Posts in category: Dating Tips, Guide and Advice

Thanks to sitcoms like “Will & Grace” and “Modern Family” and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Cynthia Nixon, there’s been more visibility and knowledge of various sexual and gender identities. And as our society changes, so does our language. Just take the initialism LGBTQIA+ for an example. LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), intersex, asexual, and others. The “plus” represents other sexual identities, including pansexual and Two-Spirit.

The acronym is used to represent a diverse range of sexualities and gender identities, referring to anyone who is transgender and/or same/similar gender attracted.

Below, we explain what each letter in the LGBTQIA+ acronym means, the history of the term, and why (all) queer representation is important. Because, yes, representation is (and will always be) essential to marginalized groups.

What Does Each Letter Mean?

• L (Lesbian): A lesbian is a woman/woman-aligned person who is attracted to only people of the same/similar gender.
• G (Gay): Gay is usually a term used to refer to men/men-aligned individuals who are only attracted to people of the same/similar gender. However, lesbians can also be referred to as gay. The use of the term gay became more popular during the 1970s. Today, bisexual and pansexual people sometimes use gay to casually refer to themselves when they talk about their similar gender attraction.
• B (Bisexual): Bisexual indicates an attraction to all genders. The recognition of bisexual individuals is important, since there have been periods when people who identify as bi have been misunderstood as being gay. Bisexuality has included transgender, binary and nonbinary individuals since the release of the “Bisexual Manifesto” in 1990.
• T (Transgender): Transgender is a term that indicates that a person’s gender identity is different from the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. 
• Q (Queer or Questioning): Though queer may be used by people as a specific identity, it is often considered an umbrella term for anyone who is non-cisgender or heterosexual. But it is also a slur. It should not be placed on all members of the community, and should only be used by cisgender and heterosexual individuals when referring to a person who explicitly identifies with it. Questioning refers to people who may be unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Intersex: A term to describe individuals who are born with variations of sex characteristics that do not fit with binary definitions of male or female bodies. 
• Asexual: Sometimes shorted to “ace,” this term refers to someone who has little or no sexual attraction; they may, however, experience romantic attraction.
• + (Plus): The ‘plus’ is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials. An example is Two-Spirit, a pan-Indigenous American identity.

History of the LGBTQIA+ Acronym

Where a variety of orientations and identities had previously been referred to as “the gay community” and later “the gay and lesbian community,” the acronym eventually evolved as a way to be more inclusive of other identities.

Why has the acronym changed over time? Words and meanings are always evolving. Bisexual, as defined by Sigmund Freud, originally meant a person was both a man and a woman. Being both a man and a woman is now referred to as bigender (under the transgender umbrella), and bisexuality is the attraction to multiple/all genders.

Why the “Plus” Matters

While variations such as LGBT or LGBTQ are often used, many advocates argue that the addition of the “plus” is important and should not be overlooked. The purpose of the acronym is to represent the tremendous diversity of people who are same/similar gender attracted and transgender. The addition of the plus is better able to fully capture that diversity.

“Coverage of LGBTQ issues has moved beyond simplistic political dichotomies and toward more fully realized representations, not only of the diversity of the LGBTQ community, but also of LGBTQ people’s lives, their families, and their fundamental inclusion in the fabric of American society,” explains GLAAD, or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Related Terms to Know

Some other terms that you may see or hear related to the LGBTQIA+ community include:

• Cisgender: This term refers to individuals whose gender identity corresponds to the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Nonbinary: A person whose gender identity is neither exclusively woman or man.
• Gender nonconforming: An individual whose gender identity or expression is outside or beyond the traditional masculine/feminine and woman/man norms.

A person’s gender identity is their internal sense of gender, whether that is woman, man, or a nonbinary gender. A person’s gender identity does not necessarily correspond to their sex assigned at birth or with their gender expression. 

Why LGBTQIA+ Representation Matters

The LGBTQIA+ acronym serves an important purpose—not only is it designed to be more inclusive, but it also represents the self-identities of people who are transgender and/or similar gender attracted. 

Inclusivity 

The use of the acronym is intended to be an all-encompassing way to recognize different gender identities and sexual orientations. The addition of other identities to the LGBT acronym also plays an important role in recognizing and connecting them to a larger community.

It also means that these individuals are able to gain greater recognition by society as a whole. Rather than being erased, ignored, or denied, acknowledgment can help foster greater visibility of marginalized identities.

Visibility

Visibility can also help create a greater sense of self-affirmation of a person’s identity. Research has found that offering inclusive and affirmative environments is important for LGBTQ+ youth. 

Research also suggests that despite safety concerns, being visible as a member of the LGBTQ+ community can be an important way to feel a sense of pride in individual identity. Affirming self-identity can help people feel greater self-esteem, self-worth, and boost overall mental well-being. This can be particularly important since representation has long been lacking in mainstream media.

The good news is that there have been improvements made in recent years to change this. A recent GLAAD report suggests that the representation of LGBTQ characters and relationships on television is higher than ever previously seen on TV. This includes greater diversity and visibility of non-binary identities, although the report notes that BIPOC characters are still underrepresented.

Research and statistics suggest that LGBTQ+ youth have an increased risk of a range of mental health and social issues, often due to or exacerbated by isolation, marginalization, and discrimination based on their orientation or identity. Fostering inclusivity and acceptance may be one way to help combat some of these issues.

Uses of the LGBTQIA+ Acronym

The acronym LGBTQIA+ has become more popular and accepted. Terms such as queer are sometimes used as well, but not all members of the community are comfortable with it as it is still a slur.

When to Use It

So how do you know when to use the term LGBTQIA+? 

• The purpose of the term is to be inclusive of all same-gender attracted and trans people.
• Use a specific term if you are talking about issues that may be specific to a particular orientation or identity.
• Be specific when talking about individuals. LGBTQIA+ is also an adjective for the community as a whole, not for a single person. For example, you wouldn’t say “Ali is LGBTQIA+”—you’d say “Ali is gay.”

While LGBTQ+ on its own is the most commonly used and probably widely recognized, LGBTQIA+ is more inclusive to the larger community. Even more inclusive variations exist, such as LGBTQI2S (which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, and Two-Spirit). Indigenous people created the term Two-Spirit to separate themselves from Western descriptions of gender and sexual identities, and some feel it is disrespectful to attach Two-Spirit to the acronym because of that.

If you are interested in learning more about what terms and phrases should be avoided, GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has a reference page that offers helpful information on LGBTQ terms as well as information on terms that are specific to the transgender community.

Impact of the LGBTQIA+ Acronym

LGBT and related acronyms have become widely used in recent years. It has also played a role in raising the visibility of marginalized groups, including transgender individuals.

