Friday, January 27, 2023

Exceptionalism

 



This essay portrays three incarcerated men. Capt. Alfred Dreyfus was imprisoned on Devil's Island; Dr. Viktor Frankel was in four different Nazi concentration camps; and Capt. Louis Zamperini in four different Japanese prisoner of war camps.  They were all subjected to unprecedented hate, sadism, brutal and inhuman and unconscionable levels of extreme physical and emotional stress.  Yet, these three demonstrated their resilience and overcame obstacles that confronted them daily and were able to give back to their fellow man.  This is a brief look into their character. 


Initially it can be stated that emotional and/or physical pain is in the eye of the beholder.  For example, when describing pain to a health provider, one is asked to rate that  on  a scale of 1 to 10.  Doctors prescribe pain medication based on one's complaint.  If addicted, one goes to multiple providers for their meds.  The number of pills can be limited but there is no objective way of discernment regarding pain or discomfort.


Years back, psychologically, an external stress index was created in an attempt to measure the stress levels of different life events.  Numerical values were  assigned to each episode.  A few examples of the higher valued levels of stress: 1.  Death of a spouse = 100  2. Divorce= 73 3.  Marital separation = 65  4.  Jail or imprisonment.= 63 and 5.  Death of a close family member =63.  Note, there was no measure for solitary confinement; being falsely accused of treason  ; being publicly shamed; being a witness to family and other human beings murdered; being subjected to starvation; being physically beaten and sadistically treated as if you were a nonhuman , or  being treated without any sense of morality, right, wrong, or reason.


Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, of Jewish ancestry, was born in Milhouse, France .  In 1870, the Franco- Persian war occurred and the Dreyfus family moved to Switzerland because that part of France was annexed by Germany .  After Alfred finished high school, the family moved to Paris.  That war, Germany taking what was once France , led to Alfred's joining the French military.  In spite of anti-Semitism, "Jews were not desired," Alfred was promoted  and became part of the general staff that was, anti-semetic.  Shortly thereafter, a French housekeeper found a torn up handwritten note of  French military secrets in a wastebasket at the German Embassy.


Alfred was accused of being a traitor and at his closed court-martial,  one member of the French staff testified that the handwritten note in question was written by Capt. Dreyfus.  With that "evidence" the military tribunal found him guilty of treason.  He was told that if he admitted the crime, he and his family would be exiled.  Alfred denied the preposterous charges.  That he would give war secrets to Germany, the country that made him and his family leave France, nonsense.


There was a ceremony  to humiliate and publicly shame Capt. Dreyfus in front of the military and the public.  Dreyfus had his rank insignia, buttons and braids cut from his uniform and his sword broken in  two pieces..  Capt. Dreyfus responded to the age-old shaming attempt with dignity and self-respect.  He looked straight ahead, not downward or shy away with a whimper.  His pride did not allow him to lose face as he cried out, "I swear that I'm innocent, I remain worthy of serving in the Army, long live France.  Long live the Army."  These are not words of the traitor, but of a proud, patriotic, Jewish French military officer.  France's motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity were absent along with honor of the military.  He was exiled to Devil's Island in French Guiana from 1895 until 1899.


Alfred was given food and shelter  in solitary confinement.  During those years, he wrote letters, but was not allowed to receive any .  He was cut off ,alone and isolated.  Yet, he prevailed, he did not allow the sadistic abuse to put him in despair.  During that period, on the home front, Emile Zola had published in a French newspaper, the lies, the betrayal and anti-Semitism related to that closed phony hearing by the French military.  A second trial was held. Of course, he was found guilty.  However, in order to save face for the military's mistake, he was given a pardon by the French president.  However, if he had refused the pardon, he would've been sent back to Devil's Island. In  Dreyfus's mind, he  was still seen as a traitor to France and said at his release.  "The government of the Republic is giving me back my freedom.  It is nothing for me without my honor."  He lived in house arrest until he was finally exonerated by a military commission in 1906.  During that time, the actual French traitor told his story and it was published for all to see.

 

While in the military, Alfred served the Army for France from 1890 to 1918 and achieved the rank of Lieut.  He participated at the battle of Verdun and the second battle of  Aisne during World War I.  Lieut. Dreyfus was promoted to officer of the Legion of Honour, and there is a statue of the Lieut. holding his broken sword at the exit of Notre Dame des Champs Metro Station . He passed at the age of 74.


