Our Empathic Nature

The Altruistic Side of Evolutionary Psychology

by Lynn E. O'Connor

Forgiveness: When and Why do We Forgive

In a recent dissertation, Kirsten Acker found that we’re willing to forgive those who harm us when they feel guilt and regret. Read More

Soldiers, Jocks, and Victims of Domestic Violence: Brain Damage Comes to Our Attention

A few days ago a Scientific American blog post directed our attention to yet more information about the kind of debilitating brain trauma /brain damage that a single blast from a bomb can inflict upon our soldiers in active duty. Read More

PTSD: the Latest, Hottest, Maybe Most Controversial Diagnosis

In a recent Scientific American Mind article, Scott Lilienfeld provided a rundown on the currently controversial diagnosis, “post traumatic stress disorder. The literal flood of PTSD diagnoses now being used for people whose therapists believe suffered from “childhood trauma” is suspect. Read More

Wolves, Dogs and People: Is It Time to Reassess Our Beliefs About Attachment?

An important difference between dogs and wolves in how they relate to humans has been demonstrated to be the result of genetics rather than life experience. Read More

Marijuana Addiction Today

Marijuana addiction is subtle, deceptive and often hidden, even to the user, while its effects pervade every corner of the user's life. Read More

What if We're Wrong About the "Cause" of Mental Illness?

What if serious mental illness is entirely unrelated to lousy parents?? Read More

The Media War on Anti-Depressants

The media, supported by science-savvy psychologists and other non-medical mental health providers, seems to be on a rampage against anti-depressant medications. Inflammatory press, well-promoted TV interviews (like the recent CBS 60 Minutes News, with Irving Kirsch) may be convincing to those predisposed to dislike and even stigmatize psychiatric medication. Read More

Brains Wired for Addiction (No Kidding) and What This Says About "Harm Reduction"

Addiction is the news again, a good thing because large numbers of people are drug/alcohol addicted --alcohol is a drug in case anyone has been lulled into thinking it's "different." So when I use the word "drug," know I am also referring to alcohol. Read More

Why Ritalin is Wrong (Or... IS Ritalin Wrong?)

I recently read an article in The New York Times by L. Alan Sroufe, suggesting that ADHD/ADD (attention deficit and attention hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit disorder) may not really exist, that it is over diagnosed and that medications are not effective over time. I found it disturbing, potentially harmful, and counter to clinical experience. Read More

Contemplative Science and Practice: "How to Do Research You Love"

In early January I presented a lecture on "Contemplative Science and Practice: How to Do Research You Love." A few days later, an opinion piece appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Owen Flanagan, essentially trashing what he called "Hocus-Pocus Buddhism." Read More

Lynn E. O’Connor, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, Professor at the Wright Institute, Berkeley CA, and Director of the Emotion, Personality, and Altruism Research Group

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