As an anthropologist interested in American culture, I am curious about many of the odd rituals practiced by the natives in this land (of which I am one). Many of the most important rituals in American culture center around the consumption of goods and services: we buy a lot of stuff. Many people assert that Americans consume too much. Here’s a passage from Affluenza, a popular critique of consumerism in America:| Psychology Today
Does the unconscious matter? You bet it does. In fact, nothing matters more.| Psychology Today
If you are tired of the blame game and want to get real answers, consider engaging in a little self-reflection with these nine steps.| Psychology Today
"Socialism" has become a pejorative word in American political discourse. Should it be?| Psychology Today
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of well-intentioned people makes irrational or non-optimal decisions spurred by the urge to conform or the belief that dissent is impossible. The problematic or premature consensus that is characteristic of groupthink may be fueled by a particular agenda—or it may be due to group members valuing harmony and coherence above critical thought.| Psychology Today
We are born to be playful. But many of us lose our playfulness. Why do we lose it and how can we recover it? Here’s why, and here's how —from a book by Bernard DeKoven.| Psychology Today
We all know that gorgeous people get preferential treatment. It’s a not-too-pretty fact of life long attributed to the halo effect, a type of cognitive bias or judgment discrepancy in which our impression of a person dictates the assumptions we make about that individual. For example, people will more readily blame an unattractive person for a crime than an attractive one. Now there’s evidence that beauty, intelligence, and other positive characteristics may go hand in hand.| Psychology Today
Identity encompasses the memories, experiences, relationships, and values that create one’s sense of self. This amalgamation creates a steady sense of who one is over time, even as new facets are developed and incorporated into one's identity.| Psychology Today