Dr. Viktor Frankel was born in Vienna, Austria, and was educated as a neurologist and psychiatrist.  He later also earned a PhD in philosophy.  He founded a logotherapy school of psychotherapy that described a search for life's meaning as a central human motivational force.  Dr. Frankel , in nine days, wrote a book originally titled "A Psychologist Experiences the Concentration Camp."  This book was translated into English as "Man's Search for Meaning."


In 1942, nine months after his marriage, Dr. Frankel and his family were sent to the Theresienstadt Concentration camp, where his father died.  In 1944, the family was transported to Auschwitz where his mother and brother were murdered in the gas chambers.  His wife died later of typhus in another concentration camp. .He spent three years in four concentration camps and witnessed mechanized disgraceful mass beatings and killings of innocent men, women and children.



Briefly, he assisted many prisoners , with their psychological issues, during those terrible years despite the tragic losses he personally experienced.  Viktor had to confront his own anxiety, despair, depression, and grief.  His strong sense of self, identity and ego gratitude allowed him to be human despite the inhumanity all around him. 

He founded Logotherapy. It’s based on paradoxical intentions ie.  overcoming concessions and anxieties, distancing and humorous exaggeration; dereflection drawing the client's attention away from  symptoms; and Socratic dialogue asking questions designed to help clients find and pursue self to find meaning in life.  Self talk and challenging irrational ideas and illusions ; pursuing a future and future goals are significant for modifying negative emotions through verbalization.  These patients , in the past , had successful careers and family, and in the present suffered severe trauma, starvation, and loss of loved ones.  It was therefore  important to focus on many things, and not dwell on the past. The task was to find and focus on positives while searching for meaning in order to make sense of the sadism in their surroundings.


In 1947 Viktor Frankel remarried and he had one daughter who became a child psychologist.  It was later reported that after his death , he prayed every day and had memorized the words of daily Jewish prayers and Psalms.  He died in 1997 in Vienna, age 92,  of heart failure. His gratuitous life was characterized by responsibility ,staying intact , completeness, honesty, moral obligation, delight, psychological harmony ,psychological and ethical eros, sincerity, prudence, conscience,  amiability and holiness  . Other books he wrote include: The Doctor and the Soul, On the Theory and Therapy of Mental Disorders, Psychotherapy and Existentialism,  The Will to Meaning, The Unheard Cried for Meaning, Viktor Frankel, Recollections and Autobiography ,Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning, Yes to Life in Spite of Everything. Dr. Frankel earned many decorations and awards as well.  In 1995 he was Honorary Citizen of the City of Vienna and Great Gold-Medal with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria. Strength, resilience, achievement, and humanism define his character.


Louis Zamperini born in 1917, attended the University of Southern California and ran in the 5000 m race in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin finishing eighth while setting a new lap record in the process..  After the race, Hitler shook his hand and said, "you're the boy with the fast finish."  He was commissioned into the United States Army Air Force as a lieutenant, rose to the rank of Capt. and served as a bombardier on a B 24 Liberator in the Pacific.  He  later received the distinguished flying Cross award.  His plane crashed in the Pacific ,and after drifting at sea ,starving and fighting off sharks for 47 days with two other crewmates.  They landed on the Japanese occupied Marshall Islands and were captured.


 Capt. Louis was taken to  four different prisoner of war camps in Japan where he was tortured , mistreated and severely beaten specially by Mutsuhiro Watanabe.  This prison guard was called "the Bird '' and later included Gen. Douglas MacArthur's list of the 40 most wanted war criminals in Japan.  Louis was also held in the same camp as Greg.  "Pappy" Boynton .  The major described the Italian recipes that Louis wrote to keep the prisoners' minds off the food and conditions.  Once again the use of positive  thinking helped alleviate emotional distress.  Focusing and obsessing on the negative emotional reality becomes unproductive and contributes to anxiety, distress, depression, without future hope.


