The Media Zone

Stuart Fischoff pioneered Media Psychology. He was a TV talk-show shrink—until it got too rowdy even for him. He knew all the words to Sondheim. And now he's gone.

Media

Stubborn, defiant Attitudes in Tornado Alley

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on May 22, 2013

I was angry for the children of Moore—alive, dead or missing—who were without choices. Would the children choose to rebuild in Tornado Alley?

I was angry for the children of Moore—alive, dead or missing—who were without choices. Would the children choose to rebuild in Tornado Alley?

Marriage

The Battle for Same-Sex Marriage: It's Almost Over

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on April 30, 2013

In the end, it’s brains and hearts that are the vital organs in successful gay or lesbian marriages, not penises and vaginas — just like in heterosexual marriages.

In the end, it’s brains and hearts that are the vital organs in successful gay or lesbian marriages, not penises and vaginas — just like in heterosexual marriages.

Media

Boston Marathon--great surveillance too much surveillance?

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on April 19, 2013

We all want to help reduce crime and terrorism. But there is danger in forgetting that a policed state bursting with surveillance technology, despite the best intentions, is a menace itself.

We all want to help reduce crime and terrorism. But there is danger in forgetting that a policed state bursting with surveillance technology, despite the best intentions, is a menace itself.

Are these mass-produced, nascent female archetypes catering to or actually creating a taste in men for "machisma," for weaponized female bodies, for eroticized G.I. Janes?

Sport and Competition

In Praise of Older Women

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on March 2, 2013

“Nailed it!” I yelled as I exhaled and flopped back in my chair. My wife and I applauded wildly as we eyed Bassey smiling at the roaring crowd. As they say in sports, she left it all on the field.

“Nailed it!” I yelled as I exhaled and flopped back in my chair. My wife and I applauded wildly as we eyed Bassey smiling at the roaring crowd. As they say in sports, she left it all on the field.

As futurist and author Aldous Huxley prophesied, we are becoming a people enslaved, not by what we fear, but by what we love—this cornucopia of media conveniences, digital gadgets, and appliances. I am what I buy.

Marriage

How A Laundry Detergent Commercial Saved the World

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on February 2, 2013

Is there something in the cultural zeitgeist that birthed these Tide commercials? Legalized gay marriage, gay adoptions, jump in house husbands, or is it women as primary or equal wage earners in nuclear families?

Is there something in the cultural zeitgeist that birthed these Tide commercials? Legalized gay marriage, gay adoptions, jump in house husbands, or is it women as primary or equal wage earners in nuclear families?

Sexual Orientation

Jodie Foster: To Come Out Lesbian Or Let Sleeping Rumors Lie

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on January 23, 2013

The Gay Stigma: A major reason film and television actors publicly deny, hide, or are evasive about their homosexuality is that coming out can and often does seriously hurt their careers. Should an actor come out if they don't have to, just to "take one for the movement"?

The Gay Stigma: A major reason film and television actors publicly deny, hide, or are evasive about their homosexuality is that coming out can and often does seriously hurt their careers. Should an actor come out if they don't have to, just to "take one for the movement"?

Media

Snapshots of Smartphones and Clueless People

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on January 6, 2013

in Rome I saw young Romans riding Vespas in the horrific traffic, steering with one hand and speed dialing with the other.Worse, one death-wisher steered with one hand, held his phone on his thigh while he texted.

in Rome I saw young Romans riding Vespas in the horrific traffic, steering with one hand and speed dialing with the other.Worse, one death-wisher steered with one hand, held his phone on his thigh while he texted.

Law and Crime

Why No Photos of the Slaughtered Newtown Children?

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on December 20, 2012

“A picture is worth a thousand words and rouses passions that are necessary to do politically what has to be done—like get angry and direct that anger into sustained political action.”

“A picture is worth a thousand words and rouses passions that are necessary to do politically what has to be done—like get angry and direct that anger into sustained political action.”

Relationships

Our Love-Hate Relationship With Scary Movies

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on November 22, 2012

In "Psycho," the tension-building elements are so craftily engineered that the suspense is literally unbearable — but exquisitely so.

In "Psycho," the tension-building elements are so craftily engineered that the suspense is literally unbearable — but exquisitely so.

Assertiveness

High Noon: Biden vs. Ryan vs. Raddatz

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on October 15, 2012

For a few seconds Biden and Ryan look like two actors auditioning for the VP role of in the latest Aaron Sorkin political drama; or maybe two high school kids called into the principal’s office, trying not to look nervous (well, maybe one kid and his father).

For a few seconds Biden and Ryan look like two actors auditioning for the VP role of in the latest Aaron Sorkin political drama; or maybe two high school kids called into the principal’s office, trying not to look nervous (well, maybe one kid and his father).

Fear

Obama, Romney, and Lehrer, Oy Vey!

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on October 6, 2012

Obama looked distracted and at times like his train of thought jumped the track. Jim Lehrer lost control from the get-go. The debates need a new Sheriff.

Obama looked distracted and at times like his train of thought jumped the track. Jim Lehrer lost control from the get-go. The debates need a new Sheriff.

Media

A Bad Hollywood Video, the Middle-East Protests and the L.A Riots of '92

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on September 13, 2012

Is YouTube the new platform for terrorism?

Is YouTube the new platform for terrorism?

Media

Did Clint Eastwood “Trojan Horse” Romney’s Campaign?

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on September 3, 2012

What the hell were Eastwood’s betrayals, his SINS, that he warranted the bilious “truthiness” of a Michael Moore hatchet job?

What the hell were Eastwood’s betrayals, his SINS, that he warranted the bilious “truthiness” of a Michael Moore hatchet job?

Friends

The Man Who Killed Batman

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on July 29, 2012

Mass murders are never truly senseless, are they? Gunmen on murder missions, mad or angry, have reasons, reasons that most victims will never know.

Mass murders are never truly senseless, are they? Gunmen on murder missions, mad or angry, have reasons, reasons that most victims will never know.

Optimism

HBO's "The Newsroom": Sorkin Talks Truth To Stupid

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on July 13, 2012

Something else is distinctive about Aaron Sorkin's writing: the political right and left usually make intelligent arguments for their positions. In Sorkin's menagerie of opinionators, few are easy marks or straw men like Hannity or Glenn Beck.

Something else is distinctive about Aaron Sorkin's writing: the political right and left usually make intelligent arguments for their positions. In Sorkin's menagerie of opinionators, few are easy marks or straw men like Hannity or Glenn Beck.

Dorothy Sandusky's mind and senses closed to all suspicions and suggestive evidence about the “real” Jerry Sandusky while she stayed married to the fiction.

Education

When the Going Gets Tough, Liberals Cross Borders

Stuart Fischoff Ph.D. on June 9, 2012

Those on the right never leave. They stay and fight the liberals, the Socialists, the Progressives, the Obamas. They obstruct, they subvert, they start think tanks and make long range plans to take back the government,

Those on the right never leave. They stay and fight the liberals, the Socialists, the Progressives, the Obamas. They obstruct, they subvert, they start think tanks and make long range plans to take back the government,