Q: My wife and I just had our first child six months ago, a girl. I was expecting a boy so I was pleasantly surprised. However, now I'm concerned, my wife is a very attractive woman and I’m expecting my daughter to also grow into an attractive young lady. Am I destined to be attracted to my daughter? How can I safeguard against this? - Jon, Palm Beach

A: There are different ways in which one can be attracted to one’s daughter. You might one day find yourself thinking, “my, what a lovely, intelligent young lady she is becoming, no wonder I so enjoy our time together.” We would hope that it turns out that way. But if something goes wrong you might find yourself thinking, “nice rack, kiddo, want some candy?”

Q: Can drugs make you insane? My mom and dad say that they can but I think it’s just a scare tactic. - Michael, Dallas

A: If by “insane” your parents are referring to hallucinations, delusions, wildly unpredictable behavior, self-destructiveness, and the potential to spend years in prison or a state hospital, then the answer is: yes, drugs can make you insane.

Q: Dear Iron Shrink,

I’m guessing that the psychology industry probably doesn’t even use inkblot tests anymore… but I’ve always wondered how they work. How does seeing a butterfly in a spot of ink give insight into one’s psyche? - Inkblotanonymous

A: You might guess that ink blots aren’t used any more, but you’d be wrong. Don’t worry pal, I’m here to help you sort it all out.

Q: My wife and I disagree about memory. She says memories are stored just as they are stored in a computer, meaning that information is placed in some physical form and later retrieved. I say that memory is too slippery for that.... Help us settle this once and for all! - James & Kathy, Topeka

A: It all comes down to grammar. Contrary to the way we've learned to think about it, remembering is a verb, not a noun.

Q: Do they still use electroshock therapy? If so, why? Doesn’t it cause brain damage? - Sandy

A: If by “electroshock” you mean electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), then the answer is yes. If by “they” you mean plumbers, then the answer is probably no. But yes, Sandy, psychiatrists still use it. Why? Because it works. Does it cause brain damage? That depends on how you define brain damage, but probably not.