Alcoholism is a disorder that impacts the lives of millions of people in the United States and throughout the rest of the world. Regrettably, while much focus is placed upon the alcoholic, and the recovery of the alcoholic, there remains some collateral damage: the children and families affected by the alcoholic’s behavior. In her classic […]
The Autumnal Equinox is Here: Finding Balance in Nature and in Your Life
This year, the autumnal equinox is occurring on Monday, September 23. Traditionally, this has been a time of balance and reflection. Astronomically, what’s really going on is that the day and night will be approximately the same length. After the above date, the night gradually takes over until the darkest night of the year – […]
Humans Are Natural Storytellers: How Our Brains are Wired for Story
More than 2,000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle laid down the basic framework for virtually every story told. That framework is basic, recognizable, and enduring: beginning, middle, and end. Sure, some stories have more than one plotline. Some stories, in fact, may also have ambiguous endings, complex characters, and exotic locations. But Aristotle’s beginning-middle-end […]
The Benefits of Meditation
Whether at home, in the workplace, or just going about our daily business, stress can pop up anywhere. In fact, it’s been routinely pointed out that there maybe a “stress epidemic” in the United States. Fortunately, however, there are time-tested tools to help abate the tide of stress, and one of those tools is meditation. […]
When Will Computers Become Like a Human Brain? A Look at the Current State of A.I.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about computer development, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. And as computer technology develops ever more complex, individuals have begun to fall into two different camps: Those who worry about advancing A.I., and those who welcome it. In the first group are people like Ray Kurzweil, who […]
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. That said it remains important that, as individuals, we learn more about immunizations and the ones that we may need over the coming months. Typically – and this is a generality – as flu season kicks off around September, it is important to get the flu vaccine. Worldwide vaccinations […]
A Brief Tour of Your Memory: What is It, How it Works, and Why It Makes You Who You Are
The human brain is quite a thing. Some have described it as the most complicate piece of biology in the universe (that we know of so far). That said, one of things that sets the human brain apart is its capacity to store and recall information. In other words, it’s our ability to remember things […]
An Overactive Imagination? A Look at Fantasy Proneness
Since at least the 1980s, research psychologists have recognized a concepted—“fantasy proneness’’—which is a trait where individuals tend to get lost within their own imaginations, to put it simply. More interestingly, however, fantasy proneness has been looked at from many different angles including from psychological, media, and even legal perspectives. A few decades ago, “investigators […]
The Psychology of Conspiracies: What Does Science Have to Say? 50 Years After Apollo, Conspiracy Theories Flourish Online about the ‘Fake’ Moon Landings
Last week, the United State celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landings, which first took place in 1969. Although this remains a seminal and historic event in the United States, a quick Google search reveals a popular conspiracy theory: That the 1969 moon landings were a hoax. The Apollo-era moon landings in particular […]
Treatment Options and Treatment Barriers for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States. According to a recent study published in the journal Psychological Services, “Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent category of mental health disorders and impact nearly 30% of adults in the United States over the course of their lifetime.” […]