Mind Matters Podcasts

Mind Matters #152 The case of Levi Aaron This is the unfortunate incident involving the abduction and ultimate murder of an 8 year old boy in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn NY in August of 2011. This case received a lot of media attention. Mind Matters discusses the misdiagnosis of the abductor and the importance of a correct diagnosis in order to determine fitness to stand trial. This is a fascinating case that, we believe,was poorly handled by the professionals involved.Tune in to receive greater insight about the importance of psychiatric diagnosis and some of the glaring errors that were made.

Mind Matters # 151 will answer the following questions: 1) What is the cause of anorexia and how dangerous is it really? 2) My daughter was diagnosed as mood disorder NOS---what does that mean? 3) I am 14. My parents listen to your show. Sometimes I do too so I thought maybe you could help me. I hate my 15 year old sister--she has more friends than me. she gets better grades than me and my parents like her better than me. What should I do? 4) I am a third grade teacher. One of my students is diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. What kind of disorder is that and what is the best way for me to help him?

Mind Matters # 150 answers the following questions 1) Why are so many people who are considered geniuses such eccentric people--and on the same topic is there really a connection between genius and madness? 2) I want to start off by saying that I am definitely heterosexual and I have enjoyed a number of one night stands but when I am in a relationship I have a much harder time being attracted and having sex with my girlfriend. Do other people have problems like this?

Mind Matters # 149 will answer the following questions: 1) I am a 30 year old adult male. When I was 7 I was diagnosed with ADHD and was put on ritalin.The doctor prescribing the medicine told my parents not to worry because most people grow out of it. I stopped taking the ritalin when I graduated high school but It feels to me that I still have a lot of the same problems I had as a kid. Why didn't I grow out of it like the doctor said I would? 2) I read somewhere that food allergies can cause ADHD. Is that true? 3) Is there a relationship between maturity level and ADHD? My 12 year old who had ADHD seems less mature than his peers.

Mind Matters # 148 answers the following questions: 1) What are some examples of delusions of grandeur and what causes this? 2) I am a third grade teacher. One of my students is diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. What kind of disorder is that and what is the best way for me to help him? 3) I have read about people who were well to do or celebrities such as Wynona Rider who steal things even though they are well able to afford them---what causes this? 4) I am trying to toilet train my 2 year old by putting him on the pot. He seems terrified of using the pot. This didn't happen with my other children why is it happening with him?

Mind Matters # 147 will answer the following questions: 1) Is there a difference between how children and adults remember things? 2) What is the placebo effect?

Mind Matters #146 answers these questiions: 1) What is the cause of multiple personality disorder and is there a cure? 2) Sometimes you hear the expression "laughter is the best medicine ". Is there any truth in that?

Mind Matters # 145 will answer the following questions from our listeners: 1) I am 30 and my brother is 28. Sometimes when we have conversations about our childhood we remember things very differently. Why does that happen? 2 )My husband and I have decided to get divorced. I am very worried about the effects of this on our children. Is there any way we can minimize this trauma?

The Mind Matters #144 questions will be: 1) I have heard that animals can help people with mental disorders--is that true? 2) I have two children who are now 8 and 10. I have not seen them for 5 years because I did not feel able to deal with the responsibility. Now I am feeling more able to deal with the responsibility and want to begin to visit with them again. Would that harm them emotionally? 3) When is anger ok and when is it not ok? 4) What is Munchausen syndrome?

Mind Matters #143 questions & Answers 1) When I went to school years ago the term for a teenager who wasn't doing well and who was hanging around with the "wrong crowd" was a juvenile delinquent. But you rarely hear that term anymore--why is that? 2) I have a 10 year old son who has ADHD and is being prescribed Adderall XR.It seems to me he is much more emotional now than he used to be. He is very sensitive and cries at the drop of a hat. I think the Adderall is causing this--is it? 3) Sometimes I find myself talking to myself. Is that normal?

The Mind Matters # 142 questions from our listeners: 1) Our adult child is 22 years old and has a job as a mechanic in a small auto repair place.My husband thinks we should ask him for rent but I don't think we should. What do you think? 2) My 13 year old son has an IQ of 103. Is that considered a good IQ? 3) We have a 10 year old son who is getting poor grades.My parents (his grandparents) say he is lazy and that we should discipline him or ground him until he does better. Are they right about this? 4) I am 16 years old and I smoke pot almost every day. I love how it makes me feel but I have noticed that my grades are dropping and it is taking me longer to learn things. Is this because of my pot smoking? 5) I hear that the moon has a big impact on the earth. Is it possible that various phases of the moon also impacts our mood?

Mind Matters #141 questions: 1) Are human beings the only animals who commit suicide? 2) I am a 17 year old teenager, Sometime I feel like I hate my parents. Is that normal? 3)My 7 year old son gives my husband and I a very hard time when it's time for him to go to bed. Are there any tips you can offer us?

Mind Matters #140: questions from our listeners: 1) I feel that I have had a more difficult life than most. I often feel emotionally numb. My wife says I'm depressed and need to seek some type of help but I tell her I don't feel depressed---I just feel numb and I have adjusted to it. Do you think I need some type of help? 2) I know that marijuana is used for medical reasons like cancer. Is it also helpful for mental and emotional disorders? 3) Are people who are emotional abusers abusive in all relationships or only in one particular relationship. 4) My friend said his therapist told him he had intrusive thoughts. What does that mean and why do people have them?

Mind Matters # 139 1) My girlfriend goes to a therapist. I am not sure what is going on but I think the therapist is being inappropriate towards her. What is the best thing for me to do? 2) I was watching a movie the other day about an 8 year old child who was being sexually abused by her parent. Even though the child was being abused, in the movie, the child still loved the parent. Is this possible? 3) Are people with a high IQ more emotionally sensitive than other people? 4) Sometimes I have fleeting thoughts about suicide but I consider it more an exercise of thought as opposed to a wish. Is that the same thing as the term suicidal ideation? 5) I am 20 years old and have been dating two girls for over a year. I sometimes feel guilty about lying to them but love both of them and don't want to hurt either of them. I have 2 questions--can someone be in love with 2 people? My second question is what should I do about this situation?

On Mind Matters # 138 we will answer the following questions from our listeners: 1) Our family dog who was 13 years old died 2 months ago. Our 14 year old son has not been acting the same since then.He is more angry, rude, doing more poorly in school and not doing what we are asking him to do. Are these 2 things related? 2) Hi. I am 15. My best friend sometimes talks to me about committing suicide.I don't take it that seriously because I think that if someone was really serious about this they wouldn't be telling other people about it. But sometimes I do worry about him. What should I do? 3) I have been married 14 years. I am 37 and my wife is 34.About a year ago she started to act strangely and told me she was hearing voices and seeing things.At first we thought it would pass but it didn't. So we went to her Doctor and her Doctor told us she probably has schizophrenia. How can this happen? 4) Our 16 year old son who has always been a happy go lucky kid isn't anymore.His whole character has changed. He is more irritable,his eyes are bloodshot,we don't see him doing his homework as much etc.We are very worried about him.When we ask him what's wrong he just says "nothing is wrong". How should we handle this situation?

During this show we answer the following questions from our listeners: 1) Is it ok for your seven year old to watch the news with you? 2) Is anxiety always unhealthy? 3) My husband and I are both from Europe and speak 2 languages fluently and one semi-fluently. My husband is worried that if we speak in more than one language our young children will get confused and it will impact them negatively. Is this true? 4) My husband is constantly interrupting me when I speak. I tell him it feels disrespectful and rude and I want him to stop. He says it was common for people to interrupt in his family and doesn't think it is a problem. Who is right?

Answers to these questions: 1) My husband is spending more and more time in chat rooms on the internet. A lot of that time he is chatting with a specific female. I tell him this makes me uncomfortable and that I feel it is a form of cheating. He says it's not cheating because they have never met, never go out together and there is no sex internet or otherwise. Who is right? 2) My 8 year old child's behavior is completely out of control. He is aggressive with other children and aggressive with me.When he gets his way he is fine but when he gets frustrated with me he kicks and hits me. He often says he hates his life and sometimes says he wants to die. What is the best way to handle this? 3) At what age is it best for children to have their own room?

Mind Matters #135 answers to questions: 1) I have a 12 year old son. It seems that all he wants to do is play video games up in his room. When I tell him it's time to do something else he either gets very angry and yells or pouts and refuses to do anything. I don't want him to be unhappy. Should I let him play video games for hours each day? 2) My husband coaches my 2 sons. He is very competitive and always wants them to win. When they do win he is very proud of them but when they lose he tells them how disappointed he is in them. Recently they have been complaining that my husband is too hard on them. Should I talk to my husband about this? 3) My 11 year old daughter is having problems sleeping . Almost every night she wakes up with anxiety a couple of hours after she goes to bed. When I ask her about it she says she is afraid that someone has broken into the house. I try to reassure her but it does no good. Is there anything I can do?

