Chutzpah

The article “Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited” published by the New York Times on December 8, 2019 was heartfelt as it pertained to World War 11. This essay depicts the chutzpah of Helen and David both Auschwitz survivors.

Back in, 1942 in Auschwitz, David Wisnia, age 17 and Helen Spitzer age 25 first met. Both were prisoners but held” favorable” positions in this death camp. David’s father was opera loving which influenced David’s singing talent. Even though he was forced to collect the bodies of prisoners that had committed suicide by clinging to electrified fences, David was chosen to sing for his captors. Helen became ill when assigned to grueling demolition work. When it was discovered that she was a graphic artist, Helen was assigned to office work. She was then able to “move freely” in and around the camp.

Helen spotted David. They became friends and lovers over the next few months. In fact, both secretly met in an area surrounded by the piled high street clothes of prisoners. Helen hired fellow prisoners to stand guard and watch for approaching SS officers. When they learned they would be soon be moved and separated because of approaching allies, they made a plan to meet, after the war, at a community center in Warsaw.

It’s clear that these two individuals met in deplorable conditions in an ugly time in world history. However, their needs for  Affiliation-to please and win affection; Nurturance-to help, support, console, protect, and comfort; Sex- have sexual intercourse; and Succorance-to be loved,  supported, sustained, protected, guided were met by their union. What also helped them survive was their ability to plan for a future.

Viktor Frankel, in his concentration camp experience, wrote about the life saving power of looking to the future. Having a future meant that one had significant, meaningful need related goals. These goals were difficult to attain and had barriers and obstacles that had to be overcome. The completion of goal achievement resulted in only positives and satisfaction.

While on separate death marches, both managed escapes. Fortunately, for David, he was rescued by the United States 101 Airborne. He was adopted by this unit and was instrumental in translation and interrogation while caring a machine gun dressed in an army uniform. Travelling through Austria, he and his unit made it to Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden. Helen, after escaping, made her way to Bratislava, Slovakia. From there she was involved in smuggling Jews across borders, helping refugees in the underground movement while moving across Eastern Europe and Palestine.

Helen traveled to Warsaw waiting for David. He never showed. She married in 1945 and was involved in distributing food among refugees; going on missions through the United Nations, and going to Peru, Bolivia and Indonesia. She also became a subject for various historians in detailing the horrors of Auschwitz and moved to New York. David, arrived in Hoboken in 1946. He married, became Vice President of Sales for the Wonderland of Knowledge Corporation and had four children and six grandchildren.

Finally, they met 72 years later. Helen, lost her husband in 1996; became bedbound and was becoming blind and deaf. Their reunion lasted about two hours. She told David that she saved him five times from being shipped. David sang to her the song that she taught him in Auschwitz. They never met again and she died last year at the age of 100.

The story of Helen and David demonstrated the power and significance of psychological needs, their emotional component and behavior. This power or drive transcended objectivity, rational thought and influenced behavioral choices. Both of these humans were taken from their homes and placed in inhumane conditions. Their dignity was stripped while they were guarded and abused by humans with rifles and dogs. They witnessed death, disease, starvation, suicide, cruelty and irrationality along with disrespectful religious prejudiced behavior. In spite of their horrific environmental conditions, they risked further abuse and most probably death. Viewing their behavior objectively and rationally, one concludes that their behavior was dangerous and reckless to say the least. Simply put, the strength and dominance of their needs accompanied by emotions dominated their thinking, fantasies, verbal and physical behavior regardless of their environmental circumstances. Let me repeat, a fixation of a psychological need supersedes and becomes dominant irrespective of reality.

Helen especially, demonstrated in Auschwitz and later on, the following attributes based on her character. 1. She accomplished what some might say the impossible by overcoming the barriers related to other human beings 2. She remained loyal to David and other humans by her charitable work 3. She was able to effectively act on impulse 4. She mastered and overcame many obstacles and difficulties 5. She was able to gain control over her environment 6. She made an impression and was able to excite others 7. She was able to give sympathy and gratify the needs of others as well as to the help, support, and console, protect and comfort as well 8. She was able to separate self from an amoral environment 9. She was able to continue to have a sexual life 10. She was able to gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust by her involvement with historians.

Their story points to the profound and significant importance in connecting with another during times of man’s inhumanity to man. Obviously, not all significant unions occurred in times of war. Their story demonstrated the power and importance of a human connection. Many memories and fantasies are retained and played over and over in one’s psyche. The strength and significance of the connection held firm regardless of no ongoing interaction.

Both David and Helen, despite emotional scars of the concentration camp, survived and lived productive lives. Through the catharsis of telling her story to the historians, allowed her to demonstrate an understanding, nurturance, succorance in giving to others. David, became a Cantor at a Temple and had a son who became a rabbi. David was able to express aggression by his association with 101 Airborne and achieved success. His English became perfect as he identified with his American way of life.

PS

Freddy Mayer, after fleeing Germany as a teenager, enlisted in the U.S. Army and went back to fight the Nazis. He parachuted into Nazi occupied Austria, impersonated a Wehrmacht officer, and helped Allied bombers target Nazis supply trains. He also facilitated the sabotage of a secret Messerschmitt airplane factory and was captured and tortured by the Gestapo. As their prisoner, he was beaten bloody and had a punctured eardrum and missing teeth. He convinced his captors that rather than killing him they should surrender to him. They did and that allowed the advancing American army to capture the entire Austrian Tyrol without firing a shot. More about Freddy can be found in “Return to the Reich-a Holocaust Refugees Secret Mission to Defeat the Nazis.”

Go Blue

One of Jim Harbaugh’s current issues is about his legacy. Jim was hired at the end of 2014 by the University of Michigan to beat Ohio State and turn Michigan’s football program around. Up to that point, Ohio State had whipped the Wolverines in four straight games. By the end of the 2019 regular football season, the Buckeyes have now won nine straight football games. Not only could Harbaugh’s team not be victorious over Urban Meyer’s team, they could not beat first year coach Ryan Day in that 2019 game. This essay focuses on the psychological factors affecting the Wolverines and ideas for a change in results.

Jim Harbaugh had been a good coach in the NFL and at the college ranks. Urban Meyer had been a terrific college coach and has attained three national championships. Some may argue that Meyer was a better coach and had more exceptional players than Jim Harbaugh.

This rivalry has been unprecedented in college football. 50 years ago, in 1969, the number 1 Ohio State Buckeyes were 17 ½ point favorites over the Wolverines. The matchup was between Woody Hayes and his protégé, first year coach Bo Schembechler. For those that remember, coach Schembechler was hired because in 1968 Woody Hayes’ team demolished Bump Elliott’s squad 50-14. Sadly, Bump Elliott passed on December 7, in Iowa.

Schembechler bested Hayes and the ten year rivalry began. Both coaches are coaching legends at their respective schools. In fact, Jim Harbaugh was an All-American quarterback for Schembechler and Harbaugh’s father Jack coached for Schembechler. Urban Meyer was an assistant coach for the Buckeyes in 1986 and was named as their head coach in November, 2011.

The recent Michigan football history is as follows regarding Ohio State. The Buckeyes were victorious against the Wolverines in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Harbaugh first year competition against the Buckeyes was in 2015. In 2015, at the half, Ohio State had a narrow 14 to 10 lead; in 2016, OSU won in two overtime’s; in 2017, the two teams were tied at halftime 14-14 with OSU finally winning 31 to 20; the 2018 score was 62-39; and the 2019 score was 56-27.

Although it can be argued that OSU has better football coaching and more exceptional players than the Wolverines, that argument is for another day. Michigan’s teams under Harbaugh have been nationally ranked but obviously have not played up to their potential with the exception of the 2016 game that ended in two overtimes. Taking a look at the previous last nine years psychologically, this is the reality. Michigan has a significant history of losing their most important rivalry game. Furthermore, coach Harbaugh was brought in to tame OSU. With that being said, Harbaugh has a tremendous amount of anxiety and anger with the mention of OSU and his failure to win. A layperson might call it pressure or stress. Harbaugh may deny, distort, rationalize or avoid thoughts of his anxiety or uneasiness. However, it is there whether he realizes it or not. His anxiety, like a ripple effect, expresses itself in frustration, temper, anger, abruptness, intolerance, impulsivity and is likely externalized toward some object or person. Not only is his coaching staff but his players are affected as well by his personality.

