Becoming Older Is A Drag

 

I had a recent conversation with my sister Bev. She moved to Florida and planned to visit cousins Sibyl and Sheldon. After her visit, she told me that I should see them soon.  Sibyl has a PhD in art history and Shell an oral surgeon. Sybil is a year older than I am and Sheldon is a couple years older than her. Both, unfortunately and sadly have a leukemia diagnosis. On a positive note, Rick and Sheldon are planning on attending the Michigan-Georgia game on December 31. Rick and family are also meeting with Bev.

A second trigger regarding aging was a song by the Rolling Stones “Mother’s Little Helper.” Mick Jagger and Keith Richards lyrics: What a drag it is getting old  Kids are different today  I hear every mother say  Mother need something today to calm her down  And though she’s not really ill, there is a little pill……… Cooking fresh food for her husband’s just a drag   So she buys an instant cake, and she burns a frozen steak….. The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore…….. They just help you on your way, through your busy dying day   Hey. These lyrics suggest and are associated with excessive valium, repetition of nonproductive sameness, boredom, depression. It’s a bleak view of aging. This essay encompasses why people making poor health decisions during the process of aging.

In addition to the Rolling Stones version, there are number of theories related to healthy aging. A theory is based on a set of hypotheses, operational definitions and supporting research. A theory is not just some crazy belief or statement. Theories like “The Wear and Tear”; “Neuroendocrine”; “Genetic Control”; “Free Radical” and others are beyond the scope of this essay. Researchers like Howard have studied characteristics of centenarians. For example, he identified 16 lifestyle characteristics that are associated with long life expectancies. A few of these behavioral characteristics are as follows: 1. Eating fewer calories 2. Eating mostly vegetarian with coffee and tea 3 .Regular exercise 4. Staying socially connected with serenity and purpose to life.

 On the other hand, poor life choice decision-making is associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory complications and other serious illnesses. For example, two thirds of our population is obese and overweight. It’s no wonder, why we’ve had so much Covid-19 hospitalizations and death. Our population is sick.

Why some individuals make decisions appropriate to healthy aging while others do not, I turned to Henry A Murray’s Personolgy theory which is based on biological science, clinical practice and academic psychology. Briefly, Dr. Murray majored in history at Harvard; graduated with an M.D. from Columbia; received an MA in biology from Columbia and received a PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge. He taught, conducted research at Harvard and joined the Army Medical Corps with the rank of Major and then as a Lt. Col.  Dr. Murray established and directed the assessment service for the Office of Strategic Services which is now called the CIA. Although Dr. Murray’s theory is beyond the scope of this essay, certain” needs” are to be employed relating to lifestyle choices.

Dr. Murray believed that the existence of a need can be inferred on the basis of: 1. The effect and result of the behavior .The particular pattern or mode of behavior involved 3.Selective attention and response to a particular class of stimulus objects 4. The expression of a particular emotion or affect and 5. The expression of satisfaction when a particular effect is achieved or disappointment when the effect is not achieved.

One powerful need to be considered is Abasement. This need is related to submitting passively; accepting injury, punishment; becoming resigned to fate; to blame, belittle or mutilate the self and to seek and enjoy pain, punishment, illness and misfortune. When someone is told, that their behavior is not healthy and they respond “I know” but continue with the same decision-making process is an example. This need interferes with health, longevity and well-being if not curtailed, or diminished.

A number years ago I engaged in accident prone potential behaviors. I rode my Harley and engaged in Ride and Tie and other equestrian competitions. I suffered in 2009, an equestrian injury and broke a few bones in my neck. The surgeon told me that I cannot afford another fall on my back as it might result in paralysis. I believed him and that ended my equestrian competitions. Years prior, I had sold my Harley. I knew how I wanted to spend my later years.

Another related need is Affiliation. This need is defined as enjoyably cooperating or reciprocating with an allied other; pleasing and winning affection; and to adhere and remain loyal to a friend. Being socially connected is extremely important. Great Britain refers to loneliness as an epidemic and a serious social, political and economic issue. Even the Beatles Eleanor Rigby’s lyrics: All the lonely people where do they all come from?  All the lonely people   where do they all belong?   Father McKenzie  Writing the words of the sermon that no one will hear   No one comes near  Look at him working  Darning his socks in the night when there’s nobody there   What does he care?

It should be noted that mental illness is a result of human interaction that begins early in life. However, it’s extremely important to have quality interactions throughout one’s life. Being around toxic individuals significantly affect one’s well-being. It was sad that I essentially ended a former relationship with friend as result of his mentally sick partner. My wife was on the receiving end of toxicity. The choice was simple and clear.

Related to affiliation is nurturance. This is defined as giving sympathy and gratifying the needs of a helpless object; assisting an object in danger; to help support, protect, nurse, comfort and heal another. Having relationships that are based on moving toward another in a loving way is necessary for both. Giving, extending oneself counters narcissistic and aggressive interactions toward others. With nurturance, there’s an absence of power, control and exploitation. Individuals in nurturing relationships, work toward extending life and well-being compared to ending life.

Related to nurturance is Succorance.  This is defined as having one’s needs gratified by sympathetic aid of an allied objects; to be nursed, supported sustained, protected, loved, advised, forgiven and to always have a supporter. If one starts out life with that description of parents, one has a wonderful chance of establishing the potential for emotional mutuality with one’s spouse. To have a union with both nurturance and succorance can be called love. As love requires respect, care, responsibility and knowledge per Erich Fromm. Have you ever heard of anyone wanting to end a loving relationship?  

John Lennon’s lyrics to “Mother” are relevant. A few of his lyrics: Mother, you had me But I never had you  I, I wanted you  You didn’t want me  So, I ……. Father, you left me   But I never left you   I needed you   You didn’t need me……. Mama don’t go   Daddy come home…… John Lennon’s lyrics pertain to loss and rejection. These significant factors are related to parental loss of love which affect one’s well-being and associated with anxiety, depression, resentment, frustration and aggression. These psychological factors are hardly a recipe for aging. Integrity is required as it translates into the ability to face death and not be fearful of it.

In essence, a minority of individuals in this country are exhibiting decision-making behaviors associated with well-being during aging. However, there are many factors interfering with aging such as Anatomic, Topographical, Physiological, Pathological and Epidemiological Classifications. Reality tells the story. It has been estimated that about 40% of premature mortality is due to behavioral causes and many of these are automatic habits. Four out of five Americans will die from the top 10 causes of death-heart disease, cancer, COPD, stroke, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, pneumonia, flu and suicide. Do not forget Covid-19 and its variants. In other words, successful aging is not based primarily on luck, it’s based, in large part, on choices, perseverance and hard work. The key to success is action, and the essential in action is perseverance said Sun Yat-sen and An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
— Benjamin Franklin

References

Institute for Natural Resources. Cognition, Diet and Longevity.

Murray, Henry A. Explorations in Personality, New York: Oxford.

 

Money, Get Away Money, It's a Crime

 

 

Last week I turned 82, entertained and had a small gathering for acknowledgment. One couple talked about one of their married children. The children, in question, are both veterinarians trained at UC Davis. They are athletic, physically fit and their children are the same. They are evangelicals and their kids go to private school. The Dr. Husband runs a dairy business with about 5000 cows. These Republican doctors and their children have had Covid-19; and refused vaccinations and mask wearing. This disquisition pertains to this intelligent, book learned Republican veterinarian.

Some limited background information follows: 1. The dairy industry is regulated by the Department of Agriculture. When the veterinarian goes into the red at the end of the year, the government provides subsidies for reimbursement provided that he eliminates a certain number of cows. Just like farmers that get government handouts for not producing. Price controls go back to the policies of Richard Nixon. No wonder the farmers and dairies vote Republican. What kind of capitalism is this?  2. These dairy cows require heavy vaccination and antibiotic procedures as they stand, for hours, in their own urine and feces 3. These dairy cows require artificial insemination to keep them pregnant milk producing 4. These dairy cows are discarded when they can’t produce 5. The deplorable working conditions on the farm are manned 24-7 by the undocumented. Perhaps 30 are full-time employees. 6. This intelligent veterinarian would like to sell his unprofitable business but is unable.

