A long-standing idea persists: that in order to be exceptionally gifted in the arts, one must possess one or more mental health issues. This idea has been perpetuated in the popular media as well as in the lives of artists themselves. Vincent van Gogh, whose paintings are on everything from coffee mugs to posters, is […]
Many decades ago, two linguists, Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf, formulated a radical new idea for its time: the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, a controversial idea arguing that language can shape the way humans think. It had been an appealing proposal, especially during the mid-20th Century, when psychologists, philosophers, and the literati alike became obsessed with the […]
With the 2014 – 2015 school year coming to a close and with warmer days increasing, the last thing on people’s mind is the classroom. That said, however, it remains important to remember that we are all lifelong learners, whether in a traditional classroom or while sitting on the beach during summer break reading a […]
In recent decades, the popularity of psychology and psychotherapy has exploded: on television, in popular print magazines, online, and in movies. Often, the image of the psychologist, like many media creations, remains a popular fiction. Popular daytime television shows such as Dr. Phil in some ways aid in this misrepresentation of psychotherapy and the psychologist. […]
Described as the “common cold” of mental illness, depression affects millions of Americans each year. For instance, in 2005 – 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More than 1 out of 20 Americans 12 years of age or older reported current depression.” What’s more, as widely reported, once an individual […]
With two-thirds of the United States population either overweight or obese, much attention has been paid to dieting and weight loss in recent years. So-called “miracle” diets abound: low carb, high protein, Paleo, and low fat remain illustrative. In general, most diets promise a quick fix to America’s obesity epidemic, and most who attempt these […]
For more than two thousand years, psychologists and philosophers alike have been probing the question, “What does it mean to be moral?” It’s only been a few decades, however, that the former have been using advanced theoretical frameworks and clinical evidence to establish a more robust approach to this question. One noteworthy person whose ideas […]
Many professionals may ask: What makes an effective therapist? Although no one answer to this question may emerge, there are, as it happens, approaches to therapeutic practice that may enhance a professional’s effectiveness. How well a therapist relates to his or her clients, the school of thought the therapist adheres to, and the professional’s individual […]
Abraham Maslow remains a pivotal figure in contemporary psychology. Known for his “Hierarchy of Needs,” Maslow helped to distinguish himself and his ideas from the dominant trends in mid-twentieth century psychology: Freudian psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Tom Butler-Bowdon, a popular psychology writer, put it this way: “Maslow originated a ‘third force,’ humanistic psychology, which refused to […]
What does it mean to “live rationally”? This question has been around for a long time. Since the time of Plato and Aristotle more than 2,000 years ago, Western thinkers have championed rational thinking as a means to achieve a better life. But it wasn’t until a few decades ago, beginning in the 1960s, when […]