always ticklish. Nothing. “What’d you see, Beth?” 

The brunette shook her head, “It was probably nothing.”

As she got closer to Hannah’s laptop, Beth realized there was a note resting on it.

“What’s this?” She said to herself, reaching for the paper. It was blank on one side, but on the other was a message.

‘Hannah, 

You look so damn hot in that shirt… bet you’re even hotter out of it. 

Come to the guest room at 2:00 am ;)

Mike’

Beth shook her head as she read it. It was obviously not Mike’s handwriting, and Hannah should’ve known that. 

“You said Hannah ran upstairs for your makeup earlier?”

You looked up, slipping Josh’s other boot off his foot. Your head tilted at her question.

“Yeah, why?”

Beth let out a sigh, “Oh my god. What’d our naive sister get into now?”

“What do you mean?” You tapped Josh’s shins as you finished removing his boots. He snuggled into the sofa. Pushing his legs off your lap, you stood. You waited for Beth’s response, but unfortunately, she wouldn’t be the one to tell you what happened.

Someone ran past the kitchen window you had previously been watching Beth out of. The blur of the person made it difficult for you to see from a distance, but Beth knew precisely who it was.

“Hannah?” The teen exclaimed after seeing her sister running into the woods alone. She turned to you for a moment as she grabbed her jacket. “[Name], wake up Josh!” Beth’s voice raised in alarm. 

Footsteps down the stairs rang loudly around the once quiet room as the rest of the group came running down the stairs. Sam was leading the group with a concerned look on her face. 

“Where’d she go?” Sam asked Beth, concern weaved in every word.

“She’s outside! What’s going on?” Beth ran past them all outside, shoving past Matt. “Where’s she going?” 

You had been trying to shake Josh awake but to no avail. He was out cold. Unfortunately, he was the one who knew the woods the best. Looks like you were going to be the “adult” in this situation. Fuck. Anxiety and adrenaline were already pricking at your skin. 

“Come on, Josh. You need to wake up this time.” A sigh escaped your mouth as you realized it was pointless. Everyone is now outside.

“It was just a prank, Han.” You heard Emily yell out. This time, the eye-roll could not be suppressed. Of course. They’d pulled one of their stupid jokes. But Hannah wasn’t laughing this time. None of us were. She was often the one being pranked as she was so trusting. This time, it seemed the prank went too far. 

You searched around the room for your boots. The silence was no longer peaceful but eerie. You quickly tied them on, wishing you could be physically faster than you were. Your fingers burned as the fabric of the thick laces scratched against your skin. Ashley rushed into the room, looking for you. 

“[Name]! Beth ran after Hannah. Sam’s going to look but we don’t want her to get lost.”

You sharply inhaled. You already knew Beth would try to go after her sister. Beth was always protective of her twin and vice versa. They were inseparable. 

“I’ll go. I know the woods better than any of you guys. If we don’t come back in ten minutes, call the police.” Your hands grabbed your jacket, slipping it on as you rushed towards the doors. 

The teens all stood, looking in the direction the girls ran. 

“Where’d they go?” You asked, looking at the different openings into the woods. 

“Hannah ran in that direction, and Beth followed. She’s calling after her, so you might be able to find them,” Sam responded quickly, providing helpful information. 

“Okay, I’ll try to find them. If we’re not back in ten minutes you need to call the police.” 

Sam nodded, the others remaining silent. The consequences of their actions become very sobering. 

You kept walking in the direction they pointed, “Please try to wake Josh and Chris. They’ll know better where Hannah could’ve gone.”

Ashley and Matt pushed back into the lodge, tasking themselves with waking the older boys. The rest of the group was growing anxious, but you paid no mind to them now. Hannah and Beth were your priorities. 

“Beth! Hannah! Where are you guys?” You yelled as you got further into the woods.

It was dark and windy. The once serenely quiet snowy forest grew into something sinister. The shadows of the trees seemed to grow pointed. Your footsteps and the harsh wind drowned out the silence. Even with your boots and jacket, you were cold. You couldn’t imagine how Hannah felt without them. Your lungs burned as you ran. The harsh air, also low in oxygen, made this harder than you had thought. But you had to find them. You had to.

Further down the path, you had spotted Beth’s footprints in the show. The snow was fresh and powdery, which meant it was starting to blow away in the wind. You were running behind, running out of time. You blinked away the snow that blew into your eyes. Soon, you came across a fork in the road. The wind had blown away the footsteps; you couldn’t tell which ones were Beth’s and what was just the texture of the snow. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck-” Your breath fogged as you spoke, the cloud blowing away in the wind. This damn wind. You cursed whatever controlled the weather before picking the path on the left. Some remnants of footprints remained on that path, so you stuck with it.

“Beth! Hannah!” You screamed out for the twins, praying you’d hear them call back. You never did. No matter how many times you screamed and cried for the girls. Their response never came. What you did find was a herd of elk. They startled you as you ran down the path. Falling back, you let out a gasp. You spooked them, so they backed off. You continued to run through, but the woods got thicker and darker. You pulled your phone out of one of the jacket’s pockets. With your fingers freezing from the cold, you found it difficult to type your passcode. 

“Come on- come on!” You pleaded through gritted teeth. Eventually, you were able to get the flashlight on. It lit up the dense foliage, allowing you a better look at the forest. The white snow made the light extra bright, almost blinding. You squinted at first as your eyes got used to the light.

“Hannah!” You paused, waiting for a response. Nothing. “Beth!” Silence.