Like all achievement oriented competitors, Harbaugh, his staff and his players have a fear of failure in which they attempt to compensate for this dreaded experience. All the Wolverines have developed expectancies for success with their football achievement. Now, with the history of being soundly defeated, their expectancy for success against OSU has been severely diminished and deflated. They may brag about beating OSU but that’s just a cover or a denial for feelings of inferiority, being second best and an expectation of losing. One’s positive expectations are both important and necessary for optimal motivation and success. They are not afraid of OSU because fear is a transparent and an objective danger. They don’t expect to die, experience some physical danger, or lose a scholarship. It’s about anxiety that is hidden, subjective and mentally carried around. To be successful, one has to be able to recognize and then lower the anxiety level.

When there is a tremendous amount of anxiety, some attempt to escape their anxiety by avoiding situations, thoughts or feelings which might arouse their anxiety. With attempted avoidance of dealing with anxiety, the avoidance operates automatically with an inhibition. Inhibitions, are an attempt to avoid anxiety, and results in the difficulty to do, feel or think effectively.  Inhibitions are often experienced mentally with fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness, weakness, and/or the feeling of strain. Unfortunately, individuals that are unaware have little capacity for overcoming the inhibitions by a conscious effort. Too much anxiety commonly seen in sports has been called “choking”. Inhibitions can affect player performance or failure in many ways. Physically, they don’t and are unable to run as fast as they can; they don’t catch the pass that they normally do, nor are they able to tackle and block as they are capable.  Cognitively, they make mental mistakes like being called for penalties; they miss assignments and are in the wrong player assignment position; they forget the plays and are unable to focus as clearly because of too much anxiety and/or the development of inhibition. In essence, they don’t play their best, but play or perform poorly. Too much anxiety is deadly as far as sports performance. The Wolverines, under Harbaugh, have played poorly in the second half of their football games with the Buckeyes with the exception of the one game in 2016.

Some might say what about 50 years ago when the Wolverines upset the mighty Buckeyes? Psychologically there were significant differences. 1. Yes, the 1968 Wolverines that played and watched that game were humiliated. Now, for these Wolverines we have a motive for revenge. They were able to control their anxiety and use fear of failure to their advantage as far as conditioning and buying into Bo’s unorthodox conditioning and coaching ways. 2. Significant recruiting by Bump brought to Ann Arbor outstanding competitors. At the time, freshmen were not allowed to play varsity football.  So, talented sophomores contributed during the season and in that historic game. 3. There was not a culture of anxiety and low expectations. Instead, Bo Schembechler was the new coach, with a new coaching staff and the new athletic director was Don Canham. 4. That 69 team, starting with the Minnesota game, demolished the rest of their opponents that season. Their talent, their expectations, their motivation and their coaching all came together for that important game. 5. Competitiveness, accomplishments were strong while fear of failure and anxiety were held in check.  There was not too much anxiety nor too little anxiety.  The anxiety level was just right- just like Goldilocks tasting the porridge.

In essence, the University of Michigan football program suffers from humiliating defeats by Ohio State. The football culture requires change especially the athletic department, the head coach and the assistant coaches. There’s too much pressure and anxiety at the moment when it comes to thinking, feeling and performing against Ohio State. Sport psychologists and football consultants-former players and coaches to assist coach Harbaugh and his staff are necessary to assist him to better utilize his players physical and emotional strength. Likewise, sport psychologists for incoming recruits and existing players are also necessary to assist with their emotional and cognitive functioning. The influx of mental health and other football minds might be able to present cognitively new and differing ideas as well as employing mental health principles to combat the low expectation level, fear of failure and anxiety that prevents optimal playing against the rival Ohio State.

Birthdays

Wayne, in response to your response, reaching the eighth decade of my life allows me to contemplate mortality. The train has left the station and the window is closing in so many categories. Recent passing of my friends like Denny, Jim, Jack and Jonathan are reinforcements. To maintain my being, I continue to focus on my passions in life which center on achieving, competing, avoiding failure while keeping mentally and physically sound. I run - walk every day approaching a weekly 50 miles per week. I enter trail run competitions and write a weekly essay pertaining to my interests which are well-being, motivation, aggression, anxiety, nature of man etc.

 I continue on goal setting, expectations, and achieving as opposed to chasing happiness. I like the challenges and the rewards that follow success. Every time I run, I’m aware of keeping my head upright, looking ahead, swinging both arms, heavy breathing while running the hills. Hill running is becoming more difficult which puts me daily in touch with my mortality. I intend to continue running-jogging, walking Training Hill, Main Bar etc. until I can’t or per Tony “find an excuse.” Keep moving remains the mantra.

Regarding birthdays, 19 years ago I joined former Ride and Tie competitors Tom, Tony, Chris, Jeff, Chuck, Jim, Becky, Melissa, Robert, Kathy and others for a birthday trail run followed by a brunch. Lately, some run and some walk. This year’s likely to be the same.

Linda has recovered nicely from her shoulder replacement surgery. Her being out of pain, has been a relief for the both of us. My sister Bev suggested we meet in Orlando on January 1 to watch the Wolverines play Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. Haven’t decided as of yet. Unfortunately, our film project is stalled at the moment. That’s a disappointment presently. Hopefully, we will re -start after the first of the year.

Keep in touch and keep moving all your body parts. . ….I’m grateful we are together marching with the passing of time.

PS

Dr. Wayne is also a psychologist. He has been my friend since Denby High school in Detroit. We both received our PhD’s from Wayne State University in the 70s. I’m honored to have him as a lifelong friend.

Relieved

Sara Hall, age 36, is a world-class runner married to Ryan Hall a former world-class runner. They reside and train in Flagstaff, Arizona at a 7,000 feet elevation level. The November 3, 2019 article “A Runner Refuses to Stop Racing “in the New York Times highlighted her running ability. This marathon runner limits the time between events. She’ll run a marathon and then run another event within two months.

The article pointed out that other world-class runners like Meb Keflezigi at age 36 ran the New York marathon and 69 days later won the 2012 Olympic trials. Sarah’s short downtime between races has been advocated by her husband- coach. Sarah began this training approach in 2015. For example, she qualified for the US cross-country team and then 13 days later entered a marathon in China but was not happy with her 2:48:02 time. She said “I’m not taking a break.” Since that time she has done very well with this approach. For instance, in 2017 she ran a 2:27:21 Frankfurt Marathon in Germany and then 35 days later ran a 2:28 minute win In the California International Marathon. She said one of her greatest motivations “fearing failure.”

Sara claimed to know how her body recovers.  She will run a competitive marathon and then run a shorter race afterwards. She also includes marathon running workouts in her training. Perhaps this young elite runner has other strategies for protecting her body as well. Sara, per the Nike commercial “Just Do It,” I would add “While You Can.”

About 4 to 6 weeks ago, I developed discomfort in my left knee. After a few days of using ibuprofen, I visited my primary care doctor. Dr. Dan suggested that I continue resting for 10 days and continue using ibuprofen. I told him I wanted an X-ray, an MRI and a referral to Dr. V a sports medicine physician who replaced Linda’s shoulder.

After three or four days, I went on the elliptical, discontinued the ibuprofen and then continued my running again. This time I was more tentative, reduced my running distance and ran primarily on the level street. I did not experience discomfort again and over the past month I slowly increased my running distance. The x-ray was negative and the MRI’s finding suggested that I either damaged my medial meniscus or that damage was from my previous meniscus surgery. I still didn’t know the extent of the knee injury and was looking forward to meeting Dr. V.

I met Dr. V and a resident, on a Friday, I told them that I was running up to 8 miles a day without any pain. Dr. V told me that although I had some arthritis there was very little damage to my meniscus. He said that if I develop a problem later on, he would take care of it. He also said for me to resume what I normally do. The next day, was Saturday, and I ran much more relaxed. It was as if the burden and fear was lifted from my shoulders as I ran faster and walked less.