Mind Matters #134 will answer the following questions: 1) I am a 15 year old female. My grandmother has raised me since I was three but she does not have legal custody. Do I have to do what she says? 2) My 7 year old son is having a hard time at school. He is not concentrating well, he has a hard time sitting still, and he is very aggressive with other children, I take him to a therapist and the therapist says he wants to refer my son for medication. But I don't want my child to be lie a zombie. What should I do? 3) I have a 5 year old daughter. Her grandmother (my mother) used to live with us until she passed away 6 months ago. Since that time my daughter seems to be obsessed with death and afraid that I will die, Is that normal? 4) Everything my wife does seems to get on my nerves and sets me off. When I get triggered like that I yell at her and I know I hurt her feelings. Later on I feel guilty and I apologize but when I do she doesn't say much and she seems to be distant from me. What can I do?

The Mind Matters #133 show will answer the following questions: 1) There is a co-worker at work who is constantly saying negative things to me and playing practical jokes on me. I have told him to stop but he doesn't. Sometimes I feel like punching him but so far I have been able to restrain myself. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out. Do you have any advice? 2) My 5 year old son won't stay in his room at night. He says he is afraid of monsters. Is it OK for him to sleep with his father and me? 3) My wife is constantly spending money that we don't have. I have talked to her about it but it seems to go in one ear and out the other. I love her but this is causing me a lot of stress and sometimes I feel like leaving her. Is there any solution to this problem?

On he Mind Matters #132 sho we will be answering the following questions from our listeners: 1) My daughter is 12 years old. Her father and I are divorced. Every time she has to go to her father's house for the weekend she rants and raves that she doesn't want to go. I don't want her to go if she doesn't want to, but I also don't want to be in contempt of the court order. What should I do in this situation? 2) My wife and I get along for the most part but we have always had a disagreement about sex. It seems that she wants to have sex way less than I do. Is this normal?

During this show we will provide answers to the questions below: 1) Q) My husband and my 4 year old daughter are very close and spend a lot of time together. Sometimes they take showers together. When is it considered inappropriate for a father and a daughter to stop showering together? 2) Q) My husband and I are in our early 30's. Most of our friends already have children but neither my husband nor I have a strong inclination to have children. Is there something wrong with us? 3) My 17 year old son refuses to go to school and tells me he wants to work instead. Should I let him? 4) My son is 6 years old.Up until a month or 2 ago he was very well behaved. Recently however, he has been having behavior problems at school, at home and in public. He has even begun to fight with other children at school. What's going on?

During this show we answer the following questions: 1) Can someone develop ADHD at 14? 2) My husand and I are no longer in love but we can get along with each other. We have often discussed about wanting to split up but haven't for the sake of the children. Is that a good idea? 3) I feel it is very important to keep my child active and involved. My daughter is in Honor classes,Girl Scouts, soccer, music lessons and the school band. She loves doing all these things but lately her grades have been dropping. What advice do you have for me?

During this show we answer the following questions: 1) I am a very religious person. My teenage son (13) and daughter (15) are giving me a very hard time about going to church. I have been forcing them to go under threat of punishment. Should I continue this? 2) I have three children, 4, 7, and 13. I hate to admit it, but I don’t like all of my children equally and I feel very guilty about this. 3) Q) I am a 22 year old female---Is that too young to have a baby?

On this Mind Matters show we answer the following questions from our Listeners: 1) When I am stressed it is hard for me to concentrate. Is lack of focus and concentration a side effect of stress? 2) I read somewhere that classical music makes you smarter. Is that true? 3) My ex husband and I have been divorced for three years. Our nine year old has begun to call his stepmother ‘Ma’. I feel like bringing ex my husband to court over this issue –should I?

During this show we will answer the following questions: 1) I have been listening to your series on the Milgram obedience study. Do you think the type of childhood we had impacts obedience and the amount of shock we would give to others? 2) My child tends to be a perfectionist--can that lead to depression? 3 )My 4 year old son does not demonstrate compassion towards others. For instance, he laughs when someone falls down. Should I be worried? And how can I teach him to be more compassionate? 4) Are bullies insecure people?

During this final show about the Zimbardo Prison Study we discuss the events of the 5th and 6th day. Zimbardo was forced to prematurely terminate the 2 week study after only 6 days. Find out why he finally called off the study! We also discuss the metamorphosis of one of the prison guards as seen in the diary he was keeping.The rapidity of his transformation is truly chilling! Finally, we read some excerpts from Zimbardo himself outlining his understanding of what took place during the 6 days.

During this fourth show on the Zimbardo Prison Study we discuss the events of the fourth day of the experiment.As in a real prison, Zimbardo brought in a Priest to talk with the prisoners.Over half the prisoners who spoke to the Priest identified themselves by their prison number rather than by their name.Also we discuss the plight of prisoner #819 who went rebelled against the prison environment.Also during this day, prisoners who felt they should be paroled were brought in front of a mock parole board We explore the The three categories of guards and the various prisoner's coping styles.

In 1971, Philip Zimbardo was a professor at Stanford University. He set out to ask the following questions: What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Will humanity triumph over evil or will evil triumph? Zimbardo recruited undergraduate volunteers whom he paid $15 per day for the study. All participants were tested to make sure they were normal, emotionally healthy people. He then randomly assigned half of the volunteers to be mock prisoners and half to be mock prison guards. During this third show on the Zimbardo Prison study we discuss the events whic occurred during the third day of the study. What circumstances arose requiring Zimbardo to release the a prisoner from the study? How did parents react during the first visit with their prisoner sons? What differences began to emerge between the guards? In what way was Zimbardo himself transformed in his role a Prison Superintendent? How did Zimbardo and the guards react to the rumor of a mass escape plot? Tune in to find out!!!

In 1971, Philip Zimbardo was a professor at Stanford University. He set out to ask the following questions: What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Will humanity triumph over evil or will evil triumph? Zimbardo recruited undergraduate volunteers whom he paid $15 per day for the study. All participants were tested to make sure they were normal, emotionally healthy people. He then randomly assigned half of the volunteers to be mock prisoners and half to be mock prison guards. Part two takes us through the first 2 days of the study. The guards began to use "counts" to get the prisoners to remember their numbers and also as a way to begin exercising control over them. The guards were not given specific instructions as to how to behave or what to do. How do the guards handle the rebellion of the second day? What do the prisoners discuss when they think no one is listening? What psychological tactics are used by the guards to control the prisoners? Tune in to find out!!!

We continue our Banality of evil series with the famous (or Infamous!) Zimbardo Prison Study. In 1971, Philip Zimbardo was a professor at Stanford University. He set out to ask the following questions: What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Will humanity triumph over evil or will evil triumph? Zimbardo recruited undergraduate volunteers whom he paid $15 per day for the study. All participants were tested to make sure they were normal, emotionally healthy people. He then randomly assigned half of the volunteers to be mock prisoners and half to be mock prison guards. Part one takes us through the booking procedure for the prisoners, the rules created by the guards, and the process by which the participants "played out" their roles during the first half day of the study..

During the first half of the show we discuss how staff in a home for emotionally disturbed boys deal with a phone call from someone claiming to be a "supervisor". He orders the staff to give electroshock treatments to 2 boys who were disobedient. Will the staff comply with this odd request? Also during the first part of the show we discuss the French documentary called the "Game of Death". Contestants are required to give shocks up to 460 volts to a man in a booth who is connected to an electrode. How far will they go? What will be the reaction of the audience? During the second half of the show we explore a study by Sheridan and King who asked participants to give 3 levels of shock to real puppies when the puppies failed to distinguish a steady light from a flickering light. What will they do? Will there be a difference between what men do and what women do? Finally we discuss a fascinating quasi replication of the Milgram study in a virtual environment where participants were asked to shock a virtual female. Behavioral, physiological and emotional responses were recorded and measured. How close does a virtual environment compare to a real environment in eliciting reactions. What does this mean for our children who play violent video games?

During this show we discuss the results of the Milgram replication by Dr. Burger and the News program Primetime. What will people do almost 50 years after the origial Milgram study? Have people changed much in 50 years? During the second part of the show we discuss real life correlates of the Milgram study. How far will people go in obeying a phone call from someone who identifies himself as a police officer. Tune in to find out!

