“The present time has one advantage over every other—it is our own.” (Charles Caleb Colton) I keep hearing people say that there’s a lesson in all of this; that we have something to learn from this pandemic. Some say it will remind us of what really matters in life, while others believe it will forever …
What’s in a like? Not much, really—another toggle from 0 and 1; an electronic stamp of approval, existing nowhere real and barely contemplated. It is reactionary. Visible, yes, but hardly tangible. Constructed. Created. Imaginary. But it feels good. And sometimes it even matters. This week, in my Psych Café series at UBC (in which my …
Narcissism, egotism, aggression, dishonesty, far-right extremism, and white nationalism (all of which have been collectively referred to as “Trumpism”) are on the rise around the world, influencing average citizens and political leaders alike—and significantly compromising the common good. This is how to stop it… What follows is a slightly revised, late-night train of thought on …
Disabling Trumpism: Target the Followers, Not the Leader Read More »
Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, deforestation, ecological collapse—should our time on Earth end early, these are just a few of the ways in which catastrophe will unfold, given current trends. But these things are not our real killers… From a psychological perspective, it would be wise to consider the human qualities underlying the environmental changes …
The World Will End in Apathy & Entitlement (Or, Our Killer is Narcissism) Read More »
What is it going to take to make this work? This is a question that I often ask in the final lecture of personality psychology, a class that is both advanced degree fulfillment and crash course in human nature. The question is a reflection on just that—our nature. But it it is an increasingly difficult …
