Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reportedly affects approximately 7.7 million American adults, with members of the military as one of the high-risk groups. After experiencing severe trauma or life-threatening events, the mind and body will either go into mobilization mode (fight-or-flight) or immobilization. When the nervous system is unable to return to its normal state of… Read more »
Recently, my Human Development class arrived at the logical conclusion of the lifespan: death. Fitting that it comes last and we get to contemplate the finality of existence just before taking the final exam and parting ways forever. I don’t teach any higher-level courses at this school and so our association is ended here. It… Read more »
Agency power withdrawal. Americans are increasingly enraptured with the right to die movement. Kevorkian did his time for assisting suicides, and we overwhelmingly think his actions were righteous. More recently, a brain cancer patient elected suicide after her wedding. That term, no fewer than a dozen of my students did tearful presentations on her case…. Read more »
Welcome to the Existential Roundup, where we bring you links to some articles currently trending that may be of interest to those in the existential-humanistic psychology community. This week we will examine the dynamics of social unrest, the factors that contribute to it, and the solutions some governments use that may help or hinder the… Read more »
A friend of mine recently started taking horseback riding lessons. I love watching her ride and seeing the unadulterated joy radiate from her when she is in the saddle. I recognize that feeling of exhilaration and freedom that comes from being atop a 1,000-pound animal, and the sense of wonder that they allow us to… Read more »
The first World Congress on Existential Psychology is coming up, in London, England. The editor oft New Existentialists, a certain Sarah Kass, has made sure our blog and our writers are represented there. Our topic of conversation: existentialism, writing, and activism. I feel out of place helping to represent the cause or representing causes. All… Read more »
Muzafer Sherif in the 1950s and again in the1960s demonstrated that contact is the cure for bigotry. He introduced artificial bigotry between two groups of boys by segregating them and having them compete against one another; he then erased the bigotry by having them work together to solve a common problem. The United States has… Read more »
Welcome to the Existential Roundup, where we bring you links to some articles currently trending that may be of interest to those in the existential-humanistic psychology community. Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head in Europe again, and it is reaching levels that parallel to 1930’s Europe. The reasons may be less obvious than one thinks…. Read more »
“Likewise, I have always insisted on justice for all the world over, because justice is indivisible.” –King, 1998 This quote is part of a piece on the Vietnam War. It’s a difficult piece. King has trouble reconciling opposition to the war with the civil rights movement. For me, it’s perfectly clear. Pacifism seems a natural… Read more »
To the woman in line at the check out this morning: It was sweet of you to strike up a conversation with me this morning as we waited in line. I saw the surprise on your face when I started to speak. Your eyebrows furrowed and your forehead crinkled while you tilted your head to… Read more »
