“Nothing can stop a man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

Thomas Jefferson

Why This Blog?

I am writing this is a self-help blog to help you feel more in control of your life and interactions.  Social science findings are applicable to everyday life. Pop psychology has made us think psychology is mainstream, but I believe you need to understand the why’s too. The blogs were inspired by Sigmund Frued’s The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901). His introductory lectures from his first tour of the United States, tried to show how psychiatry was relevant to everyday life.

I based these blogs on scientific research. “Why do we call scientific study research instead of search?” It is because we generally don’t need to search for something new. We need to research it further to understand more about something and how to apply it. Social science has often addressed dilemmas we face today. We just need to look again with the benefit of more in-depth knowledge about the problem.

Content

The initial blogs are about how we learn prejudice and its cousin, stereotyping, but as you will see, the posts apply to many other issues. Later blogs will address ways to influence change in yourself and others. On the broadest level, it is about learning traits of wisdom. This means not being hateful, wanting to be helpful (not self-centered), being pragmatic, staying calm under pressure, having an accurate self-view, valuing relevance and tolerance, and dealing with uncertainty. Living these traits is actually primary prevention (an intervention before health effects occurs). Wise people seem to be hardier and more resilient because they understand what they can control, take preventive actions, accept when they are wrong or don’t know, are flexible, don’t give up easily, have more meaningful social relations, and are more content with life.

I welcome your comments and questions.  I especially hope you will let me know your experiences with the tools I will be describing or your problems using them.  These will be posted in Comments.