A word about evangelicals. Remember, Jesus Christ’s first followers were the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, uneducated men and women. The wealthy, educated and powerful were excluded from reaching heaven. Throughout the centuries of paganism, religious wars etc., the dogma of Christianity changed. At first, Jesus was a human and then became the son of God. Later on, God descended from heaven and became a man. There was a mixture of duality to become a single source. With Constantinople, mother church, the Pope,  and the priests became supreme and more universal as the church welcomed all including the rich, educated, powerful and elite.

In the beginning the 10 Commandments pertained to morals, and ethical principles of man treating man, slaves and animals. Christianity was believed to be a universal religion predicated on the concept that we are all children of God. Obviously, things have changed. Lying, cheating, killing, stealing are part of the present religious culture. It’s okay to take away the right of a woman requiring an abortion and/or the ability to vote. It’s okay to oppress undocumented workers and keep them undocumented because of the profit motive along with their ability to vote. It’s okay to not get vaccinated or mask wearing because that’s not a relevant moral question anymore. God protects the righteous. If someone catches the virus and dies, that’s their fault as are probably heathens and nonbelievers. It’s okay to abuse cows for food production because of the profit motive. Again, economics “trump” over moral and ethical values.

From a psychological perspective, let’s turn to the development of an authoritarian conscience or superego. With an authoritarian conscience, exists the internalization of the power of the father, father figure and/ or the authority of a particular group within the society. The primary sins of the power structure of the Republican Party and the character of the followers include the following.

Authoritarianism is based on the character of men in power. They believe and act by virtue of their power, that they have the right to command, dictate, discriminate, oppress, dominate, dismiss and to restrict the freedom of anyone that doesn’t fit their concept of loyalty. To obey without doubt, to follow without hesitation, to believe without objective reasoning are the conditions. Be part of the consensus, be part of the sheep, and just follow and obey. To disobey is a sin and grounds for expulsion. A few illustrations of the leader and the weak: 1.The authority of the father over his children 2. The authority of men over women 3. The authority of bosses over workers 4.The authority of states versus the federal government 5. An authority based on skin color, religious beliefs, political beliefs etc.

Likewise it’s important to control and manipulate all aspects of the government, including criminal justice, military, police, news media, Congress, Senate and Supreme Court, and what’s taught in schools. Power, control and dictating over the rights of others are supreme under authoritarianism. Power of economics overthrows moral and ethical concerns. Further, Lying, cheating, falsifying the overturn of the election is justified. If you’re not loyal, then you are the enemy to hate, to destroy, to obliterate and even kill if you get in their way. Moral ethics and values do not enter the equation at all and can easily be rationalized away-“I’m doing this for you.”

Exploitation of others is another characterological aspect. Exploitation refers to the workers, the undocumented, the African-Americans and other minorities. Contrary, to the 10 Commandments, it’s permissible for one man to use another man for cheap slave labor or for profit in our capitalistic system. It is not only permissible, it’s regulated by the “free” market; politically and by the court system. We have established laws, precedents and remedies for white skinned people that are different than laws and remedies for others. We also have discriminated and exploited numerous employment and educational options. We are unable to entice white folks to become worker bees in the agricultural and food industry. But it’s okay and desirable to have dark skinned people becoming rednecks. The South was able to grow and develop based upon slave labor. It’s profitable and you don’t have to pay your employees. It’s profitable when you own your employees. It is profitable to have your employees say “yes sir, yes ma’am.” Movies like Gone with the Wind, The Little Foxes, To Kill a Mockingbird and many others depicted the master-servant relationship in our South.

Inequality, another character component, is the belief that our country can live with material differences whether it be of education, pay, legal, health and especially race and immigrant status. We are supposed to be all children of God. Yet, color skin, political and religious beliefs tell a different story. Yes, there has been positive change on a variety of levels. In the 1950s, I attended an all-white high school and played football at a Jesuit University with other white skinned players. The TV and movies showed inequality between whites and the Indians and African-Americans. Today, Denby high school’s no longer all-white; the University of Detroit is integrated; TV, entertainment, sports and movies are well represented by African-Americans and other minorities.

 The current American pursuit and false religion relates to pursuing money and wealth. More is better. So what that CEO’s earn 300% more than his employees. So what if there’s hunger and poverty. So what if people are uninsured and have health issues. So what if there’s massive student college debt. Inequality has been present and found in our Constitution. An African-American, human property, equals 3/5 of the white man.

Our Constitution, our government, and capitalism is based on inequality. Competition necessary for economic growth is based on profit. Profit by definition suggests gain and inequality over another. The one with more education, more skills, or white skin is expected to have more. There’s nothing equal about competition and monetary profit. Acquire more, produce more, and make more etc. does not suggest equality. Siblings fight over who had a smaller piece of pie. Everyone wants more or they feel cheated.

Excessive consumption, another character characteristic, for consumption sake affects many of us, some more than others. As we are material consumers we receive and consume. We constantly consume everything in our presence. Just look at our oceans, our forests and other natural resources.

Advertising is sophisticated. We follow so many slogans like “the one with the most toys wins;” “purchasing the dream house;” “going from 0 to 60 in 1.9:” “keeping up with the Joneses” etc. Having a dead object is supposed to do what psychologically? Black Friday is a primary example that reinforces consumption. Buy now because it might be too late later on because of inflation, tie up at the ports, not enough workers to produce and transport etc. Yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, and even going to garages are some of the avenues for “used” or reframing with “ previously owned” are always available. Did I forget about purchasing on the Internet?

We have a parental philosophy that every child should be rewarded and receive what they want, when they want it. Spoiled children like adults should not be deprived and get what they want. There are plenty of credit card opportunities. Why should I concern myself about debt, the government doesn’t? Why should I delay gratification, I don’t deserve that at all.

Capitalism is dependent upon consumption. Therefore, one has to earn or borrow to acquire more and to consume more. The dollar is worshiped and valued. The dollar is supposed to bring happiness, prestige and power. The pursuit of the dollar becomes the coveted prize. Just think of all the things that money can buy- beautiful spouse; beautiful house; beautiful car etc. However, money doesn’t buy health or happiness. What happened to Steve Jobs? How happy is Jeff Bezos? How happy are Bill and Melinda? Donald, happy?

Malignant narcissism is a product of an authoritarian conscience. It’s about me. I’m first and the hell with everyone else. I am going to do what I want when I want too. It’s my right. I don’t have to wear a mask, I don’t have to vaccinate myself or my kids. If my leader wants me to change the state’s rules about elections, I will do it. If my leader wants me to storm the capitol, overthrow the election results, confront the capitol police, kill the enemies like Pense, Cheney, Kinzinger, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff , deface the capitol, break the laws I will do it. However, I believe in “the right to life “slogan. Oh yaw, it depends ….?

In summary, although some information is based on parental reporting, the following seems apparent. Trump’s authoritarian character has been in full view over the last five years. His two impeachments, lying, cheating, and disregard for the rule of law are well documented. This veterinarian has not objected to these behaviors, policies and remains one of his followers and likely has similar character tendencies. As far as exploitation is concerned, this veterinarian significantly contributes to the problem with his agriculture business. The Republican slogan “moral majority” is hypocritical to say the least. There is nothing moral about exploitation and not in the majority. Inequality is noticeably apparent. The evangelical slogan “sanctity of life” is inconsistent and also nonsense. Abortion is not about saving life. How many Republicans are outraged over the recent school killing in Michigan? The parents of this kid are also guilty. Spreading Covid-19 and the many wars also demonstrates that lack of caring about the life of others. Obviously, abortion restrictions pertain to taking away rights of vulnerable and poor women. Malignant narcissism becomes apparent when economic interests demolish and supersede moral and ethical values. Me first and the hell with everyone else especially if they are not my kind. If I refuse to get vaccinated and get the virus, I am not protecting my family. These are “family values? “In fact, I’m doing the opposite. Further, I am harming, not loving nor supporting the best interests for my country. Oh yeah, one more point. This veterinarian, while at UC Davis, focused on the animal and food industry because that paid more than all the other areas. It’s about the money, and how is that turning out for him? Do not forget about the old teachings” the root of all evil is money.” Per Pink Floyd, Money, get away-you get a good job with more pay and you’re okay……… Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash……

The Reality of Fear

 

 

Otto Rank, one of the founding members of the Psychoanalytic Society, in Vienna, published “Das Trauma der Geburt” in 1924. Briefly, according to Rank, the change from the effortless bliss of the womb to the painful birth of postnatal conditions requires initiative from the infant. This traumatic change means that the infant not only initially experiences mortal fear and anxiety but that emotional dynamic becomes significant during separations throughout.  This disquisition pertains to the prevalence of fear.