Sara, in my 60s, I ran 50 milers at Jed Smith on the first week in February and then about five weeks later ran the Way Too Cool 50 k‘s. In my 70s, on January 1, I entered the Resolution Run-a 10 mile trail run. I followed that with either a 50 K Jed Smith event in February or another 50 K called the Folsom Lake at the end of February. This past year I only ran The Resolution Run and the Jed Smith event as a result of a previous overuse injury. This coming year I intend to run the Resolution Run and will then decide where to go from there.

PS

Tony and I talked about the upcoming Resolution Run. He indicated that he might have to run a shorter distance this year. For the last five months or so, he hasn’t been running because he was building his home on Whidbey Island.

Age of Hostility

The article titled “Let’s Wage a War on Loneliness” was timely based on my recent essay that pertained to the denial, fear, and anxiety of being alone. This current article was published in the November 10, 2019 edition of the New York Times. Loneliness is a symptom of an illness in our Republic as we live in an Age of Hostility. We have been at war since 9/11; lead the world in incarceration rates; lead the world in the number of guns per capita; lead the world in number of homicides;  threatened by  terrorist and homeland attacks;  epidemic of opiate related deaths; lead the world in unevenness  of income; have more than 500,000 homeless;  exhibit  unfair employment  opportunities; high rates of   depression and  teen suicide ;  witness verbal and physical  attacks on different  political, religious, ethnic points of view;   continue to deal with the Roe vs Wade craziness; have  increasingly large numbers of hate groups;  have  excessive  social media, cable TV , film and radio  sadistic abuses; view excessive violent commercials and electronic games; use  of aggressive speech like “lock her up” and even the title “Let’s Wage a  War on Loneliness” depicts hate, prejudice, violence and hostility. These are just a few examples of disrespectful language and sadistic behavior exhibited by man toward man in our culture and suggest that the socialization of civility practices have failed.

Although the Existentialist Barrett expertly expressed man’s nature in the following: “the individual is thrust out of the sheltered nest that society has provided. He can no longer hide his nakedness by the old disguises….. He learns that the solitude of the self is an irreducible dimension of human life no matter how completely that self-had seemed to be contained in the social milieu. In the end, he sees each man as solitary and unsheltered before his own death”; it is clear that some are able to form interpersonal relationships better than others despite this reality.

It’s true that culture has a tremendous impact on the motives, goals, ideals and values that affect man’s needs and motives and/ or socialization. It is also clear that by preschool age, psychological differences and characteristics are present and are predictive of future adolescent and adult behavior. For example preschool children have been described as highly active, outgoing, boisterous, independent, explorative, curious, and adventurous. Other preschool children have been described as passive, dependent, shy, aggressive, and withdrawing. We also know that child’s personality, values, attitudes etc. are heavily influenced by parents who reside in that particular culture of hostility.

The need or motive that propels an individual toward other individuals has been described by Murray as the need for Affiliation. In order to have a friend, one “has to be near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate with an allied other.” It is clear that one would have to have positive experiences and reinforcements coupled with positive feelings toward another. Further, one has to “please and win affection of a cathected object.” Once again, one has to be able to navigate as well as to approach and avoid certain conflicts. This would take some degree of the development of empathy, care, respect and emotional strength. Also, one has to “adhere and remain loyal to a friend.” This suggests that despite perceived slights or disapproval one has enough ego strength in order to work through various disappointments, lies and injustices. In other words, one has to have important personality characteristics in establishing friends and friendships in an attempt to fulfill the need for union with another. Important personality characteristics are found within the emotional level. Emotions affects all perceptions. No one or the other are perfect. All humans have deficits or flaws. Yet, it is possible, for many, to develop unions despite various emotional limitations, conflicts and non - satisfying encounters.

Unfortunately, there are many physical and verbal violence and attacks on others. This toxic behavior runs rampant in our culture and severely affects the personality development of all individuals. Individuals brought up in this culture, pass characteristics on to their offspring and so forth. No one is immune from the dominance and impact of culture on its citizens. The newspaper article highlighted strategies developed by the current Minister of Loneliness in Great Britain to deal with this condition.

Various programs implemented in Great Britain are based on superficial techniques and not on various emotional needs or causes. They have slogans and campaigns like “Let’s Talk Loneliness.” Also, they provided small grants to local gardening clubs, birdwatching groups and others so they can invite people to join. They also support “friendly benches” which are public benches where people are encouraged to go and chat with one another.

Although these programs are well intended they do not address individual need structures. We can identify individuals at an early age that are likely to be lonely and have fears and anxiety of interacting with others. However our tax monies go to Defense; building a wall; putting immigrants and their children in separate cages; and maybe providing healthcare for our warriors. Just think of all the funding of monies by lobbyists for special interests, for corporations and even to re-elect our politicians. We can have a so called war on drugs but not a war on loneliness. I would reframe and not use the word” war” but instead use the word “alleviate “or” solve. “

It’s not surprising that many individuals fear and avoid others in this Age of Hostility.  Many individuals are sadomasochistic, narcissistic, impulsive, revengeful, prejudiced, mean, disrespectful, defected conscience – with moral limitations, argumentative, defensive, anxious, neurotic, demeaning, not truthful and non-trustworthy. It’s just not safe to be with many individuals that don’t seem to care one bit for another. Withdrawing into self, using drugs are just some of the behaviors that affect the loneliness epidemic. Certainly living in our culture of hostility affects personality development in negative or toxic ways for all concerned. As a result, our Republic is significantly affected. To treat our sick Republic, the necessary medicine required is for an adjustment in the attitude and behavior of its citizens that will result in changing the culture.     

Escaping Isolation

Man enters our Milky Way galaxy alone, small, insignificant with unmet physiological requirements, anxiety or tension levels and unable to survive on his own. This essay pertains to the difficulty of being alone and man’s attempts to escape his isolation. Because of man’s design, such factors  as primary drives, needs, activation levels, reinforcement patterns, expectations and of course anxiety are  a few key components in understanding man’s psychology.

We begin life alone, dependent, helpless and with anxiety and/or tension activation levels. If not for another, we are unable to survive. Our basic physiological drives for food and water are examples. We are unable to meet those requirements, without a caretaker. Beginning in this fragile state, the infant, at first, is not able to associate or discriminate exactly how the anxiety or tension levels are reduced. But with development, he begins to form a cognitive schematic, and begins to associate and develop expectations for a reduction or increase in activation levels of comfort or discomfort. The infant clearly learns  that being alone is associated with anxiety, tension {non pleasure} and non-survival; and being with another can be associated with less anxiety, tension {pleasure} and survival. Erickson refers to the stage as developing a sense of trust versus a sense of mistrust. Consistency and regularity with feeding, diapering, touching, talking to, affectionate responses etc. are important characteristics for the caretaker. Caretaker responses can also be irregular, punishing, rejecting, disparaging attitudes, non-kept promises, inconsistent, rough, loud, withholding, overprotective etc. So, what we have here is conflictual since the baby does not nor ever have the full attention or optimum care provided by the caretaker. As a result, of the many positive and negative reinforcement schedules, a cognitive expectancy or pattern of likely expectations or outcomes becomes developed and engrained in the psyche of the youngster. In other words, he experience positives and negatives within interpersonal interactions. Regardless, all humans develop and require needs - strategies to escape the anxiety produced feelings of isolation, helplessness and rejection.

As a result of man’s isolation vulnerability and anxious state, one manner of escape becomes the need for affiliation. Affiliation, becomes, for the infant a major building block for one’s survival. According to Murray, the need for affiliation is related to enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate with an allied other; please and win affection of another; and to remain loyal to a friend. With separation from the other, the results include the activation of anxiety and tension levels. Of course other psychological needs, and strategy behaviors or defenses are established to combat the requirement for survival too.

