One of president-elect Joe Biden’s priorities is to bring peace to the nation’s warring camps. The task will be easier as more of us begin to understand the deeper psychological dynamics that undermine unity and civility. When bitterly at odds, we’re usually under the … [Read more...] about Three Self-Defeating Reactions at the Heart of American Disunity
Answers to Questions from Readers (Part 8)
Readers often send me emails with their comments and questions concerning different aspects of depth psychology, inner conflict, and the process of psychotherapy. Here I answer six of them, mostly related to inner passivity. I’ve done some light editing of the questions, and my … [Read more...] about Answers to Questions from Readers (Part 8)
Our Compulsion to Self-Punish
For many of us, a steady stream of emotional self-punishment can feel as natural as breathing. The process of punishing oneself can operate so subtly that people don’t detect its pernicious nature. This is not a discussion of physical self-injury or self-harm such as skin … [Read more...] about Our Compulsion to Self-Punish
Ego and Self Do Battle for the Soul of America
The refusal of millions to wear face masks in the heat of our pandemic is another deadly skirmish in the battle for the soul of America. This spurning of face masks reveals important details about human nature. This unsafe behavior by so many of President Trump’s … [Read more...] about Ego and Self Do Battle for the Soul of America
The Hazards of Inner Conflict
For more than 100 years, psychoanalysis has been trying to explain the hazards and dynamics of inner conflict. Yet people still don’t get it. Unconscious resistance and denial hamper our ability to see ourselves more objectively. People are not only unaware of the dynamics of … [Read more...] about The Hazards of Inner Conflict