Category Archives: Political Psychology

What’s Fair? Two Views of Government

Democrats and Republicans tend to see each other through the prisms of rigid negative beliefs. Could a more mutually respectful perspective enable us all to get along better?

What Domestic Batterers Can Teach Us About Terrorism

Families with skills for healthy parenting and cooperative partnering raise people who value cooperation. Cultures that allow violence at home produce terrorists. What can we do?

What Is Mental Illness? Does Trump Have One?

When the term "mentally ill" is used to describe President Trump, is the term being used appropriately?

The Creation of Hatred

The phenomenon of parental alienation offers clues to understanding the rising tide of hatred currently flooding our country.

The Kidnapped Girls in Nigeria, Modern Slavery, and You

Was Sochhi built with forced labor? Is sex trafficking real? Are you a slave?

The Problem With Over-Emotional Political Rhetoric

Do you, or people you know, get too passionate when it comes to politics? If so, this experience is likely to sound familiar.

Parental Alienation and Iran: Similar Pathology?

Recognition of false narratives and projection can help protect you from people who genuinely do want to harm you.

Protests: Potent or Impotent?

"You have to fight to feel good." In my twenties, when I was living in New York with a group of post-college friends, Bob was a tall handsome young man in our cadre who took this slogan about protests as his raison d'etre. But is it true? When are protests and fights good for you?

Our COVID-19 Pandemic Strategy-Makers May Need a CBT Upgrade

Faulty thinking by decision-makers may be preventing better results in fighting the pandemic.

Pakistan Could Use a Therapeutic Intervention

A Pakistani scholar of international relations has proposed a strategy for helping her country shift from a culture of violence to a culture of collaborative dialogue and cooperative conflict resolution. The program she proposes is remarkably similar to the work I do as a therapist with couples in conflict.