According to both 2006 and 2009 studies published by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, those who read fiction are capable of the most … Continue reading
How do you feel about being left alone with yourself, and your thoughts? Before answering, consider the findings in a recent University of Virginia/Harvard University study [reported at pjmedia.com 7/4/14]: Many people would rather inflict pain on themselves than spend … Continue reading
The “Making Caring Common” project at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education surveyed 10,000 middle and high school students about what was more important to them, “achieving at a high level, happiness, or caring for others.” Almost 80 percent of students … Continue reading
Increasingly, I hear parents and grandparents talk about an entitlement mentality in their grown children. This mentality manifests in many different ways. Sometimes it’s righteous and angry, but more often it’s simply a quiet expectation. “I can’t do this. You’ll … Continue reading
It’s time to get rid of the term “depressed.” The concept “depression” started out as a term used by psychiatry to designate a clinical syndrome or condition. In other words, it was supposed to describe the abnormal, the unusual, or … Continue reading
“Do you have any articles about why love makes you stupid?” a reader asks. Love does not actually make you stupid. Here’s what sometimes does happen. You meet someone. You’re attracted to them — physically, of course, but for more … Continue reading
Transference is a universal psychological phenomenon in which a person’s relation to another person has elements which are similar to and/or are based on his or her earlier attachments, especially to parents, siblings, and significant others. In a psychodynamic treatment, … Continue reading
PsychologyToday.com has an article talking about, “Seven Things Resilient Couples Do Differently.” [Paula Davis-Laack, J.D., M.A.P.P. 2/28/14] There’s nothing wrong with what the article suggests. But I personally find a need to go deeper. With decades of self-help books and … Continue reading
First of all, wow. How refreshing to read these words from a fellow mental health professional — for once, not myself: Violence is not a product of mental illness. Nor is violence generally the action of ordinary, stable individuals who … Continue reading
Is it possible to have too much self-esteem? It’s commonly thought “yes,” and the definition of “too much” self-esteem is labeled narcissism. This may be well and good, but the question remains: How do we quantify the “right” amount of … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, I work for a charity. I answer to the executive director who makes me responsible for various fundraisers that I am expected to plan, advertise and set up. However, she then undermines me by either doing things … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: Many people seek mass wealth because it brings social status. Throughout history status has always existed in cultures. From kings and queens to tribal hierarchies. Even the animal kingdom has examples of status. Status appears to be … Continue reading