A new TV sitcom starring Charlie Sheen, who plays the role of an irascible anger-management therapist, is coming our way this summer. The show, which will be seen internationally, will apparently get its comedic effect from the hot-headed Sheen’s portrayal of a man of wisdom and … [Read more...] about The Hanky-Panky Behind Our Anger
Psyche
Lincoln’s Integrity, Our Integrity
Integrity, as manifested in Abraham Lincoln, has gone missing in the American soul, like Bernie Madoff’s billions. The nation’s future harmony and prosperity may depend on restoring this vital virtue. We can understand integrity if, through our imagination, we step into … [Read more...] about Lincoln’s Integrity, Our Integrity
Stubbornness: The Guts to Fight Reality
Stubbornness is, essentially, a determination to fight a losing battle with reality, while accepting as a “reward” for the effort the gift-wrapped deadweight of rigidity and resentment. My apologies to Frank Sinatra fans, but I believe the theme song or anthem for … [Read more...] about Stubbornness: The Guts to Fight Reality
A Participant in National Self-Sabotage
Who dares suggest the American dream could be thwarted by an indistinct entity a mere two letters long? The CIA certainly doesn’t have a dossier on it. Yet one ingredient of personal suffering and national self-sabotage is the id. Yes, I know that’s an odd, whimsical word, one … [Read more...] about A Participant in National Self-Sabotage
Underlying Dynamics that Breed Bullies
If we want our society to put a stop to bullying—an excellent goal, of course, one embraced by President Barack Obama, educators, and celebrities—we can help the cause by better understanding the underlying psychological dynamics of bullying and by teaching this knowledge to our … [Read more...] about Underlying Dynamics that Breed Bullies