Research suggests that while attitudes have shifted towards greater acceptance, LGBTQ+ people still face considerable homophobia and discrimination. Harassment, bullying, and workplace discrimination are not uncommon.

One advantage of utilizing a unified terminology is the ability to engage in political advocacy. Social solidarity can be used to improve visibility, combat discrimination, and advance causes including anti-discrimination and equality laws. 

Unifying terms like LGBTQIA+ can help people feel connected to a larger group of people with shared experiences. But the term can sometimes seem to imply that there is a single, homogenous group when there are actually many individual communities made up of diverse individuals. These communities have some things in common, but each identity has its own unique experiences and needs.

Challenges

While the goal of this initialism is to raise visibility and boost inclusivity, not everyone agrees about what term or variation to use. The community has been referred to by many words over the years, including many that were intended to be hurtful. So it’s not unusual that the self-descriptors that people use can vary, particularly when it comes to issues related to self-expression, sexuality, and identity.

LGBT is still prevalent in use and may be preferred by some who feel that the four-letter acronym is a simpler way to represent a wide range of identities. 

Others may feel left out from the standard four initials, which is why the addition of Q, I, A, and “Plus” can be helpful.

This doesn’t mean that terminology won’t continue to evolve and shift, particularly as people work to achieve greater representation and acceptance of transgender people especially. 

LGBTQIA+ Resources

If you are interested in learning about LGBTQIA+ issues, there are a number of resources available that can help.

The goal of using more inclusive terms like LGBTQIA+ is to improve visibility, recognition, and acceptance. It is important to remember that LGBTQIA+ people continue to face discrimination. Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, in particular, are frequently the target of social and economic marginalization as well as harassment and violence.

Terms and definitions are always evolving. When it comes to something as personal as sexuality and gender identity, these terms and definitions can mean different things to different people. While working to understanding and use terms such as LGBTQIA+ can help increase the visibility of people who have faced marginalization and discrimination, it is important to remember that the most important labels or definitions are the ones that people give to themselves. 

They, them, and theirs are examples of nonbinary, gender-neutral pronouns that can be used in the singular. The pronouns they, them, and theirs have two main uses in our culture when referring to people individually. When you don’t know someone’s pronouns, you typically refer to them as ‘they/them.’ For example, if you saw a backpack or purse on the ground in public, you might say, “Someone left their bag here—I wonder if they need it?”

They, them, and theirs can also be used as a single person’s pronouns, which we will discuss in detail here. This is done as a gender-neutral option in lieu of using a gendered pronoun. Using they/them as individual pronouns has become so frequent that in 2019, Merriam-Webster didn’t just add it to the dictionary—they also made it their word of the year.

The use of they/them pronouns in the singular isn’t new. According to the Oxford Dictionary, we have used they/them pronouns since 1375, if not before. They were used in writing all the way back then to refer to a singular person, not only a group of people.

What Does It Mean When Someone’s Pronouns Are They/Them?

When someone uses they/them as their pronouns, it means that you should refer to them with those pronouns. Even if you think the person looks like a “she” or a “he,” the appropriate thing to do is to use the pronouns that a person informs you are the right ones for them.

You can’t really assume anything else about the person’s gender, though. That’s because there are many reasons why a person might be best suited with non-gendered pronouns.

For instance, they might be nonbinary, gender expansive, transgender, bigender, or gender non-conforming. They also may identify in a way that doesn’t fit any of those descriptions.

Why Are Pronouns Important?

Whether or not pronoun use feels important to you personally, it is an important subject overall. That’s because using a person’s correct pronouns is a matter of basic respect, which is something that everyone deserves.

The correct usage of pronouns also validates and affirms a person’s gender identity, even if the pronouns that someone uses aren’t gendered. The simple act of using a person’s pronouns has been shown to make people feel that their gender identity is validated and affirmed, in turn enhancing their well-being.

Who Would Use They/Them Pronouns?

As we have learned from the growing usage of they/them pronouns, there are numerous types of people who would use them. The most important thing is to simply not make assumptions about a person’s gender identity, as anyone could potentially be a fit for they/them pronouns.

One well-known example of this is the slogan, “Femmes can be thems.” This means that even if a person looks feminine to you, they might use they/them pronouns.

Nonbinary people are the most well-known group likely to use they/them pronouns. That’s because non-gendered pronouns make sense for someone who does not identify within the binary box of male or female.

Additionally, they/them pronouns might be used by a person in transition. This can occur when someone is going through the process of transition and does not yet feel settled.

What Are the 4 Gender Pronouns?

Pronouns can be either gendered or not gendered.

Non-Gendered Pronouns

They/them pronouns, as well as neo-pronouns, which include ze/zir and ey/em, are pronouns that are not gendered. This means that when you hear them, there are no assumptions to make about a person’s gender identity. That’s why they/them is the go-to for referring to someone whose gender you are unaware of.

Gendered Pronouns

On the other side of the coin, the pronouns she/her and he/him are gendered and comprise the four gendered pronouns. When you hear someone use the pronoun she, you can likely assume their identity as a woman or girl, and when you hear the usage of he, you can equally likely figure that person is a man or boy.

How to Ask Someone What Their Pronouns Are

We talk so much about pronouns now that you might be worried about there being a right and a wrong way to ask someone what their pronouns are. If that’s the case, you’ll be happy to learn it’s very straightforward. If you want to know someone’s pronouns—and if you want to avoid misgendering a person—ask them. “What are your pronouns?” or “What pronouns do you use?” are both perfect questions to ask.

What to Do If You Get Pronouns Wrong

It’s completely normal and common to make mistakes in life, and pronoun usage is no exception. How you handle the situation is what someone will walk away remembering, so that’s the key to focus on. A person’s pronouns may not match what you assumed of their gender, and until we all stop making assumptions, which is a very natural thing for us to do, mistakes will be made.

Collaborate Consulting uses an acronym to help people learn about what to do when you accidentally use the wrong pronouns for someone. It’s referred to as the A.C.M. Method.

That’s it! Nothing more is needed.

How to Learn More About They/Them Pronouns

Pronoun usage is an important topic, and it can take awhile to get used to using they/them pronouns in the singular if you are accustomed to mostly using them to refer to groups of people. It’s wise to remember that you have always used they/them pronouns to refer to an individual whose pronouns you don’t know. This can help make using they/them for individuals feel less foreign, as it’s actually something we all have done our entire lives.

Imagine that you are convicted of a crime that you did not commit because one witness insists that they saw you do it. How is it possible for an innocent person to be found guilty? Is the eyewitness lying? Could it be a case of mistaken identity?

What if you witness a crime and the police show you a lineup of photos and ask you to identify the suspect? Would you be 100% certain that the person you think committed the crime is the real perpetrator? How would you feel if you later learned that the person you were sure was the suspect was actually innocent—and that you misidentified them?

