Dear Dr. Hurd: I have read what you and others call the need to be “authentic” in personal relationships. At the same time, honestly saying what I feel doesn’t always work out. I try to be honest and say exactly … Continue reading
Conclusion of yesterday’s column. In order to develop healthy self-respect, and to stop obsessing on what others think of you, it’s very important that you internalize two questions: ‘ What are the facts (about myself or the outside world)?‘ What … Continue reading
The reason you want to please other people (if you do) is that you have made them your standard of knowledge and truth your whole life. If the herd thinks something is true, it’s true; if they reject an idea, … Continue reading
Less interesting than the second debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are the words of a former Obama aide on the Internet the very same day: ‘People say the reason Obama wouldn’t call [Bill] Clinton is because he doesn’t … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: How would you advise an empty nest couple with two professional careers of equal importance to the individuals, to find compromise when job loss is imminent for one spouse whose career is unstable by its nature, and … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd, I often wonder why do you and other Objectivist contributors of CapMag seem to constantly side with the GOP, and never with Democrats? As Ayn Rand herself pointed out, “Liberals and Conservatives are opposite sides of the same … Continue reading
A reader writes in: “Drug abuse. There is a difference between dependence and addiction. Lots of people are on painkillers. Vicodin and Percocet are the most used. It starts out with a prescription for knee, wrist or back pain. Slowly … Continue reading
Q: I’d enjoy reading your thoughts on Vice President Joe Biden’s actions during the debate with Paul Ryan. His constant laughing, smirking, and interrupting. From a psychological perspective, what was going on there? A: It’s hard to say for … Continue reading
It’s widely believed that Vice Presidential debates don’t matter. Tonight’s debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Mitt Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan lived up to this reputation. The fault perhaps lies less with the candidates themselves than with the … Continue reading
Q: I have been thinking about the topic of self-esteem and self-love as the foundation of happiness. It seems like one cannot exist without the other, and are really one and the same. Is one a byproduct of the other … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I wonder if you could help me explain the difference between being kind and being everyone’s keeper. Is kindness “looking after others?” And, is this way of relating to others contagious, as many people believe? Reply: Kindness … Continue reading
A graduate student in clinical psychology recently asked to interview me for a study he’s doing. Below are his questions and my answers, published here with his permission. Many readers have written in with these questions themselves, so I thought … Continue reading