During the first half of this show we discuss 2 additional variations of the original Milgram study: What happens when the study occurs in a different city,(with no visible ties to Yale) in a small suite of a mediocre office building by a firm without any credentials who state they are a " private firm conducting research for industry" Finally, what happens when the Teacher is allowed to CHOOSE the level of shock to give to the Learner following an incorrect answer. During the second part of the show we begin a discussion of the first time in over 45 years that Dr Jerry Burger and the television News show "Primetime" got permission to replicate Milgram's original study. We discuss the 6 major changes Made by Dr Burger that allowed the study to be approved by the American Psychological Association ethics committee.

During this show we discuss the results of 5 additional variations of the primary Milgram study.For instance: What happens when the Learner informs the teacher that he has a HEART CONDITION and when the study is conducted in the basement of a building at Yale as opposed to in the prestigious Yale interaction Laboratory? What happens when the Experimenter is a softer, more mild mannered person and the Learner has a more forceful personality? What happens if the Experimenter gives instructions by phone rather than in person? What happens when the Teacher (the person required to give the shocks) is a WOMAN as opposed to a man. Are women really the more gentle of the 2 sexes? Finally, what happens when the Learner makes it known he has a heart condition and puts into the contract that if, after a period of time, he states he wants to discontinue the experiment for health reasons, then he must be allowed to exit the study.

During this fascinating show we explore the comments of 5 people who were "Teachers" in the original Milgram experiment in 1961. We hear in their own words how they felt, why the obeyed until the end or why they chose not to obey. The issue of personal responsibility or denial of such is prominent in the "explanations" by these original participants

During this show we explore the question: Why does obedience decrease as the Learner is brought closer to the teacher? According to Milgram there are 6 primary reasons why proximity decreases obedience. Also we will discuss several unexpected behaviors that occur in the Milgram experiment including such factors as one's "willingness" to over-ride the dictate that one should not hurt those who are not hurting us and the unexpected result regarding how much stress and internal tension a "Teacher" was willing to bear in obeying the instructions of "The Experimenter"

During this show we discuss the psychology of WHY people obey an experimenter when what the Experimenter is asking the person to do is clearly in CONFLICT with their conscience. We also read some quotes from Milgram himself regarding "The Banality of Evil"

For this very thorough study Milgram conducted a series of variations to determine what factors would result in more or less obedience to an experimenter. In each of the first four variations Milgram brings the Learner (the person being shocked) psychologically and physically closer to the Teacher (who is administering the shocks). The first two variations were discussed last week. This week we discuss the next two variations known as the Proximity condition and the touch proximity condition. In the first two variations (discussed last week) the Experimenter and Teacher were in one room but the Learner being shocked was in an adjacent room.. In the 2 variations discussed during this show (the Proximity condition and the Touch Proximity condition) the Learner being shocked is brought into the SAME ROOM with the Experimenter and the Teacher (who is administering the shocks). How far will someone go before they refuse to obey when the person being shocked is in the same room with you? Tune in to find out!!!!

The Mind Matters #113 topic will be The Banality of Evil--The Milgram Obedience Study (part 3). During this show we continue to discuss Milgram's shocking and thought provoking study on obedience. How far will a person go (when asked to do something that is in conflict with their conscience) before they refuse to obey? Last week we discussed how much shock several groups (psychiatrists,college students and middle class adults) PREDICTED they would give to another person before refusing. This week we discuss how much shock four groups (Psychiatrists, Faculty at Yale, Graduate students at Yale and Middle Class adults) PREDICTED OTHER PEOPLE would give to another person before they refused to obey. Also we begin to discuss the Shocking and Concerning ACTUAL RESULTS of the first two variations of the study known as the remote feedback condition and the voice feedback condition. . You will be amazed at the results of the Milgram study!

The Banality of Evil--Milgram Obedience Study (Part 2) During this show we discuss specifics about the procedure of the study : What was said to the subject (Teacher) by the experimenter, the task the Teacher was asked to perform, information about the shock generator, and the prods used to get the Teacher to continue if they were reluctant to do so. Also discussed are the "expected results of the study". Milgram obtained predictions from three groups (psychiatrists, College students and Middle class adults) as to how much shock they thought they would give before refusing to go any further. It will be enlightening for you to see the enormous difference between what people predicted they would do and what people actually did during the study!

Our next series of shows deals with THE BANALITY OF EVIL. We explore how ordinary people can be persuaded to make choices that knowingly harm others. We will be focusing on two classic studies in psychology: The Milgram Obedience Study and the Zimbardo Prison Study. Stanley Milgram was a psychologist at Yale university. His obedience study was conducted during the early 60's. Milgram wanted to find out how far an ordinary person would go to comply with an Experimenter's instructions before they would finally disobey,when the Experimenter's requests were clearly in conflict with their conscience and sense of morality. # 111 During the first show on Milgram we put the obedience study in historical context. We also discuss the general outline of the study which involves an Experimenter, The naive subject who is designated as "The Teacher" and a confederate or actor who is designated as "The Learner". The Teacher thinks the study is about learning and memory and is instructed to give increasing levels of shock each time the Learner gives an incorrect response. We also discuss the very thorough procedure by which Milgram recruited participants from the New Haven Connecticut community. Tune in to find out what happens!!!!!

The mind Matters Topic for Friday December 10 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our 01/04/08 show on Communication. Sometimes, no matter how diplomatic we may be, we encounter communication difficulties with our spouse, friends, boss, children etc. Our show will address the reasons that communication difficulties occur and will provide tools and strategies to improve communication with those who impact our life and whose lives we impact in return.

The Mind Matters topic for Friday December 3 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our 12/28/07 show on RELATIONSHIPS---a topic which touches ALL of our lives! We will talk with guests in our studio and I can tell you---one of our guests will have you in stitches!

The Mind Matters topic for Friday November 19 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our show on Holiday Stress--a topic which touches ALL of our lives! We will talk with guests in our studio and I can tell you---one of our guests will have you in stitches!

We had such a positive response to our show on blended families (which included a great many emails from our listeners) that we decided to devote an entire show to answering some of the questions emailed to us.We touch on such topics as differing child rearing techniques, resolving tension between custodial and non custodial parents, the influence/role of Step Grandparents in blended families, how to improve the successful integration of biological and stepchildren into blended families etc.

On this show we will discuss the most recent statistics regarding blended families-- the most surprising of which is that by the age of 18, one third of all children will have lived in some type of blended family. We will discuss the various types of blended families and the different family dynamic in each type. Also explored will be the various MYTHS relating to blended families some of which are that: Love occurs quickly between a Stepparent and a stepchild; Children of divorce and remarriage are forever damaged; it is easier to adapt to a blended family if the non-custodial parent is absent or deceased etc

The Mind Matters topic for Friday October 29 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our 06/13/08 show on Aging (part 3).. . In this final show on aging we will focus on a study in which a group of older individuals discuss what aging means to them. The importance of ongoing sources of meaning (including spirituality) will be explored. Also, we will look at ways that we, as younger individuals can enhance meaning in the lives of seniors whom we know. Quotes about aging designed to amuse and enlighten will also be offered!

The Mind Matters Topic for Friday October 22 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our 06/06/08 show on AGING (Part 2) On this second show about aging we explore various myths about aging, how our society views the elderly and the danger of self fulfilling prophecy of our negative views on aging. We will explore the importance of sibling relationships in the elderly, the power of positive thinking to extend life (and enhance the quality of life). We will also review the latest research (which will surprise you) about creativity in the elderly. Finally we will offer you a variety of quotations on aging---as Bette Davis said "old age is no place for sissies!!"

In this show we explore Erik Erikson's final stage in his developmental theory which he calls Ego Integrity vs Despair.In Erikson's words "this is the final crisis (or turning point) that we must negotiate in life". Negotiating it successfully leads to ego integrity---a sense of satisfaction with ones life, a sense of accepting oneself and the choices one has made. The unsuccessful resolution of this stage leads to despair, fear of death or a sense of one's life as having been wasted. Healthy and unhealthy responses to this "crisis" will be discussed.

Infidelity is a problem which plagues the American culture. Our show will examine the following questions (among others) What is infidelity? Can it be emotional rather than physical? What are the reasons for infidelity? How can we avoid infidelity in our relationships? How can we mend relationships where one (or both) parties have been unfaithful?

During this show we will discuss the positive impact of involved Fathers on children's development ranging from educational achievement, pro-social behaviors and psychological well being. We will interview a single parent family where the Father was the single parent. Various emails from listeners who recount memories and perceptions of their Father will be discussed. Finally, we will provide tips for effective Fathering.

On this show we will discuss the archetypal or inborn image of The Father and how it differs from the image of the Mother ( the ways in which male energy is different from female energy). We will discuss the impact of growing up in a home without a Father. We will also touch on the increasing number of homes where the Father is the single parent raising the children as well as the rapidly increasing number of stay at home Dads in intact families.

The Mind Matters topic for Friday September 17 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a replay of our 2/15/2008 show: Parenting (Part 2 ). Last week we explored the reasons children misbehave. This week we will discuss the Basics of Effective Parenting and the "Do's and Don'ts" of Effective Parenting. We will answer many questions emailed to us by our listeners. We will also discuss quotes about parenting from Bette Davis, Chaim Ginott, Robert Heinlein and the late, great Shel Silverstein (to name a few). We look forward to your comments about the show! Also, please email us about other topics you would like for us to discuss on future shows.

The Mind Matters show on Friday September 10 @ 1 & 9 PM est will be a show on Parenting (part one). On this show we will explore the four basic reasons why children misbehave and ways to reduce the likelihood of misbehavior. We will explore various parenting techniques that encourage healthy development, independence and self esteem. We will also answer questions about parenting sent in by audience members.Also discussed in this two part show will be a variety of thought provoking quotes on parenting by luminaries such as Maya Angelou, Goethe, James Baldwin, Harry Truman and Bette Davis.

During our final show on Depression we begin by answering a question from a listener who asks us to discuss the difference between selfishness/self pity and depression. We also discuss the concept of existential depression. We read the lyrics of Peggy Lee's song "Is that all there is" as an example of the meaninglessness inherent in existential depression. Finally we discuss "The last lecture" by Randy Pauch who died of pancreatic cancer. Randy Pauch leaves us a legacy of hope in facing his final days rather than allowing himself to be overtaken by fear and/or hopelessness.

How depression affects 2 specific populations---Women and Seniors. We will explore the difference between "The Baby Blues" and the much more serious "Post Partum Depression". We will offer tips for how to cope with Post Partum Depression. Theories as to why women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men will be offered. Finally we will take a look at the prevalence of depression in the elderly and why they are a high risk group.

Depression in Childhood and Adolescence. We will explore various factors associated with childhood depression--for instance loss of a loved one or a pet, feelings of social isolation/difficulty making friends, changes in environment due to frequent moving (which may affect children whose parents are in the military) etc. We will also discuss how to recognize possible warning signs of depression in teenagers such as dressing in black and frequently listening to songs with depressing or violent lyrics , giving their things away, social isolation---loss of friends etc.At the end of the show we will offer tips as to how to help children and teens who are dealing with depression.

Depression (Part 2). On this show we will discuss the many possible consequences of untreated depression. We will also answer emails from our listeners including such topics as "What is the difference between grief and depression?": "How do people react when diagnosed with depression?"; "Can lack of sleep cause depression?"; "Can depression cause illness and can illness cause depression?"; "Is it normal for seniors to get depressed?

Mind Matters topic for Friday August 6 @ 1 PM is Depression---a disorder which affects upwards of 20 million americans at any given time. This first show about depression will offer a general introduction of what depression is. We will discuss the various causes of depression including: genetic, chemical imbalance/neurotransmitter deficits in the brain, hormonal, psychosocial, etc. We will explore the symptoms of depression as well as the ways in which depression can impact one's life. Finally we will read and answer some questions sent in by our listeners.

Adult ADHD (part 2). On this show we will explore how the symptoms of ADHD are often different in adolescent/young adult women as compared with adolescent/young adult males. Excerpts about how ADHD affected 2 different women at varying stages of their development will be read and discussed. Also we will discuss the impact of ADHD on women in the home environment. We will look at the impact of ADHD on relationships for both the spouse with ADHD and the non ADHD spouse. Finally we will offer tools and coping skills for such relationships.

Adult ADHD (part one). On this show we will explore what it is like to be an Adult with ADHD. We will discuss how many adults are undiagnosed because when they were children there was not yet a firm diagnostic classification for ADHD. We will read an excert written by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. (author of Driven to Distraction) in which he describes the positives and negatives of having ADHD, how it affects his perceptions, career, relationships etc. We will also offer "tools and strategies" to help those with ADHD to be more organized and efficient, more successful in relationships, and more able to complete the daily tasks of life without feeling overwhelmed.

During this show we answer various emails sent in by listeners such as: What are the various symptoms associated with ADHD? What are the differences between those children who have the hyperactive/impulsive component as opposed to those who only have the attentional component? What is the relationship between sugar sensitivity and ADHD? Is there a link between ADHD and low self esteem? What are the effects of medication? What are the dangers of not getting diagnosed and treated? Why do we see more cases of ADHD now as opposed to in the past? What are some of the behavioral and structural accommodations we can make to help children with ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Current estimates indicate that upwards of 7% of the population have ADHD. Given its frequency it is safe to say that if we don't have a member of our immediate or extended family who has ADHD, then we probably know a friend or co-worker who carries this diagnosis--thus in some way, either directly or indirectly, ADHD affects us all.

Our Mind Matters #110 will be the conclusion of our series on Anger and Anger Management. We will discuss additional anger management techniques including: Giving the benefit of the doubt; Talking it out; sorting out one's feelings; taking the perspective of the other; adjusting expectations; and writing out reasons why we should not lose control. We also discuss the four communication styles and how they relate to anger. Finally we discuss how to make an effective request.

During this show we will discuss how rating your anger from zero to 100 is a predictive tool that helps you discover the various situations when you are angry but controlled as opposed to angry but not in control. As such these ratings will allow you to create an Anger Plan for these situations. We also discuss the importance of an Anger Journal that allows you to deconstruct the experience of anger i.e. how does your body feel, how did you feel emotionally, can you trace back this feeling in your personal history,where does it happen most, how did you react, how did others react, etc. The anger journal supplies information that will allow for anger management by providing information to which we otherwise do not pay attention.

We begin the show by discussing the social costs of anger. Chronically angry people are less likely to have supportive relationships within the family as well as within their sphere of friends. Chronically angry people also tend to have more health problems and emotional problems. We then begin to discuss the four steps of anger management as espoused by Raymond Richmond Ph.D. During the last segment of the show we cover how to recognize physiological, emotional and behavioral signs of anger as first discussed by Harry Mills Ph.D.

How is aggression manifested differently in men/boys versus women/girls? Is aggression manifested differently in different cultures? What should you do if you are living with an Angry Partner

During this show we will discuss the work of Albert Bandura. Bandura believes that we learn through watching others ---those who model certain behaviors. Bandura did a series of "Bobo doll" experiments on preschool children to determine how powerful the impact of a model can be. The results of these experiments will be discussed. Also, we explore the question of how much media violence is the average child exposed to and what is the impact of this on children.

During this show we discuss the impact of aggression on child rearing practices.We explore various factors that increase the likelihood of aggression in children. We also explore many factors that decrease the likelihood of aggression in children. The use of several easy techniques can go a long way towards promoting prosocial behaviors versus aggressive behaviors in children.

The Mind Matters #104 topics are: How we justify everyday aggression and Does aggression pay? During this show we focus on the various ways that we, as aggressors, avoid blaming ourselves for our own actions. Examples of this would involve: emphasizing the goodness of our cause, The "I'm just following orders" defense, the "I just went along with the crowd" defense and many others.We also discuss the work of theorists such as Bandura and Tavris who believe that we use aggression because "aggression pays"

During this show we discuss (and critique) the Frustration/Aggression hypothesis as espoused by Dollard and Miller 65 years ago. This theory holds that frustration always precedes aggression. We also discuss the principal of catharsis (displacement) of anger as it relates to both Freudian theory and social learning theory. Oddly enough, Freud's (nature side) innate theory of aggression and Dollard and Miller's (nurture side) frustration/aggression theory agree on two key issues!

During the first segment of this show we discuss the religious concept of good versus evil. We then begin to explore the various theories that believe aggression is innate or built into the human psyche. This is the nature side of the nature/nurture controversy.We briefly discuss the theories of Freud and Konrad Lorenz. During the last 2 segments of the show we discuss the physiology of anger involving it's various physiological, hormonal and neurological correlates. We go over cutting edge neurological research that indicates some aggressive youth may enjoy inflicting pain on others based on evidence that watching videos of people getting hurt triggers activity in areas of their brain that is associated with reward.

