What disturbs me most about the trend towards ‘medication first/medication exclusively’ is not the notion of medication itself. If a pill could cure problems as well as the medical establishment would have us believe, then life would be an effortless … Continue reading
A growing number of research studies are showing that self-esteem might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. Low-achieving students, some studies show, think as highly of themselves as valedictorians. Violent criminals are no more likely to show … Continue reading
Marital counseling and couples therapy are often a flop. This holds true even if the therapist is a pretty good one. Why is this? There are two common reasons. One is that couples wait until at least one of them … Continue reading
Being committed to growth means that you are willing to question yourself and others; to think philosophically and critically, rather than just react to events; and to go by reason rather than just by sheer ‘instinct.’ A person committed to … Continue reading
A Cornell University study asks, ‘Why do teens do stupid things?’ This same study also purports to answer that question. First of all, I have a problem with the premise of the question. Not all teens do stupid things, nor … Continue reading
Why do most people falsely believe that addiction is a disease? Are they all simply lazy and dishonest? No. While some are, I maintain that most are not. The confusion and error is created, in large part, by superficial similarities … Continue reading
Back in the 1970s, social psychologist Stanley Milgram published a study that focused on the psychology of obedience. In the study, volunteers were asked to administer shocks to ‘learners’ in an experiment. When the ‘learner’ made an error, the volunteer … Continue reading
You hear about this syndrome of either gender trying to change something (or a lot of things) about their partner (or even their friend). These attitudes and behaviors show a lack of respect. Deep down, the spouse who’s acting this … Continue reading
I hear it every day: ‘A good marriage requires hard work and compromise.’ ‘The secret of our relationship is’sacrifice.’ Blah, blah. Well, I have a different take on the subject. It’s not that I’m against compromise altogether. Life as a … Continue reading
Q: Your post in a recent Daily Dose of Reason (8/31/11 “Bipolar: Valid Label or Excuse?”) is spot on. I have a brother who was diagnosed with this so-called “bipolar disorder.” My father had a massive heart attack last November. … Continue reading
Q: A relative of mine, a young woman of 19, has been diagnosed with ‘bipolar disorder.’ Is this a valid diagnostic label or simply another excuse? [Note: ‘Bipolar Disorder’ is the psychiatric term for mood instability, characterized by vacillations between … Continue reading
Q: Is arrogance the opposite of modesty? A: First, we have to define “arrogance.” Merriam-Webster dictionary defines arrogance as, “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.” The definition I prefer is: Arrogance … Continue reading