by jmalouff | Apr 23, 2011 | Uncategorized
I just finished reading Moby Dick, a great tale written in a wordy but interesting style. The story raises important psychological issues relating to the desire for revenge, for adventure, and for belonging. I am especially interested in the issue of conflict between...
by jmalouff | Mar 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
Video games attract millions of players and billions of dollars of revenue. What makes them so alluring? Here are some thoughts: They use reinforcement and shaping. Having your character meet some challenge tends to be reinforcing by itself because of our strong...
by jmalouff | Mar 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
Self-compassion is in the news thanks to a forthcoming book on the subject by Kristin Neff: “Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind.” Self-compassion involves being kind to yourself, even if you make mistakes. Individuals with...
by jmalouff | Feb 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
When I was a boy, my older brothers called me Babe. The names they and their high school pals had for each other and their pals were more negative — these included Lard and The Nose. When I reached high school a friend started calling me Snowgoose (for no...
by jmalouff | Feb 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
My recent posting on using mistakes as learning opportunities is consistent with positive thinking. Some individuals habitually look on the bright side of events. I am usually in that category. Other individuals tend to look on the dark side, often with the result of...