Your heart pounded so loud you doubted you’d hear them even if they called back.  You pressed on, running along the path even further. You didn’t want to veer from it too far in hopes of not getting lost. The cold pierced through your jeans, chilling you to the bone. You ran on, unaware of the danger ahead. A rock came hurtling from the trees, making a nauseating crack sound against the back of your head. Your vision went white as you stumbled to the floor. You gasped for air as your body paused. Your face pressed into the snow, and your head felt warm and heavy. You lay there, hearing something in the woods beside you. You glanced around, but your vision was hazy. You saw the orange glow of a fire and an earsplitting screech. Whatever made the sound in the bushes had run off further down the path. There was a person beside you now; you could hear him. 

“Fucking kids.” He mumbled, placing a hand on your back. “She’s still breathing, she’ll make it.”

You found fighting off the sleep that wanted to overtake your body harder. Your eyelids grew heavy, and the snow felt almost warm. Your mind seemed to lull you to sleep, admitting it might be safe to rest here.  The world faded to black. Sam’s scream ripped through the void. 

“[Name]!”

And then nothing.

[dingodad]

tags from @atherissss on this post:

#the fact that all the quadrants have an explicit social purpose EXCEPT red romance has always been really interesting to me #people make up shit about quadrants because let's be honest 3 of them are clearly and transparently fake as fuck #the concept of any romance HAVING 'a purpose' would make a pretty interesting point about alternian culture if all four of them had one #but as of right now it just makes red romance obviously more 'real' than all of the others

flushed romance does have a clearly stated mechanical purpose though; "CHEMICAL REACTIONS TRIGGER MATING FOND[N]ESS". obviously that sounds on its own like the fatalistic wank of a grumpy teenager, but I'm coming to believe this is exactly the trick Homestuck is trying to play on the reader when it comes to the quadrants - because it's exactly the kind of trick it tries to play when it introduces the concept of moirallegience.

the examination of the pale quadrant opens with vague, idealised pleasantries - "the concept of a soul mate, but in a more platonic sense" - but then uses this cover to sneak in some really telling worldbuilding: "Some [trolls] are more hot-tempered and dangerous than others, to the extent that if left to their own devices, they would present a serious threat to society [...] Such trolls will have an instinctive pale attraction to a more even-tempered troll, who [...] is obliged to pacify the other".

matespritship is introduced in a way that is far more concise, but is all the more coy for it:

Matespritship is the closest parallel to the human concept of romance trolls have. It plays a role in the trolls' reproductive cycle, just as it does for humans. This is pretty obvious! Not much more needs to be said about this. Moving right along.

again, we get a brief, simplistic summary, followed by specific details on the significance of the quadrant in troll society - though in this case they come in the form of stated similarities to human romance rather than differences. and while it seems broadly true, in the most cursory possible sense, that romance "plays a role" in the human reproductive cycle, the text overtly brushes us along to the next page before we have a chance to really discuss or think about the nuances of such an assumption - even though, all of the comic's themes considered, the idea that romance between 13 year olds has anything to do with reproduction is exactly the kind of thing Homestuck invites you to question! the societal expectation of procreation (be that from Sburb or from Imperial Drones) is one of the central columns holding up Homestuck's plot, and the idea that Sburb seeks children "around the cusp of sexual maturity" is openly discussed. so it seems absurd that the text would really expect us to just take everything it says on this page at sheer face value.

I think the pairing the comic chooses to present as the ultimate example of matespritship demonstrates this perfectly: how "real" you choose to believe matespritship actually is depends entirely on just how "real" you think a romance between characters called "Mom" and "Dad" can really be. and the answer to this question, surely, is 'not that real'? these are two faceless, nameless - identityless - individuals who seem to have formed an immediate attachment to each other based purely on the fact that their assigned titles suggest a heterosexual, reproductive relationship. while our insight into the psychological profile of John's Dad is limited, Act 6 gives us quite a detailed look at a Roxy Lalonde who probably doesn't even like boys that much - she just really, really wants a baby. like the idea of Nepeta and Equius or Feferi and Eridan as perfect heteroplatonic/romantic soulmates, the comic's given exemplar of flushed romance is founded entirely on a form of patriarchal roleplay; and much like the idea that budding romance between children has anything to do with reproduction, this kind of suburban nuclear family roleplay is exactly the kind of thing Homestuck invites you to question rather than take for granted.

[lune-moon-nuit]

Someone commented, "How can people say their relationship is toxic? She literally saved his life," under someone's TikTok that highlighted how Mike was willing to sacrifice his own life to spare Dustin's baby teeth (and thus proving the lack of values ​​he has towards himself and his own life) and he would be dead if El wasn't there.

“But she saved him.” Yeah… and that’s exactly why it’s complicated — and why their relationship might not be as healthy as it seems.

Let’s talk about the psychological weight behind this kind of dynamic.

When someone literally saves your life — especially during a traumatic, high-stakes moment — it creates a powerful emotional imprint. The person you associate with relief, safety, and survival can easily become idealized in your mind. But here’s the thing: that’s not the same as love.

The savior complex / emotional debt syndrome

When one person saves another — especially in an extreme (traumatic or life-threatening) moment — it can create a deep emotional debt, where the saved person feels they owe something profound to their savior. This can evolve into a distorted emotional attachment, which is often perceived as love.

Emotional debt ≠ romantic connection

Mike may feel like he owes El everything because she saved him. That sense of emotional debt can evolve into what looks like devotion, loyalty, even “love” — but at its core, it’s about guilt and obligation, not emotional compatibility or genuine desire.

When someone stays in a relationship because they feel they “should,” not because they want to, it creates an imbalance. It’s not real intimacy — it’s emotional submission masked as love.