After  returning home, this veteran, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, experienced  nightmares, thought about strangling his former captors and began drinking heavily, attempting to repress his POW experiences.  He had symptoms associated with PTSD. His dreams and nightmares were an insight into the sadistic situation that he experienced.  Thus, his dream symbolism were  sophisticated defenses against taking those actions to reality. He was safe in his dream world.  And when he mastered the symbolism of terror  of  his dream life, it set him free  and was again  to live with  ego integrity . Fortunately, his wife Cynthia became a Born-Again Christian and encouraged him to attend a Billy Graham Crusade. He found meaning ,his religious experience also reinforced his ability  to forgive his captors and when that happened, his sleep improved.  He then began a career as a Christian evangelist .  He visited many guards from his POW days and told them that he had forgiven them.  Four days before his 81st birthday, Louis ran a leg in the Olympic torch relay for the Winter Olympics in Japan not far from the POW camp where he had been held.  Louis  sent " The Bird" letter stating that while he suffered great mistreatment, he forgave him.  Louis never received a response and the bird died in 2003.  In 2005,  Capt. Louis returned to Germany to visit the Berlin Olympic stadium.  In his 90s,  he attended USC football games, appeared on Jay Leno's show and died of pneumonia in 2014 at the age of 97. Capt.  Louis' character and resilience was illustrated by slaying his demons and giving to others.  His character is associated  with  ego integrity.


  In summary, these three humans experienced  chronic stress with unimaginable levels of cortisol that not only endangered their being but also created traumatic memories and flashbacks pertaining to their inhumane nightmare.  Despite these conditions, these men were able to integrate  and unify  their ego integrity within a strong sense of self. Because of ego integrity , they were able to  adapt to the horrific  sadistic dark side  actions of their captors; they were able to accept the insecure, dependent, helpless reality of their situation because of their inner strength and fortitude.  They were also  able to defend their dignity of who they were, and not feel  despair ,despite the  consistent physical and emotional threats to their well-being.  They didn't fear death as they had the inner resources of their character and  personality .They had  personal meaning to give back to make the world better. 


Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact, said William James, philosopher and psychologist . 


Reference


Beebe, John.  Integrity in Depth. 

Erikson, Erik H.  Childhood and Society.


Friday, January 20, 2023

Assisting the Unfortunate

 


The article in the New York Times December 11, 2022    "A Doctor Has New York's Ear.On Mentally Ill"  is the topic for this disquisition.  Psychiatrist E.  Fuller Torrey  advocated  mandatory mental health treatment for many years.  In fact, he's been instrumental  with the enactment of  treatment laws in many states for the mentally ill.  States have enacted mandatory treatment or Kendra's law based on the belief that mental illness and crime are one of the same. However, epidemiological  research  found about 4% of violent acts can be directly attributed to mental illness while many of them are low-level assaults such as in pushing, shoving and slapping people. Recently, Mayor Eric Adams of New York  instituted a policy that  sends people with untreated mental illness. to hospitals even if they posed no threat to others. Unfortunately, the article did not define mentally ill,  treatment provided, particulars on how  individuals would be selected with what criteria, by whom and carted away in what type of vehicles.  If individuals did not want to cooperate, are they  now criminals?  Further, is there a plan to evaluate this policy ?


 California, with Short-Doyle legislation, began closing state mental health hospitals In the 1970s.  Funds were transferred to mental health treatment centers in  county  locations.  These mental health facilities provided outpatient mental health services for the general population, and for  the hospital patients that were being released into the community.  The outpatient treatment was provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, MSW's, MFCC’s and licensed mental health workers . The  psychiatrists   prescribed psychotropic medication .The treatment program also incorporated individual and group therapy along with other structured experiences.  Psychotropic medication was significant, and a major and necessary part of the treatment. Group homes,in the community, were also established to provide meals, housing, and staff on a 24-hour basis for these patients .


Mental illness refers to a wide range of symptoms and conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior.  There are many examples of mental illness with diagnoses  found in the DSM - 5, the  diagnostic  bible.  However, only a limited number of  diagnoses found in the DSM 5 are covered by health or medical insurance. 3rd party payers discriminate. If a diagnosis can be treated by a pill, that condition  likely qualifies for a limited number of treatment sessions. The motive is profit , not mental health for the insured. Therefore, what individuals, with what mental illness diagnosis, are to receive mandatory treatment in New York  ? And, what are the particulars for the hospitalizations in New York?


