Psychology Fanatic Newsletter 104
Subject: The Blueprint, the Broadcast, and the Architecture of the Self 🏠📻
Dear Psychology Enthusiast,
How much of your “reality” is built from physical facts, and how much is built from the stories your mind tells you?
This week, we are exploring the architecture of the human mind from two fascinating angles: how we build our mental “house” as children, and the invisible “radio” that starts playing inside it as soon as we learn to speak.
1. New Article: Relational Frame Theory (RFT): How Language Shapes Human Thought
We are thrilled to introduce our comprehensive guide to Relational Frame Theory (RFT).
If you’ve ever wondered why a single word or a passing thought can trigger a physical “storm” of anxiety or joy, RFT has the answer. It is the scientific engine behind Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), explaining how our minds build “frames” of meaning.
Think of your mind as an interpreter. You aren’t just reacting to environments in front of you; you are reacting to the subjective interpretations about those environments. RFT explains how we learn that “A = B” and “B = C,” and how our brain automatically builds the bridge to “C.”
In this new guide, you’ll discover:
- The Transformation of Stimulus Functions: Why “thoughts” feel like “reality.”
- Mutual & Combinatorial Entailment: The mechanics of human language.
- Tuning the Frequency: How to use Cognitive Defusion to unhook from painful mental broadcasts.
Read: Relational Frame Theory — The Engine of Meaning →
2. Rewritten & Updated: The Evolution of Thought: Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Before we can interpret environments, we first have to build a foundational knowledge about the world. This week, we have completely overhauled our pillar article on Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development.
Jean Piaget famously showed us that children aren’t just “mini-adults”; they are Genetic Epistemologists—little scientists building their world-view one brick at a time. In this article, we explore how children use Schemas to organize their reality.
The Updated Guide Includes:
- Assimilation vs. Accommodation: When to add a brick to your current plan and when to tear down the blueprint and start over.
- The 4 Stages of Growth: From the “Sensorimotor” foundations to the complex “Formal Operational” skyscraper.
- The Legacy of Bärbel Inhelder: A deeper look at the experimental engine behind Piaget’s famous tasks.
Explore the Updated Guide: Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development →
The Connection: Construction and Conversation
Piaget explains the hardware—the stages of development that allow us to think logically. RFT explains the software—the linguistic frames that populate those stages. Together, they show that while we cannot change the bricks we were given in the past, we have the power to re-author the “Internal Script” we follow today.
As you navigate your own “mental house” this week, pay attention to the radio. Is it playing a song that helps you build, or is it time to adjust the dial?
To your growth and flexibility,
T. Franklin Murphy Psychology Fanatic
Topical Clusters for Deeper Mastery:
- The “I” and the “Me”: George Herbert Mead’s Social Self
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The 6 Pillars of Resilience
- The Looking-Glass Self: How Others Mirror Our Identity
Highlighted Articles of the Week
March 11, 2026 – March 17, 2026
Recently Updated Articles of Interest:
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