Gratitude/savior love syndrome

Though not a clinical term, in psychological or romantic literature, people sometimes talk about “savior love,” where the attraction doesn’t stem from real romantic desire, but from a mix of gratitude, admiration, emotional dependence, and relief. This type of feeling can be very intense — but also fleeting — because it’s rooted in a dramatic event rather than a truly built relationship.

The “Savior Complex” and distorted attachment

This is a textbook example of what psychology often refers to as emotional debt attachment or “savior love.” When a person is rescued in a moment of trauma, they might unconsciously attach themselves to their savior, mistaking relief and admiration for romantic love.

It can feel very intense — even destiny-like — but it often fades or becomes damaging once the adrenaline of survival fades and there’s no emotional foundation strong enough to carry the relationship.

Transference

This is an unconscious mechanism where someone projects intense emotions — often linked to important figures from their past (like parents) — onto another person. In this case, the girl who saves becomes an idealized figure, almost a symbolic “savior,” and the love felt isn’t always based on who she truly is, but on what she represents emotionally: safety, life, salvation.

Transference and idealization

Mike might be projecting deep emotional needs onto El — needs for protection, unconditional presence, and safety — especially if his space to explore those needs safely disappeared one day before meeting El. In psychology, this is called transference: when we assign symbolic meaning to someone based on what they represent to us emotionally, not who they really are.

In this case, El isn’t just a person. She’s the girl who saved his life. She’s “the one who pulled him out.” She's a "superhero". And when someone becomes a symbol, not a person, the relationship loses balance. She becomes untouchable, unquestionable — and that is not mutual love. That’s idolization wrapped in trauma.

Post-traumatic emotional confusion

When someone goes through a traumatic experience, the brain seeks symbols of safety to hold onto. The person who was present in the moment of greatest fear — and helped overcome it — can become unconsciously associated with feelings of love, simply because they were the source of relief.

Post-traumatic emotional confusion

Trauma warps emotional perception. When we’re vulnerable, the brain clings to anything that feels like safety. It makes sense that Mike might associate El with peace and survival — but that association doesn’t always translate into a sustainable, reciprocal relationship. It can create a bond rooted in fear, not in freedom.

So yes, she saved him. And that matters. But it’s also part of the problem.

Because "You saved me, so I have to love you" is not romantic — it’s tragic. It’s a trap. It’s the kind of belief that keeps people in relationships that look loyal on the outside but are emotionally repressive on the inside.

Mike deserves to choose love freely — not stay in a relationship because he feels indebted to someone who once saved him. And El, too, deserves someone who loves her for her, not for what she did for him.

Gratitude is not love. Debt is not devotion. And saving someone doesn’t mean they owe you their heart.

In summary: This is most likely a post-traumatic attachment, combined with emotional transference and a sense of emotional debt, all being misinterpreted as love. It’s not necessarily fake or illegitimate — but it’s often an idealized kind of love, born from survival rather than a deep, mutual emotional connection.

If you’re looking for simpler terms to describe it: “Rescue-based emotional attachment” or “post-traumatic gratitude love” can work — even if they’re not official clinical expressions, they’re still meaningful and accurate.

And yes, it can become a toxic relationship, or at the very least unhealthy, if one of them stays out of guilt, debt, or gratitude instead of sincere love or mutual desire.

Here’s why:

Emotional imbalance If he stays out of obligation (because she saved him), and she believes he truly loves her, then there’s a fundamental emotional lie at the core. There’s no balance: one gives out of love, the other out of duty. And even if the intention is good (not wanting to hurt her, wanting to repay what she did), it builds a relationship based on a false premise.

The fear of hurting or “betraying” her He may feel like he owes her his life, and therefore has no right to leave, even if he’s not happy or in love. This chronic guilt can lead to a form of emotional submission, which will make both of them miserable over time.

The myth of “I owe them everything” This is a common mental trap: believing that because someone saved you, you must stay loyal to them for life — even at the cost of your own freedom or inner truth. It becomes a form of perpetual emotional debt that prevents you from listening to what you really want.

Possible consequences:

He may repress his true feelings, or even fall into depression.

She may feel that something is wrong, even if he never says it.

The relationship can become suffocating, built on illusion, and eventually lead to resentment, frustration, or even repressed anger.

The factual and logical consequences I describe here include all the relationships based on this dynamic. But the fact is that every consequence cited here and highlighted is evident and present in season 4 (especially in their argument scenes) speak volumes.

It’s not necessarily toxic at the beginning, but it becomes toxic if it continues without honesty.

Being grateful is one thing. Sacrificing your truth in the name of that gratitude is another.

Conclusion :

Yes, El did save Mike’s life — and that’s incredibly important. But love born out of a life-saving moment doesn’t automatically make a relationship healthy. In fact, staying with someone because you feel emotionally indebted to them, rather than truly in love, can actually be a sign of an unhealthy or even toxic dynamic.

There’s a psychological phenomenon where intense gratitude, admiration, or even trauma-bonding gets confused with love. When someone saves your life — literally or emotionally — they can become symbolically larger than life to you. You feel like you owe them everything. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you're romantically compatible, or even emotionally fulfilled in the long run. It just means they became a figure of safety during a moment of terror or pain.

If Mike is with El partly because he feels like he has to be, because she saved him, then that’s not a free, mutual love. That’s emotional debt. That kind of imbalance can lead to deep internal conflict — guilt, suppression of real feelings, fear of hurting the other person — and that’s where toxicity begins to seep in, even if no one means harm.

Gratitude isn’t the same as love. And saving someone’s life doesn’t mean they owe you a relationship forever. If a relationship survives solely on the basis of a heroic act from the past — and not on genuine, reciprocal connection in the present — then it might not be as healthy as it looks from the outside.

