More and more people are writing me with questions about Asperger’s Syndrome. What is Asperger’s Syndrome? Is it a legitimate classification, or a faux disease? Regardless, what can one do about it? Asperger’s Syndrome is the latest, newest and coolest … Continue reading
Category: Psychology & Self-Improvement
Be Real
In a recent article, I stated that being authentic and honest with others stems from a strong sense of self-esteem and self-respect. People with poor views of themselves tend to be phony, and pretend to like people or things they … Continue reading
Pedophilia, Priests and Human Nature
Psychologist Mark Dombeck, writing in an online article entitled “Pedophile Priests: Monstrous But Not Monsters,” claims there are two possible ways to think about the subject. The first is the “monster” hypothesis and the second is the “all too human” … Continue reading
What’s Your Psychological Environment?
Dear Dr. Hurd, We recently bought a nice house here in the resort town where we live, and we occasionally welcome our friends to stay with us. Two of them stayed with us a few weeks ago and they were … Continue reading
Striving for Dry: Facts and Fantasy about “Recovery”
A recent conversation between Dr. Michael Hurd and a media reporter re: substance abuse and addiction. If you think you know someone who is struggling with addiction, what should you do? If you know them well, ask them, “Can I … Continue reading
The Futility of Regrets
Dear Dr. Hurd, I can’t stop thinking about past decisions that in the present turned out less-than-good. I wish I had the money that I spent on cars and some vacations. I regret having bought a boat years ago when … Continue reading
Coping With Rejection in Business
Dear Dr. Hurd: When I find myself in a position to explain my new business to a crowd or to individuals, my preparation often fails me and I struggle to communicate my most ingrained concepts. The word that I can … Continue reading
Loneliness: A State of Mind, or What?
Various studies are suggesting that loneliness is a growing problem, and can be just as bad for your physical health as obesity (if not worse.) Loneliness [according to research reported at theguardian.com 2/17/14] has dramatic consequences on health. Feeling isolated … Continue reading
You Can’t Lie Your Way to Self-Esteem
Most people assume that self-esteem is a very important thing; they’re right about that. Most people assume the definition of self-esteem is “feeling good about oneself;” they’re wrong about that. Evaluating self-esteem by feelings alone is kind of like evaluating … Continue reading
“Truth Seekers” Are the Best Kind of People
A reader quotes me from a recent article: “While nobody delights in being wrong, new knowledge is valued by a genuinely self-loving person. Finding out that one is wrong is tantamount to learning something new.” The reader goes on to … Continue reading
How to Prevent Spoiled Rotten Kids in an Age of Plenty
Many parents report having problems with their grown kids. More often than ever before, I hear of grown children moving in with their parents, not for specified reasons or defined periods of time (e.g., to attend graduate school), but because … Continue reading
The Reasonable Side of “Road Rage”
We hear a lot about “road rage.” What we generally hear is that it’s something that overpowers you, something you cannot control, something that some external agent must “treat” to rid you of. That’s part of what I mean by … Continue reading