Within this context, if the interpersonal interactions become dysfunctional, the individual learns to withdraw, isolate and be unavailable with others resulting in a neurotic adjustment to life; or he learns to be aggressive, sadomasochistic, dominant, exploitative, passive and narcissistic in his establishment for power and prestige with others along with control and possessiveness in his interpersonal interactions. On the other hand, if the interpersonal interactions tend to become pleasurable with anxiety or tension reduction activation levels, the individual learns to experience affection, caring, respect, admiration, nurturance, and support in its interactions with another. Of course, there’s various depth and degrees of expression of these three general behavioral orientations. Obviously there’s no pure form or expression of these three orientations. However, it appears that the orientation to inflict pain on others predominates man’s behavior as evidenced by wars, murder rates, incarceration statistics, criminal justice violations, divorce and social media dialogue. The loving and withdrawing orientations behavior follow in frequency and kind.  Also entering the equation is the positive and/or negative reinforcement behavior of the caretaker or caretakers as well as the many interpersonal life positive and/or negative reinforcement experiences or history that follows. Regardless of one’s experience of negative outcomes, there’s still a push toward another encounter with another with the hope and illusion and expectation for a different outcome. Ones thinking process and behavior can also be considered an escape from loneliness or potential loneliness.

 Denying or distorting, the reality of insignificance, powerlessness, and loneliness prevails. It should be apparent that each individual brings to every interaction or union, an unconscious fear, anxiety or tension of being alone and the imperative need for attachment with another in the quest for survival as evidenced man’s active and/or passive behavior. That unconscious quest for survival is built-in based on our design by the underlying anxiety or tension component that has been exacerbated by the need structure of the individual. Another escape myth is that only “love” or “sex” or attachment to another can resolve this unconscious dilemma or fear. Other escape illusions, compensations and strategies to combat isolation include marriage, children, God, religion, politics, pets and other identifications. Additional escapisms to combat isolation include but not limited to are seeking drugs, using alcohol and food to reduce the anxiety activation levels. In essence, the solitude of life, or man’s nature, is an irreducible dimension of human life regardless of the many defenses, illusions and behaviors employed.

PS

A few other psychological needs generated by anxiety, insecurity and helplessness include but are not limited to  sex, abasement, personal achievement, nurturance, prestige, admiration etc. These additional need factors paint a more complete picture of the nature of Homo sapiens.

Being Healthy

Recently, Paul and I got into a discussion regarding health. Even though he is overweight, he argued that he was healthy based on  recent test results, low blood pressure and conversations with his doctor. I argued that being overweight was associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, senility, depression etc. With this in mind, an October 27, 2019 article in the New York Times “Obesity is a population-size crisis in Western countries-but it’s a problem that may resist population-wide solution “was pertinent to our discussion. This essay focuses on the variables associated with being healthy.

The New York Times article pointed out that obesity was like cancer. Obesity is about biology, behavior, society, and culture which makes research difficult. We know that the same diet affects even identical twins differently. Also, it was pointed out that research regarding red meat and processed meats are controversial. One researcher at the National Institute of Health compared ultra-processed food [accounts for roughly 57% of the American diet] with non-processed foods. Results of this particular study suggested that limited consumption of ultra-processed food may be an effective strategy for obesity, prevention and treatment.

However, there were many criticisms of this particular study that included: it was too short to observe the metabolic and behavioral changes; it was done in a lab compared to field research; and it did not take to account for many other variables like lifestyle. In essence, to do a proper study which takes into account controlling the many variables and using a universal or random population is expensive and not likely to happen unless government funds the research.

I suggest incorporating additional relevant variables and taking a more encompassing and healthy approach than limited to diet alone. Yes, diet is extremely important. However, let’s take a glimpse at how Centenarians approach life. Reaching 100 is a clear cut definition of health. We already know that this group has been studied by a number of researchers. In fact Howard’s book “How to Live to 100 Years Old: 16 Lifestyle Characteristics of the Oldest and Healthiest People in the World” provided one model for evaluating important variables related to longevity. His findings: 1. Have low blood sugar 2. Have low blood pressure 3. Have low blood total cholesterol 4. Keep weight low and steady [BMI from 18.5 to 25] 5. Eat fewer calories 6. Eat mostly vegetarian with coffee and tea 7. Take your vitamins 8. Exercise regularly, be active and stay busy after retirement 9. Don’t smoke or stop smoking if you do 10. Drink less alcohol 11. Get regular restful sleep 12. Have healthy gums 13. Challenge your mind, stay positive in attitude and avoid anxiety and depression 15 Shed those stressors, have daily structure and be resilient 16. Stay socially connected with serenity and a purpose to life.

Let’s face it, all research studies are flawed. They are compromised because no study employed a representative sample of the population. Each study has findings which can be generalized to represent only the particular sample utilized. It’s just too expensive, to select a random sample. We also know, that obesity is related to diet and the likelihood that processed meats are not healthy is just one aspect of being overweight. With that being said, Howard’s research on Centenarians is subject to the same criticism of randomness. However, his research incorporated many parameters of these Centenarians. In his study, healthiness was defined as  being  physically healthy; emotionally healthy; employing healthy habits with discipline and stick- to- it- ness; and surrounding oneself in a healthy community. In essence, the 16 characteristics of the Centenarians seemed reasonable. Even if one employed the 16 characteristics, there is no guarantee of reaching 100 years.

It’s obvious that superlative health can be achieved by some. It’s also obvious, that going on that “magic” diet alone does not solve the present obesity crisis affecting about 40% of the adults and about 19% of the children and adolescents in the United States. Healthiness is based on many factors including what we eat. Reaching 100 is a realistic and measurable definition for being healthy.  My ride and  tie, endurance and running friend Paul has made a good start, has lost weight, but, according to Howard’s research, has more choices to make regarding his health.

Hate Speech

The October 6, 2019 article “Free Speech Is Killing Us” found in the New York Times was certainly relevant. This article addressed noxious speech found on social media and the ineffective stance taken by the media giants and the politicians regarding limits. Numerous examples of physical violence and murder were given that recently took place in our country as well as the 1993 -1994 genocide in Rwanda were cited. Should our government and social media platforms be held accountable for allowing the spreading of false, hateful and noxious speech?

Some might say that free speech is protected by our First Amendment. Others might say that the First Amendment does not apply to private companies; and the Constitution does not guarantee it to them. Others might say that not all free speech is protected such as 1. Libel 2. Incitement to violence and 3. Child pornography. Further, what about noxious speech that drives a woman out of her workplace; rhetoric that correlates with hate crimes; speech that bullies a teenager into committing suicide; or words that influences democracy in the direction of totalitarianism?

Others point to the 14^th amendment which guarantees full citizenship and equal protection to all Americans including those who are harmed by hate speech? Do you protect just the hater or the distributor of noxious incitement and not protect the victim or victims of such derogatory behavior? The Christchurch gunmen for example wrote a number of negative posts and indicated on one “that it was now time to make a real-life effort post.” He murdered 52 people.

Make no but doubt about it, hate and noxious speech can be defined. Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos have been barred from all major social media platforms. There are plenty of inappropriate hateful online posts that come from a variety of sites in and out of our country. The government’s responsibility is to protect its people. Protect the people now. Do your job.

There are many variables that result in causing one individual to hurt another. Let’s not use a parataxic mode of thinking and believing the power of one post and its resultant causing someone to kill another. However, it’s true that “sticks and stones can break one’s bones.” However it’s not true “that names will never hurt me.” It’s also true that “hate can evoke feelings of animosity, anger or resentment which can be directed against certain individuals groups or entities.” Hate also is associated with violent antipathy. The unpleasant emotion and behavior of hate (revenge}, and if it’s a character trait, is a real threat to our political process, our Republic, and to our well-being. There’s too much sadomasochistic behavior {the tendency to derive pleasure, from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others} present on social media from known and unknown sources. Let’s come together to protect the recipients of hateful rhetoric that’s all too common in social media. Protecting recipients from unhealthy words affect well-being. Protection is not only constitutional but it’s also one of the 10 commandments “thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” I thought this country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Am I naïve?

Effectance Motivation

Originally, Alfred Adler was part of Freud’s inner circle. Dr. Adler broke from Freud and with his theory he placed more emphasis on the ego and the dynamics of social interaction. Dr. Adler, in doing so, developed his own school of individual psychology. Adler wrote about family interactions as well as the development for potentially good behavior like affiliation, nurturance, empathy as well as the potential for bad outcomes like sadomasochism.  This essay incorporated only three of his pertinent motivational concepts- Striving  for Superiority, Style  of Life  and Social Interest while explaining aspects of my behavior.