 The Greeks and others believed that man seeks pleasure and avoids pain. My position is that fear is rational while anxiety is irrational. However, regardless, fear and anxiety means danger. With danger, there is a physiological homeostasis disruption. This means there’s an absence of pleasure, well-being and/or happiness but not of tension and discomfort. In other words, danger which is fear and anxiety is typical for man, part of his nature and becomes a prime motivator for behavior. There are three responses to fear: 1. Non confrontation or to freeze like a deer 2.  Non confrontation and run away like a deer 3.  Confrontation, a lioness will attack if you get between her and her Cubs.  She becomes aggressive and protective. I know from personal experience as, I once met a lioness and her two Cubs while running on the trail. She was aggressive and I literally ran away.

Recently, a 17-year-old, on one occasion, and three men on another, armed with gun approached another unarmed. Armed with gun and approaching a potentially emotionally based human conflict increases greatly the probability of using weapon. Therefore, it’s not surprising that when: 1. White man has a weapon 2. White man rationalizes protecting “property” or making “citizen’s arrest” 3. White man, armed with weapon, claims he’s afraid and kills other in self-defense 5. Having questionable subjective, discriminatory legal protections “stand your ground” and “self-defense” options reinforce the likelihood for “justified” murder and decrease the likelihood for the other two options of either running away from scene or being passive and doing nothing. Bringing a gun changes the bully dynamics. Having a gun in the first place suggests aggressive behavior for this fearful individual. It is similar to throwing the first punch; brandishing a knife in a fistfight; pulling out a gun in a knife fight.

Rank believed that the main human goal, of life, is to reinstate embryonic bliss, and avoid man’s greatest human terror or fear which is separation. We also know that infants, at roughly 6 months of age, experience separation anxiety when the primary caretaker leaves its presence and later experiences stranger anxiety when introduced to the presence of an unfamiliar object.

We also know that infants experiences fear and anxiety during the child rearing process. The infant or child learns that by obeying, and going along with the parental program, it receives comfort, pleasure and “love.” When the infant or child disobeys or does something to hurt self, a parental response becomes either harsh words, physical slap or loss of “love.” Loss of love is feared and becomes important for developing right from wrong within conscience development. Later in development, the child may hear “wait until your father gets home; I am going to tell your father” by the “good” parent. How can this parent be good by using manipulative, seductive or traitorous methods?  The father is to be feared and the mother not to be trusted. Thus, we have reinforced the notion of fear and hate as evidenced by the child expressing “I hate you.” Love, liking, admiring and /or disliking, jealousy, resentment and hate for the same object is referred to as ambivalence. Very early, in life’s development, the establishment and emotional attitude of fear and hate becomes well-established and continues throughout one’s life. One definition of an attitude is a disposition involving an expectancy of a certain kind of experience and readiness with an appropriate response.

Religion, another institution, in the early era of Christianity, taught about fear and hate. One message for early followers were, there was a blessed promise in a not so distant future in which the poor would be rich, the hungry would be satisfied and the oppressed would obtain authority. Luke (6:20) blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.  Also, there was a complete hatred of the authorities, the rich, the learned and the powerful. In Luke(16:21} Jesus said “how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” There were many to hate such as the Pharisees, the Sicarii, the proletariat, and the tax collectors. There would be happiness for the poor and hatred and punishment for the rich, the nobility, the ruling fathers and the educated.

In essence, the early Christians were men and women, the poor, uneducated oppressed masses of the Jewish people and later of others. It was the poor that believed in Jesus. They would get revenge at a later date but not on earth. The wealthy were out of luck as well. It was the poor that could enter the kingdom of heaven. The wealthy, because of their wealth would be excluded and go to hell.  Luke (6:20) “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Fear, hate and revenge was a clear message.

Another message of dogma was: If you were economically poor, you didn’t have to fear or worry about your future. You also didn’t have to fear or worry about your health as well. You would be taken care of forever. However, the messages of Jesus Christ were threatening, he was feared, hated and then crucified. According to Benjamin Franklin, “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”

 Speaking politically, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote “The Prince “in 1513. This Italian diplomat, philosopher and historian wrote about the importance of politics with its focus on deception, treachery and crime. He said that rulers established their kingdom or power based on their deeds that included violence. These evil rulers or tyrants employed fear to help them maintain their power. Thus, this diplomat exposed the political motivation of those in power because they employed fear to control others.

Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Mahatma Gandy, Abraham Lincoln, Malcolm X., Martin Luther King Jr., JFK,  Bobby Kennedy, George Moscone, Harvey Milk were all assassinated based on fear, aggression and hate.  The message, fear, aggression and hate superseded love.

Today, politically it is fashionable and important to fear and hate Nancy, Chuck, Kamala, Joe, Hillary, Soros, Rothschild’s, Zuckerberg, AOC, Trump etc. Some of the fear mongering include: 1. Build a wall to keep out the murderers and rapists 2. Infrastructure is socialistic 3.  Joe and Hillary are pedophiles 4. Black Lives Matter protests are dangerous 5. Defund the police 6. The Election was stolen 7. Kill them there, so they won’t come here 8. Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. Of course, the only destruction was of Iraq 9. They are going to take away your guns 10. They want you to get a vaccine.  11. Infrastructure spending is? 12. The following Bill of Rights and amendments pertain to whom:  1, 4, 5, and 8, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV? 13. Overturn Roe versus Wade. Politics, continues to be based on fear, hate and division with obvious scapegoating.

Some examples of being reared with fear of parents pertains to the mighty dollar. Examples include: 1.The newborn has to have the latest items of the market to stimulate its cognitive development 2. Enrollment in the most effective preschool educational program for furthering cognitive development 3. Being bribed for getting good grades in school. It’s not about joy in learning 4. Being admitted to and attending the best university with the best major 5. Procuring the best job 6. Having enough life, auto, homeowners and medical insurance 7. Providing for retirement for family 8. Are the children being properly served with the Will and Trust?

Some examples of fear, worry and dread regarding the mortality of aging. Examples include: 1. Eating nutritiously with fruits and vegetables etc. 2. Maintaining physical exercise 3. Moderation of alcohol and caffeine 4. Avoiding drugs and nicotine 5. Proper weight 6. Reducing stress 7. Getting enough sleep 8. Maintaining proper relationships 9. Daily mental activity and lifelong learning 10. Prevent and control high blood pressure and diabetes 11. Control sodium intake and cholesterol levels 12. Dealing with hurricanes, flooding, and fire climate change conditions 13. Get a Covid-19 vaccination and booster.

There are many additional messages of fear, destruction, inhumaneness, and death. Turn on the television, watch 15 minutes of “news.” View killings in war areas; automobile accidents; terrorist bombing; statistics pertaining to Covid-19, US debt, increase in hate crimes, watching murder trials etc. Pay attention to the commercials and their fear-based messages. Make sure you obtain the correct product for your skin, take that medication, obtain the best credit card etc.  Our movies depict man’s fear of being harmed by man, beast or nature.

 Recently, Linda and I saw a movie, based on a true story, showing the plight of a man that had an English father and his Chickasaw mother. It was about his struggle against the despicable whites stealing his cattle and killing his Indian brothers led by a union Sgt. after the Civil War. Fear, hate, discrimination and prejudice was in full view.