Eyewitness testimony has been commonplace in courtrooms worldwide and throughout history, but it has a complex place in criminal investigations. Here’s what you need to know about how eyewitness testimony works and why its reliability is often questioned.

What Is Eyewitness Testimony?

In a legal sense, eyewitness testimony is an individual’s firsthand account of an event that they witnessed, usually one that is suspected to be or considered a crime.

An eyewitness is typically a victim or bystander who was present at an event that is under criminal investigation. A robbery, assault, or murder are just a few examples of these events. A person’s description of what they saw during the event, including any people who were present and involved in the crime, is called their testimony.

If a legal team can present an eyewitness who can confidently identify a suspect and confirm that they saw a person commit a crime, jurors are compelled to believe them.

However, eyewitness testimony has a fatal flaw: it is not always accurate. If a witness provides mistaken testimony, it can lead to a wrongful conviction.

Evidence on the reliability of eyewitness testimony is mixed. While some studies suggest accounts provided by witnesses are generally reliable, the veracity of eyewitness testimony has also been called into question because there are factors that can influence the ability of a witness to accurately recall an event.

Does Eyewitness Testimony Lead to Wrongful Convictions?

Whether someone saw a car speeding down the street minutes after an accident or they were inside a store when it was robbed, eyewitnesses are often the first source that the police turn to when they’re gathering information about a crime.

During a criminal investigation, eyewitnesses might be asked to identify a suspect in a photographic or live lineup or give a physical description of the suspect to a sketch artist creating a composite drawing. If a case goes to trial, witnesses are often asked to appear in court. At times, an entire criminal case is built on eyewitness reports.

Is DNA Evidence Better than Eyewitness Testimony?

Eyewitness testimony can be a compelling form of evidence in a courtroom, but it’s not the strongest form of evidence. While jurors tend to believe eyewitnesses, their accounts are not as accurate as more objective evidence, such as DNA.

In the 1980s, DNA evidence started to become more widely accessible to police during criminal investigations. Instead of relying on the imperfect science of human memory, investigators could use DNA to make connections between suspects and crime scenes that were more specific and accurate than the accounts of eyewitnesses.

The ability to link an individual to a crime through DNA also allowed for the exoneration of people who had been wrongly convicted. The first exoneration by DNA evidence took place in the United States in 1989.

How Often Are Eyewitness Accounts Right?

Eyewitness testimony is still used in courtrooms and can be one of the most crucial aspects of a case. Many legal experts believe that witness accounts can be trusted but emphasize that law enforcement officials must be mindful of how they elicit information from witnesses as well as how they respond to that information. They also need to be aware of the factors unique to eyewitnesses that can affect their memories.

Law Enforcement Factors in Eyewitness Testimony

Law enforcement officers can intentionally or unintentionally reinforce witnesses’ expectations as they question them. If an eager witness feels pressured by law enforcement to offer information, they might attempt to fill in the blanks when asked a question rather than admitting that they don’t know.

A witness’s expectations about what they think should have happened can also influence their memory about what actually happened.

Eyewitnesses are generally motivated by a genuine desire to help solve the case. When they attempt to “fill in the blanks” or offer information they are unsure about, it’s usually with good (albeit misguided) intentions.

There are some specific things that law enforcement officials need to keep in mind during an investigation when they’re working with eyewitnesses.

Guidelines

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) created a task force in response to an increase in research on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony as well as an increase in DNA evidence that revealed wrongful convictions.

Experts on the task force were asked to develop guidelines for law enforcement to ensure that eyewitnesses would not be pressured, unconsciously encouraged, or persuaded to give false statements.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) created a guidebook for law enforcement officials based on the task force’s work. Published in 1999, the guide outlines the correct way to interview and interact with eyewitnesses, discusses the factors that affect eyewitnesses, and provides law enforcement officials with strategies to collect the most accurate information.

Question Wording

Eyewitness testimony is not always about identifying the perpetrator—witnesses may also be asked about the facts of the case. Researchers have found that the words investigators use to gather facts can influence how people respond when asked about the details of an event.

Verb Use

In a classic experiment in 1974, researchers showed a group of students seven videos of traffic accidents, each ranging from five to 30 seconds long.

After showing them the footage, the researchers asked all the students the same question, but with slightly different wording: “About how fast were the cars going when they [smashed/collided/bumped/hit/contacted] each other?”

The speed estimates the students gave were affected by the verb used to ask the question. For example, when the word “contact” was used, students estimated much slower speeds than when the words “collide” or “smash” were used.

The researchers concluded that eyewitness testimony can be influenced not only by the questions police and investigators ask but also by the language they use to ask them.

Invented Details

In the second experiment by the same researchers, several groups of students viewed a one-minute film that showed four seconds of a multiple-vehicle traffic accident.

When questioning the students later, the researchers used slightly different wording (specifically, different verbs) with each group. Some students were asked, “How fast were the cars going when they hit each other?” while others were asked, “How fast were the cars going when they smashed into one another?”

A week later, both groups of students were asked if they saw broken glass in the footage of the accidents. Those who had been asked how fast the cars were going when they smashed into each other were more likely to say they saw broken glass—even though no broken glass was present in the accident.

The researchers concluded that word choice by investigators could potentially prompt witnesses to remember events as being worse than they actually were. In this way, an investigator’s “leading” question might affect how a witness recalls a crime.

Witness Factors in Eyewitness Testimony

There are also factors specific to witnesses that influence how an event is recalled, as well as how the details are recounted when questioned by police. While it’s not always possible to prevent these factors from interfering with an investigation, it’s important for law enforcement professionals involved in a criminal investigation to be aware of them.

Poor Visuals

Crimes often take place in environments that are shrouded in darkness or concealed in some other way that makes identification difficult, so it’s not uncommon for eyewitnesses to have a poor view of an event. Darkness, bad eyesight, an obstructed view, and a large distance between the witness and the action are all factors that can affect a witness’s ability to recall events accurately.

Memory Contamination

Eyewitness memory is not set in stone and may change in response to outside information. For example, an estimated 86% of eyewitnesses claim they spoke to other witnesses before talking to law enforcement. The problem of “co-witness conformity” can emerge when witnesses talk about what they saw and their perspectives influence one another.”

When a witness shares their memory of an event, others might be inclined to confirm it. They might say that they saw something (or someone) at a crime scene, even if they did not. When a witness is unsure about what or who they saw, they can be susceptible to suggestions made by other witnesses.

One factor that seems to play a key role in the reliability of eyewitness memory is immediacy—that is, how much time elapses between when someone witnesses a crime and when they are asked about what they saw.

A 2018 study concluded that “eyewitnesses typically provide reliable evidence on an initial, uncontaminated memory test, and this is true even for most of the wrongful convictions that were later reversed by DNA evidence.”