[grimoirey]

✨ CHARGING ✨

Charging an object with energy is a process where you infuse it with your intention or specific energetic qualities, such as protection, love, or strength. This practice is often done in spiritual, metaphysical, or magical contexts to enhance the object’s natural properties or to assign it a particular purpose.

What It Involves:

Focus and Intention: You concentrate your mental, emotional, and spiritual energy into the object. This can be done through visualization, meditation, or even specific rituals.

Energy Transfer: You visualize or feel energy being transferred from yourself, or from a source like nature, the universe, or divine entities, into the object. The object becomes a "battery" or vessel for the energy.

Why You Do It:

1. Enhancing Purpose: Charging an object amplifies its ability to fulfill a desired purpose. For example, you might charge a crystal to help with healing, clarity, or protection.

2. Empowering Rituals: In spiritual or magical practices, charged objects can act as tools to focus your intention and create a stronger connection to your desired outcome. This makes your rituals or practices more effective.

3. Creating Personal Talismans: Charged objects can be worn or carried as personal talismans or amulets. They can serve as a source of energy throughout the day or during specific challenges (e.g., for confidence, focus, or protection).

4. Programming Objects: Some believe that certain materials (like crystals) have innate energies, but by charging them, you “program” the object to align with a specific goal or intention.

5. Emotional and Psychological Benefits: The act of charging can serve as a form of mindful focus. It helps to mentally and emotionally center you around your goals or needs, making the object a reminder and symbol of your intent.

Essentially, charging is a way to interact energetically with objects to align them with your intentions, whether for spiritual practice, personal empowerment, or emotional support.

How You Do It:

There are several methods you can use depending on your preference or the type of energy you wish to infuse. Below are some common ways to charge an object:

1. Visualization Method

Hold the Object: Hold the object in your hands or place it in front of you.

Set Your Intention: Clearly state or think about what you want to charge the object with (e.g., protection, love, healing).

Visualize Energy: Imagine a bright light or energy flowing from your hands or your heart into the object. You can envision the energy as any color or form that resonates with your intention.

Focus and Feel: Stay focused on the energy transfer, feeling it infuse the object. Imagine the object glowing or vibrating as it absorbs the energy.

Seal the Energy: When you feel the object is charged, take a deep breath and mentally seal the energy within it by visualizing a layer of light or saying words like, “It is done.”

2. Sunlight/Moonlight Charging

Place the Object Outside or by a Window: Expose the object to natural sunlight for masculine, vibrant, and energizing energy or to moonlight for feminine, soothing, and intuitive energy.

Set Intention: Before placing the object in the light, hold it and think about what you want it to absorb (e.g., strength from the sun, peace from the moon).

Leave for Several Hours: Let the object sit for a few hours, ideally from sunrise to midday for the sun or from dusk until dawn for the moon.

3. Elemental Charging

Earth (Grounding): Bury the object in the earth for grounding and stability energy. Leave it there for a few hours or overnight.

Water (Cleansing/Flow): Submerge the object in natural water (like a river, stream, or ocean) or in a bowl of water if the material allows. Water can cleanse and charge it with flowing, emotional energy.

Fire (Transformation): Safely pass the object through the smoke of a candle or bonfire to infuse it with the energy of transformation and passion.

Air (Clarity/Freedom): Expose the object to wind or hold it up to the breeze. This can bring clarity and freedom to the object’s energy.

4. Breath Charging

Hold the Object Close: Place the object near your mouth, but not touching it.

Set Your Intention: Think about the energy you want to charge it with.

Deep Breaths: Inhale deeply, and as you exhale, visualize yourself blowing your intention into the object. See the object filling with energy each time you breathe out.

Repeat: Do this for several breaths until you feel the object has absorbed enough energy.

5. Crystals Charging

Place the Object on or Near a Crystal: Use charging crystals like clear quartz or selenite, known for their ability to amplify energy.

Set Your Intention: Before placing the object, set the intention for what you want the crystal to help with (e.g., amplifying energy, cleansing).

Leave the Object: Allow the object to sit near the crystal for several hours to absorb its energy.

6. Chakra Energy

Align with Your Chakras: Hold the object in front of your body and move it from your root chakra (base of the spine) to the crown chakra (top of the head), imagining it absorbing the energy of each chakra along the way.

Color and Purpose: Focus on the corresponding colors and qualities of each chakra (e.g., red for grounding at the root, green for love at the heart) as you pass the object through those energy centers.

7. Sound Charging

Use Sound Frequencies: Ring a bell, tuning fork, or singing bowl near the object. The vibrations of sound can cleanse and charge the object with pure energy.

Chant or Play Music: Chanting mantras or playing high-vibration music (like healing frequencies or spiritual music) can charge an object through sound energy.

8. Affirmation or Mantra

Speak Your Intention: Hold the object and speak affirmations or mantras aloud that reflect the energy you want to charge the object with (e.g., “This object is filled with love and protection”).

Repeat: Repeat the affirmation or mantra as you focus on the energy entering the object.

Charging an object can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. The key is intention—directing your focus and energy toward the desired outcome.

Visualisation Charging

Here’s a list of visualizations you can use to charge objects with energy:

1. Golden Light: Imagine a warm, golden light pouring from your hands into the object. Visualize it filling the object with protective, empowering energy. See it glowing brighter as the energy solidifies.

2. Sun Energy: Visualize sunlight streaming down into the object, infusing it with vibrant, radiant energy. Imagine the object absorbing the light, making it more powerful with each breath you take.