As a psychologist in an outpatient treatment center and in private practice,  I provided individual, couples and family psychotherapy therapy  with a wide range of  diagnosis’ . Included, in treatment, were foster care children.  I also administered psycho diagnostic evaluations at residential group homes for adolescents; locked door facilities for adults; and for  incarcerated prisoners referred for competency to stand trial.  Psychotropic medication played a significant  and necessary role in treatment , for some,even with  side effects .  Unfortunately, meds  do reduce or minimize symptoms , but they do not reconstruct one's character or personality.


Mental illness is a broad category ,easily  misunderstood and loosely used. Do we use  an insurance definition of mental illness or the DSM-5 ?   Even a schizophrenic reaction  can be misunderstood.  For a brief  example, there is not only a wealth of symptoms and  various types of schizophrenia  but also they are not all mutually exclusive.  They are not even separate or are even separate subtypes of the disease.  Schizophrenics may have difficulty and misinterpret reality, sometimes exhibit delusions and hallucinations.  Mood changes occur with loss of empathy with others and actions  may be withdrawn, regressive and bizarre. Further, schizophrenia can be treated with  individual and group psychotherapy, drugs, group homes,and structure  as previously mentioned. 


 Briefly, precipitating factors for schizophrenia  are a loss or threatened loss of a major source of gratification as well as a loss or threatened loss of basic security.  The onset is often slow and insidious. Not being able to meet ordinary life demands becomes obvious.  Many schizophrenics have lived as children within a pathological family organization.  It's not uncommon for a potentially psychotic parent to be able to keep reasonably clinically well, by scapegoating one of their offspring - the identified patient or crazy .


One of the primary contributing factors for a schizophrenia diagnosis are the parents.  Some parents are sadistic, neglectful, or indifferent to the child who then  has no chance to internalize a stable parental image.  Some parents don't realize their craziness and defend what they are doing , even though it’s inappropriate, wrong and unhealthy.  Some parents are severely mentally ill  and have also been reared in a dysfunctional  family organization .


Last year, a 17-year-old from the state of Illinois, attended a political protest in another state.  This boy, armed with an automatic weapon,had his accomplice mother drive him.  She did  drive him and he murdered.  That mother was an accomplice and should have been charged too.  Also, a teen in Michigan  , killed  four students at his high school.  This time his parents were also charged.  Parents of adolescents should be held accountable for their role in contributing to their killer children.


Currently, there are over 400,000 children and adolescents in foster care.  These foster care children experience high rates of mental health disorders and are at an increased risk of experiencing negative long-term health outcomes as well. Further, the number of homeless in the United States is estimated at 552,830 and approximately 16 to 33% of these people are mentally ill.There is likely a significant and positive correlation between foster care children and adult homelessness.  More than likely, there is a great  percentage of mental illness with foster care, and homelessness   significantly related to parenting conditions.  Yes, sex is a psychological need, but rearing children is not.  There is no manual on child rearing or who should be a  parent.  Parenting is complex, difficult to say the obvious.  Socioeconomic conditions, divorce,political dysfunction, social media, Covid -19  add to fear, anxiety, threats to safety, security  and wellbeing .  


Parenting plays a significant role in increased numbers of the mentally ill’ What can be done about it ? A few suggestions: 1.  Years ago, lepers were taken to Molokai.  They were  pushed  overboard and had to swim  to shore for their survival  2.  We can continue the same policies and expect the same results  3.  We could limit the number of children per family and legislate who should be allowed to be parents  4.  We could encourage and support abortion  5.  We could establish some form of a kibbutz with collective principles that would generate very different upbringing. 6.  We could build more hospitals, more locked  facilities and have police round up  all the crazies 7. We could place clinicians in schools to help evaluate and recommend treatment and/or options for children and their families for those in need 8.  We could evaluate current foster care and / or implement a new model when taking children from their parents.  9. We could invest in mental health and make it a priority.


In reality, our capitalistic socioeconomic system is predicated on profit for a  minority.  Historically, that has been the policy and enactment of those in power.  Altruism, on the other hand, requires  concern for others and enlightened thinking. The Dalai Lama once said "our prime purpose in this life is to help others.