The researchers argued that eyewitnesses are usually correct immediately after a crime takes place, but that their memories become contaminated throughout the process of interviewing and questioning. These inaccuracies in eyewitnesses’ memories can lead to wrongful convictions.

Still, eyewitnesses are generally motivated by a genuine desire to help solve the case. When they attempt to “fill in the blanks” or offer information they are unsure about, it’s usually with good (albeit misguided) intentions.

It’s not just the time between when they witnessed an event and when they’re questioned, but how many times they’re asked to recount what happened. The more times that an eyewitness is questioned, the more likely it is that their memories will become contaminated.

Research has shown that being asked leading questions (e.g., by the police and/or the media) or hearing more information about a case from the news or other witnesses. Having to repeat their story many times (e.g., to multiple investigators) can also affect a person’s memory.

Stress

Research has shown that the stress and trauma of being victimized or witnessing a crime can influence an individual’s ability to accurately recount the details of an event.

The effects of stress on eyewitness memory are particularly noticeable when a weapon is used. In these situations, it’s common for witnesses to be completely focused on the weapon rather than the person wielding it.

The “weapon focus effect” gives victims the ability to accurately describe a gun or knife (often in great detail) but leaves them with little to no knowledge of what the perpetrator looked like.

Racial Bias

Eyewitnesses have preconceived notions about the type of people who commit certain crimes, and their bias affects how much information they retain about a suspect.

A 2016 study found that witnesses overwhelmingly remembered Black suspects’ faces incorrectly when they witnessed crimes that are more often associated with Black males, such as drive-by shootings. Eyewitnesses also remembered Black suspects’ faces more accurately when they witnessed a crime that is usually associated with other races, such as serial killings.

Witnesses also tend to pair the worst crimes with people with darker skin. A 2016 study called “The Bad is Black Effect” found that when participants were asked to identify perpetrators, they were more likely to choose darker-skinned individuals for more heinous crimes. For less serious crimes, the witnesses were more likely to point to lighter-skinned individuals.

The Cross-Race Effect

Research has consistently shown that people have difficulty recognizing individuals from other racial or ethnic groups. People struggle to discriminate among faces that do not resemble their own, especially if they are in a majority population group.

Research has demonstrated that when a witness is asked to identify a stranger, misidentification is over 50% more likely if they are of a different race.

Suspect Lineups

In the U.S., eyewitnesses are often shown a photo lineup and asked if they can identify the picture that shows the perpetrator.

Live lineups are also used. In this scenario, the eyewitness is brought in to view a group of people (usually from the other side of a pane of one-way glass) and then asked to state whether the perpetrator is present in the lineup.

Less often, an eyewitness will be shown a single photo and asked, “Is this the perpetrator?” However, single photos produce less accurate results than lineups.

In an oft-cited experiment, researchers staged a crime in the middle of a college lecture. A male actor posed as a vandal, entered the lecture hall, exchanged heated words with the instructor, and then knocked over a rack of machines.

When the audience was asked to identify the vandal in a lineup, the accuracy of the witnesses’ identifications depended on the instructions the researchers had given them. One group of students was instructed to choose the suspect from a lineup. The other group was told they did not have to make a choice if they did not think the suspect was in the lineup.

The suspect was only included in the lineup half the time.

The researchers found that telling students that they did not have to choose a suspect led to fewer false identifications compared to telling the students to choose. More importantly, the researchers found that being given instructions did not hinder the witnesses’ ability to make a correct identification.

The feedback a witness is given also makes a difference. Studies have shown that when law enforcement officials confirm a witness’s choice in a lineup, the witness’s confidence is inflated. However, if police feedback suggests a witness failed to pick the “right” suspect, the witness’s confidence wanes, which can affect future court testimony.

Real Examples of Eyewitness Testimony and Wrongful Conviction

Here are a few real-world examples of how mistaken identification by eyewitnesses has led to wrongful convictions.

Don Ray Adams

In 1990, two men were murdered during a drug deal in Philadelphia. Witnesses identified the suspect as a tall, light-skinned Black man who went by the name of Don Ray. Police began to search for a dark-skinned, short, Black man named Don Ray Adams, who went by the name Muhammad.

Adams went to the detectives when he found out they were trying to locate him, and he was arrested for the murders. The police also spoke to another person named Don Ray, who lived in the neighborhood where the murders had taken place but ruled him out as a suspect.

During the trial, two of the key witnesses said Adams had killed the two men during a drug deal, but six other witnesses could not identify Adams as the suspect. He was found guilty by the jury and sentenced to life in prison in 1992.

In 2007, the key witness recanted her testimony. She said she had been dealing with drug addiction at the time and that the police had pressured her to implicate Adams. He was granted a retrial and acquitted. Adams was released from prison in 2011 and sued the city of Philadelphia, which settled the case for $1 million.

Rachel Jernigan

In 2000, a Hispanic woman described as short and having an acne-scarred face robbed a Bank of America in Arizona. A woman named Rachel Jernigan matched the description and became a suspect after having a chance conversation with an FBI agent who was investigating and a post office employee’s suspicion that she may have shoplifted stamps.

Jernigan was arrested after the bank teller, Elizabeth Chlupsa, picked her photo out of a lineup.

In the time between Jernigan’s arrest and trial, two more robberies by a suspect who matched the description took place in Arizona. Jernigan was not charged with those crimes but still went on trial for the first robbery that had led to her arrest.

Jernigan’s trial relied completely on eyewitness testimony, as there was no physical evidence. The fingerprint found at the bank did not belong to Jernigan, and a search had not turned up any of the stolen money or the weapon used during the robbery.

Jernigan’s attorney believed she had been misidentified, but she was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

However, later that year, a woman named Juanita Rodriguez-Gallego robbed the same bank. This time, the teller put a tracker in the money. The tracker quickly led law enforcement to Rodriguez-Gallego. After being charged, she pleaded guilty to only the firearm offense—the other charges were dropped. But word of her arrest got to Jernigan in prison, and she asked her lawyer for a new trial.

In 2004, the first motion for a new trial was denied. In 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 9^th Circuit overturned the ruling and allowed Jernigan to have a new trial because it believed that evidence of another suspect who resembled Jernigan and had been committing robberies should have been turned over during the first trial.

In 2008, Rodriguez-Gallego confessed to the previous robberies—including the one that Jernigan had been convicted of. In 2008, the charges against Jernigan were dismissed, and she was released from prison. In 2008, she sued for wrongful conviction, and the case was settled for $1 million.

Otis Boone

In 2011, two men were the victims of phone theft in Brooklyn, NY, within two weeks. In both cases, the suspect had approached them and asked what time it was, only to snatch their phones when they took them out to check. In the second robbery, the victim was injured by the robber’s knife.

