Category Archives: Blog
Deadly Assumptions: When the World Is Shattered
From the standpoint of assumptions, no matter how unalike they are on their surface, crises are eerily alike. Continue reading
Enough Is Enough: It’s Time to Get Tough on Organizations That Involve Children in Any Form or Manner
Whether we are experiencing an “actual, real epidemic” of child abuse or because of the overwhelming presence of the media we are just more aware of it is beside the point. What is not beside the point is that some of the most important and highly esteemed organizations have not only engaged in serious cases of child abuse, but engaged in concerted and repeated actions to protect and/or shelter those guilty of committing abuse. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Media + Politics, Philosophy + Systems, Sociology
Tagged abuse, BBC, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Chruch, child abuse, media, Penn State, public trust
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Big Bird And Mister Rogers Are Not Just For Kids: We Need Their Wisdom More Than Ever
Even though the news has obviously moved on, it’s still important to correct a common, and dangerous, misperception that lies at the root of Mitt Romney’s expressed desire to terminate funding for Big Bird and PBS — that they are solely for kids and liberals. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Media + Politics
Tagged Big Bird, Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers, politics
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On Mixed Minds: Liberal-Conservatives and Conservative-Liberals
Conservatives are generally fearful of and highly resistant to change, have an obsessive need for order and predictability, prize individual differences (money, status, etc.), and believe in hierarchy over community and egalitarianism. In sharp contrast, liberals generally believe strongly in reasoned argument, logic, and science.
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Posted in Blog, Media + Politics, Psychology
Tagged Chris Mooney, conservative, liberal
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Standing Up To Political Bullies
One of most powerful ways of helping people learn about themselves and others is to put people into different groups based on their personalities. Thus, all the people with the same personality type are put into a common group. In this way, there are as many different groups as there are different types. Continue reading
The Unconscious Choice: The Forces of the Dark and Light Sides
Make no mistake about it. This election is about the choice between two worldviews that are as psychologically different and far apart as any two could possibly be. The choice is difficult not just because so much is riding on it—this much is obvious–but like most crucial things in life, much of it rests on factors that are largely unconscious. The later is far from obvious. Continue reading
Corrupt to the Core
Originally published on Nation of Change, August 26, 2012 This is a rant. I make no apologies for it because sometimes that’s the only thing that can help cleanse one’s soul. Norman Mailer was once asked why no good literature … Continue reading
Economics: The Psychologically Naïve Science
I admire Paul Krugman. I really do. His many columns in The New York Times and books (for his latest, see, End This Depression Now, ISBN 978-0-393-08877-9) are a testimony to his ability to explain arcane topics in terms that the layperson can understand. Continue reading
Psychoanalytic Politics: The Roots of Current Dysfunctional Political Behavior
What does the behavior of British children in WWII possibly have to do with today’s fractious politics? More than one would ever imagine! Continue reading
Your Call: How should we respond to mass shootings?
On July 26, 2012, I was a guest on the radio program Your Call on San Francisco local public radio station KALW. I spoke about the recent mass shooting in Colorado and how we should be responding. What could we … Continue reading