With the origins of fear, trauma and helplessness, it’s not surprising that man’s history depicts man’s lack of humanism. Culture reinforces fear because the culture is made up of man. Man’s compensations and/ or  tendencies for obtaining power, money, prestige, possessions, autonomy, achievement, dominance, defendance, infavoidance, rejection, counteraction becomes exhibited, in an attempt to mitigate fear and anxiety regardless of time or locale. Reducing the fear, in the short-term, might result in pleasure of the moment at best.  With fear, anxiety, aggression and hate man exhibits a significant likelihood of directing same toward self and /or others. Don’t forget that I haven’t commented on suicide, fear of future; drugs and alcohol; fear of reality; being counter phobic, and a whole host of other pathological conditions.

Reference

Fromm, Erich. The Dogma of Christ, Routledge Classics, London and New York.

Go Blue

 

 

On a cold November day in 1950, I was listening on the radio to the blizzard conditions of the hard-fought football battle between University of Michigan, Chuck Ortman and Ohio State University, Vic Janowicz. The final Snow Bowl score was 9 to 3 Wolverines. Another bit of factual information, my two siblings Ron and Bev also have degrees from the University of Michigan. As alumni, we all share the ups and downs based on the gridiron score by our Wolverines. This essay, pertains to football coach Jim Harbaugh.

About 9 years ago, Linda and I were at the Olmsted loop. She was riding my Tevis horse Raider and I was running alongside them. She thought I should write another book. I told her I was thinking about Mental Toughness. Shortly after our trail ride and run, I made a connection with Mike Keller. Mike was an All-American at the University of Michigan and played professionally with the Dallas Cowboys. I discussed with Mike my idea of mental toughness. He was engaging and suggested I talk with his All-American University of Florida and Los Angeles Rams friend Jack Youngblood. Then, Mike suggested that I talk with Tex Schramm and Gill Brandt. After a while, I realized that I should focus on the mental toughness of the 1969 University of Michigan football team as they, in historical fashion, upset the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes were the number one ranked team in the country, were undefeated in 22 straight games and were a 17 ½ point favorite to demolish the Wolverines.

An intense interview process began with Mike Keller, Jim Brandstatter, and Reggie McKenzie all players from state of Michigan. Other interviews began with Fritz Seyferth not from the state of Michigan. However the following interviews with Frank Gusich, Thom Darden, Gary Moeller, Tom Curtis and Jim Betts all represented the state of Ohio. These facts significantly foreshadow the University of Michigan football program.

My book “Bo’s Warriors Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football” was published by Triumph Books in 2014. That year I involved my friends in a number of book signings. For example, Thom Darden, his wife Melissa, Linda and I in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mike Keller, Linda and I in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Fritz Seyferth, Linda and I just outside of Ann Arbor; Mike, and the two Jim’s, Linda and I at the Brady Hoke luncheon in Ann Arbor; Mike, the two Jim’s Thom, Linda and I at M Den in Ann Arbor; and at an Ann Arbor location with the two Jim’s, Fritz, Linda and I. Further, Mike, Linda and I met with Dave Brandon the U of M athletic director; and Mike and I were on Jim Brandstatter with his Jim Harbaugh radio show a few times.  At a later date, Linda and I did book signings for Michigan alumni in San Francisco and my cousin Shelley in Orange County.

Both Jims were on the executive board for Michigan alumni football. Jim Betts, the president, purchased football tickets for Linda, myself and my cousins and we visited tailgate parties. Linda and I made it a point to hang out with Jim and Marti Betts during our Ann Arbor stays.

Jim Harbaugh born in Toledo, Ohio was an All-American quarterback for Bo Schembechler. He was a round one draft pick and played for a number of teams in the NFL. He coached in the NFL and was a successful college head coach at San Diego and at Stanford. He became the San Francisco 49ers head coach in 2011 and his 49ers played in the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens coached by his older brother John Harbaugh. Older brother won in a closely fought game.

The University of Michigan were unhappy with their head coach Brady Hoke and when Jim Harbaugh became available, hired him in December, 2014. Jim, at that time was, the Prophet that was going to save the Wolverines and once again beat Ohio State. The last football coach to beat Ohio State was Lloyd Carr who also led the University of Michigan to a national championship. The Savior of Michigan football was hired to lead them from the ashes.

The Prophet was hired to whip Ohio State; whip Michigan State and lead the Wolverines to Big Ten championships. Unfortunately, no Big Ten championships nor wins against Ohio State. One could argue that in 2016, but because of poor officiating, the Wolverines could’ve won that OSU game.

Why has the Prophet failed to beat Ohio State? Could it be poor coaching, not having enough quality players or not developing the players recruited? Well, one might suspect that whatever the reason, Ohio State players have been better than the Wolverine players. One criterion, would be the number of All-American players, the number of NFL players, and the number of first round draft picks per team. The Buckeyes have 51 players on the active roster to start the NFL active 2021 season. Notable players include Trey Semon, Ezekiel Elliott , Joey Bosa, Justin Field and others. The University of Michigan has produced 20 NFL players the past three years. Notable players include Devin Bush, Chase Winovich, Donovan People Jones and others.

Another criteria would be the number of skill position players in the NFL per team. The University of Michigan, under Jim, does not have one starting quarterback in the NFL. I recently watched Justin Field of the Chicago Bears beat the Las Vegas Raiders. In essence, since 2015, Ohio State’s recruiting has been exceptional as evidenced by the number of their former players in the NFL. However, the University of Michigan has one statistic unmatched and considered maybe the best to ever play the game-Tom Brady.

Turning to this season, the Wolverines have played exceptionally well winning all their games except one. They outplayed Michigan State but lost 37-33. The Michigan Wolverines are ranked 5 in The College Football Playoff behind the 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. This season Michigan has prevailed against Wisconsin and Penn State both notable rivals. The showdown between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines is scheduled for tomorrow, November 27.

Historically, the University of Michigan in the last 20 years, has beaten OSU four times. During that time, coaches Lloyd Carr, Rick Rodriguez, Brady Hoke and Jim Harbaugh were Michigan’s coaches. Some might say, like my sister, bring back Bo. However, Bo inherited a recruiting cast from Bump Elliott that included College All-Americans; All-Pro selections; many NFL players and one Hall of Fame member. What about bringing in Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots genius coach. Oh I forgot, Tom Brady was his quarterback. Didn’t Belichick get rid of Brady last year and Belichick’s team missed the playoffs, while Brady won the Super Bowl with a different coach and a different team.

If the Wolverines are victorious, Jim Harbaugh will be on solid ground even though he’s no longer considered the Messiah. If the Wolverines lose, his fate will be like Moses who never found the Promised Land. There has been disappointments and many like my sister Bev and TD are okay with his parting. I have had many conversations with both. With TD, we have been able to talk about the previous defensive coordinator Don Brown and his mishandling the Wolverine secondary. They have been no match for OSU’s wide receivers.  I’m okay with Jim Harbaugh whether he wins or loses against Ohio State. I believe he needs to recruit better. I’m not sure that can happen with Ohio State’s dominance in the polls and in the college football playoffs. Ohio State has been a clear winner and a dominant football power. Will Jim Harbaugh ever beat Ohio State? In any event, Saturday will be a good 3 ½ hour diversion from the significant realities facing this nation.

Successful football teams are composed of players that have mental toughness. Mental refers to football IQ and toughness refers to physicality and skill set. Mike Keller know something about mental toughness as a player and evaluator of football talent at the professional level. To learn more in-depth of his ideas read Chapter 10 Keller 90: Mike Keller.

Go Blue!

Our Country's Conflict

 

Is our country headed for authoritarian rule? Adam Tooze’s book “Shutdown How Covid Shook the World’s Economy” caught my attention. He stated that our collective will is so divided that we can’t decide or agree on how much to spend, what to spend it on, who should benefit and when to pay for it-on a continuum from now to….  paints a grim future. It seems to me, that these dire economic, political, religious and social conditions contribute to the possibility of our country heading toward an authoritarian rule.  Not to be forgotten, that at one time, Ashkenazi Jews contributed greatly to Germany’s intellectual, scientific, social, philosophical and artistic accomplishments. Yet, despite that fact, Germany was vulnerable for authoritarian dictatorship. Its humiliating defeat in World War I coupled with the axis power structures punishment of Germany along with the great depression contributed greatly to finding a scapegoat so that many German people welcomed Nazi rule. This essay addresses some psychological components that contribute to this country heading toward authoritarian rule.