During this show we discuss in detail two forms of anger that have strong unconscious components. The first is what I call victim anger directed towards the self. Next we discuss the psychoanalytic concept of identification with the aggressor. During the second half of the show we discuss Sternberg's triarchic theory of hate/anger which involves: The negation of intimacy (avoidance and distancing due to repulsion) Passion hate which involves feelings of anger and fear and Decision-commitment in hate which uses a belief system to devalue others

During this show we will discuss Active forms of anger. Some of the active forms of anger discussed are: Threatening behaviors Deliberate hurtfulness Destructiveness Bullying Unjust Blaming

During this show we discuss another classification system that is much simpler than Madlow's---Passive versus Active forms of anger. With regard to passive anger we discuss the following examples (among others) Secretive behaviors (such as gossip and unexpressed resentment); Psychological manipulation (such as provoking aggression in others and then staying on the sideline to watch what happens, emotional forms of blackmail, sabotaging relationships Self blame as a passive form of anger Ineffectualness Dispassion/apathy

On this show we continue to discuss Madlow's Anger classification system. Madlow breaks anger down to six categories: Direct, Indirect and Thinly veiled behavioral signs and Direct Indirect and Thinly veiled verbal signs. We discuss the emotional difference between telling a child you are angry at them as opposed to telling a child you are disappointed with them. We explore the "silent treatment" as an indirect sign of anger.We also discuss the psychoanalytic belief that depression is anger turned inwards .Finally we engage in a discussion about how some people compartmentalize and/or deny anger.

During this show we discuss the 2002 World Health Organization (WHO) report on violence in the world. In other segments of the show we explore the various ways that anger is expressed, We also take a look at Madlow's detailed anger classification system .

During this show we will discuss statistics and research about anger. For instance we will discuss the percentage of men and women who responded YES to the question"If you could secretly push a button and thereby eliminate any person with no repercussion to yourself, would you push that button? We discuss anger that is expressed in atrocities as well as anger that occurs in everyday life. Finally we discuss statistics about anger that relate primarily to the United States.

What is ANGER PHOBIA? During this show we discuss Forensic Psychologist Steven Diamond's view that we as a society are Anger phobic. We discuss the consequences of Anger phobia---In other words what happens when we continue to deny or repress our anger? Also during this show we have a long discussion about the beneficial effects of Anger and the destructive effects of Anger. Lastly we touch on the philosophical understanding of Anger dating back to ancient Greece and Aristotle versus the Eastern understanding of Anger in Buddhism.

During this show we discuss several different theories of Anger. We explore Sue Parker-Hall's view of Anger and Rage as two distinctly different entities which arise at different stages in our development and which have very different emotional significance. We also discuss how Parker-Hall's theory is in some ways similar to the French Psychoanalyst Jaques Lacan's view of Anger as it relates to identity. Finally, we talk about the controversy of whether Anger is a primary or secondary emotion.In other words---is anger a secondary response to underlying shame and fear or is it a primary emotion in it's own rite.

We would like to welcome you all back to a NEW SEASON of Mind Matters shows!!! Our first series of shows will focus on the theme of ANGER. Over the course of several weeks we will be exploring: 1) What is Anger? 2) Statistics and Research about Anger and Aggression 3) Signs, signals and various expressions of Anger 4)Theories about how and why Anger and Aggression develop 5) Ways of preventing or coping with Anger (in yourself and others) On our first new show, Mind Matters #93,we will discuss the following topics: What is Anger? What is the difference between Anger and Frustration? What are the different between Anger and our response to it? What are the various responses to the emotion of Anger? As usual there will be plenty of real life information based on clinical experience garnered through years of private practice experiences.

Answers to questions regarding pros and cons of another baby; the impact of television violence on children and on society in general;how to choose a good cild care center;dscipline of children by a step-parent.

Answers to questions about anxiety regarding a couple's first baby, feeling burned out at work, a teenager wanting to ask out a popular girl and what to do about a 24 year old who still lives at home.

Today's show will focus on questions emailed in by our listeners. We will answer questions about ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Blended Families, Discipline,Getting Children to Bed on Time and Acting Out Behaviors at School and at Home.

Mind Matters # 88: Do Animals Exhibit Fairness and Altruism? New research seems to indicate that animals may instinctively exhibit qualities of fairness and altruism similar to humans. For instance, if you pay one monkey with a grape (which they love) and another with a cucumber (which they like) for doing the same amount of work, the monkey being paid with the cucumber will probably stop working for you! With regard to altruism, research shows that young children as well as chimps will spontaneously help humans in need! Dr. Sarah Brosnan argues that “It’s likely that fairness and altruism began in social species such as primates and then evolved to us” Where ever Maslow is, I know this research must make him smile!

Mind Matters #88: Maslow as an Agent of Social Reform This will be the final show in our Maslow series. Maslow believes that the principle of Eupsychian management also applies to society as well as to industry. He is in agreement with Adam Smith who in his 1776 book, ‘The Wealth of Nations’ states, “the enlightened man advances the interest of society in the intelligent pursuit of his own self interest". Maslow believes that individual and social interests in a healthy society tend to be synergistic rather than antagonistic. In other words, by improving society we improve individuals and by improving individuals we improve society. Later in the show, we discuss the differences between synergistic societies and non synergistic societies.

Mind Matters # 87:Maslow's Theory of Management-- Eupsychian Management (Maslow series part 11) During this show we discuss the difference between "Theory X Management" and "Theory Y Management" Basically the former speaks to a dictatorial style of management where the workers have little input and little freedom of expression. This, unfortunately, has been the dominant form of management style historically. Theory X management assumes the average person dislikes work. On the other hand, Theory Y management assumes that work is as natural as play and that the best reward for hard work is a sense of satisfaction and meaning rather than just monetary compensation. Theory Y management assumes the health of the worker and the health of the organization are integrally related. We discuss how Maslow's understanding of value extends to management and leadership styles.

Mind Matters # 86: MASLOW AND HUMAN VALUES (Maslow series part 10) During the first part of this show we discuss Maslow's concept of Self Actualized individuals as "good choosers". Maslow believes that if we follow the lead of such good choosers we will all benefit. Maslow says "given enough time we would eventually choose what they choose quickly". We also discuss where the concept of Self Actualizers as good choosers comes from---you will be surprised!! During the latter part of the show we discuss how Values are an integral part of Maslow's theories. Our discussion of Values will focus on Maslow's conceptual journey from Value relativism to value objectivism. These concepts will be defined and the ramifications of each theory will be elucidated.

Mind Matters #85: The view from the PEAK--Have you ever had a PEAK EXPERIENCE? Today we discuss Maslow's concept of the Peak Experience.He refers to this experience as moments when "limitless horizons open up" accompanied by a sense of "awe and wonder". Maslow came to believe that such experiences do not belong to the province of the self actualized alone but can be, and are, experienced by all of us to one degree or another. In fact the peak experience is the average person's glimpse of self actualization. In a peak experience it is as if we have climbed to the top of a very high peak allowing us the see reality in a clearer, more integrated and more unified way. Things that appear to be contradictory will often become integrated during a Peak Experience. Our perception becomes crisper and we may feel at peace with ourselves and with the world at large during such experiences.

Mind Matters #84: Why are so few people self actualized? During today's show we discuss the factors that inhibit or encourage psychological growth. Maslow says we have a tendency towards psychological growth but this tendency can be "stifled by bad habits, a poor cultural environment or inadequate education" Among the factors discussed that inhibit psychological growth are: the tendency of our culture to be fear based rather than growth based; the strong pull to be safe and secure rather than take chances; cultural stereotypes of what it means to be masculine and feminine etc

Mind Matters #83 Maslow: Additional Characteristics of Self Actualized People. During today's show we continue to discuss the characteristics of Self Actualized people. Because they have risen above being motivated by "deficiency needs" and are now instead motivated by "growth needs" their perception is much less distorted by desires, anxieties, hopes or pessimism. Not only are they internally self consistent but they tend to see the world in a more unified way as well. Also because of internal consistency there is less of a struggle to decide what is good and what is bad. Clarity of perception and judgement allows them to choose the better values. They also manifest "Psychological Freedom" in that they are able to stick by their decisions and opinions even if they are different from, or in opposition to, popular opinion or accepted cultural values.Their belief in a meaningful universe is manifested in the transcendence of self, the fusion of "the true the good and the beautiful", the importance of helping others and contributing to society..

The Mind Matters #82 Maslow: Characteristics of a Self Actualized Person This show focuses on the characteristics of a person who is Self Actualized and how they differ from the vast majority of us who are not. Some of these characteristics include: the ability to see reality more clearly (because they no longer see through the distorted lens of deficiency motivation); A clearer perception of right and wrong; The tendency to be humble; the motivation to be creative; A low degree of internal self conflict; A strong sense of identity etc.

Mind Matters #81 Maslow's concept of Self Actualization During this show we begin an in depth exploration of Self Actualization. We begin to discuss the growth needs of someone who is self actualized--for instance Curiosity, Challenge, Aesthetic needs, etc. We also list and discuss the interdependence and interrelationships between the growth needs which together form an integrated whole. A partial list of such needs include: Wholeness, Perfection, Beauty, Aliveness, Goodness Truth, Self sufficiency etc.