3. Breath of Life: Hold the object in your hands and breathe deeply. With each exhale, imagine you are sending life-giving energy into the object. Feel it becoming more alive and attuned to your intentions.

4. Crystal Charging: Visualize the object surrounded by a crystalline light, sparkling and amplifying its energy. Imagine the object is a crystal itself, storing and radiating pure, vibrant energy.

5. Elemental Infusion: Envision the four elements—earth, water, fire, air—funneling their essence into the object. Earth grounds it, water flows through it, fire ignites its power, and air lightens it. Each element strengthens the object’s energy in its unique way.

6. Energy Ball: Picture a glowing energy ball between your hands. Slowly push this ball into the object, watching it merge and expand within. See the object absorbing this concentrated energy, glowing with new vitality.

7. Lightning Strike: Imagine a bolt of lightning striking the object, charging it instantly with raw, electric power. Feel the energy surge through the object, energizing it with a powerful force.

8. Chakra Alignment: Hold the object near your body and visualize energy flowing from each of your chakras into the object. Each chakra color can bring a different quality of energy (red for strength, blue for communication, etc.).

9. Moonlight Bath: Visualize soft, silvery moonlight cascading over the object. The moonlight soothes and fills it with calming, feminine energy, perfect for intuition and protection.

10. Divine Flame: Imagine a sacred flame surrounding the object, purifying and energizing it. Visualize the flame growing brighter as it infuses the object with divine power and protection.

These visualizations can help you charge objects with intent and purpose, aligning them with the energy you wish to imbue.

[dramas-vs-novels]

The Psychology of Sex in Media: Mame Shows

This is going to be a very base-level post. If you want to learn more, you can look into research on sex in media!

I'm going to hit on a few points in this post:

How ♀ vs ♂ Brains Process Sexual Content

Examples: PayuRain's First Time, MutRak and CirPhu additions

~~~ These are generalizations based on averages, and not necessarily 100% true for individual people. Research paints with a broad brush, nothing is one-size-fits-all. ~~~

Disclaimer: Throughout this post I will refer to "male" and "female". By this I mean those assigned male or female at birth.

I am in no way trying to exclude trans, intersex, or nonbinary individuals.

Disclaimer Pt 2: The information I am sharing is based on research presented when I was studying media psychology in University over 10 years ago. I have no idea how it may be different for intersex individuals, or those who began hormone therapy treatments at earlier stages of development while the brain was still forming.

I don't know how much research has been done broadening this out to include those groups.

How ♀ vs ♂ Brains Process Sexual Content

Did you know male and female brains are very much different? When it comes to sex, that difference manifests primarily through the lens of empathy.

Female brains have more nerve endings. It's why women experience pain more acutely (and have a higher pain tolerance as a result), and why women, very generally speaking, tend to have the ability to empathize more with others.

That empathy response plays a huge role in how we perceive- and get off on- sex in media.

Males: Men are the largest consumer of video pornography by a mile. On average, men have a stronger response to what they can see with their eyes. If you look at pornography made for male consumption, it's going to focus on genitals. Close-ups of penetration, oral, breasts, fluids- that is what is going to speak loudest to the male brain. Very direct, very in-you-face.

What about females?

Females are extremely likely to be drawn to erotica vs pornography, at almost the same overwhelming ratio as males are to video pornography. By "erotica", I mean sex in written form (not necessarily hentai/graphic novels/animated pornography because again, visual medium depends on media psychology).

Female brains lean into that empathetic advantage, and how that manifests in the consumption of sexual media is that females tend to focus on emotion-based elements with any sexual media they consume (literary or visual).

What speaks most strongly to a male is seeing the bump-n-grind, but what a female is going to focus on more than the close-ups of a dick in a vag/ass is going to be things related to emotion. Facial expressions, moaning, hands (we convey so much emotion through hands), or elements of physical movement that convey emotion.

More than just grabbing and slamming, the way a body moves and shifts, the intensity or restraint, and again, very much rooted in hands and facial expressions.

Literary based sexual media features emotion heavily through narration. That's why erotica is more popular for females to consume. If you did look at traditional pornography to see how it is shot for the male gaze, also look for porn marked "Made for Women". It is an entirely different shooting style (so long as they mean it, and it's not just a Joss Whedon type who is like "I know women" and just reinforces stereotypes).

If you're reading this post, then you don't need to be told that, by and large, the main consumer of BL content is ~women~. Not getting into why that is, that's a whole different thing that I didn't study in Uni.

But the directors and actors of BL content are extremely aware of who their primary audience is, and Mame and her team demonstrate a perfect understanding of how to film sexual content to appeal the strongest to a female audience.

Example

You can apply this to every single NC scene in a Mame show, so let's just look at the ep 4 scene from LITA.

The overwhelming focus of the scene is on Rain and his desire. The camera emphasizes hands to break up the action, and the raw hunger in Payu's eyes as he goes to town on Rain's body.

Whenever they are both in the shot, the focus remains on Rain, the one who is receiving the pleasure. Payu's face often disappears behind the left side of Rain's neck, or his face is away from the camera entirely.

Rain is carrying the visual weight of the scene, and emoting as hard as possible. There are no significantly wide nor overly close shots, all medium to medium-wide, keeping the emotion of the scene front and center.

Also, famously the audio for LITA is a bit of a train wreck, but for the sex scenes, they never miss on the moans and groans. Rain's broken gasps, the whimpering cry as he climaxes, Payu's louder shout and ragged breath- everything you are seeing and hearing is conveying emotion.

I know I said this would focus on the LITA NC, but I want to include a couple of examples as well from Love Sea and BNW.

These are two of my favorite shots:

I love these two shots, because they're fantastic examples of creating a silhouette of both actors, while also conveying their emotions and desire through body language.

Tongrak is controlled by Mahasamut's tongue on his throat- and Mahasamut in turn is controlled by Tongrak's gaze.

Phukan has given himself wholly to his desire and pleasure, and Cir is moaning as loudly as his man, mouth wide open behind him. Wanting to lick and bite but being too overwhelmed to do it.

I just wanted to highlight these two shots, because unlike the main example above, the focus is shared by both partners. Boy Next World was interesting in that Cirrus carries a lot of the expressive weight in NC scenes (not all of it, but a significant amount), while Phukan carries the aural weight- his moans are emphasized in multiple NC scenes while Cir remains relatively quiet.

[orphiclovers]

Here's a headcanon/theory: Kim Dokja has been to therapy pre-scenarios.

There's a couple of reasons I think this. First, it's likely that as an underage witness of a murder he was assigned a child psychologist, at least for the duration of the case and court proceedings. And after he was adopted by his relatives, I think they would definitely recommend to take him to psychological counseling for the severe trauma he suffered at such a young age.

And they probably did. No matter how neglectful they might have turned out as Kim Dokja got older, they had accepted him and this would have been common sense, recommended to them by the court, and would reflect badly on them if they didn't follow through.

Second, he must have seen a psychiatrist after his suicide attempt as a teenager. Also an extreme scenario where there would be pressure on his relatives to do something about his mental health.

And thirdly, just the way he acts? Whenever he's in a stressful situation, his most common reaction is 'take deep breaths and staying calm'. He does this CONSTANTLY. Here's just some examples.

This FEELS like 'I've been to therapy and they taught me to do breathing exercises there'. His singular ability to stay calm during all kinds of stressful scenarios is one of the big reasons kimcom relies on him so much. And even when that fails and he has a flashback, when the Fourth Wall stabilizes him, the first thing he does is control his breathing again.

[charmedreincarnation]

Let me share you some examples of people outside of a spiritual realm using the law of consciousness. Reading about placebo opened my eyes to realize whether I believe it or not, use it or not, it is always operating.

1. During wartime, particularly in World War II, when medical supplies were limited, the use of a saline solution as a placebo became prevalent. One notable figure associated with this practice is Henry Beecher, a medic during the war. When morphine, a powerful painkiller, was scarce, Beecher resorted to injecting injured soldiers with a saline solution (a mixture of salt and water) as a substitute.The fascinating observation was that many soldiers responded positively to the saline placebo, reporting a reduction in pain. Beecher’s experience led him to further investigate what is now known as the placebo effect. He discovered that even inert substances like saline could elicit a therapeutic response in individuals, highlighting the power of belief and the mind’s influence on healing. Using saline as a placebo during wartime was a practical solution to address the scarcity of medical resources. It allowed healthcare providers to provide some form of treatment while conserving limited supplies for critical cases. The phenomenon observed in these wartime placebo administrations contributed to our understanding of the placebo effect and its role in medical practices.

2. And then there was another placebo test done with surgeries demonstrated the power of the placebo effect in the context of surgical interventions for knee pain.