Reference


Cameron, Norman.  Personality Development And Psychopathology .  A Dynamic Approach.


Friday, January 13, 2023

The Dark Side

 


Over the years, children have been referred to as our most precious resource and wanting them to have a better  life.  However, revenue for public school funding has  been inadequate ,especially in metropolitan cities ; political pressure dictating what can be taught in the schools; and a declining interest  and supply of teachers suggests something very different regarding valuing  children.  The Education Office for Civil Rights logged a record number of discrimination complaints in the past year.  The complaints alleged  discrimination based on disability, race or sex. Child obesity rates continue to be a problem  ; depression, anxiety and mental health issue rates have increased for children; 11  countries have higher average mathematics scores and seven  countries have higher  science  scores.  Two thirds of eighth graders are not proficient in math and reading  and most common countries of origin for a degree in engineering are India and China.  And over 400,000 are in foster care. These statistics along with an article  in the December 18, 2022 edition of The New York Times also supports  the idea that children are not the most precious resource with the title "Since 2020, gun violence has surpassed car accidents as a leading cause of death for American children.  This disquisition points to significant thinking and action tendencies as described by Freud’s Id and Jung’s Shadow. 


A few statistics from this article : 1.  In our history, disease was once the number one killer of children and later was followed by automobile death.  20 years ago, even with the seatbelt  laws ,American children were still three times more likely to be killed in a car accident than to be killed by a firearm.  2.  The gun death rate for children is  five in every 100,000  3.  In 2021, 3,597 children died by gunfire according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4.  Nearly 2/3 of those gun deaths involving children, or 2239 were homicides.  5.  The number of children that have died by suicide with a gun has also risen . Over the last decade , suicides made up about 30% of child gun deaths or 1,078  6.  Black boys are eight times more likely to die by gunfire historically 


 Applying the id  to children's gun deaths, the following is associated with murder . The id, according to Freud,  was the mechanism in which psychic energy was distributed and/or  also used by the ego and superego.  One of these systems could gain control over the available energy at the expense of the other two systems and become stronger than the weaker other two . Originally the id was seen as possessing all the energy and using it for reflex action and wish  or need fulfillment ( sex and aggression) by means of primary process  while pursuing pleasure  . This means these activities are  in direct service of the pleasure principle . In this very fluid state, actions  easily move from one action or image to another action or image.  Unfortunately, if the id had retained control over a large share of the  psychic energy, the behavior of the person  tends to be impulsive , primitive and aggressive in character. Thinking and behavior   becomes impulsive, irrational ,with dominant  tendencies and not affected by reason , objectivity, truth  nor  about right and wrong as with hate, prejudice, destruction and  murder .


Keeping irrational thinking and behavior regarding gun ownership in the forefront, the following questions and/or rationalizations are raised: 1.  The Second Amendment pertained to having  state regulated militias, a musket and not an AR automatic killing device.  2.  The gun is going to keep me safe, especially when I wear it in open view  3.  How many guns are required to keep an individual safe?  4. Bad guys have guns so I have to have a gun too.  Note, these rationalizations pertain to  underlying fear and anxiety.  The world can be dangerous and unpredictable.  Having control over many of the external random happenings  is fiction and fantasy.  Fear is about danger, it's objective and it's internal.  Anxiety is about danger.  It's subjective and it's internal.  Having the largest  Military and Defense expenditure in our budget is supposed to keep us safe and reduce anxiety or fear?  Having a multitude of  gun weapons is supposed to keep us safe and reduce fear and anxiety ? These beliefs are fantasy , delusional and crazy . An irrational  sick person with a gun is  dangerous.


Freud stated that the id is obscure  and  is in the unassessable part of  personality.  Also , the id contains everything that is inherited, that is present at birth and fixed in the Constitution of the individual. Briefly: 1.  The id is a mental function of idealized images and plays an active role in behavior determination.  2.  The existence of the id is illustrated by behavior, an absurd dream, daydreaming ,intoxications, delusions, psychotic symptoms, and sensory deprivation.  3.  The iid is the core of mental organization that is impervious to external reality,  asocial and never socialized.  4.  It's governed by pleasurable, immediate satisfaction of drives and needs without regard for consequences 5.  It's pleasurable, comforting with contentment, as in daydreams and fantasy 6.  Many different id needs coexist at the same time, and some are in conflict with each other 7.  The id's mental function persists throughout life, governed by drives for immediate gratification, called the primary  process .  8.  It's derived from physiological energy 9.  It gives rise to many irrational contradictions and therefore aspects of behavior are varied, not always understandable ,asocial and expressed in many different ways without consciousness  of what's happening or why.  It has no regard for consequences or logical reflection.