All of us are affected emotionally and at times threatened by our culture with its biased political, economic, social, and criminal justice institutions. Also, we have to deal and cope with the ravages, frustrations, and stresses of fire, flooding, tsunami, tornadoes, hurricanes within nature occurrences. If that’s not enough, the frailty of our brain and body becomes a third threat.

More specifically, all begin life powerlessness and dependent and not at all able to survive on our own. Thereafter, we begin to objectify self from other. This allows us to begin our identifications starting with parents. In essence, a sense of helplessness, dependency and identifications are emotionally based. They are significant like being imprinted and remain with us until the very end.

Within this human psychological kaleidoscope, the newborn, must resolve and deal with a multitude of the physiological requirements that are necessary for growth and well-being.  The emotional crisis and frustrations are ongoing as in the physiological requirements that include food, water, sleep and warmth. They are fixed, necessary for survival and “provided” by parents for significant periods of time. If these physiological requirements are not met satisfactorily, frustrations, deficits and deficiencies occur and become associated with physical and emotional illness. As a result, the implications for growth or deficiencies are the lifelong conditions. Successful or non-successful resolution affects the next need requirement that include the emotional needs for security and safety. It’s like proceeding step by step up a ladder. Is that succeeding step secure, slippery or broken?  Successful resolution is associated emotionally with growth and well-being while non successful need resolution is associated with stagnation, painful consequences, and frustration, physical and emotional illness. The importance of protection provided by parents is paramount. Man’s character is based on interpersonal interactions-good or bad.

In this initial need stage of development, food frustrations and deficiencies can be observed with continued painful crying and fussing behavior. At first, there is not much else the helpless and dependent infant can do. There is no mastery or effectance.  With later development, a compensation for powerlessness can be observed with refusal to eat, tantrums, hiding food etc. in essence the quest to compensate for helplessness and powerlessness expresses itself in a power attempt to control. This behavior is actually attempting to obtain reassurance against the deficit related to the anxiety or tension. To obtain continued satisfaction around food deficits, especially among certain groups, is difficult. We note that there are tremendous inequalities regarding nutrition, deficiencies and poverty. A ZIP Code location identifies the socioeconomic story. Note that life expectancy in this country is decreasing while obesity, overweight, diabetes, homelessness and poverty is on the rise. These facts are associated with sickness.

Apparently, the EPA has not updated, drinking water contaminants since the turn-of-the-century. We know about Flint, Michigan’s issues with lead and cancer. However, virus’s protozoa, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium contaminate the water and rapidly cause widespread and serious illnesses related to ZIP Code location and socioeconomic status.

In referring to air quality, the climate crisis currently exists and affects all. In fact, one can locate the air quality Index for their location. This past summer, I viewed my air quality Index to determine whether to run on the trails. With this being said, the ability to meet one’s physiological requirements, for growth, can be challenging for most. Without growth there is no well-being. Instead a psychological vulnerability foreshadows future.

After the physiological requirements, the next stage relates to security and safety. For example, financial security is extremely important. Currently, income inequality, debt, homeownership, minimum wage,  education levels, artificial intelligence, homeless, employment opportunity  and irrationality are current factors and concerns affecting too many. Once again ZIP Code location tells the economic story.

An article in the New York Times August 29, 2021 “Were Burring Our Kids in Debt,” pointed out that the Philadelphia Schools have $4.5 billion of unmet infrastructure needs despite high levels of affluence in the city. Inequitable table distribution of state and of progressive taxation including hundreds of billions of dollars in local corporate tax breaks have exacerbated budget shortfalls. Further, in 2019, K-12 schools debt nearly reached 500 billion, a 118% increase from 2002. City schools all across the country are at risk also especially in the poverty areas. Do the schools hire more teachers or repair the classrooms?

Steven Pinker’s “Rationality What is it, Why it Seem Scarce, Why it Matters” points to the modus morons in our country. He pointed out that Kahneman and Tversky’s experiments showed that simple assumptions about what people want and what drives their decision-making are often more unrealistic than was previously thought. Pinker added that we live in a pandemic of poppycock. According to one Gallup poll, “42% of Americans believe in the demonic possession.” According to Department of Education, fewer than half of Americans adults are proficient at reading and according to a Department of Health study, one third of adults have difficulty interpreting simple health information, such as the instructions on a drug label. Yes, this country is headed in the wrong direction.

Another security and safety needs relates to health and wellness. The pandemic wreaked havoc on too many. 46 ½ million cases with more than 754,000 deaths are current statistics. Families have been devastated economically and health wise despite the availability of masks, social distancing and vaccine medication. Poverty level, and racial injustice also affect health and wellness dramatically. Poor health limit one’s ability to work; it reduces economic opportunities; retards educational attainment and leads to medical debt and bankruptcy. According to the Department of Labor, employees away from work due to illness affect productivity. Causes of poverty include: 1. Lack of shelter 2. Limited access to clean water resources 3. Food insecurity 4. Physical disabilities 5. Lack of access to health care 6. Unemployment 7. Absence of social services 8. Gender discrimination.

With physiological, security and safety deficits, sets the crisis for a continued sense of helplessness and dependency. Psychologically, one attempts to protect oneself against the tension and anxiety. As a result, a quest for power, affection and dependence emerges as a compensation. Unfortunately, the pursuit of power affects our unions with others because we have to fortify and strengthen our position of control and dominance.

Accompanying pursuing power are feelings of hatred, inferiority and weakness. Of course there can be a normal striving for power out of one’s strength as demonstrated by LeBron or Steph, or a neurotic need out of weakness and helplessness. Hatred and repressed hostility are common. Yet, at times, be channeled, in benign ways. Pursuing power also serves as protection for being regarded as insignificant. With the pursuit of power we find the pursuit of affiliation with a hate or white nationalist group, or the white skinned Republican Party. These cannot tolerate being alone or being insignificant .They have to cooperate and win the affection of other like-minded souls. With repressed hostility, it’s easy to affiliate with an aggressive group. It’s about consensus, loyalty or a band of hate brothers with their idealization of strength. It is common for the hate group to scapegoat. They worship strength and despise the weak. It is not uncommon for an armed hater to kill the unarmed or vulnerable. Being in a group masks the contempt with their own unconscious feelings.

This culture also depicts power. We are told that we are the most powerful nation on earth; we have the most powerful military killing machine; we are the wealthiest nation; we have the most guns; we have the most killings and we have the best universities. We also rank teams according to power; we rank players; and we rank universities. Winning, dominating is the rule. We want our team to dominate its power by running up the score against the opponent. If a star player from the opposing team gets injured .yea!

A number of people claim to be Christians. They certainly don’t follow the teachings and behavior of Jesus .Christ did not lie, steal, hate, discriminate and kill. Oh I forgot, Christ died for their sins so they can sin when they want. Saying “I believe “is very different than exhibiting a toxic attitude and actions towards others. Christ did not scapegoat, restrict people to hear him, lie, steal, kill or have his followers beat up the nonbelievers.  We are a Christian nation? Christianity was once about the poor but now it’s about the “white” and the powerful.

The pursuit of power individuals have the desire to control others regardless. They have to have their own way and never give in. This quality of my way or the highway does not do well for unions. They have to dominate and humiliate others regardless.

With identification, powerless individuals seek the high and mighty. In childhood, protection and safety was provided by parents –especially a strong father.  Emotionally, his protection, his wisdom- knowledge, and his expertise was supreme. His words were the law, unchallenged and unconditionally believed to be true. With devotion, compliance, and loyalty, followed his love, approval and being liked. Disloyalty or oppositionalness was met with disapproval, anger, hostility or some other form of punishment. Because of emotional helplessness and insecurity as a child, later in life, a transfer is made to a more powerful “father” for ongoing dealings with reality. This new transfer figure doesn’t provide food, water, air etc. He provides an illusion to assist the individual in dealing with his own racism and other reality conflicts and issues.

