I recently encountered a psychologist who said, in essence, “People are doing the best they can; and they’re getting something out of what they’re doing.” He maintained, and he’s right, that psychologists and therapists especially should keep this in mind. … Continue reading
Back to the case of Henry Judd Gray. Let’s assume that Mencken’s assessment of Gray was correct, that he failed to rationally distinguish ‘sin from sin.’ What would then be the rational way out of his psychological predicament? It would … Continue reading
Mencken writes: ‘What is the chief mark of such a good man? That he cannot differentiate rationally between sin and sin—that a gnat gags him as badly as a camel. So with poor Gray. His initial peccadillo shocked him so … Continue reading
According to the principles of cognitive therapy, black-and-white thinking is a major cause of emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Also known as all-or-nothing thinking, many cognitive therapists define it as seeing things in black-or-white categories. If a situation … Continue reading
I received a question from a DrHurd.com reader who asks if a person is obligated to deal honestly with a person who has been proven to be dishonest. The writer suggests that dealing honestly in a situation like this would … Continue reading
Concluded from yesterday’s column: Abortion Opponent: What about the right to life? How can you deny that to the innocent unborn—even if it is only a potential? Dr. Hurd: Whose rights are more important—the ‘right’ of the not-yet-individual fetus to … Continue reading
Note: The questions posed by the ‘abortion opponent’ in this article are compiled from comments, e-mails and letters received from DrHurd.com readers over the years. Abortion Opponent: I don’t believe abortion is moral. The fetus is a conscious, sentient individual. … Continue reading
People claim that mental health and ethics are two completely different, and mutually exclusive, things. They’re not. What does ethics consist of? Essentially, taking responsibility for your actions. “Taking responsibility” implies a lot of different things. These things include: focusing, … Continue reading
Is there such a thing as a duty to others? Yes: To leave them alone. And that’s it. There is no given, preexisting duty to others, outside of this. Once you CHOOSE to associate with particular others, then there are … Continue reading
Richard Nixon said: “Always remember that others may hate you but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.” Intuitively, most people agree, or want to agree, with this quote. But I see … Continue reading
Politicians talk of the need for “shared sacrifice.” The translation of this means: Those of you who already pay taxes will now be required to pay more in taxes, so government programs may stay in place and continue to expand, … Continue reading
A hypocrite is someone who claims agreement with a principle or idea, and in practice displays just the opposite. Hypocrites are different from wishy-washy people. Wishy-washy people don’t know what their principles are; hypocrites do. Hypocrites give principles a bad … Continue reading