The study, often referred to as the “fake leg surgery” study, focused on patients with osteoarthritis in the knee. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive real arthroscopic surgery or undergo a sham procedure where no actual surgical intervention took place. The sham surgery involved making small incisions and mimicking the actions and sounds associated with the actual procedure.The surprising finding was that both groups, those who underwent real surgery and those who had the sham surgery, reported similar improvements in their knee pain and functionality. This suggested that the positive outcomes experienced by the participants were not necessarily due to the physical intervention but rather to psychological factors such as the placebo effect.

3. The most fascinating one was this one: The study aimed to explore the role of mindset in reversing some aspects of aging.

In this experiment, Langer and her team created a simulated environment reminiscent of the 1950s to immerse a group of elderly participants. The participants were instructed to act as though they were 20 years younger and encouraged to engage in activities that required physical and mental activity. It aimed to create an atmosphere where the participants felt as if they were stepping back in time.The results of the experiment were described as astonishing. Participants reportedly experienced improvements in various areas, including physical health, cognition, and overall well-being. The study suggested that by changing one’s mindset and engaging in an environment that challenges typical aging stereotypes, individuals may experience positive effects on various aspects of their lives.

4. The Man Who Overdosed on Placebo" is a story about a 26-year-old man, often referred to as "Mr. A," who was part of a clinical trial for an antidepressant drug. In a desperate state of mind, he attempted suicide by ingesting 29 capsules of what he believed to be the experimental drug. This act was triggered by his depression, which had worsened after a breakup with his girlfriend.

However, unbeknownst to him, the pills he had taken were not the actual antidepressant, but rather placebos - essentially inert substances, often sugar pills, used in clinical trials as a control group. Despite this, Mr. A's vitals showed alarming signs similar to those of a drug overdose, reflecting the power of belief over the physical body, a phenomenon known as the "nocebo effect."

The nocebo effect is essentially the evil twin of the placebo effect. While the placebo effect can lead to improvements in health due to positive expectations, the nocebo effect can cause negative symptoms or even exacerbate existing ones due to negative expectations. In this case, Mr. A exhibited symptoms of an overdose solely because he believed he had taken an overdose.

5. Sam Londe, is one of the best but sad classic example of the nocebo effect, as detailed in Dr. Joe Dispenza's book "You Are the Placebo."

Sam Londe was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, a condition known for its grim prognosis. His doctors informed him that he didn't have much time left to live. Accepting this diagnosis, Londe quickly became bedridden and his health deteriorated rapidly, following the trajectory his doctors had predicted.However, upon his death, an autopsy revealed a surprising fact: there was not enough cancer in his body to have caused his death. The small tumor in his esophagus was not large enough or in a position to interfere with his swallowing or breathing. Essentially, Londe didn't die from cancer; he died from believing he was dying of cancer.

This case demonstrates the power of the mind over the body, both positively (the placebo effect) and negatively (the nocebo effect). In this case, Londe's negative beliefs about his prognosis led to physical symptoms and ultimately his death.

I've seen dozens of examples where of stuff like this particularly in the realms of hexing and witchcraft. Honestly, the same could probably be said about subliminals. But it doesn't matter much.Why? Because they work. It's all about observation and choice. You could say it’s the mind but the mind operates on logic. This goes beyond the mind and to your true being, what observes the mind observing the pain in the first place.

Actually I was talking to someone who had been struggling with shifting for a while about this and it really resonated with her which is why I decided to share it. She took a water bottle, labeled it shifting juice and just assumed that when she finishes the bottle she has “full access to shifting powers” is that how it works. Nope. Did she shift after two years of struggling. Yep. It doesn’t matter what story you create yourself whether you want to use logic or not whatever you assume and persist in and know as a fact will harden into truth and therefore reality.I just wanted to share this story bc I find it absolutely hilarious how we sometimes take it so seriously yet it can be so easy. I know placebo is just an assumption. It’s like when you tell children you checked under their bed for the monsters and drafted them and they assume so so they can sleep soundly at night. Call it whatever you want assumption, placebo, it’s all just words and each community calls it something different but at the end of the day it works wether you know the truth behind it or not.

[kaibutsushidousha]

What are your thoughts on Fate’s Camazots?

He's an unstoppable guy who fought for eons and achieved his people's dream, but his fight was meaningless because his people weren't there anymore to applaud him. He's a Beast because he caused humanity's extinction on a big technicality, and his logos is Oblivion because the only way to withstand his unendable grief is to forget the specifics of what he lost. The warriors of Ka'an are as much of a faceless mob to him as they are to the player.

Camazotz's psychological damage is quite visible. He's forgetful because memories only bring him pain. He's long-winded because he's more used to monologue than dialogue. He only assigns reasons to his actions after the fact because he stopped having an objective after ORT died.

Another visible sign of trauma is his apparently fractured self-image. He alternates a lot between referring to himself in first or third person. The generally agreed interpretation here is that he uses first person when referring to the king as an individual and third person when referring to the "god" who holds all of Ka'an's souls within himself. Speaking in third-person, he introduces himself as "the powerful Camazotz", and in first person he is "the weakling who couldn't save the world if not by sacrificing his every subject", and I think this contrast says a lot about his "dual identity".

As much as it pains to make a character post about Fujimaru, there's no choice here, Camazotz's story is very much about Fujimaru. Camazotz is the example of what could go wrong for Fujimaru, and he's very invested in not letting that happen. His whole goal throughout the chapter is to give Fujimaru the death he couldn't have and take over the burden of mankind's last hope, as his second chance to protect a world that still has people in it.

Fujimaru, Camazotz, and Nitocris all fight primarily by manipulating spirits of the dead, and the difference between them is that Fujimaru and Nitocris remember the names of each spirit they control, while Camazotz literally dies when forced to remember his. Camazotz's interactions with Nitocris are all a bunch of discussion about memory as a form of self-punishment, and I think that's really (vaguely gestures at my Sagrada Reset translations).

But I'd say my favorite thing about his how his unyielding drive to protect Pan-Human History in Fujimaru's stead is combined with a complete disinterest in learning anything about that history. This results in amazing dialogue that's both charged with meaning when you get to know the weight of Camazotz's loss and his coping methods, and one of FGO's best out of context screenshots ever.

[marveling-cg]

As a teacher, the suit couldn't really have come at a better time.

When he'd graduated from college, he'd been surprised to see Principal Nezu in the crowd with All Might and Aizawa-sensei, and even more surprised to receive Principal Nezu's invitation to teach at UA - in the hero course no less!

They'd assigned him to the 2nd year hero course -- the 1st years, who were often still figuring out the limits of their quirks, needed teachers who might be able to physically intervene if something went wrong