Mind Matters #80: Deficiency vs. Growth Needs. During this show we begin a discussion of deficiency needs versus growth needs---How would a person whose deficiency needs were relatively well satisfied act? How would they be different from a person who was dominated by deficiency needs? We also explore cultural preconditions for basic need satisfaction.and additional characteristics of the basic needs.

Mind Matters #79 Maslow's Need Hierarchy:Belongingness and Esteem Needs (The 3rd show in the Maslow Series) During this show we continue our discussion of Maslow's hierarchic theory of basic needs. Last week we discussed the needs at the base of the pyramid--the physiological needs and the safety needs. This week we will discuss the belongingness/love needs and the self esteem needs. We will also discuss Michael Jackson as an example of someone who did not get their basic safety needs met thereby limiting his ability to get belongingness/Love needs and self esteem needs met.

The Mind Matters #78 topic for Friday August 7 @ 1 & 8 PM Eastern Time is Maslow (Part 2) On this show we begin to discuss Maslow's theory of motivation. Maslow believed that human drives are hierarchically structured. Because this is so the lower human motives must be satisfied (or partially satisfied) before the higher motives can emerge. We discuss what Maslow means by the term biological prepotency (urgency). Joan volunteers for a hilarious thought experiment that illustrates this theory. We also discuss the "bottom" of Maslow's Motivational pyramid---the physiological needs (motivations) and the next level (the safety needs (motivations).

Mind Matters # 77 topic for Friday @ 1 & 8 PM est is Maslow (Part 1) On this show we begin by discussing Abraham Maslow's biography and the forces that helped to shape his theories of motivation and self actualization. We discuss how Maslow differed from the 2 dominant theories of his day (Behavioral psychology and Freudian Psychology). Whereas Freudian theory saw Man's basic nature as "bad" (aggressive, self serving) Maslow thought that man's basic character was "good". Maslow seeks to uncover the "wonderful posssibilities and inscrutable depths" of human nature.

Mind Matters # 76 topic for Friday 07/24/2009 @ 1 & 8 PM est is Love (Part 16) On this show, we will have an exciting and informative discussion with Joan's sister, Jerrie. We have talked about the love relationship that Jerrie and her husband, Norm, continue to have after almost 49 years of marriage. Jerrie and Norm embody the spirit of Consummate Love as described by Sternberg in our previous show. Consumate love involves intimacy (emotional connection), passion (physical connection) and decision/commitment. Now, you can hear how it's done right from the source. The interview has some pretty provocative questions, and even more surprising answers. You won't want to miss this show!

The Mind Matters #75 topic for Friday July 17 2009 @ 1 & 8 PM est is Love (part 15) This will be the next to final show in our Love series. During today's show we finish discussing Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love. We look at the various combinations of the three primary components (Intimacy, Passion and Decision/Commitment. Intimacy plus passion is "Romantic Love"; Intimacy and Decision/Commitment is "Companionate Love"; Passion and Decision/Commitment is "Fatuous Love"; Intimacy and Passion and Decision/Commitment is "Consummate Love" and finally absence of all 3 components is "Non-Love" Scenarios that illustrate there forms of love will be discussed. We will also answer some questions from our listeners in the final segment of the show.

The Mind Matters #74 topic for Friday June 26 2009 @ 1 & 8 PM est is Love (part 14) Today's show will be the next to last show on the topic of Love. We will discuss Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love. Sternberg believes that love is comprised of three components : Intimacy, Passion and Decision/commitment. The type of love depends upon the various combinations of these 3 elements. On today's show we will discuss each of these 3 components alone. Intimacy alone is "Liking" as in a close friendship. Passion alone is "Infatuated Love" (similar to the unrequited love we discussed on previous shows). Decision/Commitment alone is "Empty Love" because there is neither passion nor intimacy. We will also provide scenarios for each of these types of love.

The Mind Matters # 73 topic for Friday June 19 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 13). On this show we finish our discussion Lee's Color theory of love. We discuss typical profiles of the three Primary and Five secondary love styles. We compare and contrast the similarities and differences of each of the love styles.Be sure to listen closely to determine which love style is closest to yours and which love style is the best match for yours!

The Mind Matters # 72 topic for Friday June 12 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 12). During this show we discuss John Alan Lee's Love Styles or "Colors of Love". Lee believes that there is more than one style of loving. Lee believes that most of the problems in love relationships has to do with having mismatched love styles. According to Lee the three Primary Colors of Love are EROS (erotic love based on body type); Storge (the type of love that develops slowly between friends) and Ludus (the type of love style where love is seen as a game or fun with the object of having a series of love affairs. ludus as a love style is portrayed in the songs "When I was 17" by Frank Sinatra and "Love the one you're with" by Stephen Stills We also begin to discuss the secondary colors of love. Mania is an obsessive addictive love, Pragma is a love style that consciously has a shopping list of qualities that they seek in a loved one.Agape, the lest common style is a selfless, giving altruistic love.

The Mind Matters # 71 topic for Friday June 5 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 11). On this show we continue with our discussion of Adult Romantic Love as similar to how we develop attachments in infancy. According to Bowlby and Ainsworh three types of attachment can occur depending on the parenting style. Emotionally healthy mothers produce securely attached infants. Inconsistent mothering produces anxious/ambivalent attachment and finally mothers who are relatively "cold" and rejecting of the infants need for frequent physical contact produce avoidant infants. We discuss how the three types of attachment in infancy directly mirror adult bonding between romantic partners.

The Mind Matters # 70 topic for Friday may 29 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 10). During this show we discuss love as an extension of attachment theory ( the type of bonding that occurs between infant and the primary attachment figure (which is usually the Mother). So as to better understand this theory we first discuss the major principles of attachment theory.We then compare the features of attachment and adult romantic love. Be sure to listen to this show because the similarities are truly amazing and surprising!!!

The Mind Matters #69 topic for Friday May 15 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 9). Having discussed the type of love that results from personality inadequacy, the topic of this show is the types of love that results from personality adequacy (healthy personality types) We discuss Greenfield's social norm theory of love (that love serves a sociological purpose). We also discuss theories of love involving the primary beneficiary of love. If the primary benificiary of love is oneself then love is Acquisitive in nature. Theorists who espouse this point of view are Plato, Freud and Learning theory. If the primary benificiary of love is the beloved then love is benevolent (espoused by the Christian church as agape, Fromm and Liebnitz) If both the lover and beloved mutually benefit then love is acquisitive-benevolent (as espoused byRollo May, Montague Foote etc)

The Mind Matters # 68 topic for Friday May 8 2009 @ 1 PM and 8 PM est is LOVE (part 8). On this show we discuss the theory of Love as personality inadequacy as manifested in Love Addiction.. We read and discuss the Signs of love addiction as listed in loveaddicts.org. We cover the typical types of parenting styles that may later create the love addict personality.We also discuss how love addiction is portrayed in contemporary music as seen in Every Breath You Take (by the Police), Ain't No Snshine When She's Gone (by Bill Withers), Addicted to Love (by Robert Palmer) and several others.

Mind Matters #67 Fri May 1 2009 LOVE (part 7) During this week's show we explore the theory of love as personal inadequacy--in other words forms of "desperate love" We discuss theories of "Love as Need". We offer quotes from famous individuals and contemporary songs that speak to the issue of love as need. WE also discuss the concept of "Love Addiction"--which is similar to other forms of addiction. We discuss scenarios of various forms of love addiction. We also discuss signs of love addiction and how it develops.

Mind Matters #66 Fri April 24 2009 LOVE (part 6) During this show we discuss the meanings of love as seen in various religions of the world. We cove the Christian view, the Buddhist view, the Hindu view, the Islamic view and the Jewish view of love. W also discuss the similarities and differences between these religious views of love.

Mind Matters # 65 Fri April 17 2009 LOVE (part 5) During this show we discuss the scientific view of love involving biological sciences such as evolutionary psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology and neuroscience. We also discuss the neurochemistry of love. The chemicals which are active during lust are different from those active during attraction which are different from the ones which are active during attachment. We will discuss the various chemicals and how they relate to behavior

Mind Matters #64 Fri April 3 2009 LOVE (part 4) During this show we finish our discussion of romantic love as portrayed in modern songs. We continue our exploration of love with a discussion about various forms of Bonding. We explore the meaning of The Limerent Bond, the maternal bond, the paternal bond and even human-animal bonding. We explore how our love of animals has changed over the years and the positive effects of human-animal bonding.

Mind Matters #3 Fri Mar 27 2009 LOVE (part 3) During this show we finish our discussion of unrequited love by discussing Eric Clapton's unrequited love for Patty Boyd (The Beatles' George Harrison's wife). We discuss that Layla is a song about his love for Patty Boyd which was written after a friend gave Clapton a copy of "The Story of Layla and Majnun".This poem was about a young man who fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful, but unavailable, woman and according to legend, eventually went crazy! Also during this show we discuss the theme of Romance, the historical roots of romance in Courtly Love and how romance is portrayed in contemporary songs.