Striving for Superiority, was viewed by Adler, as either imaginary or real. It emerged in order to compensate for either some bodily weakness or some sense of emotional inferiority or insecurity. He hypothesized that all newborns enter the world tiny, weak, helpless, and dependent on the caretaker for survival. To him this meant that all newborns begin life with a generalized view of inferiority or anxiety. As a result, the innate psychic task was in place to compensate for this weakness. It did so by striving for superiority or mastery in order to overcome this deficit to develop one’s personality in attaining possible completion.

As a young child, I received a medical diagnosis of asthma. This diagnosis explained my difficulty with breathing. I was cautioned not to exert myself physically. I was also not allowed to leave the house when the air quality was bad. This deficit was real. Eventually, I compensated and overcame my breathing difficulty and physical weakness by engaging in PE and in pickup games of basketball, baseball and football during my later elementary and junior high school years. In order to become physically stronger, I lifted free weights. In fact, I became a lot stronger and had my brother and friends hand me the barbell for bench presses. It took a lot of them to pick up and hand me 350 pounds so that I could bench press. I also performed 30 chin-ups within a minute as well as 60 push-ups within a minute.

As an adolescent, I played football for the Denby Tars which was one of the or the dominant high school team in the city of Detroit. I earned honors and was awarded a football scholarship to play for the University of Detroit Titans. I pushed myself physically and athletically to control and dominate those one-on-one battles during practice and in the games. This could be explained as a striving for superiority, excellence and effectance. Of course, expending tremendous amounts of psychic and physical energy, having a myopic purpose, with realistic goal setting were important and necessary at that time.

Years later, in my late 30s, I began running and also became involved in the horse world. In my 50s, I discovered a sport called Ride and Tie. This sport combined having a human and horse partner. In this sport, I met world-class equestrians-winners in Tevis and Polo competitions and world-class runners-winners in Western States 100 and other nationally sanctioned races.  I also wore my Tevis completion buckle. Once again, expending tremendous energy, dealing with overuse injuries, having a singular focus and realistic goal setting were necessary.

Striving for Superiority  became, in  certain respects, my own particular Style  of Life  as I spent a great deal of time and energy physically conditioning that included  running 50 miles a week on average and riding my horses 50 miles a week on average  so that I could compete in the many running events [age division winner in the 100 Western  States ], endurance competitions and ride and tie [coming in first place in the 100  mile Swanton Pacific  Ride and Tie with my partners]. I ran so I could compete in ride and tie. I competed in endurance rides so my horses would be ready for Ride and Tie. Ride and Tie was my passion, my Striving for Superiority, and my favorite sport. In essence, I incorporated ride and tie behaviors which became my Style of Life.

Social Interest for Adler meant focusing on social welfare – doing well and thinking about mankind in socialized ways instead of self-serving or narcissistic interests. It’s not about fame, leadership, power, self-aggrandizement or political ambitions Once again it’s a matter of using a real or imaginary weakness or deficit as a striving compensation for behavior.

 Returning to the past and school years. At one high school reunion, a longtime friend from elementary school and a high school class officer, told me she remembered me as being really smart. My personification during junior high and high school years were sports and girls. They were certainly more important than academics. Not being motivated in high school academically, I developed an ambivalent attitude about school learning. That negative attitude was a psychic weakness and my drive to overcome for compensation.

It wasn’t until my University years that I got turned on and became passionate about the field of psychology. My Striving for Superiority took that direction in my 20s and 30s as I achieved a BS; two MA’s and a PhD. In part for Social Welfare and giving back, I taught kids, adults, and college students in both the public school, community college and at the University. I practiced psychotherapy with kids, adults and families. I performed research on the ego development of pregnant teens and presented my research findings to a National Psychological Association.

While in “formal” retirement, I wrote two books regarding the motivations of college and professional football athletes and older athletes participating in extreme sports and presented my insights to numerous groups. My Social Interest centers on reading, writing and educating on various health topics. Striving for Superiority ,Style of Life and Social Interest are related to both my emotional and physical well-being. Thank you Dr. Adler for enlightening me to your insights regarding a motivational model for man. For depth, consult: Adler, A. Understanding Life: An Introduction to the Psychology of Alfred Adler.

PS

While  beginning  my eighth decade,  I still run 50 K’s and am considering co- producing a full-length film on racism and sports with my good friend. Adler would call this Fictional Finalism. Is this quest, a striving ideal or a fiction?

Man's Emotional State

It is known that factors affecting security, anxiety and life are forces of nature; realities regarding the frailty of the human body; and the irrational aspects of society.  it can be debated whether or not the advancement of society has contributed to reducing or increasing man’s anxiety which this essay addresses. It’s apparent that there have been tremendous intellectual and technical advances made within the last century. However, it can also be argued that man’s emotional development, based on behavior, has remained in the Stone Age.

Man has been somewhat successful in dealing with nature such as “knowing” the path of hurricanes with its algorithms statistics . Also, we now have apps that inform us regarding the location of fire. In fact, if we lose energy or electricity, we can purchase a generator to alleviate the disruption of our routines. We might even be able to   purchase homeowners insurance that covers earthquakes, flood damage, fire etc. We also can go green by purchasing solar, electric cars etc. However, global warming affects us currently; and the destruction of our planet are predictions for our future. This threat clearly raises the anxiety level of many Homo sapiens despite current feeble political attempts for combating this potential catastrophic problem. With all the “warning” devices, reminded me of the study by Joseph Brady in the 50s. Simply, one group of monkeys were provided with continuous regular scheduled electrical shocks and another group of monkeys learned they could press a lever to avoid the shock. The monkeys with the control [pressing a lever] developed more ulcers than the other group. Better not be a monkey.

Regarding aging, there have been wonderful medical advances including diagnosis, medication, prevention and rehabilitation. Some societies have actually increased the lifespan of their inhabitants. However, other societies, subgroups, and others have done harm to their bodies and in the process shortened their lifespan. Despite all the information regarding health, health plan insurance, diets, food plans, health clubs,  pools and apps that measure physical activity, many people do not do well as evidenced by obesity, various medical  illnesses, alcohol and drug or opioid abuse and the dramatic increase in  homicide and suicide rates. In other words, despite intellectual advancement, man’s emotional, rational thinking and objectivity remain barriers .He prevents optimal living by not taking better care of his body.  For instance, food consumption often serves as a medicinal way of filling emotional needs and voids. The everyday reality is troublesome {anxiety} and that interferes with rational choice as evidenced by mortality statistics. Instead man employs too many every day illusions and rationalizations for effective living

Society and its political divide have created more difficulties. Within the 20th century we had totalitarian regimes and world wars. Democracy came to the rescue during that time. There were a number of reasons for the rise of totalitarian regimes that included, but not limited to an economic depression; humiliation and promises of revenge for a World War I defeat; a character structure that had a deep respect for order, obedience, dependence, suggestibility and authority; persuasive, exploitive, sadistic political figures with their seductive promises and lies of nationalistic strength and ridding society of its others and undesirables. The anxiety, feelings of helplessness and powerlessness factored in and resulted in submission and dependence on a leader that was going to rescue the day. Thus, feelings of anxiety, helplessness, insignificance and inability to control one’s life were psychological factors of the day.

Today, although we are not engaged in a world war, we’ve been at battle in the Middle East since 2001. Like yesterday, we have another current enemy that have been called terrorists, Isis, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria etc. In fact we have been involved in regime change, use of military, tax dollars, and diplomacy to fix that situation. Yet somehow, it can be argued that the powerful have perpetuated these wars to protect their interests-oil and the military-industrial complex with the result of continued stress.

Yesterday, Jews, people of color, LGBT, Gypsies and others were hated and scapegoated and blamed for economic hard times. Today, hate crimes against Jews, immigrants, and Muslims dominate statistically; people of color are also discriminated against; homeless, and refugees leaving their homelands continue to make the news. Walls, refugee camps, National Guard, sadistic remarks, chain-link detention centers etc. are discriminatory strategies to protect. I’m not sure what we’re protecting, but we are scapegoating all the “undesirables” and perpetuating hatred.

Yesterday, we had the great depression and economic hardship. Today, we have the record for the greatest income inequality; loss of manufacturing jobs; trade wars, increasing automation; record numbers of homeless, inadequate minimum wage and absence of benefits affecting many in our society. Yesterday, a high school graduate earned decent wages .Today college debt and being overqualified seem to be the norm. With less worker unions, wage earners have meager protection against the giant corporations with feelings of insignificance and powerlessness.