His first year teaching, he'd spent just trying to get his feet under him: he borrowed a lot of the previous teacher's curriculum while he tried to get the hang of classroom management, and and grading, and parent contact, not to mention conducting practical exercises with his students while he was quirkless

But his second year he started making the curriculum his own: his strength had always been his analysis and he wanted his students to have that, too.

He started adding in case studies for each unit; invited his friends in to give talks about declassified or appropriately anonymized cases they'd worked on

By his third year, he'd gotten his unit plans down to a science: intro topic, host guest speaker, complete case study, hold class discussion, conduct practical exercise, students submit a reflection, test

His first unit of the year was always his favorite -- an intro to battle analysis. He'd never gotten Kacchan to commit to coming on campus, but if Deku sent him footage from a fight, Kacchan would send back a recording of his analysis

Once the kids got over the initial hilarity of Kacchan roasting the shit out of hero or villain or both, they usually asked Deku to play the video back a few more times so they could see just which errors Kacchan had caught, how quickly they could arise, how consequential they could be. It was a great way to get them open to Deku's whole approach to the class, and a good way for them to know that he would accept their work in their own voices -- no need to hide their personalities for points

The rest of the units -- meant to get his students ready to apply for their provisional licenses -- all followed suit.

And since most hero agencies had given new priority to community relations, he could schedule through his friends' offices to get them on campus: Tenya, Uraraka, Tsu, Momo, Shinso were especially reliable guests

And while the first half of the year was dedicated to the practicalities of being on the ground as a hero; the second half was dedicated to the heart of being a hero

They looked at rise of the League of Villains and Stain, talked about the plight of heteromorphs; he pulled in primary sources, they discussed their own personal credos (he liked to use Kacchan's and Hawks' as examples of how different and personal they could be while still leading to similar work), discussed the sociological and psychological impact of challenging quirks

All that to say, year four is the perfect time for the suit to fall into his lap.

He's got his professional shit together

And, though he's let himself shed some of the weight he needed to maintain One For All, he's kept himself in good condition

(High school students are so easily motivated by a little good natured teasing, "you really gonna let your quirkless teacher lap you?" has been a remarkably easy way to keep his kids going through tough conditioning work)

So, after he's managed to stop crying on All Might long enough to schedule a call with Hatsume to go over the specs; and stopped crying after that call long enough to process everything she's shared about its function, he realizes he's going to need to train before he can take this thing out in the field

The suit is incredible: a light exoskeleton that'll enhance his strength, 360 degree sensors that will pick up objects moving at certain speeds or sudden changes in air pressure, a light propulsion system that will allow him brief bursts of flight or slightly longer periods to hover, a chord system that he can use to pull himself forward or restrain villains, a diffuser that will set off a smoke screen

He spends another hour or so after the call with Hatsume to cry about how closely they've tried to recreate the capabilities of One For All

And then spends another four thinking about all of the manual controls he'll need to learn to replicate the skills he used to be able to call forth with a thought.

Thinks too about the kind of conditioning he'll need to do in order to not lose speed or an arm to the weight and propulsion of the suit

He remembers fondly a dirty beach half a lifetime ago; remembers, too, a forest trail where a quirkless All Might declared he'd change the future. Deku can do this.

And there's no better way to address the Kacchan of it all:

He'd tried calling Kacchan after All Might had dropped the news -- and been sent straight to voicemail three times in a row; received back a terse text: u r welcome nerd

Which told him Kacchan wasn't ready to deal -- with Deku's tears, or his gratitude, or with a conversation about how Kacchan had dedicated all of his professional career to funding Deku's dream -- as if all the long hours, and parties missed, and extra shifts covered, hadn't all been some sort of declaration of intent about the rest of their fucking lives

Which was fine. What was Deku going to say anyway?

"Was this a proposal, Kacchan? Because if so, my answer is yes."

That could wait. They had the rest of their fucking lives, apparently.

But in the meantime, Deku needed to train. He couldn't afford to rush this. Kacchan would be furious if Deku got himself hurt because he was being reckless.

So he headed over to the gym in Kacchan's building after work, just in time to catch Kacchan coming in for his biweekly workout.

"I've got a plan. I think I'm going to need to dedicate some attention to these particular muscle groups to protect from injury. I think I probably need to gain a little more muscle, too. Then, I want to start training in the suit. I'll need to get a feel for how it works as a whole in combat and rescue settings. But then I want to work on isolations. Can I trigger just this response as quickly as possible in various circumstances. What can I do or not if I've just got control of the arms or just the legs or just one limb. I've put together a timetable. I think, if you'll help me, I could be ready for field work without injuring myself by the end of this school year."

When Deku finally pauses and looks up from his notebook, Kacchan looks visibly relieved, shoulders down from his ears, that gleam in his eye that's signals amusement in spite of himself, the start of smile tucked into the corner of his mouth

Kacchan snatches the notebook from Deku's hands and looks over the charts. Deku barely grumbles at all at Kacchan's free hand tousling Deku's hair while he skims.

"Alright, dweeb, let's get started--"

[progriffon]

Classes to Script

Criminal Psychology - quarter class:

Exploring the psychology behind perpetrators in true crime cases. Deep diving into a wide diversity of cases and analyzing them.

Assignments Examples

- Informational essays on specific perpetrators including their childhood/any life events that we could theorize cause them to do what they did, their crime, their victims, the investigation and arrest surrounding the case

- Covering Cases/watching documentaries as a class and discussing them

Healing & First Aid Magic - quarter class

This class teaches basic Healing & Aid Magic and gives students the opportunity to get a two year certification in it. Students need to have take CPR & first aid prior to taking this class.

Critical Thinking - quarter class

Discussion/student lead class. Students learn how to come to their own conclusions on controversial topics and debate them.

Assignment Examples:

- Students are given a prompt on a controversial topic and then given ten minutes to write a response (with bullet points and arguments) then they debate it as a class

- Picking an argumentative topic and writing an essay on it.

Cinematography - full year class

Analyzing and creating mini motion pictures. This class takes frequent field trips to a wide variety of places to obtain footage for projects. At the end of the year they go on one large out of the country one.

Assignment Examples:

- A project where students make a trailer for one of our favorite movies and share it with the class

- Watching motion pictures and taking notes on the techniques used to bring the film to life, then discussing as a class

- Collaborating with the Intro to Screenwriting class to make mini skits

- Make a short film based on an important lesson that individual students have learned throughout their lives. They have complete creative freedom. It needs to be five minutes at least but no longer than ten. It can reuse footage from earlier in the class.

[Aphmau DRs] Magi Mythology - semester class

Exploring the mythology, movement, history, and culture surrounding the magi.

Assignment Examples:

- Lots of notes (but the teacher is fun and engaging)

- Quizzes & tests (w/ kahoot reviews

[Aphmau DRs] General Werewolf Education- full year class

Students learn of werewolf anatomy, biology, history, culture, pack roles, etc. The class typically is majority werewolf as it's required for werewolf students, but is not limited to werewolves.