Both victims gave a general description of the suspect: a Black man somewhere between the ages of 16 to mid-20s, with short hair, weighing around 160-190 pounds.

The phone of one of the victims, Eli Eichner, was recovered not long after. The man who had it said he’d purchased it from someone he described as a bald Black man in his 50s. The police put together a lineup, but Eichner said he couldn’t remember what the robber looked like, though he thought the suspects in the lineup were older.

The police did not attempt to use GPS data to try to get information about where the phone had been from the time it was stolen from Eichner and returned.

When a new detective, Maureen Sheehan, took on the case, she did not look over the notes. Even though Eichner had told police multiple times that he could not identify the robber, Sheehan put together a new lineup. It included a 19-year-old Black man named Otis Boone who had never had a criminal conviction (he had only been photographed when being stopped during a stop-and-frisk program).

When Eichner was brought in to look at the lineup, Boone had been positioned next to a much shorter man (5’8’’ to Boone’s 6’2’’). The other men in the lineup also had longer hair and were older than Boone. The police only asked Boone to step forward and say, “What time is it?” before asking Eichner if he could identify the robber.

Both Eichner and the other victim, Ben Zeitlin, identified Boone as the robber.

Boone had only met his attorney the day before his trial began, and the lawyer had not followed up on Boone’s claim that he had used a public benefits card miles away from the robbery and therefore could not have been there. His attorney asked that the judge consider the issues with cross-racial identification (both victims were white and Boone was Black), but the judge denied the request.

The trial convicted Boone, and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He appealed, and the sentence was reduced to 15 years.

Then, in 2017, the New York Court of Appeals decided to reverse Boone’s conviction. Upon further evaluation, the court determined that the judge should have explained to the jury that there were issues with cross-racial identification.

Boone went to trial again in 2018. Again, both victims identified him as the robber. However, this time, the jury was educated on issues with racial cross-identification, and Boone’s lawyer was able to share evidence that showed Boone was not at the scene of the crime—indeed, state records proved he had used his benefits card about a mile away with a time stamp of about five minutes after the robbery had happened. The prosecution counted by stating Boone had taken a bus to the site of the robbery and managed to get there in under five minutes, but the jury felt that this theory was “wildly unlikely.”

In 2019, Boone was acquitted. He sued the city and the officers involved and settled for $200,000.

Susan Mellen

In 1997, the body of a man named Richard Daly was found in an alley in San Pedro, California. Informants told police that they believed a gang, Lawndale 13, was responsible for the murder. The tips included the names of three members who committed the crime as well as the address of the home where the murder had taken place.

There were two houses on the same lot, both of which were owned by Allene Mellen. The informants told police that the house at the back of the lot was where Daly had been murdered. The house was vacant but had recently been occupied by Allene and her daughter Susan, as well as Susan’s son and daughter. Robert Mellen Jr., Allene’s son, lived in the other house with his family. However, several other occupants, including one of the gang members, occasionally stayed at the house.

The police went to the homes to arrest the gang members, only to find that the back house was vacant and had been damaged in a fire. One of the gang members, Lester Monllor, was arrested at a different location and charged with Daly’s murder. Another member, Chad Landrum, was arrested and charged about a week later.

Of the three members the informant had mentioned, only one had yet to be arrested: Santo Alvarez. The detectives learned that he was currently helping detectives investigate another murder, so they dropped him as a suspect.

Then, a woman named June Patti called the police and claimed to be a paralegal. She stated that she had spoken to Susan Mellen and that she had confessed to being involved in Daly’s murder. According to Patti, Daly was homeless and was found in Mellen’s house asleep on their couch. Patti said that Susan thought Daly was stealing, so she and her boyfriend (whom Patti identified as “Tom”) killed Daly.

The detectives next spoke to Patti’s sister, Laura, who was a police officer. Lauren said that her sister was a “pathological liar” who had just pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Lauren and her son. Patti was currently on probation.

However, Laura’s conversation with the detectives was never put on record. Not long after, Susan Mellen was arrested and charged with Daly’s murder. Mellen told them she was not involved in the murder—in fact, she had been moving on the day it took place.

The trial relied on June Patti’s testimony, but the details of her account changed frequently. The record of her sister’s earlier conversation with detectives, which would have put her reliability as a witness in question, was never turned over. What’s more, the autopsy findings did not match up with any of the descriptions of the murder that Patti had given, which she claimed Mellen had described to her.

Mellen testified in her own defense, and other witnesses came forward to say they had been with her on moving day or could otherwise confidently state that she could not have been present at or involved in the murder. Still, the jury convicted Mellen and she was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2009, Shirly Knocke, a resident of the area, became friends with Alvarez, the third suspect who had never been charged. He confessed to her that he had helped kill Daly and that the woman who went to prison for the crime had nothing to do with it.

Several years later, Knocke reached out to the LA nonprofit Innocence Matters to let them know what she had learned about Daly’s murder. Both Mellen and Knocke were interviewed and took polygraphs that led investigators to believe they were being truthful.

In 2014, Alvarez started talking to Mellen’s nephew on social media, saying Mellen was innocent. Meetings with investigators and family members pieced together what had really happened, but Alvarez started to change his story. Then, one of the other suspects who was in prison said that Alvarez wasn’t involved. Investigators also learned that June Patti had, over the years, attempted to tell police that Mellen had been wrongfully convicted.

In the fall of 2014, a motion was filed to vacate Mellen’s conviction. The court decided there was no evidence of Mellen’s guilt, and she was released from prison.

Mellen first filed a civil suit in 2014 and was awarded $597,200 in compensation by the state of California. Her first federal suit against the LAPD detective was dismissed, but the appeal was successful and settled for $12 million in 2019.

Do you find yourself wondering, “Why am I so angry?” We’ve all had our days. Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. There are many situations that can trigger feelings of anger, which may range in intensity from mild annoyance to profound rage.

“We all experience different emotions at different times, and anger is one that you may experience,” says licensed psychologist Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS. “The key is to acknowledge it, understand why you are feeling this way, and then think of the best way for you to manage it.”

We all experience different emotions at different times, and anger is one that you may experience. The key is to acknowledge it, understand why you are feeling this way, and then think of the best way for you to manage it.

But when our anger becomes extreme, uncontrollable, or chronic, it can lead to stress that harms our health or even our relationships with other people. Because of this, it is important to understand what we can do when we are feeling angry so we can get our feelings under control.

Read on to learn how to keep your anger in check with strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness, and improved self-awareness.

But First, Take the Anger Test

This short, free 21-item test measures a variety of symptoms and feelings associated with anger, such as anger about the present and future, anger towards the self, and hostile feelings toward others.

This anger quiz was medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS.

5 Ways to Cope With Anger

If you are experiencing anger, there are things that you can do to manage your emotions. Below is a list of some things that may help.

