Self-harming and self-sabotaging behaviours, from skin picking to ghosting people, all stem from evolutionary survival mechanisms, according to a compelling new psychological analysis.

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examined how thought-patterns associated with unfairness, known as perceived injustice, shape people’s psychological responses to trauma. Conducted following the October 7th attack and during the subsequent war, the study revealed that as individuals viewed their suffering as more unjust and irreparable, they experienced more severe and persistent traumatic stress symptoms, even months later. The research highlights perceived injustice as a key factor influencing recovery and resilience in the aftermath of trauma.

The human brain is constantly processing information that unfolds at different speeds – from split-second reactions to sudden environmental changes to slower, more reflective processes such as understanding context or meaning.

A new study from Rutgers Health, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on how the brain integrates these fast and slow signals across its complex web of white matter connectivity pathways to support cognition and behavior.