 Turning to Donald, he was Superman on his popular TV show. He was powerful, in charge, fired others and disrespected others freely. Despite losing the popular vote, he ran the government as he did his TV show. He was invincible, he could be impeached but not convicted. His attorney general was his attorney. If he didn’t want anyone to submit to a subpoena, he was supported by the Atty. Gen. and the Republican Senators. He could do no wrong without any consequences. Did he break the law? He was the law. Even the party of whites became his party with loyal followers. It didn’t matter that he freely lied, was amoral, and was incompetent.  That was his appeal to the followers. His Covid 19 debacle revealed his incompetence and his hostility. The loyalists followed irrespective of the consequences. Some die for him.  Is Donald a racist authoritarian and white supremacist? Of course he is. Did Donald attempt to steal the election? Of course.

Superman has a weakness- his vulnerability to kryptonite and he can lose power when he is exposed to the yellow sunlight etc. His strength and abilities will drastically be diminished if on the receiving end of too much radiation .His intellectual capacity and ability to think can be overloaded to the point of pain.

 Donald has a kryptonite weakness. His weakness is called democracy or allowing people to vote. This” kryptonite” weakness also affects the power of the white. If only limited educated, racists and whites voted, Donald wins easily. However, the majority of black, brown, Asian etc. oppose him. Political and economic power always has been limited to white people, primarily men. That fact does not bother many of the powerlessness of whites. Their deficits were on display on January 6. One of these savage haters was all dressed up in paraphernalia looking into the camera while making loud noises. One mother took a number of pictures of self, at the capitol, and emailed them to her children. I bet that this family is narcissistic and extremely dysfunctional. When caught, this mother attempted to destroy the evidence.  What a mother! What about the armed 17-year-old who had his mother drive him from Illinois to Wisconsin to attend a rally? Oh yeah, he killed a few. Both he and his mother should be locked up. On another occasion, I heard a defense attorney telling a Georgia jury that his armed defendant was acting in self-defense when he killed an unarmed man jogging. I forgot-lying is the norm.

For the minority party of whites, it’s about power. They are afraid of becoming insignificant and irrelevant. Their hostility has been expressed by voting against infrastructure, John Lewis’s legislative  bill, minimum wage, tax breaks for the poor and middle class, immigration reform, police reform, filibuster, changing gerrymandering, investigating the lies and corruption regarding stealing the vote and  January 6. The issue is not democracy but the trend toward authoritarianism. Economic, political, social, religious, and climate present obvious danger. Not only that, this oppression along with the conflict between people of color, intellectually elite and the Democrats results in individual becoming more radical. We are in the grips of this threat of human violence and destruction Today’s oppressed are mentally, emotionally and physically sick. All the above conditions propagate and create the conditions for authoritarian rule even without a world war or global depression.

The emotional ideas presented are based on the importance of child rearing. This brief disquisition identified only a few of the ideas affecting the human psyche. The personal history within the first five years provides the ground floor of behavioral and emotional tendencies for character development.  Obviously, there are many additional factors that were not addressed.

References

Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents, W. W. Norton and Company Inc.

Maslow, Abraham. Toward a Psychology of Being, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc.

Hemingway

 

Ernest Hemingway had a public bravado rivaled by very few. What was beneath the Hemingway image? He wrote 6 novels. His last novel published in 1952 was The Old Man and the Sea. This disquisition is a kaleidoscope in that it incorporates and applies Erik H Erikson’s psychosocial model of human developmental crises to Hemingway, and the protagonist -the old man in his last novel.

An early child crisis sets the stage for Hemingway’s development of character. Grace, a musician, was Hemingway’s mother and Clarence, a physician, was his father. Family lived in Oak Park, Illinois with Grace’s father Ernest. His sister Marcelline was a year older than Ernest. Grace allowed Ernest’s hair to grow long and dressed him in fluffy, girly outfits so the two would look like twins during his first three years. Gender identity, oedipal issues and identifications became compromised. Being treated like a girl, with gender diffusion, became imprinted and the basis to overcompensate this inadequacy. His ambivalence love-hate and identification for his mother resulted in him being involved in the school orchestra, for two years with Marceline, and receiving good grades in English. At a later date, he stated that he hated his mother.

Clarence took him camping, hunting, and fishing in the woods and lakes of northern Michigan this providing him with a masculine role and identity. These masculine traits were exhibited in high school as he participated in boxing, track and field, water polo and football. In essence, Hemingway’s character trait tendencies and personality are now well-established. Hemingway’s battle with survival and death surfaced throughout his life. This emotional drive and need was established early and exemplified in his accepting injury, punishment to mutilate his self and to seek and enjoy punishment, illness and misfortune. He stated “When you go to war as a boy, you have a great illusion of immortality … Then when you’re badly wounded the first time you lose that illusion and know it can happen to you.” Did that acknowledgement end his cognition and preoccupation with injury and death?

A narcissistic injury occurred when he failed his enlistment in World War I. However, he became an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. In a month or so he was seriously wounded by mortar fire after returning from the canteen bringing chocolate and cigarettes to the men at the front line. Despite his injury, he assisted Italian soldiers to safety and was decorated with the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor. Other physical injuries sustained: 1. Compound spiral fracture and seven-week hospitalization suffered in a car accident. The nerves in his hand took as long as a year to heal. He suffered intense pain. 2. Contracted amoebic dysentery in Africa 3. Hospitalized for concussion from a car accident. He also had another concussion 4. Car accident which he smashed his knee and sustained another deep wound on his forehead 4. Two plane crashes in Africa included another concussion, a leaking of cerebral fluid, head wounds and second-degree burns on his legs, front torso, lips, left hand and right forearm burns 5. A fall in the bathroom which left him with a permanent scar.

Examples of a lifestyle that put him in harm’s way after World War I included: 1. Hemingway was one of the last British and American journalists to leave the Battle of Ebro which was the last Republican stand in the Spanish Civil War 2. He attempted to convince the Cuban government to help him refit his boat so he could ambush German submarines 3. He accompanied troops to the Normandy landings. He came in sight of Omaha Beach but was not allowed ashore 4. He attached himself to the 22^nd infantry Regiment as it drove towards Paris. He impersonated an infantry captain to group of resistance fighters and was brought up on formal charges, but he beat the rap for claiming that he only offered advice. 5. He observed fighting in the battle of the Hurtgen Forest 6. Covered the Battle of the Bulge and was hospitalized with pneumonia. He was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery during World War II.

Hemingway had difficulty with drugs and booze, depression and was paranoid. He thought the FBI was monitoring him because of financial trouble. He had numerous electroconvulsive therapy treatments and was diagnosed with hemochromatosis. He inherited this condition from his father. This terrible condition caused the excessive accumulation of iron in the cells and propelled mental and physical deterioration.

Also in Hemingway’s history, was his difficulty with being alone and his troubled interpersonal relationships with women? Emotionally, he was initially attracted to females and married four times and divorced three times. He wanted to marry a young nurse while he was hospitalized during the First World War but was rejected when she told him she was engaged to an Italian officer. While being in a failing marriage, with Pauline, he met Martha and divorced Pauline and married Martha. During their marriage he met Mary and then divorced Martha and married Mary. Also, Hemingway had a platonic relationship with 19-year-old when 49 years of age. On a sad note, his father committed suicide, his brother committed suicide and his son committed suicide. Pauline’s father also committed suicide. During that suicide Hemingway commented, “I’ll probably go in the same way.”

Briefly, Ernest Hemingway overcompensated for his early experiences as a girl by engaging in the macho male behavior. However, he hated himself as he hated his mother as exemplified with his repetition compulsion of failed female relationships. At times, he was brilliant and the executive functioning of his ego dominated in his creative writing. However, emotionally he was impulsive, driven by irrational drives and displaced his anger inward and outward. His critical superego punished him over and over as well.

