Death Love Sex Magic

The recent killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black male teen, in Florida has reignited discussions regarding the problem of racism in modern America. Though all the facts of the incident are not yet clear, a few are. Read More

Normally, I use this blog to discuss psychological research on topics related to our social and cultural lives. However, today I am using this outlet to focus on something more personal. As most people likely know, the city of Joplin, Missouri recently experienced one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history. Read More

Recently, an uprising in Tunisia started with a man self-immolating (dying by setting oneself on fire). This particular form of protest is not new, nor is the broader idea of self-sacrificing for an ideological or social cause (e.g., the Japanese kamikaze, suicide bombers, fasting). However, it is perplexing considering that humans, like all forms of life, strive for self-preservation. Read More

When questioned about the backlash that may result from the planned Quran burning, the Rev Terry Jones pointed out that he was only burning a book. He was not killing anyone. This was a curious response. If burning a book was not that big of a deal, then it would not have been much of a stand against Islam, and thus not really worth doing. I suspect Rev Jones understands the power of symbols. Read More

We have all seen the news stories about the deleterious effects of playing violent video games. And every time a new M for mature title is released (e.g., Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty), the same old story is recycled. Read More

When asked if they have any regrets in life, people on their death beds rarely say they wished they would have spent more hours at work, made more money, or bought a more expensive house or car. What they often say is that they wish they would have spent more time with family or friends. Read More

On Thanksgiving, many people have the tradition of sitting around the dinner table and taking a few minutes to reflect on and share with others what they are thankful for. As a psychologist, I was curious, is this just a nice tradition or is there some social or personal benefit to this type of exercise? Of course it is a nice tradition. Read More

Like other animals, humans strive for survival. However, we are unique in our ability to fully contemplate our mortality. And, as I have noted in previous posts, this awareness has interesting, ironic, and sometimes dangerous implications. Read More

Despite the fact that Nietzsche declared the death of God over 100 years ago and scientific research and discovery increasingly decrease the need for theological explanations of natural phenomena, religious faith is still thriving in many parts of the world. Why? One explanation offered by some is that religion is good for our physical and psychological health. Is this true? It may be. Read More

Think about the guy who loves to tell the story of when he scored the final touchdown in that championship game even though it was 15 years ago. Everyone knows this guy. Or think about the person that keeps the XM Radio dial firmly on the Sounds of the 90s station. Is that person you? Still diggin' that Nirvana? Or try contemporary fashions. Read More