Take Some Deep Breaths

When anger strikes, it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment. Your body often enters a state known as the fight-or-flight response, which helps prime your body to take action. Your heart rate increases and you begin to breathe much more rapidly.

To take control and reduce feelings of anger, it can be helpful to focus on your breathing. Focus on taking slow, deep, controlled breaths. Rather than taking shallow breaths that only fill your chest, try taking deeper breaths that expand your belly.

The great thing about deep breathing is that it is something you can do quickly in the moment whenever anger threatens to overwhelm you. It can give you time to calm yourself, take some moments to think, and respond in a way that isn’t going to have long-term negative effects.

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Recognize Your Response to Anger

Feelings of anger are usually accompanied by both physical and mental symptoms. You might feel your heart rate and breathing increase. You may experience feelings of frustration, stress, irritation, and rage. Your anger may also trigger anxiety and feel overwhelming at times, and afterward, you might be left with feelings of guilt.

It is important to remember that anger isn’t always expressed in the same way. Outward expressions of anger such as yelling or breaking things may be more apparent, but anger can also be expressed in more inward or passive ways.

Passive anger often involves withholding attention or affection in order to punish others. The silent treatment and sulking are two examples of more passive expressions of anger.

Change Your Thinking

One way to reduce your anger is to change how you think about events, people, or situations. When you focus on things negatively or irrationally, it’s easy to get caught up in emotions that feel dramatic and even overwhelming. 

Cognitive reframing is a technique that is often used in some types of therapy to help change the way that people think about the things that happen to them. By changing these thoughts, you may be less likely to experience negative emotions such as anger.

Use Relaxation Strategies

In addition to deep breathing, learning relaxation strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation can help you keep your cool when you become angry. 

For example, mindfulness is an approach that encourages people to focus on the here and now, including how they are feeling in the present moment. Learning how to be mindful of how you are feeling can foster a greater sense of self-awareness and often allows you to look at anger-provoking situations in a more detached way. 

Understand Why You’re Feeling Angry

In addition to finding new ways to think and respond, it is also important to understand what might be triggering your anger in the first place. Anger can be caused by a number of different things.

Factors such as your personality, your coping style, your relationships, and your stress levels can all play a part in determining how much anger you experience in response to different situations and triggers.

In some cases, however, anger may be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition. Some of the conditions that may cause anger include:

• Alcohol use disorder: Consuming alcohol can contribute to feelings of anger, particularly if you drink too much at once or if you consume alcohol regularly. Alcohol can make it difficult to control your emotions, decrease inhibition, and affect your ability to think clearly, all of which may contribute to feelings of anger.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and is marked by symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. A short temper and outbursts of anger are also quite common.
• Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is marked by dramatic changes in mood. People often experience periods of depression that can be marked by hopelessness, sadness, and irritability. They may also experience mania characterized by agitation, euphoria, and impulsivity. Both mood states can produce feelings of anger.
• Depression: Depression causes symptoms of low mood, irritability, and hopelessness. Such symptoms may also play a part in periods of anger.
• Intermittent explosive disorder (IED): People with this condition experience episodes of angry, aggressive behavior. They often have intense bursts of anger that are disproportionate to the situations and are accompanied by arguments, tantrums, and even violence.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): OCD is characterized by the presence of unwanted obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Research also suggests that many people with the condition also experience feelings of frustration and anger.
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): Children with this condition are often irritable, short-tempered, and angry. They frequently display defiance, argue with parents and others, and may have outbursts of anger and aggression.

How to Get Help

While everyone feels angry sometimes, it is important to remember that it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. If your anger is chronic, troubling, or causing problems in your ability to function normally, talk to your healthcare provider.

They may evaluate you to see what other symptoms you might be experiencing. This might involve answering questions or filling out a questionnaire to screen for certain mental disorders.

Your doctor may also conduct a physical or perform lab tests to rule out any medical conditions that might be playing a role in your symptoms.

Keep in Mind

Anger can often be a normal response to a difficult situation. When managed effectively, anger can even serve as a positive force, motivating you to make changes that will resolve the problem. But it is important to recognize when anger is excessive, chronic, or harmful.

Finding things to do when you are angry can help you reduce the harm that these emotions can sometimes cause—and inspire you to seek help if you think your anger might be a sign of something more serious.

Tastes in music vary, and many people believe that the type of music that you love to listen to might actually reveal a lot about your personality. Not only can your musical tastes say something about your personality characteristics, but your traits may play a part in the type of music you are drawn to.

While it isn’t uncommon for people to make a connection between a person’s listening habits and their personal characteristics, the links between personality traits and musical taste have not been the subject of much empirical research.

However, some studies confirm that there may be some sort of connection—at least, to some degree. Others say not so much. Keep reading to learn more about what research says about the relationship between who you are and what you listen to.

Personality Traits and Musical Tastes

Do your preferences for certain genres of music indicate something about your personality? In one older study, researchers asked more than 36,000 participants worldwide to rate more than 104 different musical styles. They also filled out Big 5 personality inventories and provided information about their favorite music.

The results indicated that personality and musical taste are indeed linked, but other individual differences factor in, too. Here are some of the personality traits the study linked to certain musical styles.

• Pop. Extroverted, honest, and conventional. Although pop music lovers were hardworking and had high self-esteem, researchers suggest that they are less creative and more uneasy than those enamored by other musical styles.
• Rap/hip hop. Despite the stereotype that rap lovers are aggressive or violent, the researchers found no such link. However, the rap fans tended to have high self-esteem and were generally more outgoing than fans of other styles.
• Country. These fans typically identified as hardworking, conventional, outgoing, and conservative. Although country music frequently centers on heartbreak, people who prefer it tended to be emotionally stable. They also ranked lower than others in openness to experience.
• Rock/heavy metal. Rock and heavy metal often project images of anger, bravado, and aggression. However, this study found such fans to be gentle, creative, and introverted. They also tended to have low self-esteem.
• Indie. Fans of the indie genre registered as introverted, intellectual, and creative, but less hardworking and gentle than fans of other styles. Passivity, anxiousness, and low self-esteem were other notable personality characteristics.
• Dance. Those who preferred dance music were typically outgoing, assertive, and open to experience but ranked lower than others in gentleness.
• Classical. The study’s classical music lovers were generally somewhat introverted but at ease with themselves. Creativity and healthy self-esteem were common among them.
• Jazz, blues, and soul. Extroverted with high self-esteem. They also tend to be very creative, intelligent, and at ease.

The study further suggests that people define themselves through music and use it as a means to relate to other people. This explains why people sometimes feel defensive about their taste in music: A criticism about their music feels like a criticism of them.