Mind Matters # 62 Fri Mar 20 2009 LOVE (part 2) During this show we discuss the difference between Platonic love as it is used today and the original meaning of Platonic love as discussed in Plato's classic work "the Symposium" During this show we also discuss Familial Love and Erotic Love. Finally we discuss Unrequited love (which affects 98% of us at some point in our lives). We provide examples of unrequited love in poetry and in modern songs such as Dusty Springfields "You don't have to say you love me", The Temptations "Just my Imagination" The Doobie Brothers "What a fool believes" and several others.

Mind Matters #60 Fri Mar 6 2009 INTELLIGENCE (part 8---final part) During this show we discuss the various issues that affect parents of gifted children. For instance we explore the pros and cons of early entry into Kindergarten. We also discuss the pros and cons of home schooling. Finally we discuss what characteristics to look for in a good gifted program.

Mind Matters #59 Fri Feb 27 2009 INTELLIGENCE (part 7) During this show, we will discuss techniques to help gifted children ( or actually any child) cope with intense emotions. We discuss how to create an emotional response scale which helps to put emotionally tinged situations into perspective. We also discuss the reasons why gifted children are sometimes academic underachievers Finally we provide a variety of techniques which can help to motivate children with regard to achivement.

Mind Matters #58 Fri Feb 20 2009 INTELLIGENCE (part 6) During this show we will discuss Dabrowski's Theory of Over-excitability (or supersensitivity ) in Gifted children.Dabrowski outlined five areas of over-excitability in Gifted Children. These include: Emotional Over-excitability, Psychomotor Over-excitability, Sensual Overexcitability, Intellectual Over-excitability and Imaginational Over-excitability. We will outline the significant characteristics of each Over-excitability and provide relevant examples.

Mind Matters # 57 Fri Feb 13 2009 The topic of this week's show will be INTELLIGENCE (Part 5). The entire show this week focuses on the differences between High Achievers, Gifted Learners and Creative Thinkers. We show that the higher one's IQ is the more difficult it is to fit in with the rest of society. Today's show is truly interesting and will open your eyes to some issues you probably haven't thought about before!

Mind Matters # 56 Fri Feb 6 2009 The topic of this week's show will be INTELLIGENCE (Part 4). During this show we focus on the various meanings of the term "gifted". We also take a look at the characteristics of gifted children as toddlers, preschoolers and school aged children.WE discuss both cognitive traits and social/emotional traits of gifted children.WE also discuss the reasons why gifted children are not always high achievers.

Mind Matters # 55 Fri Jan 30 2009 The topic of this week's show will be Intelligence (Part 3) During this show we discus the various biases involved in intelligence testing. We show that where one is raised and how one is raised can have a strong impact on how well one does on intelligence tests(cultural biases) Beyond this we discuss how using intelligence tests or knowing someone's intelligence can bias how one is seen and what one expects from you. For instance, we discuss a study where teachers are told that according to a test certain children would be "spurters" during the school year. (In fact there is no such test.). We look at how the "spurters" did on an IQ test compared with the "non spurters". Also during this show we begin to discuss the origin of the term "gifted" and the history of the meaning of "gifted"

Mind Matters # 54 Fri Jan 23 2009 The topic of this week's show is INTELLIGENCE (Part 2) This week we discuss different theories of intelligence including Gardener's theory of Multiple Intelligences.WE also engage in a very interesting discussion of Social Statistics and their relationship to IQ. In other words, we first divide IQ into five groupings, two below the average (IQ below 75, 75 to 90), average IQ (90 to 110) and two groups above the average (110 to 125 and 125 and above). WE then discuss what percent of people in each of these groups is unemployed, is divorced within 5 years, is incarcerated, has children out of wedlock, drops out of high school etc. We also discuss difficulties involved in measuring intelligence.

Mind Matters # 53 Fri Jan 16 2009 This week's topic will begin a series of shows about the nature of INTELLIGENCE. During this first show we will discuss a general definition of what intelligence is. We then discuss the relationship between intelligence and IQ (as it is understood today) as well as a brief history of intelligence testing and how the concept of IQ changed over time. We also briefly discuss data regarding how much of one's IQ is determined by genetics and how much is determined by environment. Finally we discuss different theories of intelligence including and how these relate to the IQ tests which are given today.

Mind Matters #52 Fri Jan 9 2009 The topic of this week's show will be Self Esteem in Children (Part 3) Today's show will be the final show on our series about self esteem in children. On this show we give more practical tips to parents including how to speak with children in a way that will establish not only healthy self esteem but also a healthy parent/child relationship. We also discuss the research of Clemes and Bean who have identified four conditions that promote self esteem in children: A sense of Connectedness; A sense of Uniqueness; A sense of Power and A sense of Models.

Mind Matters # 51 Fri Dec 5 2008 The topic of today's show will be Self Esteem in Children (part two) This will be the second show featuring self esteem in children, We begin with a discussion of how ADHD impacts self esteem and what accommodations are available in the school system. We also continue our discussion from last week regarding how we can improve the self esteem of our children especially with regard to the relationship between parents as models, parental expectations parental decisions on children's self esteem.

Mind Matters # 50 Fri Nov. 28 2008 The topic of this week's show is Self Esteem in Children (Part one) This week we begin our series of Self Esteem in Children. We will answer questions sent in by our listeners.The questions we answer include: How is the USA as a nation doing with regard to the self esteem of our youth?; Will giving praise to children raise their self esteem?; What is the relationship between self esteem and school behavior?; How can I raise a child with healthy self esteem? For this last question we give a number of tips for how parents can improve the self esteem of their children.

Mind Matters # 49 Fri Nov. 21 2008 The topic of today's show is Self Esteem in Teenagers (Part 4) This will be the final show in our Self Esteem in Teenagers series. On this show we continue to address a question from last week sent in by a 16 year old "Do people who are attractive, popular and have a lot of money have high self esteem? In answer to this question we briefly discuss Kurt Gobain of Nirvana. We also discuss how self eseem issues strongly impacted the lives of 2 boxers: Mike Tyson and George Foreman. Also on this show, we discuss how self control is important for self esteem and how the issue of self control changes throughout the life cycle.

Mind Matters #48 Fri Nov. 14 2008 The topic of this show is Self Esteem in Teenagers (part 3) During this show we continue with last week's discussion of what adolescents can do to improve self esteem We also discuss warning signs that point to low self esteem in teens as well as signs that point to high self esteem. Finally we answer a question sent in by a teen age listener--Do people who are attractive, popular and have a lot of money have high self esteem? Also during this show we will read Baz Luhrman's "Sunscreen speech" and discuss how it relates to the issues above.

Mind Matters # 47 Fri Nov. 7 2008 The topic of this show is part two of our series on self esteem in teenagers. During this show we will continue from last weeks discussion of how we can improve self esteem in our teenagers. We cover how parents and educators can influence self esteem in adolescents as well as some simple steps adolescents can take to improve self esteem.

Mind Matters # 46 Fri Oct 31 2008 This will be our first show to discuss self esteem in teenagers. During this show we will answer questions sent in by our listeners. These questions include: Is there a relationship between self esteem and teen pregnancy?; What is the relationship between drug/alcohol abuse and self esteem?; Does self esteem influence drop out rate?; What is the relationship between crime and self esteem in adolescents? In addition, we will also begin a discussion of how we can improve self esteem in our teenagers. During the last segment of this show we had a special guest---5 year old Hanna ,who demonstrates the value of strong self esteem in overcoming fear and anxiety.

Mind Matters #45 Fri Oct 24 2008 On this show we discuss an article fro the Sunday "Parade Magazine" entitled "The Ten Secrets of Great American Presidents. It turns out that these "secrets" match very closely with the qualities of high self esteem (which we have been discussing in our past several shows" The secrets, which will be discussed at length during the show are:The Courage to Stay Strong (deal with adversity); Self Confidence; The ability to learn from errors; A Willingness to Change; Emotional intelligence; Self Control; A Popular Touch; A Moral Compass; A Capacity to relax and A Gift for Inspiring Others. Please join us during our discussion of these "Presidential Secrets"

Mind Matters # 44 Fri Oct 17 2008 Today's show will be the final show dealing with Self Esteem in adults. We continue to answer questions sent in by our listeners. On today's show we answer the following questions: How important are friendships to healthy self esteem? I am an adult with a spouse and children of my own, but every time I talk to my parents or when they visit with usI feel like a little child. What should I do?; Are tattoos a sign of low self esteem? We will also read and discuss a wonderful poem: The Desiderata by Max Ehrmann 1927 The words of this poem encapsulate our discussions about healthy self esteem

Mind Matters # 43 Fri Oct 10 2008 Today's show will be the third of four shows dealing with self esteem in adults. We will continue to answer questions sent in by our listeners. On today's show we continue with a question from the previous week: How can I improve my overall self esteem? We will also answer the following new questions: Does self esteem come from approval from others?; How can I improve my self esteem at work?

