The Psychology of your 20s

You know when someone seems to breeze through life, can approach any social situation and challenge with such self-assured confidence? It seems innate - something they were born with. But what if that's not true? What if, instead of a fixed personal trait, confidence is actually a set of learnable abilities, a dynamic skill that anyone can cultivate, sharpen, and ultimately master? Today, we&rsquo...

Does chasing your "best self" ever feel like an endless race? You're constantly striving, optimizing your routines, and learning new skills, yet sometimes a quiet exhaustion creeps in, or you wonder if you're truly any happier. It's as if the very pursuit of perfection leaves you feeling perpetually inadequate. In today's episode, we're diving into the hidden costs of this modern obsession with be...

Does your brain seem to hit replay on that embarrassing memory, or go over the way that situationship ended in hopes you’ll find some kind of closure? From dissecting past conversations to catastrophising about what might happen, repetitive thinking can feel like a mental trap. In today's episode, we break down the psychology of rumination: why our minds get stuck in these unhelpful thought...

Is your job making you feel drained, disconnected, or just deeply unfulfilled? In today’s episode, we unpack the five major signs that your career may not be the right fit — from emotional numbness and burnout, to identity disalignment and daydreaming about quitting more than staying. We explore:  The importance of occupational identity Why boredom is a worse sign than anxiety at...

Why do we form intense, one-sided bonds with people we've never met? From favourite podcasters and social media influencers to beloved fictional characters, parasocial relationships are a defining feature of modern life – but what do these seemingly non-reciprocal connections truly reveal about our need for connection? In today’s episode, we explore the psychology of parasocial relatio...

Sharing a little life update with you around my mental health, my physical health, where my minds at, what I've been struggling with and how I'm constantly reminded that life can always get better!!!!! ORDER MY BOOK: https://www.psychologyofyour20s.com/general-clean   Follow Jemma on Instagram: @ jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @ thatpsychologypodcast For business: psychologyofyour...

We've all seen the headlines about celebrity couples with significant age differences. We’ve heard the stereotypes, from "trophy partners" and “cougar’s” to "she must have daddy issues". But what is the genuine psychological pull that draws individuals to partners that are much older or younger? In today’s episode, we explore the psychology behind the often speculated...

Do you feel as though you’re living in a constant whirlwind of deadlines, drama, and endless tasks, yet secretly feel a thrill from the chaos? This episode unpacks the question, ‘are we addicted to chaos?’ and why our brains might actually be drawn to this tumultuous state. We dive into the neurochemical rewards that hook us, how this plays out in our relationships and careers, a...

Ever found yourself hitting play on that song, and instantly, a wave of emotion hits you, or you’re transported back to a forgotten summer, a specific laugh, a past version of yourself? It feels like magic, right? But beneath those goosebumps and surges of feeling lies an incredible, intricate psychological dance. In today's episode, we’re diving deep into the psychology of music &ndas...

Why does personal growth sometimes feel like a quiet loss? Ever look back at an old photo and feel a strange mix of nostalgia and sadness for the person you once were? You're evolving, becoming stronger, wiser, but there's still a strange ache for the person you used to be. In today's episode, we explore the psychology behind this often-unspoken phenomenon of grieving our past selves. Things we di...

"Sorry, can I just say something?", "sorry to bother you!", "oh, sorry!" - sound familiar? If you find yourself saying "sorry" for taking up space, having an opinion, or even when someone else bumps into you, you're not alone. That tiny, five-letter word, meant for genuine remorse, often becomes a reflex, a way to make ourselves smaller, more agreeable, and to diffuse a discomfort that sometimes o...

Ever wondered why everyone seems to break up just before 28? Or why your friend who was just about to settle down with her boyfriend of 7 years is suddenly single and wanting to go out clubbing again? Or why you suddenly realised your long term relationship wasn't for you, and found yourself in Europe or on 4 dates in a row the next week? It's because of post long-term relationship puberty: a term...

