New Books in Psychology

Alessandra Seggi, a Fulbright grantee and sociology educator, dives deep into how youth and suicide are depicted in American cinema. She critiques these portrayals, revealing them as often simplistic and unbalanced. The conversation underscores the importance of media literacy for young audiences, empowering them to navigate sensitive topics depicted in films. Seggi emphasizes the interplay between cultural narratives and societal attitudes toward mental health, making a compelling case for critical engagement with cinematic representations.

Camilla Nord, a pioneering neuroscientist specializing in mental health, shares insights from her new book, detailing how our brains seek balance amidst life's challenges. She discusses the neurobiology behind emotional states, emphasizing the roles of dopamine and serotonin. Nord highlights the surprising efficacy of simple pleasures like chocolate and friendship, showing they can activate the same brain pathways as advanced treatments. Furthermore, she navigates the complex relationship between mental and metabolic health, advocating for tailored approaches in mental well-being.

Joy Knoblauch, an expert at the crossroads of psychology and institutional design, discusses the powerful influence of architectural choices on human behavior in postwar America. She explores how federal initiatives sought to use design as a tool for social betterment, often with complex intentions. Knoblauch critiques the darker aspects of behavioral psychology in prisons and the evolving roles of architects as researchers and reformers. The conversation reveals how past strategies impact modern institutional designs amidst contemporary challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neil Van Leeuwen, a scholar specializing in the intersection of psychology and religion, delves into the nuanced distinctions between religious beliefs and ordinary factual beliefs. He introduces the concept of a 'two-map cognitive structure' that combines factual reality with imaginative realms, shaping group identity and social interactions. Van Leeuwen explains how even improbable beliefs play a vital role in fostering community cohesion. The discussion also touches on the psychological dynamics of faith, doubt, and the meaningful role of petitionary prayer within groups.

Corinne Masur, an award-winning childhood grief expert, shares her insights on helping children cope with loss. She reflects on her own experience losing her father, highlighting how children process grief differently from adults. Masur discusses the importance of including children in mourning and offers clinically informed advice for caregivers. She emphasizes the need for emotional support, understanding developmental stages of grief, and acknowledges the often overlooked emotional challenges faced by grieving siblings.

Vic Sedlak, an expert in psychoanalysis and emotional development, discusses the nuanced emotional challenges faced by clinicians. He explores the tension between the superego and ego ideals, revealing how this dichotomy impacts therapists' self-criticism and aspirations. Sedlak highlights the significance of recognizing blind spots and failures in therapy, advocating for self-awareness and supervision as keys to growth. He also delves into the delicate balance between honesty and compassion, emphasizing the necessity of addressing darker emotions for effective therapeutic relationships.

Mariana Craciun, a sociologist and author, explores how American psychiatrists learn psychotherapy amidst the challenges of bridging medical expertise with understanding the mind. She discusses the skepticism novice psychiatrists face, contrasting pharmacological approaches with psychotherapeutic techniques. Craciun highlights the evolution of training practices, the power dynamics in medical settings, and the vital role of skepticism in fostering inquiry and competence. Listeners gain insights into the shifting landscape of psychiatry and the complexities of integrating diverse therapeutic methods.

Alison Fragale, a behavioral scientist and psychologist, offers crucial insights for women navigating the workplace. She discusses the importance of balancing warmth and assertiveness to become a 'likeable badass.' Key topics include strategies for self-promotion, overcoming biases, and building networks. Fragale elaborates on the unique challenges faced by Black women in asserting their accomplishments. She emphasizes the power of reciprocity and mentorship in achieving professional success, blending rigorous research with relatable stories.

Jess Whatcott, an author examining disability, queer history, and eugenics, discusses the historical and contemporary implications of carceral eugenics. They explore California's chilling past of state-sponsored sterilization in women's prisons and offer insights into the 'defective class' and its societal impact. Whatcott reveals marginalized voices of resistance against institutional eugenics, critiques labor exploitation in these settings, and emphasizes the urgent need for reform in care systems. This conversation sheds light on the continuing relevance of these issues.

Why is that when a loved one dies, grief seems inescapable--and then diminishes? The brilliant Edinburgh philosopher Berislav Marusic's "Do Reasons Expire? An Essay on Grief" begins with his grief for the unexpected and early loss of his mother: "I stopped grieving or at least the grief diminished, yet the reason didn't really change. It's not like that my mother stopped mattering to me or that I stopped loving her, but still this change in grief somehow seemed reasonable." What are philosophers and the rest of us to make of this durable insight?John is lucky to be joined in this discussion of Beri's thoughts on grief by by his new Brandeis philosophy colleague, Katie Elliott. She is not afraid to complicate things further, proposing to Beri that we distinguish between the immediate affective intensity of the initial loss and persistent negative emotions towards the fact of the loss, even when that initial affective heat of loss has faded. Beri reponds that emotions are "thinking with feeling" and we maybe want to be skeptical about splitting the two.Beri sees two aspects of grief: "On the one hand, the vision of loss that is constituted by grief and on the other hand, a vision of grief from a empirical or as some philosophers, like to say, a creature construction perspective." It is wrong to make a pragmatist case for the sheerly functional advantages of getting over grief, and also a mistake to see (like Sigmund Freud) grief as a kind of work, a task, to detach oneself from the mourned object.John asks what it means that he personalizes his sensation of grief, focussing not on the lost beloved, but on the way the beloved, or the lost beloved, remains present to him, a loss felt inside himself. Beri invokes Iris Murdoch's warning against the "fat relentless ego" (The Sovereignty of Good, 1970, p 50) intruding itself--when what really should be at stake is the lost object of one's grief. Beri closes by suggesting that grief doesn't happen to us in the way digestion happens (purely involuntary). Sure, grief is not strictly controllable, and yet because it is reasons responsive rather than simply somatic, it is me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology