How sweet it is to cry and water heaven with our tears, romantic poets are wont to say. Such poets venerate tears as “the heart’s own dew” or “summer showers to the soul.” Yet the sources of our tears are as varied as the mixtures of water, salts, antibodies, and antibacterial … [Read more...] about Tears of Self-Deception
psychological defense
The Futility of Compulsive Approval-Seeking
Using brain imaging, researchers have discovered that pleasure is activated in the brain when people get positive feedback concerning their reputation or character. These researchers do not appear to understand that such pleasure is not necessarily genuine or healthy. A … [Read more...] about The Futility of Compulsive Approval-Seeking
The Mysterious Allure of Kinky Sex
Sadomasochistic consensual sex play may be gaining some acceptance as a socially or culturally sanctioned sexual orientation. The New York Times reports in a featured story, “A Hush-Hush Topic No More,” that a significant effort is underway in the United States and Canada to … [Read more...] about The Mysterious Allure of Kinky Sex
A Hidden Reason for Suicidal Thoughts
Suicidal thoughts are quite common, and even people living good lives can experience them now and then. For many, suicidal thoughts are fleeting considerations, following which they bounce back to their everyday sense of self. Others are haunted by these thoughts on a regular … [Read more...] about A Hidden Reason for Suicidal Thoughts
The Infantile Basis of Our Fears
This post is a revised and expanded version of an earlier story, “How Inner Fear Becomes Our Worst Nightmare.” Some people like digging around in the past---geologists, historians, archeologists, and genealogists---because the past is the foundation of the present and has a … [Read more...] about The Infantile Basis of Our Fears