I shall employ Erik Erickson’s ideas regarding psychosocial development during the eight ages of man. It should be noted that successful resolution of each stage of development contributes greatly in a positive way during the lifecycle. Without successful stage resolution, makes it difficult to fully progress to the next stage. With that being said, the following should be noted: 1. Developing a Sense of Basic Trust versus Basic Mistrust applies significantly to Hemingway. Ernest was reared as a girl thus making it difficult to resolve the oedipal complex dynamics. His identifications suffered and his insecurity had to be overcompensated significantly with his taking on the masculine, rugged macho role during his entire life. That Oedipal dynamic interfered with his psychological ability to develop basic trust with his mother, the first dominant female figure in his life. So it’s not surprising, that he had troubled ongoing female relationships. He was demanding, controlling, physically and verbally abusive. With mistrust, the mechanisms of paranoia develop and the difficulty to distinguish between real and unreal.

 With masculine identification, he tackled the developing a Sense of Industry versus Inferiority successfully, in part, as exhibited by his award winning achievement within the executive functions within his ego. He was successful with school and developed the ability to write. During writing times, his ego dominated .His drives and his conscience became subordinated. The focus and energy he put into his writing was supreme and second to none .Nothing else seemed significant to him. However, too many of his decisions were irrational and self-destructive.

 His energy displacement masked the balance between his male and female conflicts. This displacement of his drives put him into harm’s way which he used for his writing material because of the real life and death danger in his experiences. In other words, issues around developing a Sense of Identity versus Role Confusion facilitated his wonderful ability to tell stories that pertained to his own experiences. Of course, these experiences reinforced his self-hate and unconscious risk to die. War, death, loss were themes in his novels as well as his own troubled life. Sexually, he allowed his unconscious fears to be expressed in play. In bed, he was the female and his wife was the male.

 His difficulty in the stage of developing a Sense of Intimacy versus Isolation was regularly repeated with repetition compulsion. Hemingway was great at catching like a fishermen or killing his prey just like the protagonist. He had great skills of seduction, charm and like a spider’s web he captured his victim. His focus and energy was unsurpassed and his infatuation and genital love drive was tremendous. Hemingway, however could not maintain his infatuation drive and exhibited controlling, dominating and verbally abusive behavior. Like the protagonist, who went out every day to fish, Hemingway had to have new prey. He was fearful of isolation, unable to tolerate separation or being alone. However, once he captured his prey it died and was symbolically like the dead skeleton of the Marlin.  His favorite bar in Key West was Sloppy Joe’s and had a very difficult time being alone while wife Martha left him in Key West to be involved in covering World War II.

 Hemingway’s novels and other writings contributed to his teaching the world about the trials and tribulations of irrational war, conflicts, about life itself with the shadow of death lurking. This stage is called developing a Sense of Generativity versus Stagnation.

 The last stage in Erickson’s model is developing a Sense of Integrity versus a Sense of Despair. To be successful in this stage, relates to being able to successfully pass through the seven previous stages. Already, we know he hasn’t been able to easily navigate the previous stages. With integrity the individual has to be able to have an acceptance of his life which importantly includes a love for one’s parents. He hated his mother.  One has to be able to master all the physical and economic threats and confrontations that interferes with one’s well-being of which he was not able to accomplish. Drugs, alcohol, cerebral concussions, numerous physical injuries, DNA inheritance and with despair, the individual is unable to start another life and try alternate roads to reach his integrity. With despair, Hemingway was depressed and feared living. At the end, he was depressed, paranoid and that was coupled with severe physical impairments, multiple concussions, hemochromatosis, paranoia, depression and ECT treatment as well. Suicide with 5 family members in 4 generations and financial difficulties tell an important segment of his story. Although, Ernest’s moral principles were suspect, his honesty was best expressed in his novels, he didn’t fear death, and he welcomed death .Because, in large part, of his tremendous physical and emotional pain, Ernest died without integrity.

With the protagonist in The Old Man and the Sea, we saw the old man at the last stage of his life. Was he developing a sense of integrity or was he in a state of despair? With repetition compulsion, the aging old man put himself at risk daily by going out into the sea in his small boat with limited supplies. He traveled to kill or to catch; to have his masculinity emasculated; or to be killed. He was alone except for being befriended by one young boy. He was old, tired and beyond his productive years. His impotency was illustrated when he was unable to successfully fight, with bloodied hands, off the sharks and brought back just the skeleton of the Marlin. We don’t know if he loved his parents but we do know that he had limited skills and likely didn’t have the opportunity for a different lifestyle. Economically he lived day-to-day. We do know that he was alone and life consisted of him being nonproductive and less effective. The end suggests a tired aging man in despair, broken and awaiting death.

John Steinbeck

 

 Linda and I recently viewed East of Eden written by the brilliant Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck. Main characters were Julie Harris -Abra; Raymond Massey -the father Adam; Jo Van Fleet -the mother Kate; Linda’s heartbeat James Dean -Cal; Richard Davalos-Aron and others. Elia Kazan was the producer. Kazan, Dean and Van Fleet were nominated for Academy Awards and Van Fleet won. Paul Osborne was nominated for the best screenplay.

In this novel, Monterey and Salinas were the settings and the time was 1917 during World War I. Kate left Adam and their two sons Cal and Aron. Cal was the biblical Cain and Aron was the biblical Abel. This essay employs concepts of identification, ambivalence, sibling rivalry, and alienation to this relevant film.

Briefly, in Genesis, Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam and Eve. The brothers made sacrifices to God, but God favored Abel’s sacrifice instead of Cain’s.  Cain then murdered Abel out of jealousy, whereupon God punished Cain by condemning him to a life of wandering.

In the movie, Adam or god was a rigid, unemotional, hypercritical, and ineffective authoritarian father that read Scripture in the evening with his sons. Adam had Cal read Scripture, in a certain way, out loud. Of course, the rebellious and “bad” Cal was oppositional and read the passages his way. We see a strict father and an alienated, disrespectful and hateful son. Cal’s alienation was exemplified by his rebelliousness-drinking alcohol, staying away from home, hitching a ride on trains from Salinas to Monterey, throwing blocks of ice down a slide, and so forth. Cal’s only consistent punishment was Adam’s scorn.

Karl Marx wrote about man’s alienation as a result of the working conditions in the industrial revolution and problem with Capitalism. Man becomes alienated because of the subservient, slave like, and burned out position in his workplace. Man has very little control or significant emotional involvement, sense of satisfaction, meaning and gratification within his work setting. In other words, the worker must have the opportunity to be able to express his self in terms of his mental and physical powers. Man is not what he ought to be but instead be able to develop his potential into what he could be. However, with alienation, man becomes separated from self and isolated from others. Within capitalism, there’s focus on external things like money. Man becomes a cog, insignificant, an anonymous number, and an object which counters and decimates his ability to fully develop himself. A few illustrations of alienation and satiation in man not wanting to be in the workplace include the  preponderance  of drugs, alcohol, absenteeism, Workmen’s Comp and all the physical and emotional disabilities associated with work. Sometimes money and all the diversions of books, movies, games, social media, gambling, sports and sex placate the masses but only for the short-term. Currently, we have a labor shortage. It’s not a surprise when profit rules. There is too much emphasis on the unequal distribution of wealth and the perversion of labor transforms too many into emotional cripples. In Steinbeck’s novel, Kazan depicted Cal, a young male, being alienated within his family and his society. Alienation today is obvious and on the rise. I just read that the NFL Commissioner’s salary was close to $130 million for two years. That is simply obscene.

 Marx’s concept of alienation is simple but difficult for many to resolve or master in today’s capitalistic system. Man has to emancipate himself from alienation, caused in great part from capitalism because of the profit motive, and have the ability to return man to himself, for his self-realization. His estrangement is expressed in that things or objects are against him even though the objects may be of his own creation. Alienation is essentially experiencing the world and oneself passively, and receptively as the subject is separated from the object.

Alienation was first expressed the Old Testament with the concept of idolatry. The essence of what the prophets call idolatry is not that man worships many gods instead of only one. It is that the idols are the work of man’s own hands-they are things that man bows down to, a worship of mostly dead things; worships that which he has created himself. In doing so, he transformed himself into a thing. He transfers to the things of his creation and not the attributes of his own life. Instead of experiencing self as a creating person he is not in touch with himself but only by the worship of the idol. He has become estranged from his own life forces from the wealth of his own potentialities. He is in touch with himself only in the indirect way of submission to life, frozen in the idols.

