Dr. Gary Bell's Absurd Psychology

No matter what their reasons or how they approach the question, agnostics and atheists are fundamentally different, but also non-exclusive. Many people who adopt the label of agnostic simultaneously reject the label of atheist, even if it technically applies to them. In addition, there's a common misconception that agnosticism is somehow a more “reasonable” position while atheism is more “dogmatic,” ultimately indistinguishable from theism except in the details. This is not a valid argument because it misrepresents or misunderstands everything involved: atheism, theism, agnosticism, and even the nature of belief itself. Tune in and learn about how more about non-belief.

Political uncertainty can be challenging, regardless of your beliefs or where you might fall on the political spectrum. For many Americans, the transition of power and the rapid speed of change may cause stress and anxiety about the political environment and the future of our nation. APA’s Stress in America™ survey revealed that 69 percent of Americans say the future of our nation is a significant source of stress, and 62 percent say that they are stressed by the current political climate. Symptoms of stress can vary from person to person but often include a combination of emotional (worry, tension, irritability) and physical (headaches, insomnia, stomach problems) reactions. Tune in and learn how to cope with this divided world.

Pornography, often colloquially referred to as porn, is any sexually explicit material—written, visual, or otherwise—that is intended to sexually arouse. While pornography has existed in some form for millennia, today it’s most readily available online—though it continues to be widely available in literature, audio, magazines, and more. The increasing presence of the Internet in daily life has led to a rapid spread of porn: The world’s largest such site claims that in 2018, it had a daily average of 92 million unique viewers, the vast majority of them males.  What effect does the ubiquity of porn have on individuals and relationships? Is it a harmless pastime or a pernicious addiction? Is it a fun way to add spice to a couple's sex life, a relationship destroyer, or potentially both? Tine in for better insight as to how pornography effects our lives!

The ancient Greek philosophers were pretty much obsessed with the idea of a good life. Their whole way of life was organized around ideas about what makes a human life “good” or “noble” or “worthwhile.” While others pursued commerce, politics, or war, the philosophers tried to figure out why these things mattered. Each philosophical school had its own answers, but Aristotle’s was one of the most influential. His philosophy was successful in part because it showed the unity of all these pursuits: a merchant, a politician, and a soldier were all, Aristotle argued, doing more or less the same thing–chasing some kind of Eudaimonia.

We’re constantly taking in information about our social world, and this can involve judging people. These judgments can be super quick and automatic. Some research has even shown that we can form pretty accurate impressions of people in just a few seconds.Tune in for a deep dive on why we judge and how to stop.

Borderline personality disorder is a chronic condition that may include mood instability, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and high rates of self-injury and suicidal behavior. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and an individual's sense of identity.

The brains of children raised in violent families resemble the brains of soldiers exposed to combat, psychologists say. They're primed to perceive threat and anticipate pain, adaptations that may be helpful in abusive environments but produce long-term problems with stress and anxiety. Tune in and learn about the impact of abuse and how to heal!

When daylight hours start to decrease and it gets colder outside many people may find themselves experiencing symptoms resembling depression. For some the symptoms are relatively brief. Tempers may seem shorter for parents stuck inside with cranky or sick children and an increased sense of lethargy is not uncommon on a dreary winter day. For others, however, these symptoms can be quite disabling.

One of the biggest relationship challenges that people struggle with is emotional flooding. It’s something that happens to everyone sometimes, and if you don’t know how to respond to it, it can escalate conflict and create disconnection. Fortunately, many of the steps you can take to resolve it are pretty simple. Not necessarily easy, but simple. Think back on a time when you were surprised by bad news. Maybe your partner told you that they wanted to break up. Maybe you got fired from a job. Maybe you got word that a loved one was in the hospital. Try to recall how that felt. Did you feel a rush of adrenaline in your body? Did your face get warm? Did you hear a ringing in your ears? Or maybe your pulse quickened and your breath got shallow. On an emotional level, perhaps you felt waves of anxiety or panic or rage. In that moment, your body was saturated with adrenaline and emotion. That’s flooding.Tune in and learn how to close the dam!

Adversity is a fact of life. Resilience is that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back at least as strong as before. Rather than letting difficulties or failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes. Resilience is not some magical quality; it takes real mental work to transcend hardship. But even after misfortune, resilient people are able to change course and move toward achieving their goals. There's growing evidence that the the elements of resilience can be cultivated. Resilience is about getting through pain and disappointment without letting them crush your spirit. While it isn't always easy, research continues to uncover what resilient people do as they persist after missteps, accidents, and trauma. Tune in and learn how to take on resilience as a part of you!