Over the long holiday weekend, we drove cross-country to Colorado where we re-locate for the summer. Although the drive can be grueling (about 26 hours over two days) and it sometimes seems as if Kansas will never come to an end, I enjoy certain aspects of this annual trip. In particular, I relish the wealth… Continue reading Maternal vs Paternal Function: Is There a Difference?
Category: Social Behavior
Self-Pity
“Being a victim is more palatable than having to recognize the intrinsic contradictions of one’s own governing philosophy.†— Tom Clancy, The Hunt for Red October “Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.†— John Gardner “He did not know… Continue reading Self-Pity
How Feelings of Helplessness May Give Rise to Destructive Violence
Reading about Adam Lanza, the Newtown shooter, in today’s New York Times brought to mind Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass murderer who set off bombs and murdered at least 76 people back in 2011. These two men have several features in common, including social isolation, a fascination with Call of Duty (a war-oriented video… Continue reading How Feelings of Helplessness May Give Rise to Destructive Violence
Heroes, Role Models and Idols
Now that I’ve gone through all the responses to my last post and done a little more reading on the subject, I feel clearer about heroes and what we expect of them. While a number of people made idiosyncratic or very personal choices, the majority named men and women who tended (1) to have overcome… Continue reading Heroes, Role Models and Idols
Who Are Your Heroes and Why?
As I work on the final section of my eBook about Greg Mortenson and Lance Armstrong (“The Hero as Narcissist”), I’ve been thinking about why the public so ready to believe the stories they invented about themselves — that is, why we need heroes/heroines to admire. In my research, I came across an interesting quote.… Continue reading Who Are Your Heroes and Why?