Yesterday, one had to cower under their school desk, head to the school basement, lineup orderly to walk outside to deal with the threat of fire and nuclear annihilation. Today, the teacher might go to the target range; lock the classroom door; teach her students about hiding places and report suspicious activity among fellow students. Get a gun to protect yourself. Gun violence in schools is one current threat for pupils of the day.

Yesterday, we had the radio and television. Today we have electronics and social media dependence. Don’t leave home without your smart cell phone, iPod, navigation device etc. Not  only are we more dependent on these devices, we are at the mercy of the hacking by some government or individual to take our money, manipulate  our grid, interfere with the  transportation network , mess up our satellites, and raise havoc with our military. This is all scary stuff.

It’s clear to me, that psychologically, anxiety, fears, insignificance, meaning, dependence and submission remain significant today. With that being said, it’s no wonder that narcissistic self-serving, Elmer Gantry type histrionic individuals continue to remain a threat. The Pied Piper of today, like yesterday, has had little difficulty fooling and deceiving his flock based on their unresolved needs. They continue to go along with the program regardless of intelligence, rationality or morality. The faithful remain. Anxiety is one major variable or cause. Man’s cruelness toward man perpetuated by anxiety driven behavior continues regardless of century. The pursuit of security, peace, and happiness continue to be illusions for the masses. Anxiety, worry and fear are still present regardless of the present form of democracy and capitalism.

Male and Female Brain Differences

Researchers studied physiological arousal measured by genital temperature, wetness and swelling among males and females while viewing pornographic video. Subjects were “healthy” adult men and women along with females having different sexual orientations. These researchers employed [f M. R. I.] scans and measured activity differences in the brain. One purpose was to determine if there were brain activity differences between the sexes. The researchers also incorporated 61 previous research studies as well. They found no significant differences between the sexes pertaining to   sexual arousal. Their study also found brain activation in women that revealed similar brain responses to arousal as well as to photos of vomiting or feces. This sameness, opposite or combination was puzzling to say the least and not yet adequately explained.

One question raised, in the article, was why statistically are males the more frequent consumers of pornographic material?  It’s obvious, that arousal is one variable. However, a second variable relates to the behavior or motivation of the individual. One behaviorally can pursue pornographic material in order to become aroused. Of course there are other means for arousal. Second, we know that the age of an individual determines one’s testosterone and estrogen levels and these levels began to diminish in the 20s. Hormonal levels relate to sexual arousal. Third, we know that sexual behavior is affected by attitude, thoughts, feelings, mental health, mental illness, life satisfaction etc.

Turning to the brain, we also know that male and female brains are more alike than different. That cannot be said as far as sexual behavior between the sexes. We also know that the brain can be divided into three sections and sexual arousal is located in the hypothalamus which is located in the archaic brain where there are no significant male or female differences. Most differences, in the brain, are found in the third section -cortex. Within the left hemisphere, males exhibit less impulse control than females. Other executive functions found in the cortex {left hemisphere} include higher cognition, abstract thought, and use of language and social behavior. For females, their left hemisphere is usually their more dominant hemisphere.

 Furthermore, when there are frontal lobe abnormalities, the brain has difficulty regulating such things as inhibition or control of impulses and emotions, planning and organization, movement, overall social and cognitive behavior including judgment, and decision-making. Individuals with antisocial behavior-frontal lobe abnormalities  {more often men] are characterized by increased violence, impaired impulsivity,  poor judgment,  failure to conform to social norms, aggressiveness, disregard for the safety of oneself and others, glibness, inability to feel love and are more deceitful.

Related to arousal and viewing pornography was highlighted in a New York Times article.  For instance, in 1998 there were over 3, 000 reports of child sexual abuse imagery. 10 years later, yearly reports soared past 100,000. In 2017 there were 18.4 million reports that included over 45 million images of videos of child sexual abuse.

Difficulties like not enough funding for the various governmental  agencies  dealing with sexual criminal behavior, encrypted sophistication by social media  criminals, not enough regulations or oversite  by the tech companies, inadequacy or will of politicians, the diversion of government money from one agency to  another ie. Homeland security (to combat immigration], and the inability of all the agencies in keeping pace with the increased levels of abuse.

Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder “pertaining to the act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children as an exclusive method of achieving sexual excitement.” Incarcerated individuals with this diagnosis reported that some engaged in child sexual abuse and then became involved in video and others reported that they initially watched video and then engaged in child sexual abuse. Incidentally, more males are incarcerated than females with this diagnosis.

Arousal, for the sexes, play an important role in human nature. However, the Internet makes it too easy to view pornography. Although there are no apparent arousal differences regarding erotic imagery between the sexes, the following is true: 1. More males have an antisocial behavior diagnosis 2. More males are incarcerated for sexual crimes 3. More males are engaged in online pornography 4. Males have more right hemisphere domination 5. More understanding regarding sexual behavior can be found in the executive functions of the cortex.

References

The New York Times “Men’s and women’s brains show similar responses to erotic imagery. What does that reveal about the deeper mysteries of sexuality?” Found in the September 22, 2019. “Stolen Innocence Gone Viral.” Found in the September 29, 2019 edition.

Cerebral Dominance The Left &. Right Brain found in 2008 Institute for Natural Resources

It's about Winning and Losing

Shortly after the University of Michigan’s football recent loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, a number of individuals called for the firing of head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was also criticized for failing to win a Big Ten championship but more importantly for not being able to best Urban Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes. Urban Meyer stepped down from being their head coach after the past season. However, this year’s Buckeyes team, with its new coach, are currently tied for third place in the AP college football poll while Harbaugh’s Wolverines are ranked 16.

Harbaugh, prior to becoming Michigan’s head coach, was previously the head coach at Stanford from 2007 to 2010. His record at Stanford was 29 wins and 21 losses. Leaving Stanford, he became head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 through 2014. His record with the 49ers was 44 wins, 19 losses, and 1 tie or a .690 winning percentage. His National Football Conference Championship 49er team played in the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens. His 49er squad lost to his older brother John’s Ravens in that game. After last week’s victory, Jim Harbaugh’s record at Michigan stands at 42 wins and 15 losses.

Let’s compare Stanford’s football record from 2011 to 2019. Currently, David Shaw‘s record as Stanford’s head coach stands at 85 wins and 29 losses. While his overall record is better than was Jim Harbaugh’s, it must be pointed out that in his first three years, his record was 34 wins and 7 losses.  Credit must be given to Harbaugh for his recruitment of those players. The San Francisco 49ers head coaches had been Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and currently Kyle Shanahan. Their overall record stands at 30 wins and 47 losses. Clearly, Jim record was significantly better than the array of 49er coaches.

Let’s now take a look at the Ohio State Buckeyes. Urban Meyer’s coaching record from 2012 through 2019 stands at 82 wins and 9 losses. In 2014, the Buckeyes were National Champions. His team also captured three Big Ten titles. Make no mistake about it, Myers record was spectacular. Perhaps, a big part of Meyer success was related in his ability to recruit outstanding high school players to come to Columbus. Just think of the All-Americans under coach Meyer- 19.  Further, 44 OSU players play in the NFL. Plus, Meyers had talented, skilled, offensive players such as Hyde, Miller, Elliott and Haskins to name a few. On the other hand, the Wolverines have 18 of their players playing in the NFL and 8 were All-Americans. Thus from a football achievement standpoint, that nod clearly goes to Meyer’s players.

Make no mistake about it, there are other significant variables that account for a football teams won and loss success but are beyond the scope of this essay. For example, what about the coaching continuity prior to the hiring of Harbaugh and Meyer as well as within their coaching tenure? The Buckeyes  have had more coaching continuity. Second, was Meyer’s offensive and defensive philosophy better suited for college football than Harbaugh’s? Third, which coach had better developed their player’s football potential? Fourth, which coach had better developed their player’s personality for life after football? Fifth, which coach developed a greater team camaraderie among its players? Sixth, which coach made a greater impact on the personal lives of their players? Seventh, which coach had more wins in their first three seasons-players recruited from the previous coach?  Meyer’s record was 38 wins and 3 losses while Harbaugh’s was 28 wins and 11 losses. These are just a few of the variables associated with winning a football game. We conclude, at this point, in their meetings, Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes scored more points per game than Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines. Is that a good reason for firing Harbaugh?

