Too often, the subject of violence is addressed in our society from a platform of sensationalism, disgust, and trepidation. The reporting of violent events incites two reactions from viewers: horrified fascination or a repelled reflex to turn away. Neither reaction inclines us to seek a better understanding of why violence occurs, nor to ask the… Read more »
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In the past few days, PsychAlive.org, started getting unusual visits from outside the United States. Typically only attracting an audience of nations that hold English as their first language, we were surprised to find that the place these visits were coming from was Japan. The disaster in Japan has sent a ripple of grief, shock and… Read more »
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The term depression tends to be slung about carelessly these days. We wake up in a funk, things didn’t go well at work today or we missed the most recent episode of Mad Men and we’re “depressed.” Technically, we’re not depressed. If we want to be nit-picky, we would clarify that we feel disappointed or… Read more »
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What we are thankful for is important, but what we give others to be thankful for is even more important. Generosity is no longer the selfless act we’ve long thought it to be. Studies now show that one of the biggest benefactors of generosity is the person who is dishing it out. Like a healthy… Read more »
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It’s no secret that our society has a little, shall we say, hang-up on body image. While women are the primary targets, let’s not forget our testosterone-laden brethren, who are not exempt from “good-natured” ribbing from pals or offhand comments from wives or girlfriends. And in this season of resolutions, our figures are public enemy… Read more »
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Recently the scientific community and the popular media were abuzz about the results of a global study entitled: Is daydreaming good for us? To answer this tough question, two researchers from Harvard University (graduate student Matthew Killingsworth and psychologist Daniel Gilbert) created an app so they could contact subjects at random times during the day… Read more »
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After my best friend, Ronnie, was diagnosed with cancer the first time, we made a pact: That though we were separated by geographic distance, we would hereafter, for the remainder of our lives, devote a weekend together each year to our “Jubilee.” In the Bible, each 7th year’s growing season was to be kept fallow… Read more »
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The phrase is emblazoned on holiday cards, ornaments and light displays: Peace On Earth. It is a noble wish, to be sure, the value of which few, if any, would dispute. (You never quite know what’s rattling around in those terrorist’s brains, so I suppose it’s best to leave a margin of error.) Certainly the… Read more »
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As any of you still shopping for that perfect present for that certain someone knows, this time of year is designed for thinking about others. Thoughts of getting away or doing something for yourself seem, at best, foreign and, at worst, selfish. Odd as it may seem, taking real, quality time to “escape” from your… Read more »
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With Thanksgiving behind us, most of us are slowly awakening to the realization that Christmas is right around the corner. And thus begins the Running of the Holiday-Crazed. Similar in many ways to Pamplona’s famed Running of the Bulls, but with only slightly fewer steaming piles to maneuver around. Sadly, this analogy was more on… Read more »
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