Essential Reads

Revenge vs. Rehabilitation

By Joseph Burgo Ph.D. on December 18, 2017 in Shame
Is the "name and shame" campaign purely about exacting revenge against sexual harassers?

Why “Science-Based” Matters

The White House has requested that the CDC bans various words and phrases—including “science-based.” This is a problem. Here is why.

The Cancerous Incivility of Social Media

By Ray Williams on December 13, 2017 in Wired for Success
Fundamental values and behaviour such as respect and civility are being replaced by incivility and cyberbullying.

Our Divided America

By Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on December 11, 2017 in Theory of Knowledge
We need to face fully the divide in this country and use the principles of family therapy to move in a new and more productive direction.

More Posts on Politics

An Evolutionary Fable

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on January 05, 2018 in Ambigamy
Adaptation got much more complicated once we gained the power of language.

Does Jeff Sessions Hate Laughter?

By Scott Weems Ph.D. on January 05, 2018 in What’s So Funny?
Could the government hate cannabis because it makes you laugh?

The Pros and Cons of Polygamy

By Neel Burton M.D. on January 04, 2018 in Hide and Seek
Is there a link between polygamy and social unrest?

Using Psychology to Talk Politics

By Gleb Tsipursky Ph.D. on January 04, 2018 in Intentional Insights
Want to get irrational friends and family to accept the facts in conversations about politics? This blog offers research-based tips.

Research Shows Higher Hostile Sexism among Trump Supporters

Research shows that hostile sexism won the day in the 2016 election. Will we continue to permit our society to be governed by bias, leading to avoidable suffering and inequality?

Crushing Debt Affects Student Mental Health

Students are struggling to cope with rising tuition costs and high debt loads.

Is the Culture of Me Killing Democracy?

By Po Chi Wu Ph.D. on January 01, 2018 in Jacob's Staff
The "me-first" attitude only begets more selfishness and divisiveness. What is a constructive, positive way to fight for our rights? Millennials may have an answer.

The Arguing Ape Hypothesis

The problem with contemporary political discourse is not bias and laziness. It's tribalism.

An Analysis of Trump Supporters Has Identified 5 Key Traits

By Bobby Azarian Ph.D. on December 31, 2017 in Mind In The Machine
The president's backers share some consistent and troubling characteristics.

2018 Predictions: Best if We Don't Count on Them

Empowering ordinary Americans in 2018 requires fighting overconfidence.

The Appeal of Unequally Distributed Tax Cuts

By Nathan A Heflick Ph.D. on December 31, 2017 in The Big Questions
Do people want less, if it means other people don't get more? How do studies testing this potentially relate to the support (or lack of support) for Trump's new tax cuts?

New Year’s Resolution: Do Something to Promote Civil Society

By Kyle D Killian Ph.D., LMFT on December 30, 2017 in Intersections
Civic responsibility is about having standards about what “information” we consume and promote by sharing. So share wisely. Our democracy, and civil society, depend on it.

How to Win Mindless Loyalty

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on December 28, 2017 in Ambigamy
Wouldn't it be fun to have people who think you're right no matter what you think or do? A little dangerous, perhaps, but fun. Here's how to get it.
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Trump Divided America With Psychology — Here's How We Heal

By Bobby Azarian Ph.D. on December 27, 2017 in Mind In The Machine
President Trump has increased collective anxiety, creating division and tribalism. But recognizing these psychological effects can allow us to reverse them with cognitive control.

WWJD? Why I Say “Happy Holidays”

There is no war on Christmas. Happy Holidays is just more inclusive and respectful. Hannity and President Trump are using religion in service of their political goals.

Tax Bill Blowback

By David P. Barash Ph.D. on December 22, 2017 in Pura Vida
Pundits have been busy opining about the impact of the newly passed tax bill. They've ignored the impact of the psychology of envy and of relative good fortune.

I Killed My Classmate, So I’m Suing My School

By Izzy Kalman on December 22, 2017 in Resilience to Bullying
The field of bullying psychology has destroyed personal responsibility and made it legitimate to sue the government when we commit murder.

The Deadly Cost of Censoring the CDC

By Gleb Tsipursky Ph.D. on December 21, 2017 in Intentional Insights
Censoring the CDC could result in more deaths, especially among the most vulnerable—babies and children.

Did the Election of a Black Man Inadvertently Harm Women?

The backlash against Barack Obama has turned toxic.

Family Festivities Are All About Family, Not Politics

By Jenni Ogden Ph.D. on December 20, 2017 in Trouble in Mind
You can’t prevent others getting into fraught discussions when everyone has gathered for the annual celebrations, but you can stop yourself being drawn into them!

How Losers Become Winners

How millennials can bring about meaningful political change vis-à-vis with the current status-quo.

Congress Needs to Take Immediate Action on DACA

Identifying ways to move forward on DACA is a bipartisan concern. Without congressional action, the Administration will begin a phase-out of DACA on March 5, 2018.

Life, Interdependence, 
and the Pursuit of Meeting Needs

By Miki Kashtan Ph.D. on December 19, 2017 in Acquired Spontaneity
Reclaiming our innate capacity for receiving takes us on a journey of recognizing, accepting, and embracing our needs, and re-developing trust.

Trump Administration Bans Word "Transgender" from CDC Budget

By Jack Turban MD MHS on December 19, 2017 in Political Minds
The Trump administration prohibits the CDC from using the word transgender in budget documents. What does this mean for the future of transgender health?

A Gameplan for Combating Oppression

How work on race can inform efforts to combat class divisions.

Do We Perform Better Under Pressure?

By Alfie Kohn on December 18, 2017 in The Homework Myth
Claims that stress can be productive turn out to be not only simplistic but often to conceal elements of conservative ideology about parenting and masculinity.

The Ones the Wolves Pull Down

Proposed budget cuts for mental health programs conflict with the need for preventative treatment for high rates of suicide among farmers.

Tired of Arguing About Politics, Race, or Social Policy?

By Deborah L. Davis Ph.D. on December 14, 2017 in Laugh, Cry, Live
Tired of arguing about politics? You may even be dreading family or social gatherings this holiday season. But you can build bridges, not walls, with compassion and warmth.

What Role Does Dehumanization Play in Human Cruelty?

How are we supposed to square the humanizing conception of those targeted for oppression with the dehumanizing and othering tendencies that feed the motivation to oppress?