Go Blue!

Making Things Right

Two articles in the September 15, 2019 edition of the New York Times caught my attention. The first, “Opioid Defendants Seek To Disqualify Judge” took place in Ohio. Defense lawyers representing giant retail pharmacy chains like Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid and drug distributors Cardinal Health, Amerisource Bergen, and McKesson filed briefs claiming that this judge was biased. Apparently the judge made comments about his intention to settle this case and bring relief to local governments and individuals hit hard by this crisis. Further, recent rulings of pre-trial decisions against the defendants were a concern. These defendants wanted the case to be heard by a jury. However, the plaintiffs argued the case should be heard by a judge because the drug industry has created a public nuisance affecting the health and well-being of the county’s citizens.

If the plaintiffs received an award, those monies should go towards research, prevention and treatment. If the defendants win, then the profit-greed motive rules without consequences. As I view it, the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy chains, drug distributors, physicians and patients all play a part. It’s no surprise that patients seek surgery to reduce or eliminate pain and then become dependent on the addictive qualities of drug use.  Begin a clinical medication monitoring program after surgery reimbursed by the drug and insurance industries in order to effectively combat this man made hazard.

The second “California Puts Abortion Pills in Public Universities” had to do with a bill that would use public donator money to equip and train campus health centers for roughly 75,000 enrolled students in the University of California and California State University system. Of course anti-abortion groups are likely to challenge this legislation if it is signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

A similar bill was introduced in Massachusetts. According to the FDA, medication abortion, established in 2000, accounted for about a third of American abortions. Research studies have shown it to be safe and effective in most cases. The University of Illinois at Chicago utilized this method for about 33,000 students. Up to now, most of the health centers provided gynecology exams and contraception but referred students seeking abortions to outside clinics. This bill would require public universities to provide medication abortion.

As far as public universities in California providing medication abortion with donations, I’m in support. It’s clear that a pregnancy should be an individual decision made by the partners. It’s clear that university age individuals participate in intercourse which is natural. Abstinence is not physiologically or psychologically reasonable nor healthy.

If there is concern regarding the fetus, then the following variables must be in play: 1. The mother should be in a solid relationship that includes a long-term commitment; with an emotionally and mentally healthy partner; be socioeconomically and educationally established; coupled with the strong desire for mothering and child rearing. 2. Having a supportive family environment. 3. Have health care coverage.  These three variables are important for a healthy psychological environment for the well-being of the fetus. Realistically, protect the fetus.

It’s clear that Moses and God realized the nature of man per the 10 Commandments. Thou shall not commit adultery was a moral commandment and made sense morally. There were no commandments regarding legal or non- legal abortion nor regarding the rights of a fetus. Antiabortion groups are misguided, punitive and irrational with their parochial beliefs. If they don’t want an abortion fine. However, keep and separate their prejudice within their own.

Incarceration or Treatment

Some may remember that the “war on drugs” began in 1971 as a result of drug use both in the United States and among the US troops serving in Vietnam. The solution was simply incarceration with the result of compromising too many families. Of course, those arrested with black skin far outnumbered those with white skin.  Even the penalties for possession were more severe for the blacks. This essay suggests we should eliminate our punitive war on drugs and replace it with more empathetic, holistic and research oriented strategies.

This is another war that we’ve lost. Let’s look at the following statistics: 1. One American was arrested for drug possession every 25 seconds 2. More Americans die each year from overdose then those perished in Vietnam, Afghan and Iraqi wars combined. 3. More than 2 million children in America live with a parent suffering from illicit drug dependency 4. The White House has estimated that the opiate crisis exceeds $500 billion a year - suffering from illicit drug dependency. That’s equivalent to roughly $4000 per household and that doesn’t include cocaine, meth and other drug use. 5. Alex Kral, an epidemiologist with the RTI International Think Tank stated “legislative and law enforcement solutions to drug problems in the US have constantly caused more harm than they have solved.”

Another way at more humanly dealing with substance abuse has been implemented in Portugal and Canada. Portugal, for example, decriminalized possession of all drugs in 2001. The result- Portugal’s overdose death rate has plunged. Canada has provided heroin, with medical supervision, for long-time users who can’t break their addictions. In our country, Seattle has started directing people toward social services assistance instead of incarceration. In essence, they have decriminalized the use of hard drugs. They understand that to deal with this addiction problem, one must think about underlying causes.

Picking on West Virginia, we found that 14% of babies are born exposed to drugs and perhaps 5% more on alcohol. These newborn babies are dependent on opioids. They tremble, cry, can’t sleep, vomit, barely eat and lose weight. It’s clear, these babies have symptoms of drug withdrawal. Babies going through severe withdrawal are likely given medication like methadone or heroin to ease the symptoms. Yes, symptoms are treated with drugs even for the young. I’m not a betting man, but the likelihood of those babies developing into productive human beings are slim.

It’s a crime to ingest certain drugs but not yet a crime for a drug addicted mother or drug addicted father to become a partner in an unplanned or planned pregnancy. There should be some moral consequence for having a baby under these negative circumstances. We know that incarceration doesn’t work. Perhaps, a program to deal with physical, psychological and economic health that includes options for preventing pregnancy, aborting pregnancy, adoption and/or foster care for the newborn. No one asked the baby if it wanted to be born with these hobbles. A program is also necessary to assist the baby with its drug dependency status as well. This may mean separating the baby from its addicted mother.

Sources: The New York Times August 28, 2019 “Ending the War on Drugs” and the New York Times September 8, 2019 “Newborns Crying for Drugs, Not Milk.”

Bye Bye Love

In last week’s post, I mentioned that Epicurus, with his pleasure-absence of pain philosophy, believed that friendship was most significant in order to achieve the highest goal in life - happiness. Many years later Barrett, with an existential slant, stated that “the individual is thrust out of that sheltered nest … He learns that the solitude of the self is an irreducible dimension of human life …. In the end, he sees each man as solitary and unsheltered before his own death. More recently, Horney and others wrote about the anxiety and tension system surrounding the cutting of the umbilical cord at birth and further, the negative consequences of anxiety throughout life. In fact, the Everly Brothers, in the 1950s, recorded Bye Bye Love. This popular hit touches on the theme {dynamics of loneliness} of this essay. The first stanza as follows: Bye bye love; Bye bye happiness;   Hello loneliness; I think I’ma gonna cry.  With those lyrics and the interrelatedness of the above as background, let’s turn our attention on the beginning separateness of the infant.

The infant immediately experiences anxiety and trauma when expelled from the womb. The anxiety or tension from the infant’s physiological needs are reduced by the caretaker. Eventually, the association between tension reduction by the caretaker are reinforced.  Then, at about six months, when that caretaker leaves the room, the six-month-old experiences separation anxiety and cries over the loss. At this point, the infant experiences being alone and separate from the caretaker. Psychologically, dependency, solitude, nakedness and loneliness surfaces. That infant is unable to survive on its own and is clearly dependent on another for its life.

Turning the focus on the underlying crisis of “loneliness”, as a significant and primary anxiety state, we now have one of the main dynamics that motivates man. The child quickly learns that by crying, day or night, it can likely reduce its separation from the caretaker. In childhood, the ability to make associations, with others, is one criteria for mental health. The interpersonal interactions take on the degrees of three main strategies. One can move aggressively or sadistically toward another; one can be dependent or masochistic with another; or per Fromm, one can learn to interact with care, respect, responsibility and knowledge {characteristics of love] with another.  In any event,  the individual learns to reduce its anxiety, uneasiness and discomfort of being alone by associating with another.

Throughout one’s development, one attempts to learn many conscious techniques or strategies to escape the emptiness of loneliness.  As an adolescent, one can become part of a clique; join a team, a club or some other association; attach oneself to a girlfriend or boyfriend; falling in love; engage in a lot of sex; have a baby of one’s own; use drugs, alcohol or some other substance; lose oneself in an electronic device or devices; identify with some sports hero, media star or other “famous” individual etc. Of course, these strategies are just” fixes” because one is always “alone.”

