by jmalouff | Feb 5, 2023 | Bereavement and Grief, Coping, Emotions, Psychotherapy
I am reading the autobiography of Billy Connolly. As a boy Billy was sexually abused for years by his father. Decades later, as his father lay dying from a stoke, Billy finally told his wife about the abuse. He broke down in tears and did not go in the hospital to see...
by jmalouff | Jan 18, 2023 | Human Thinking and Behavior, Language, Motivation, Well-Being
Some experts and ordinary folks want men to show vulnerability, but most men are not inclined in that direction. To me and to most men, vulnerability means being weak in case of attack. That is the traditional meaning of the word. Those who want men to show...
by jmalouff | Jan 12, 2023 | Human Thinking and Behavior, Positive psychology
I am re-reading “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is widely considered one of the best essays ever written. I saw in the essay this famous expression: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Emerson argues that...
by jmalouff | Dec 14, 2022 | Positive psychology, Well-Being
Psychedelic drugs are the subject of much talk and research now because there is evidence that for some people they can have positive effects on mental health. These are drugs that alter one’s consciousness from its usual state. Drugs that can do this...
by jmalouff | Nov 21, 2022 | Child Psychology, Mental health problems, Religion, Sexual assault, Social Support
I recently learned that a professional for whom I once worked in the U.S. had a tragic experience as a child. He was molested by the local priest. The boy told his Catholic parents, who responded by telling him to keep quiet. I would guess the priest went on to molest...