Nothing psychology related this week, just some eye candy from China. It took some planning, but I managed to visit during the worst weather in decades. We drove past the infamous Guangzhou train station and, from the highway, saw tens of thousands of people stranded thanks to bad weather in other parts of the country. It didn’t help that Chinese New Year is approaching. This is like traveling the weekend before Thanksgiving, but with 1/5 of the world’s population. …
Friends sometimes disagree with my explanation of suicidal behavior: I see it as an attempt to solve problems that seem overwhelming and interminable. Many people I’ve spoken to view suicide as an act of selfishness. Despite the difference of opinion, both viewpoints see suicide as a choice. I have encountered no one who views suicide as an accident that happens when a person is unwise enough to keep deadly devices on hand. …
When it comes to diversity training, I know whereof I speak. Having been subjected to 40 weeks worth during psychologist school – and that’s just for starters – I should be as “culturally competent” as they come. If aliens ever visit Earth I should be sent to greet them. …
Denver’s Diversity Training Video and its Place in the Diversity IndustryRead More »
Q: What is ironshrink’s take on relational frame theory? Is it controversial as voodoo? There are no chickens involved, are there? – Sponge …
Q: I am in a heated discussion with coworkers, here is the question. The brain looks as though it is “squished” into the head, with wrinkles and such. Is the reason it is like that as opposed to smoothed out due to the fact that it can then hold more memory? – Mike …
The world is full of pointy things and sad situations. It is also a wonderful place. I was first exposed to that lesson as a toddler. It happened after my yellow balloon escaped while I was playing in the back yard. …
Q: What happens when a person gets a little “crush” on their shrink? – Michelle …
I Have A Crush On My Therapist. What Should I Do?Read More »
Q: In light of your previous intellectual truck-bombings of such junk-psych as the “conservative crybaby” study, I was interested in getting your opinion on a new study put out by NYU and UCLA’s psych departments claiming that the brains of left-wingers are more “tolerant of ambiguity and conflict” than those of right-wingers, based on a simple letter-recognition test. …
Dial M for Misinterpretation: Psychology’s Latest Attack on ConservativesRead More »
As tempting as it is to believe that most mental health workers are wacky and maladjusted, the data tell a different story. For the most part, we seem to be fairly sane. Our downfall, in my sometimes overbearing opinion, is that we have a tendency toward muddled thinking. Our logic chips are frequently on the fritz, and it is our patients who pay the price in time, money, and heartache. …
How To Tell If Your Therapist Is Crazy (Part Two)Read More »