Big Five Personality Traits and Musical Preferences

A 2018 study found that looking at people’s Facebook likes related to music could accurately predict some personality traits. The study found that:

• People high in openness had more Facebook likes related to classical, jazz, and opera music
• Those high in extraversion were more likely to enjoy genres like country and folk music
• Those high in agreeableness were more likely to enjoy music in general without being drawn to any specific style

A 2022 study found similar results in countries worldwide, suggesting that these connections between musical preferences and personality tend to be universal.

Punk, hard rock, and metal are high in arousal. Upbeat pop songs are high on valence. Classical and jazz music, for example, are considered high in depth. 

According to this approach, people with Big Five traits tend to have the following preferences:

• Neuroticism: Prefer music that is high in arousal and low in valence
• Extraversion: Prefer music that is lower in arousal
• Openness: Prefer music high in valence and depth
• Agreeableness: Prefer music lower in arousal and valence but higher in depth
• Conscientiousness: Prefer music lower in arousal and high in depth

The research also found that, in general, people who like a wide variety of music tend to be more extraverted, agreeable, and conscientious. People who are higher in neuroticism tend to have less diverse musical tastes.

Age Also Plays a Role

Evidence indicates that it isn’t just personality that plays a big role in shaping musical preferences—age also has an important effect. Musical tastes typically start to form right around adolescence, which is a time when people are also exploring and forming other important aspects of their social identity.

Researchers have found that people tend to prefer music that they loved during their teen years. It’s why those hits you used to love in high school tend to hit so hard, even decades later. Evidence has also found that people tend to recall the music they listened to during their teens and early adult years (from about age 10 to age 30) most easily.

Cognitive Styles and Musical Taste

Another study found that the music you enjoy might be connected to how your brain processes information. The researchers suggest that people have two ways of responding to the world: based on social cues (empathizing), and based on preset conceptions of how people think they should respond (systemizing).

Empathizers enjoy mellow but emotionally rich contemporary music ranging from indie rock to country to folk. Many have careers in the arts or helping professions and prefer soft music that evokes strong emotional responses.

In contrast, systemizers gravitated toward math and science. They were drawn to structural complexity, often liking classical, jazz, and world music and complex, intense, energetic, upbeat music. 

Music’s Psychological Functions

Music serves a range of psychological functions. In addition to its links to personality, research has found that music is also associated with:

• Health
• Health behaviors
• Arousal
• Mood
• Social connection
• Physical activity
• Relaxation
• Cognitive functions
• Identity

People also engage in a range of musically related activities. These include listening to music, sharing music, playing instruments, singing in groups, writing lyrics, rapping, dancing, songwriting, and composing.

What Are Your Dominant Traits? Try Our Quiz

Our fast and free personality test can help give you an idea of your dominant personality traits and how they may influence your behaviors.

This personality test was reviewed Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Feelings of worthlessness often involve a sense of insignificance in oneself and are strongly linked to hopelessness and self-blame.

Such feelings are often a common symptom of depression, but can also arise due to things such as low self-esteem, neglect, abuse, trauma, or difficult situations that pose a threat to a person’s sense of self.

Feeling worthless can create significant distress and make it difficult to function normally in daily life. You might find it difficult to feel motivated to pursue your goals when you feel that nothing you do is right or that none of your efforts will make a difference. Because of this, it is important to find ways to manage these difficult feelings and seek help when needed.

Causes of Worthlessness

Feelings of worthlessness can be caused by a number of different factors. Upbringing, social experiences, explanatory style, stressful events, and mental health conditions may all play a role. Some reasons why you might be struggling with such feelings include:

Childhood Trauma

You may have had negative childhood experiences that have left a lasting mark. Neglect, abuse, and maltreatment during childhood can all play a role in the development of feelings of worthlessness. Children who are abused or who are frequently criticized by parents or other caregivers may carry those feelings of insignificance into adulthood. Research has shown that these early interpersonal traumas are linked to later feelings of worthlessness.

Seeing Negative Events as Your Fault

You may attribute negative events to your own actions or characteristics. People who are prone to attributing negative events to internal causes may be more likely to experience symptoms of depression, including worthlessness.

Past Criticism

You may have been criticized by others in the past. Negative experiences where a person has been degraded or faced criticism from others can also leave people feeling as if they lack value.

Difficulty Handling Stress

You might be having trouble coping with stress. Both acute and chronic stress can take a toll on a person’s perceptions of themselves. You might feel worthless after experience a serious setback such as financial problems, divorce, or job loss.

Sign of a Mental Health Condition

You might have a mental health condition. Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder are often marked by symptoms such as shame, guilt, hopelessness, and worthlessness. Such symptoms create distress and make it difficult to manage usual daily tasks.

What You Can Do If You’re Feeling Worthless

If you are experiencing feelings of worthlessness, there are small, actionable steps you can take that may help you start to feel better. Here are some ideas that can help.

Speak Kindly to Yourself

People who feel worthless often engage in negative thinking and self-talk. It may be challenging at first, but focus on treating yourself with kindness. When you notice negative self-talk, look for ways that you can reframe those thoughts in a more positive or realistic way. Instead of thinking “I hate myself” or “I’ll never be able to do it,” for example, you might say, “I can do small things each day to improve.”

Pay Attention to When Worthlessness Strikes

Sometimes these negative feelings arise in response to certain situations, thoughts, experiences, or even people. Start noticing when these feelings emerge, what is happening when they occur, and what type of thoughts might be contributing. This is one way to help combat the negative rumination that might be fueling feelings of inadequacy. 

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Worthlessness can creep in when you find yourself comparing your own life unfavorably to the lives of others. Rather than falling into the trap of only looking at the ways in which it seems you are lacking, consider keeping a gratitude journal where you spend a little time each day thinking about the things you are grateful for. Refocusing your thoughts in this way can help protect you from the negative effects of comparison and envy.

Do Something for Someone Else

Sometimes when you are feeling worthless, focusing your attention on something other than yourself can help. Research has shown that engaging in prosocial activities like volunteering for your community or helping someone else in need can have a positive effect on a person’s happiness and well-being. Helping others can also help you feel a greater sense of connection and purpose.

Try a Mental Health App

There are a number of different mobile apps devoted to improving mental health. Some apps may provide tools such as positive affirmations, mindfulness training, or exercises rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that are designed to help you identify and change patterns of negative thinking. 

How to Get Help If You’re Feeling Worthless

It’s important to remember that feeling worthless can also be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. If such feelings are persistent, distressing, or make it difficult to cope with everyday tasks, talk to your primary care provider or contact a mental health professional. 

Your primary care provider may ask you about your feelings and other symptoms you have been experiencing. They may also ask you to fill out a questionnaire to screen for symptoms of depression or anxiety. You may also have a physical exam and lab tests to rule out medical conditions that might contribute to symptoms of depression.