Later on the individual attempts to reduce loneliness by getting married. Remember the marital vow says to death do us part. Getting married was supposed to alleviate the loneliness crisis. We also have divorce followed by another marriage even though one might have said” I’m not ever getting married again.” In fact, some even divorce and remarry the same individual.

Unfortunately, marriage does not resolve the loneliness dynamic. Further, it’s not surprising, but after a long union, when one spouse dies it’s quickly followed by the death of the partner. It’s also not surprising, that we have the empty nest syndrome; having many children; moving in with children etc. Also, it’s not surprising that so many have difficulty with retirement and lose their work friends in the process. The death rate following retirement is also high {for teamsters, it’s 3 years|.

It’s a fact, that many individuals submerge and distract themselves in cognitive or physical work; keep busy at a frantic pace; and live an exhausting life. However, when it comes to sleeping at night, there are unable to turn off the thoughts in their head and retire with a good night’s sleep. Also, how many drive their vehicles in complete silence or walk around their home without having TV or radio playing in the background? It’s very difficult to be alone because of the anxiety, uncomfortableness or restlessness it generates.

Another terrific option for companionship rests with owning a pet. In fact, my equines and dogs were more than companions. My horses Nowata, Leo, Running Bear, Raider and Gypsy carried me during my Ride and Tie and endurance competitions. My lab Beau and border collies Scampi, Misty and Sherry accompanied me on many trails while conditioning my horses and myself. I have shed many tears with their departures.  The grief was severe. It’s also been said that a man’s best friend is his dog and there’s a lot of truth in that saying. The article in the August 4, 2019 of the New York Times titled “Things People Say to Their Dogs” tells more of the story with the following examples: “You’re so cute and so smart. And worth money; I could marry you.” “Don’t even think about it.” “Be nice; when you get tired, you get nasty.” “You guys are going to have to get coordinated.” “Be part of the solution, buddy.” “We talked about this; no eating stuff you find on the street.” “Hey; Stop it; We talked about this yesterday.”

Despite the numbers of roommates, romances, apps, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc., Great Britain has a loneliness epidemic. We have senior living centers where old folks can meet new associates .Unfortunately, it’s a setting where everyone dies. Residing in Senior Centers are simply sadomasochistic arrangements. Remember, it doesn’t matter how many social media friends, tweets, and followers one has, because one is separate and the existential crisis reality is that everyone dies alone. This is the quandary of human nature.  And, the 3 powerful words “I love you “do not solve the loneliness crisis. Some, for their solution, look to God on their death bed.

PS

Ram Dass, in his wisdom, stated “The ego, this incarnation, is life and dying. The soul is infinite.” Aside with his brilliance, believed in meditation and in the here and now. His spiritual friend and teacher was the Maharaji. In fact, Steve Jobs traveled to India in 1974, on a pilgrimage, in search of the Maharaji. Unfortunately, this spiritual leader had died a year earlier.

Conscious and Unconscious Motivation

Greek philosophers explained motivation.  With their insight, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle believed that knowledge, rationality, wisdom, and virtue was associated with good behavior. In fact, Aristotle believed that the highest achievement for life was happiness and that it could be reached through reason.  While Aristippus, perhaps the originator of hedonism, believed that pleasure, in the moment, was necessary for happiness to occur. Then, Epicurus advocated pleasure but disapproved of sexual intercourse. Instead, he believed that friendship was to be advocated. These Greeks were smart.

Later, St. Augustine considered the will as the most important aspect of life and that it was separate from knowledge. He believed will and virtue would rule the body. Yes, that was how he controlled sexual passions. Years later, Machiavlli blamed bad education and religion as affecting poor government. He saw power, egoism, along with fear and love as effective tools for manipulating the masses. Later Rosseau’s belief was that man was essentially good but was spoiled by a bad society and poor government. These intellectual giants believed in conscious determinants for action.

Another philosopher Spinoza, postulated that man was influenced by his unconscious for determining behavior. The idea that consciousness caused behavior was challenged. Could man be influenced by an area of the mind that was hidden from him? Later, Freud postulated and incorporated the idea of interaction between a conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious mind.

Freud’s model of the mind was very detailed and complex. Let’s start with his idea that “the child is the father of the man” as history was important. Further, the qualities of the unconscious or primary process of the mind included: being unorganized, illogical, and timeless, coupled with an absence of good, an absence of evil, and an absence of morality as unconscious components. In the conscious or secondary process model of the mind or executive functions, we find: ability to perceive, remember, judge, discriminate, abstract, generalize, think, reason, feel and act.

To begin, it was believed that unconscious forces work along with the occurrence of developmental crises which have either been resolved or not. The developmental process continues along with individual needs and various conflicts, coupled with anxiety .These interact and point to the why or the driving forces of behavior. When asking someone to explain their actions, conscious explanations are given. However, according to the unconscious model, one looks into the unconscious to find meaning. The presented conflict did not begin nor originate in the present, but belongs to the past within the repeated history of the individual. A current response would be colored by history within the unconscious.

This brief overview provides a limited interpretation, at best, of the workings of the mind. What goes on in the mind motivates actions. Let’s use an example of a male figure denying a rape or sexual assault charge. There are a large number of people that would support the accused and discount the female in question. One way to explain the remarks or explanations follows. More than likely, a denial about the male behavior and blaming the female would generate anxiety in the mind of the individual. Therefore, the emotional overlay would relate to a previously caused conflict occurring from that individual’s past. The past conflict might be associated with a verbally or physically controlling aggressive male; perceiving females to be property, being in a vulnerable situation with a powerful male; being fearful of females, being fearful of aggressive males; having some sexual difficulty; dislike and conflict with females; some impaired interpersonal interaction; experiencing guilt or something that she/he did, did not, or wanting it to happen etc. With that being said, the current thinking reduced the unpleasantness of the anxiety of the prior conflict in order for the mind to reach homeostasis. The mind created defensive options in order to do just that.

 In other words, the supporting individual might verbally reply defensively as follows: She deserved it because of her flirtation; she should’ve fought back and defended herself; since it happened a long time ago, she doesn’t remember fully or correctly; she probably consented in some way; she’s doing it for the money; what took her so long to report this; she’s lying. Statements like these are called defense mechanisms and place blame on the female. Statements that exonerate the male include the following: Males are just aggressive and she “no” really meant “yes”; he’s honorable and trustworthy; look at all the support he has from males and females, they believe him; he was young and that’s how men act. Essentially, a defense mechanism reduces anxiety and allows the individual to overlook, dismiss, give the benefit of the doubt, and distort by creating a defense or protection for self.

Within Freud’s thinking, a mental explanation, of the above, would also be part of an emotional connection with that individual identifying with a particular tribe, group or certain individual.  With an anxiety producing statement or idea, that anxiety or tension has to be reduced. The degree or importance of the attachment or symbolization of the present or person can be traced back to one’s early history. Defense mechanisms and identifications surface.

A Defense Mechanism is an attempt, unconsciously, to alleviate or protect self from emotional conflict pertaining to instinct, affect, disagreeable situation and anxiety by employing some cognitive explanation to mask it. Explanations can be creative, rational or extraordinary. The focus or purpose is to operate unconsciously – the individual is not aware of what’s taking place and second, to reduce anxiety through justification, denial and distortion of reality. The particular defense mechanisms used are related to the individual’s particular identification, personal meaning of the crisis, and conflict which produced the danger or anxiety. There are 10 defense mechanisms available for the ego for utilization. A more complete description can be found in Anna Freud’s” The Ego and Mechanisms of Defense.”

We live life by consciously justifying or explaining our behavior or the behavior of someone else. It doesn’t appear to matter whether the behavior- is good, bad, moral, amoral, rational, or irrational. We are very sophisticated and continue to fool ourselves by employing conscious explanations, rational, or reasons for all our actions. Just listen to the tribal politics of cable news and hear their simplistic reasons, opinions, generalizations or their predictions about situations or world events. Thank you Socrates, Machiavlli, Rosseau and other philosophers for your wonderful, insightful and explanations for conscious behavior. These intellectual giants made significant contributions with their thought provoking ideas. However, that’s only part of the story. Yes, human behavior is complicated and defense mechanisms, identifications, and history make it more so.