Why are we so obsessed with the dark side of life? From true crime and horror movies to disaster documentaries and haunted house tours, morbid curiosity is everywhere - but what does it actually say about us? In today’s episode, we explore the psychology of morbid curiosity - why we’re drawn to frightening, disturbing, and even grotesque content, and how this strange pull might be more...

It is our 300th episode and 4 YEARS since The Psychology of your 20s first began. To celebrate, I'm releasing one of my most requested topics ever that has nothing to do with psychology: how do you start a podcast? More broadly, why is it a good idea? What do I wish I'd known when I'd started? How much does the gear cost? What happens if no one listens? All your burning questions on my journey and...

What happens when the people who were supposed to guide and nurture us were never taught to emotionally grow up themselves? In today’s episode, we dive into the psychology of emotionally immature parents - their behaviours, their blind spots, and the lasting impact they can have on our sense of self and emotional well-being. We discuss: How to spot emotional immaturity in parents Where it ca...

If you're like me, there are always a million things on my 'To Do' or 'Should Do' list and they seem to take up all my time and attention. What ever happened to just having FUN! Being silly. Being joyful. Being delighted. In today's episode we're going to talk about why your life feels boring and exactly HOW and WHY you should be prioritising fun experiences over serious, important ones. We talk a...

We often take our health for granted in our 20s, but this is one of the most crucial moments for investing in your long term wellbeing. Despite that, it's often hard to know what to do and where to start, so today we have on Dr Mark Hyman to discuss the best things you can do for your health during this decade, including:  The power of sleep How to curb your nicotine addiction  When to d...

Being an assertive communicator is so much more than just being demanding or confident, it comes down to our emotional ease, how we hold ourselves, how we make others feel, how we frame even the smallest of questions. It's also not something that is taught to us and if it doesn't come naturally, we have to learn on our own. In this episode I break down the FIVE scientifically proven ways to be a m...

Have you ever opened up, shared something real, and then immediately regretted it? That post-overshare spiral—the “why did I say that?” dread—is what we call a vulnerability hangover. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology behind why vulnerability can feel so physically and emotionally intense, even when it’s necessary, honest, and healing. We explore: The...

The dreaded talking stage. A whole new level of complexity that has been added to dating in our 20s. The talking stage is this strange should be about information gathering and date organising, but it's become such a snagging point for so many would be relationships. In today's episode, we discuss:  Why we even have a talking stage The 1 month rule for the talking stage  Why they are so...

Why does satisfaction always feel just out of reach? You get the job, then you want the promotion. You buy the item of clothing, then the buzz wears off. There is always something MORE on the horizon.  In today’s episode, we explore the psychology behind our constant craving for more - more success, more validation, more things - and why what we already have never feels like enough. Thi...

Sometimes we just need to humble ourselves. We need to tell our ego to take a back seat and let ourselves fail, let ourselves be beginners, be bested, admit we were wrong and in today's episode I'm going to explain the exact psychological power of humility, including:  The 3 different definitions of ego Why your ego is sabotaging you and keeping you stagnant  5 subtle signs your ego is t...

I wrote a book and it's out today! Person in Progress: The Roadmap to The Psychology of your 20s contains everything you need to know about your 20s: how to find your purpose, how to manage relationship breakdowns, fight your self doubt, break bad habits, manage your money, heal your childhood wounds, embrace your authenticity, all from a scientific place! In this episode we break down exactly HOW...

If nothing else, our 20s are a time for reinvention and transformation. We become clearer and clearer about the version of us we want to be, and hopefully more confident around expressing our authentic elves, but sometimes this is interrupted by periods of boredom, stagnation, isolation and discomfort. These are all signs that something in our lives needs to change, and it needs to change now. In...

Our fear of being perceived is more than just social anxiety, its a real phobia around being scrutinised, observed and primarily judged by others. It's also greatly limiting your potential and ability to be your true self. But there is a way through, there is a way to escape the constant fixation on what others are thinking about you. In today's episode, we discuss:  The origins and effects o...