Q: Could you comment about the subject of personal growth and how it changes the roles of relationships: platonic, romantic, and family? When people improve themselves morally, ethically, and rationally, therefore increasing their self-esteem, confidence and ability, then their relationships with those around … Continue reading
People often ask: At what point is something an “addiction”? At what point has someone gone too far with something, so far that it’s officially a “problem”? The problem with these kinds of questions is that they assume the definition … Continue reading
Q: I’ve been experiencing communication recently with others that I have been trying to identify psychologically. I’m referring to: People who project their own shortcomings or personality faults onto others and hold them accountable, but not themselves, for those exact … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd: I am reading your new book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy,” and I have been wondering what you mean by the following sentence: “Feelings and emotions are deeply rooted in our physiology and can be notoriously slow to catch … Continue reading
Q: How do you keep your calm when you hear other people talk about things like how unions are good for the country, how “big oil” is evil, or big anything for that matter, how we should “not be like … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd: I found your article through Google, the one about not letting people impose on you if you own a vacation house. This led to a personal question of mine. After many years, including being married, I have concluded … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd: I have a question for you. I really admire how outspoken and honest you are about your political, philosophical, and psychological views, such as in the Daily Dose of Reason. I have enjoyed and learned from your writings … Continue reading
Hi Dr. Hurd, I have faith. I have faith in myself. I have faith in other kind, empathetic human beings. As for faith in a supernatural being, color me agnostic (at best). Faith in an invisible, omnipotent deity can be … Continue reading
Q: If we are not biologically programmed to reproduce, where does “motherly instinct” come? Yes, you can make a decision to love and nurture a child, but I can tell you, as a mother, my decision to do so was … Continue reading
Q: I just finished reading your article, “The Psychology of Pity”. Superb. So if pity is really contempt, is self-pity really self-contempt? A: Absolutely. It logically follows that if pity is really contempt, then self-pity is self-contempt. In the … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I have been pondering this (Thomas) Aquinas quote from your site that seems uncharacteristic of your philosophy and I am curious as to its meaning: “Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.” I interpret this to mean: … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, I am an adjunct instructor and just finished teaching a short course “Perfectionism in addictive behaviors.” After reading your recent blog post “You can’t be too perfect” I am wondering if you would agree that maladaptive perfection … Continue reading