You might also want to consider trying online therapy. Research suggests that online therapy can be as effective as traditional face-to-face treatment. Online therapy presents an accessible and often affordable way of getting help for mental health concerns. Services that provide online therapy can vary in terms of what they offer, their price, and how therapy sessions are conducted. In many cases, options include online chat, video conferencing, email, and phone options.

It’s normal for everyone to wonder about their purpose. At times, however, you might question existence to the point where you wonder, “What is the point of life?” When such feelings are accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, and disinterest, it might signify a mental health condition such as depression.

If you’re wondering if there is any purpose to life, remember that meaningfulness is different for each person. For some people, the purpose of life may be to make the world a better place. Others may believe that the point of life is to find and achieve personal fulfillment. And some may feel that the point of life is simply to enjoy it as much as possible.

Finding a sense of meaning in life can be difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly challenging when struggling with low mood and feelings of depression. If you find yourself struggling to make sense of your life and its purpose, it can be helpful to learn more about why you might feel this way and what you can do to bring a sense of meaning into your life.

Signs You Feel That Life Is Pointless

There are a number of signs that you might be struggling to see the point in life. Sometimes you might think “what’s the point,” but in other cases, these feelings can be less obvious:

• You might feel like nothing you do matters
• You may have stopped caring about the outcome of events
• Things that used to bring you joy may ring hollow or seem empty
• You might feel a sense of hopelessness
• You might feel like none of your efforts will help you achieve your goals and aspirations

Why You Might Feel This Way

Everyone experiences times during their life when they feel like they aren’t sure about their purpose. They might feel lost. They might not be sure about who they are. Or they might wonder if there is some greater meaning to life that they just can’t seem to see. 

There are many different reasons why someone might feel like they don’t know the point of life.

• You might be going through something stressful or difficult that has you questioning what it all means.
• You might feel unfulfilled in your work, school, relationships, or hobbies and wonder if there’s something more that you are missing.
• It might feel like your accomplishments don’t really matter or don’t have much of an impact.
• You might be feeling uncertain about what you should be doing with your life or what steps you need to take next.
• You might be struggling to set goals because you are not sure what you really want.
• You might have a mood disorder such as major depressive disorder, dysthymia, or bipolar disorder

Depression and Feelings of Pointlessness

People who have depression frequently experience a sense of pointlessness. For many, everything seems meaningless. After all, they might think, what is the point of life if you are not happy?

According to some research, losing this ability to see the point and purpose in life might actually play a part in the onset of depression. Recognizing this feeling and taking steps to combat it may help boost your mood and help you find greater sense of purpose.

As people lost their sense of purpose, they also began to experience other symptoms such as declining energy levels and physical activity. Despite adverse effects on their physical and psychological experiences, they remained focused on the threats to their goals, values, and purpose.

It seems that experiencing events that affect your sense of meaning is linked to the onset of depression. Whether this plays a role in creating depression is a question that researchers still need to explore in greater depth.

If other symptoms accompany this sense of pointlessness, it might be a sign that what you are experiencing is actually depression. Other signs to watch for include: 

• A persistent low mood marked by sadness or emptiness
• Irritability
• Feeling guilty, hopeless, or helpless
• Losing interest in things that you used to enjoy
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Slowed physical activity
• Problems concentrating
• Sleep problems
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Physical complaints that don’t have a clear cause
• Thoughts of death or suicide

What Gives Life Meaning?

Many different things can give life meaning, and these vary from one person to the next. For some people, their relationships with family and friends are what give them a sense of meaning and purpose.

Others might find meaning in their work, hobbies, or creative passions. And for others, their spirituality or religious beliefs help them find the point in life.

What matters most is what you believe is most important to you. Everyone has different values and beliefs that give their life meaning. There is no wrong answer. What gives someone else a sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment might not be helpful for you—and that’s fine. 

If you’re feeling lost or uncertain about what the point of life is, it might be helpful to think about what matters most to you. What are your values and beliefs? What do you enjoy doing? What makes you feel happy and fulfilled?

Strategies That Can Help

Finding the point in life can be difficult when you are dealing with depression. It is important to treat yourself with kindness and compassion, even when feeling unmotivated or apathetic. 

Even when you are struggling to find interest in anything, you can take steps to help gradually improve your mood and find your sense of purpose. It takes time, support, and often professional interventions in the form of therapy and medication, but over time, you can rediscover your sense of meaning.

There are many different ways to find meaning in life. These strategies can help you find ways to make your life feel more meaningful.

Helping Others

Volunteering your time to help others can be a source of purpose. Research has found that people who engage in altruistic behaviors, which involve helping other people, feel more connected to other people and tend to have a stronger sense that their life has meaning. 

Examples of prosocial actions you might take include volunteering for a cause you are passionate about, donating money to charities, or offering to help a friend in need. Contributing to something that feels bigger than yourself can help you feel that your efforts have meaning and that you are making a difference in the world.

Cultivating Relationships

Spending time with friends and family. Healthy and supportive interpersonal relationships are essential for both physical and mental health. Research has found that these relationships help lower the risk of heart disease, help make us more resilient to stress, and decrease the risk of depression and suicide.

Having the support of friends, family, partners, and others can help you feel more motivated and inspired to care for yourself and take an interest in the world around you. And investing your energy in these relationships can be helpful when you are looking for meaning or a sense of purpose.

Pursuing Your Interests

Pursuing hobbies or activities you enjoy can be an effective way to bring meaning into your life. Focus on doing work that is meaningful to you, whether it involves pursuing a career that you love, developing your creative skills, or simply enjoying your leisurely pastimes. 

Being creative can be a tool of self-expression and can help you develop new interests as well. Consider trying out a new hobby or activity that you haven’t tried before, such as learning how to bake, paint, dance, or sculpt.

Building Your Awareness

Becoming more aware of your own thoughts, interests, and connections to the world around you can also be helpful when you are questioning the point of life.

Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude, or the act of feeling and expressing thankfulness for the things that you appreciate in life has been shown to have a range of benefits. It can strengthen relationships, improve happiness, boost resilience, and improve overall health.

It may also help you find greater meaningfulness in life. Research has shown that gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions. This may also encourage people to savor the moment and enjoy the pleasures that life can bring. 

Making an effort to practice gratitude regularly, whether you take a few moments each day to mentally focus on grateful thoughts or you write in a gratitude journal, can help you become more aware of the good things in life. Over time, this practice may help shift your perspective. Instead of feeling that life is pointless, you’ll begin to see all of the simple joys that give life meaning.

How to Get Help

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you’re struggling to find meaning in your life, there are many resources and people who can help. Talk to a trusted friend or family member, a counselor or therapist, or a religious leader. They can offer support and guidance as you search for meaning.

Remember, everyone goes through periods where they question what the point of life is. But there is no right or wrong answer. What matters most is how you choose to live your life and what you believe is most important to you.