Dr. Gary Bell's Absurd Psychology

Psychology has largely focused on the various things that can go wrong with the human mind, including different forms of mental illness and how we react to traumatic events in the world. While positive psychology tries to remedy that by focusing on topics such as happiness and self-fulfillment, the countless research studies exploring what it means to live more fully tend not to be known outside the academic community. Even though the popular media is now bursting with stories and articles describing how to diet effectively, have a better sex life, develop washboard abs, have a successful marriage, etc., they also seem to perpetuate various myths about happiness and how it can be attained.  As an alternative to the various quick fixes promised by media sources worldwide, Dozois instead breaks down his advice on living more fully into the following life lessons: Engage in happiness-relevant activities. Tune in and learn how to find great satisfaction in your life!

Many of the people I work with tell me they feel restless, knowing there is “something more” to do with their careers and their lives. They also feel a little sad and maybe resentful. Is this you? As you look back on this year, do you feel grateful for what has occurred or relief that it is finally over?Actually, you can feel unfulfilled when life is good and when it isn’t. You can be busy and successful but sense emptiness inside. Or you can be on the other end where you feel nothing is how you wished it could be and that others are at a better place than you. The restlessness, shallowness, sadness, and resentment can’t be blamed on your boss, friends or family. You feel these emotions because your choices have left you disconnected with yourself. Making life choices based on what eases your fears instead of what fulfills you is an act of self-denial. You miss your passionate, joyful, grateful self. Tune in and learn how to undo the Restless Soul Syndrome!

Unemployment has especially hurt older workers in this recession. Workers 55 years old and older are more likely to be unemployed and spend longer looking for a new job than is the case for younger workers. They also often experience discrimination. This exacerbates the mental stresses associated with unemployment, adding to other health worries in the pandemic and further eroding older workers’ financial security. Unemployment has been more widespread among the oldest workers than among somewhat younger ones throughout much of the recession. From July to November 2020, the unemployment rate for workers 65 years old and older averaged 7.1%, compared to 6.7% for workers 55 to 64 years old and 6.3% for workers 45 to 54 years old. Typically, unemployment rates decline with age for mid-to-late career workers. This is the first recession where older workers experience higher unemployment rates than somewhat younger workers. Unemployment has always posed a unique challenge for older workers, but this problem is more widespread in this recession than in previous ones. Tune in and learn how to scratch your way back to relevance at old age!

Living without passion, positive expectations, or enthusiasm can become painful. But feeling hopeless doesn’t have to be permanent. We all have our own definitions of hope and hopelessness, but the emotions we experience are real and valid. Feeling hopeless may be a natural, universal response to personal and world events that impact our lives. It can also be a symptom of depression, adjustment disorders, and other mental health conditions. Tune in and and learn how to work our way out of hopelessness to joy!

Politics is something that has become inescapable in our social media focused society. We all know a person that uses a social media platform to start arguments with people they disagree with politically. Often spreading misinformation that will heavily sway other people’s beliefs as well. (Strandberg et al. 2018) This behavior has always been a part of our internet culture as social media allows people to reach a larger audience than ever before. (Nelson, 2018) However, this type of behavior has become increasingly common with the influence of a few factors. Due to our media’s representation of political turmoil and indifferences it has caused an increase in polarization over the recent years and the divide continues to grow. Tune in and learn the ins and outs of how people manipulate, especially politicians!

Gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food and drink, and it's something pretty much all of us are guilty of from time to time. We all love to eat, and we especially crave rich, calorie-packed foods. Knowing that we “shouldn’t” often makes little difference. How often has your willpowercollapsed at the sight of a scrumptious chocolate cake? Our drive to eat goes way beyond basic hunger. There is a drive within all of us to eat, eat, and eat some more. What’s worse is that this drive seems pretty well focused on foods that are horrible for us. When was the last time you had an intense, mouth-watering craving for brussels sprouts? At our most basic level, we are built to crave high-fat, high-sugar, and high-protein foods. Sure, many of us grow into an appetite for more healthy foods and learn to shun the empty calories of milkshakes and soda, but if you believe that is the result of anything other than conditioning and training, you are kidding yourself. Tune in and learn how to manage this relentless urge!

Don’t reduce Gen Z students to zombies on smartphones. Eighty-three percent prefer face-to-face communication versus texting, phone, or email, but many feel they’ve lacked adequate socialization or training for in-person conversation. They struggle with small talk, and hiding behind their phones is a crutch they turn to when they feel intimidated by the situation. Also, just because they’re comfortable with technology doesn’t necessarily make them tech savvy. Especially germane in this time of remote learning, Gen Z students don’t magically know how to use every new platform or application; they require instruction and support just like anyone else. Tune in and learn about the Gen Z generation and what their world will look like!

Sexual self-esteem influences almost every sexual decision you make, from who you engage with and when to whether you constrain yourself and how. However, very little is known about sexual self-esteem and who has more or less of it. This is particularly important because sexual self-esteem and sexual satisfaction are closely related. Several studies suggest that lower sexual self-esteem negatively impacts sexual satisfaction. Another study reported the results of an experiment to test the effects of low sexual self-esteem and showed that male participants’ sexual arousal was significantly and negatively affected by poor sexual self-esteem. Tune in and learn how dynamic the influence of our self-narratives have to do with our libido!

Just as psychology studies pretty much everything a human could ever partake in, it also studies religion. The science of psychology is an attempt to analyze every part of the human experience and behavior. The psychology of religion aims to uncover the impact of relationships in religion in order to predict behaviors. It is meant to connect religious consciousness with religious patterns and behaviors. While many psychologists have defined religion in their own ways throughout the years, it is safe to say that religion and spirituality are deeply engrained in psychology. Tune in and learn how religion and psychology can work together and pull apart!

Psychological warfare involves a mental or emotional type of battle, as opposed to practicing physical combat. Psychological warfare utilizes specific designs, including propaganda and menacing statements, that aim to adversely affect an enemy's rationale and actions. Several intended effects of psychological warfare may include the control, pressure, or weakening of the enemy, in both mind and body. Today our media uses psychological warfare to gaslight America. We live in a dishonest majority in our country with a dishonest media. The world is watching. Tune in and learn how, when and how to defend against this crisis of our world!