For the deniers and doubters among us, I offer you three simple, brief points on climate change that may warrant your consideration. For those already convinced, these three points may be helpful to you in future debates… 1. Climate change science IS good science. What makes good science? The ability to make reliable predictions, for …
Three Key Points on Climate Change (for the Denier in Your Life) Read More »
It is hardly necessary to look for evidence that serious change is needed in the world. Indeed, the idea that we are overdue for a revolution is far from novel. The need for large scale change is substantiated by a variety of global developments, from rising nationalism and xenophobia to unabated environmental destruction. And none …
An alternative title for this post went something like this: “Coping with Climate Change: What to Do When the World Begins to Burn.” That sounds pretty ominous, I know, and while I struggle to be a realist about our current circumstances, it is not my goal to inspire fear or despair. I do not believe …
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 »
In the movie Back to the Future,a pivotal moment surrounds Marty McFly’s ability to cement his parents’ romance—in the past. His entire existence, his future, hinges on this. See, George McFly and Lorraine Baine had originally fallen in love at the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea’ Dance on November 12, 1955. This is where they had their …
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 tolerance? What does it mean to be tolerant? And what exactly is it that should be tolerated in the first place? On its surface, the notion of tolerance may seem fairly simplistic and straightforward. But one need only peruse the comment section of any news story about human rights (either related progresses or …
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 …
The future is not as I imagined it would be when I was a child. In the seventh grade I submitted a science report entitled Will the Earth Ever End? I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty fascinated with apocalyptic scenarios since I was quite young. My report included everything from environmental collapse to a large-scale alien …
