Tag Archives: psychology

The Psychology of Why Married Men Cheat, Part 2

In Part 1 I presented some of the reasons the panelists interviewed on Today posed as reasons for why men cheat. Here are the rest. The “Me First” Mentality Jeff Gardere, the psychologist (and the only man on the panel), brought this one up, Dr. Laura seconded it, and Helen Fisher nodded in agreement: men are weak and selfish. I definitely believe this one. Sure, there are some women who can be considered high maintenance, but all men are –no matter how simple they may seem. Admit it, ladies. You may have the greatest guy in the world, but he … Continue reading →

The Psychology of Why Married Men Cheat, Part 1

In addition to Matt Lauer interviewing Dina Matos on Today this morning about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s prostitution sting scandal, they also brought in a panel of experts (Dr. Laura Schlessinger, anthropologist Helen Fisher, and psychologist Jeff Gardere) to examine why men cheat. (Men in general as well as men in high places.) They focused on men because they’re more inclined to do it than women. The statistic they presented was that one in five married men have cheated. (Compared to only 12 percent of married women having cheated.) So why is it men are more prone to it? … Continue reading →

More Dirt on the Dr. Phil Fiasco

In a previous blog I mentioned that talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is reportedly being investigated by the California Board of Psychology for practicing without a license while visiting Britney Spears’ after her latest meltdown. Well, now it appears the in your face Texan may be getting off the hook. While California authorities are mandated to investigate any time a complaint is filed (in Dr. Phil’s case a complaint was filed last week by a practicing shrink who alleges McGraw, who does not hold a license to practice psychology in California, violated doctor-patient privilege by discussing the derailed singer’s … Continue reading →

A Child’s Stages of Thinking about What It Means to Be Adopted

In their book Inside Transracial Adoption, Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall (both adoptive parents) look at attitudes toward adoption in general, and then transracial adoption in particular, as going through several stages. Steinberg and Hall name these stages as: Pre-Conscious, Contact, Disintegration, Internalization, Immersion/Emerging. The authors look at what these stages might mean for the adoptee, adoptive parent and birthparent. I will try to give a brief and easy-to-read summary here some of what they say about issues of adopted children, then my next blog will discuss adoptive parents. In the Pre-Conscious Stage, the child knows only his/her own family … Continue reading →

Parent or Psychologist?

I am quite certain that I am not saying anything shocking here when I put forth the proposition that a huge percentage of a parent’s “work” is dedicated to family psychology—here we thought it was all going to be about love, nurturing, and a little discipline. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I am really a parent or if I am an amateur psychologist… So much of living with and raising my three children has been about trying to figure out the “why” of what they are doing, and trying to help them find their way in the world. Motivation, … Continue reading →

Identify Your Triggers

There is a great deal of psychology that goes along with parenting–and it is not just child psychology. We have to dig down and understand some of our own issues and personal psychology in order to be effective, present, parents. It is quite easy to blame our children for all the tussles and miscommunication, but the fact is, we bring our own triggers and issues into our interactions with our children too. If you can identify your own triggers, you may be able to maintain control and be less likely to get into power struggles with your children. Additionally, owning … Continue reading →

Marriage Counseling-Part 3- How to Choose a Therapist or Psychologist

When searching for a good Marriage Therapist there are a few ways you can go about it. · Heath Insurance Check your provider list for a Therapist in your area who will take your insurance · Referral Ask around. Many family members or friends either have had a personal experience with a Therapist or know others that could help provide a recommendation. · Yellow Pages or Internet Search Many Therapists advertise their services locally and information is readily available for you. Fees Most Therapists will offer a sliding scale where fees are concerned. This means that they will ask you … Continue reading →

Will This Couple Stay Together?

When we go to a wedding or hear about an engagement, we all wonder will they make it? Will that couple stay together? We’ll think about all the things they’ve done together and all the things they’ve shared and we think about it. We can’t help it, especially those of us who have grown up seeing our parents, parents of our friends divorcing. I, myself, grew up raised by a single mother and my grandmother. My grandfather died before I was born and I never knew my father. A study was discussed recently in Psychology Today that found many a … Continue reading →

The Day My RAD Daughter Got Her Way.

The sad part about watching a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder live life is knowing that things are not as bad as the child seems to respond. I’m sure that all children are different and children with RAD are not all the same, but some of these behaviors are considered classic. It seems that a child with RAD is simply unable to just be happy and trust that life will be fine. It’s as if there is always some quest for something, anything and especially whatever has been controlled or limited. Tell my daughter that in our house we don’t … Continue reading →

Surviving Unemployment

We work not only to provide for our families, but also to fulfill a sense of purpose. Facing unemployment can be devastating financially as well as personally. Take a look at the following steps designed to help you survive unemployment. 1.Don’t beat yourself up. In most cases, unemployment is not the result of any personal failing. Many good, hard-working people find themselves facing unemployment at some point in their career. Rather than beat yourself up, take an objective look at your situation. For example, are you employed by a dying industry, are you the victim of a merger, do you … Continue reading →