Cal’s ambivalence (love, like and hate, dislike for parents) for his father was demonstrated when his father lost a great sum of money transporting lettuce, by train, to New York. Cal went into the bean business and made a ton of money because of the United States involvement in the war. Ambivalence towards parents is a typical psychological condition within the family. Cal’s hate was exemplified in him being the bad son. On Adam’s birthday, the bad Cal presented his father the money he earned as a present. Adam didn’t want the money, rejected Cal and said he didn’t want the money that was made because of the economics of the war. Aron’s gift to his father was his engagement to Abra. Adam bestowed significant praise on that gift and rejected Cal again.

The sibling rivalry (receiving love, being favorite, seeking praise etc.) between Cal and the “good” Aron was made very clear in the movie.  Aron, the good son, pleased his father while Cal did the opposite. Aron was clean-cut, didn’t swear and did not drink until the movies end. Within the rivalry, Cal said he was like his bad mother. Back in the day, it was believed that a person inherited a good or bad character from parents. Today, we identify good or bad behavior based on identifications and other psychological variables instead of DNA.

Regarding identification, both Cal and Adam, grew crops. However, Adam went broke with his ice experiment and Cal made money with beans. Cal and Kate were both successful capitalists. Aron and Adam read the Bible and on the surface were good citizens. But, both failed miserably with Kate. Cal, Aron and Adam were emotionally compromised. They did not appear to display empathy or affection interpersonally and all three acted and behaved irrationally with self-destructive tendencies. Cal with his fighting and drinking; Aron with his impulsive enlistment; and rigid Adam with Kate and their ineffective parented boys.

Kate, the mother, ran a profitable brothel in Monterey. If this woman was “bad,” then all her paying customers were bad also. Were the town leaders bad because they frequented a brothel for booze and sex? In the film, Aron was good like his father. Aron wore a white shirt; had a girlfriend; was clean-cut; supported his father’s friend the German shoemaker and was his father’s favorite. However, at the end of the film, Aron when he found out the truth about his mother, got drunk, got into fights, enlisted in the Army and put his head through the train window-breaking it. Was Aron still good? Don’t forget that the messaging that sex is bad and war and killing is good. What a delusion, with our troubled sense of values.

The “bad” Cal violated his father’s rules not by reading Scripture slowly but by reading the biblical passages fast; stayed out all night; rode the freight trains back and forth from Salinas to Monterey; drank alcohol; got into fights; stole a cool chute; thus suggesting violation of parental and society rules, being provocative and stubborn. These patterns of disobedience, negativistic and provocative opposition to authority figures are associated with an oppositional disorder diagnosis. However, the bad Cal borrowed $5000 from mother Kate, to start the bean business. Cal went into business to earn money to pay his father for all the money he lost shipping lettuce to New York. The bad Cal earned over $5000. He worked extremely hard in the fields, as a day laborer, for that money. He paid back his mother Kate with interest along with attempting to gift his father the money he lost. The bad Cal had his bags packed and ready to wander. At the end of the film, Cal moved his chair close to his stroke stricken father. Note, Cal’s ambivalence toward his father. He exemplified both hate and at the end “love. “Also, the only consequence for Cal’s oppositional actions were his father’s disapproval. That disapproval did not change Cal’s behavior.

We found out that Kate left Adam and their two sons because he was too controlling, too restricting, and too possessive and preached the Bible. In leaving, Kate shot and wounded Adam. She said she could’ve killed him but didn’t. The moral Adam lied to his children and told them she died.  The self-righteous Adam read the Bible every day, and believed that making money because of the war was evil. However, Adam worked in the recruiting office processing the young to go off to war and die. What is wrong with this picture? Adam’s values were what?

During one scene, Aron was attempting to defend his father’s friend a German shoemaker. An anxious town crowd began scapegoating their neighbor. Earlier, the town had banners, parades and a carnival like atmosphere with the United States involvement in World War I. Going to war was celebrated. What an illusion and delusion.  Reality set in when word of sons dying in trenches and being prisoners of war. The scapegoating was convenient. Don’t blame Woodrow Wilson, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, or the leaders of France, Russia, Britain, Germany, Austria Hungry, or Italy. It’s so much easy to pick on and find the weak and defenseless. Mob rule is irrational as it is to scapegoat. As if this German American shoemaker was responsible for the war.

With this boisterous crowd, the bad Cal jumped in, started rescuing his brother and wound up fighting. After a short brawl, Burl Ives, the sheriff intervened. The good Aron didn’t thank Cal but instead focused on Cal’s innocent involvement with Abra. In response, Cal hit Aron and pummeled him numerous times and then ran off to the bar in solitude.

Cal found out about his mother and why she left Adam. Out of his jealousy and hate, after Adam rejected Cal’s gift of money, Cal quickly took Adam to his mother and her business. This fact exposed the father not telling his sons why their mother left him. He told his boys she died. Confronted with the reality of his mother, Aron got drunk, got beat up and enlisted in the Army. When Adam was also confronted with his son’s reality, he became bedridden with a stroke.

Abra was Aron’s fiancé but was attracted to Cal.  She told Cal that Aron was unemotional and doubted his love. She added that his words seemed only as words and difficult to believe and trust. Abra convinced a paralyzed Adam to engage, reach out and demonstrate “love” to Cal. Up to that point, Cal had his bags packed and ready to wander and never be seen again. However, Adam listened to Abra and he whispered into Cal’s ear that he wanted that nurse fired and for Cal to take care of him. The film ended with Cal moving a chair close and near his father’s bed.

This great novel depicted life about 100 years ago and retold in film about 60 years ago. James Dean played an ambivalent, alienated and rebellious young man who loved and hated his father. His searching for his lost mother along with the sibling rivalry for their father’s approval, affection and love continue to be remain relevant psychological issues within families today.

There are many White alienated young associated with hate groups. These hate group’s scapegoat, become part of the mob and attack easy prey. Hate, guns and emotional disturbance means mental illness. As Gandhi stated “An eye for an eye will only make the world blind” and “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” These alienated are emotionally empty and dead inside. In order to compensate for their hate and inner deadness, they choose the idol of white supremacy. They make it absolute and totally submit to it. In doing so, they find excitement in the submission to this chosen idol. However, this excitement does not stem from Joy and productive relatedness. The intense hate is built upon their inner deadness, lack of direction and insecurity.

In summary, Cal was bright although narcissistic, immature, rebellious, impulsive, oppositional and emotionally unattached and numb. He was also driven by impulses that at times dominated his executive ego and superego or conscience functions. He was not alienated because of his being a farmer’s son but, for the most part, because of being abandoned by his mother and scapegoated as the bad son. He badly wanted his father’s approval. He was directionless, had poor parenting and acted out his emotional conflicts. Aron, on the surface, was the good son. Being good and compliant, he received his father’s praise and recognition. With the narcissistic injury, his character was revealed. He was confronted with his alive mother. Aron displaced his anger against self and others   with directed hate. He got drunk, got into fights, put his head through a train window and enlisted in the service. Now, he could kill Germans, become a prisoner and/or die. Where was his executive functioning ego and conscience?  He was engaged? Engaged with what? The Bible reading Adam was emotionally shallow with his dysfunctional family. Instead of taking responsibility for his failed marriage, he blamed his son and directed his passive aggressiveness towards Cal. This Bible reading hypocrite lied to his children and processed people going off to war. He was wounded narcissistically, when he reached the train station and saw his son smashing the train window and going off to war. He was no longer in control and not able to “protect” his son from the truth. This emotional conflict resulted in him becoming partially paralyzed with stroke. Kate, was wounded narcissistically, as she aged. She was no longer beautiful but financially well-off yet alone and being labeled by the jealous, the town pariah. What a troubled family. Although agnostic and intellectual, the well-educated Steinbeck was versed in religious teachings, philosophy, history and man’s social, economic, political plight as well as man’s failings. Epicurus stated “The greatest reward of righteousness is peace of mind.”

PS

In a previous life, I taught English at a junior high school in Oak Park. For one assignment, I had my students read Steinbeck’s novella “The Red Pony.”

Reference

Fromm, Erich. Marx’s Concept of Man, Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, New York.