The Mind Matters #42 topic for Friday October 3 at 1 PM & 8 PM EST Self Esteem in Adults (Part 2) Today's show is the second of four shows dealing with the issue of Self Esteem in adults. We continue to answer questions sent in by our listeners. On today's show we answer the following questions: How can I become more self confident?; Is there a relationship between health and self esteem?; Is self esteem determined by our parents and how they brought us up?; How can I improve my overall self esteem? A number of interesting quotes will also be discussed.

The Mind Matters #41 topic for Friday September 26 at 1 PM,( Encore at 8 PM EST) will be Self Esteem in Adults. On today's show we begin our series about self esteem. During the coming weeks we will answer questions emailed to us by our listeners regarding self esteem in adults, adolescents and children. The first four shows will deal with self esteem in adults. Self esteem is such an important topic. Our lives are strongly impacted depending upon our level of self esteem. Some of the questions answered during this first show are: What is self Esteem?; What qualities characterize high self esteem?; Is self esteem the same thing as feeling good about yourself? Is self esteem the same thing as narcissism?; How can I become more self confident? We will also read quotes relevant to the topic of self esteem.

Mind Matters #40 on Friday September 19 will be the final show in our series about gender differences. On this last show about communication differences between the genders we ask the question: Who talks more--men or women? Men say women, women say men! Who is correct? Both genders are correct because men and women tend to talk in different situations. Women tend to use "rapport" talk or small talk with other women as a way of establishing and maintaining a bond. With regard to rapport talk--women talk more. Men tend to use "report" talk--informational talk-- useful at work, when talking in larger (less intimate) groups. With regard to report talk--men talk more. Interestingly when men talk with women, they tend to assume the role of "expert" and provider of information, while the woman becomes the passive and "appreciative" audience. So now we start to understand why a male/female relationship requires so much work!

The topic for the Mind Matters show #39 on Friday September 12 @ 1 PM will be a continuation of our discussion of communication differences between men and women. During this show,one primary difference we discuss is what men and women want and/or expect in their communications with the other gender. When women discuss a problem they are having, the man (falsely) assumes the woman is wanting a solution to her problem. Often , however, the woman just wants the man to LISTEN to her feelings (like her female friends do) and offer reassurance. When a man offers a solution, the woman is frustrated and feels the man doesn't care about her feelings. The man, on the other hand, feels frustrated because he doesn't understand why the woman continues to discuss her problems but will not utilize the solutions he offers! The scenario above is just one example of how men and women communicate at cross purposes with each other leaving both parties frustrated and confused!

Mind Matters #38 Friday September 5 @ 1PM On this show we continue our series of gender differences. We will look at the work of Deborah Tannen who is best known fro her book "Men and Women in conversation---You just don't Understand" Whereas previous shows focused on differences in moral reasoning, today's show focuses on differences in communication patterns.Men tend to communicate from a perspective of being one up or one down. Women tend to communicate by creating a network of connection and relationships. We also discuss how these gender differences cause frequent miscommunications and misunderstandings between men and women and how each gender simply hears something different than what the other gender intended!

Mind Matters # 37 Friday August 29 @ 1PM On this show we discuss the different self images of males and females and how these differing self images impact our being in the world. We also take a look at gender differences with regard to aggression and the perception of danger. It turns out that men and women perceive danger in very different situations. Men perceive danger in situations of closeness and intimacy. Women perceive danger in situations of achievement (which they perceive as separating them from other women). We predict you will find the discussion on this show to be very interesting and enlightening!

The Mind Matters show #36 on Friday August 22 @ 1 PM will continue our exploration of Gender Differences. In this show we begin to compare and contrast the work of Kohlberg with the work of Gilligan with regard to differences in male/female moral reasoning. We look at the responses of two 6 year olds, two 11 year olds , and two 25 year olds who exemplify these differences. We discover that males tend to see moral dilemmas in terms of individual rights and justice, whereas women tend to see moral dilemmas from an ethic of care and connection.

Mind Matters #35 08/15/2008 Gender Differences in moral development (part 2)

The Mind Matters Topic for show # 34 on Friday August 8 @ 1 PM will be Gender differences in moral reasoning. With Friday's show, we will begin a series on male/female gender differences. This first show will be an introduction to the work of Carol Gilligan who wrote "In A Different Voice" Gilligan feels that there has been a bias in psychology especially with regard to understanding Moral Development. She feels that male theorists "have tried to fashion women out of a masculine cloth". We will also look at the genesis of male/female differences. Girls realize that "Mommy and I are the same" (thereby laying the foundation for empathy). Boys realize that "Mommy and I are different" (thereby laying the foundation for separation and autonomy) And with this difference the sparks begin to fly!!!

The Mind Matters Topic for Friday August 1 @ 1pm will be Stage 9 of Ericksons theory of development. In this final show on Erikson’s theory, we discuss the little known ninth stage of development known as Gerotranscendance. Towards the end of their life the Erikson’s, began to feel there was another stage of life involving the very elderly (80+ years of age). Gerotranscendance involves a transcendence of one’s physical being (which continues to decline), involving the ability to ‘be’ in the moment and to feel oneself as part of the rhythm of the universe. Gerotranscendance involves a more cosmic awareness, including new perspectives, of how one views oneself and others. Excerpts from the movie ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ will be read to exemplify this new perspective.

The Mind Matters topic for Friday July 25 @ 1 PM will be Stage 8 of Erikson's 8 ages of man: Integrity vs Despair. On this show we well discuss how integrity arises from a person's ability to look back at one's life with acceptance and to feel a sense a satisfaction with life in general (although not necessarily with each and every choice one has made). In this show we will interview Grace, an 85 year old woman who, for the most part, exhibits the sense of integrity and wisdom as defined by Erikson.

The Mind Matters topic for Friday July 18 @ 1 PM will be a discussion of Erikson's 5th, 6th and 7th stages of development. . On this show we will continue to discuss Identity vs Role Confusion specifically in terms of the differences between identity development in men vs women. Stage 6 of Erikson's theory is Intimacy vs Isolation. Intimacy, according to Erikson is the ability to share with and care about others without fear of losing oneself in the process. Stage 7 is Generativity vs Stagnation. In this stage one becomes concerned with others beyond our immediate family. Future generations and the nature of society and the world in which those generations will live becomes important. The goal here is to leave something positive behind. If we do not negotiate this stage successfully the danger is stagnation and self absorption

Mind Matters: Erikson's 8 Ages of Man-Industry vs Inferiority and Identity vs Role Confusion. The Eight Ages of Man discusses the various stages of development through which we all must pass in our journey through life. Erikson was the first theorist to integrate biology (the organism), psychology (the self or ego) and sociology (the role of culture) as equally important influences in development. On last week's show we discussed the first three stages of development: Trust vs Mistrust; Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt; and Initiative vs Guilt. This week we will discuss stages 4 and 5: Industry vs Inferiority and Identity vs Role Confusion.

Mind Matters: Erik Erikson's Eight ages of Man (Part 2).. The Eight Ages of Man discusses the various stages of development through which we all must pass in our journey through life. Erikson was the first theorist to integrate biology (the organism), psychology (the self or ego) and sociology (the role of culture) as equally important influences in development. In this show we will discuss the first three stages of development: TRUST vs. MISTRUST AUTONOMY vs. SHAME AND DOUBT INITIATIVE vs. GUILT

The Mind Matters: The Developmental Theory of Erik Erikson who postulated the "Eight Ages of Man". The Eight Ages of Man discusses the various stages of development through which we all must pass in our journey through life. Erikson was the first theorist to integrate biology (the organism), psychology (the self or ego) and sociology (the role of culture) as equally important influences in development. In this first segment we will look at Erikson's personal history in order to better understand the influences that shaped his identity and ultimately led to his understanding of the eight developmental stages through which life unfolds in the formation of our identity.

Mind Matters Aging (part 3) In this final show on aging we will focus on a study in which a group of older individuals discuss what aging means to them. The importance of ongoing sources of meaning (including spirituality) will be explored. Also, we will look at ways that we, as younger individuals can enhance meaning in the lives of seniors whom we know. Quotes about aging designed to amuse and enlighten will also be offered!