My anguish at the terrorist attacks last week in Paris has aroused some passionate intensity. Here is my response, which is more in the form of an op-ed piece than my usual expository postings. As much as we despise the murderous maniacs of the Islamic State, they have, like … [Read more...] about Paris and Our Discontents
Inner Passivity
Acquiring a Feel for Natural Aggression
Some psychologists claim that aggression is an undesirable trait. At Wikipedia, aggression is defined as an “overt, often harmful, social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or other unpleasantness upon another individual.” Assertiveness is acceptable, these … [Read more...] about Acquiring a Feel for Natural Aggression
Defensiveness for Dummies
Chronic defensiveness is so irritating, like living beside a village square where the town criers daily proclaim their innocence. Dodging honest conversation in this squirmy way is quite possibly the number one pollutant of relationship harmony. It’s worse than a bad habit or … [Read more...] about Defensiveness for Dummies
Who Wants to Be a Celebrity?
Lots of people feel unrecognized and unappreciated. They experience themselves to a considerable degree through feelings of being unworthy and unloved. When such people spot a celebrity in the flesh, they have an emotional reaction that usually varies according to their … [Read more...] about Who Wants to Be a Celebrity?
Westerners Who Identify with Terrorists
About 3,000 people from Western Europe have travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State terrorist group, and authorities are worried that young people in the West might increasingly become converts to extremist Islamic ideology. Last week U.S. authorities arrested six young … [Read more...] about Westerners Who Identify with Terrorists