While thinking about Freud's id, I then focused my attention on  Carl Jung’s Analytic Theory. Jung had his own terminology.  For example, a man's personality  includes a Collective Unconscious which contains Archetypes . An archetype was a universal thought or idea, an idealized image in which  emotions  importantly play an active role in behavior determination. He identified many archetypes, One of his archetypes was called Shadow. The shadow was depicted as the  dark side of man. It consisted of  animal instincts which man inherited in his evolution from lower forms of life .The shadow was responsible for man's conception of Original Sin and when it was projected outward , it became the devil or the enemy. In other words, the shadow and/or the behavior is unpleasant and socially reprehensible with its thoughts, feelings and actions.  And, thus,the dark side of man could either be hidden from the public view or repressed into the personal unconsciousness . The idea of the  shadow is significant, with  its primitive animal instincts . It gives a more complete picture of  man’s destructive and aggressive personality and influenced by inheritance, development and societal influences .


Freud and Jung, brilliant creative giants both incorporated, in personality development, a dark ,destructive, and aggressive side of man.  Although both placed emphasis on . biology and personal interactions, Jung delved deeper into  interpersonal and societal and  causes for behavior. In any event,man can be characterized as being like a sheep with tendencies of  dependency  compliant, subservient, docile and following the crowd. Man can also be intelligent as with the Greek philosophers,  Enlightenment philosophers, natural, social  science  and political thinkers and others. They  have provided the world with knowledge, objectivity, morality  and reasoned enlightenment .  Man can also express aggressive tendencies and can  be irrational, impulsive,  reckless, guilty, criminal ,sinful, culpable etc. Religious prophets and laws have had  limited success in containing the dark side.  With that being said, it is obvious and predictable with our current laws, political dysfunction,  gun availability and interpersonal dysfunction, that children gun deaths have arisen.  The  inclusion of the Second Amendment into our capitalistic system is also contributing greatly to the killing of our children.  Perhaps,it takes more white children in high socioeconomic areas to be killed by guns, would there be change?


The dark side tendencies  of  the history of Homo sapiens has been well documented with the preponderance of lies, hate, prejudice, irrationality, discrimination, political dysfunction and death.  The last 250 years or so, our country  has also substantiated the same with the Revolution,  decimation  of native Indians, Civil War, Lincoln  assassination, World War I and with discrimination against German citizens, World War II  with anti semitism against Jewish refugees, prejudice  against  Japanese Americans and the Nazi sympathizers in Congress,  McCarthy hearings,  Korean War,  Vietnam , Civil rights movement, the Kennedy and Dr. King assassinations , Watergate,  Iraq and Afghanistan wars and January 6 etc.  Historically, the dark age of Trump will become history too .


Reference


Freud, Sigmund.  The Ego and the Id.

Jung, C.G.  The Integration of Personality.


Friday, January 6, 2023

Our Troubled Republic

 


Current statistics  on income inequality, mental and physical health, Covid-19 death, domestic violence, military expenditures  (  An article on the front page of the December 18, 2022 New York Times  titled "Bonanza for Arms Makers  as Military Budget Surges -Amid Ukraine War and Growing  Threats, US plans, 858  Billion in Spending "), global warming, IRS dysfunction  and homelessness suggest personal and interpersonal  toxic dysfunction. Other factors interfering with man's pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain is based on the ravages of nature as in hurricanes, fires, etc.; the decline or decay of the health of the body , as in obesity, asthma, diabetes,  cardiology , virus, cognitive deficiency; and  other restrictions, conflicts and disappointments occurring in our republic.  This essay addresses  Freud and Murray’s thinking regarding man's needs and drives for survival, affiliation, sex,  destruction and death.


Life is  difficult  with its numerous and painful disappointments, conflicts and impossible situations to resolve for  well-being and survival.  Man  attempts to distort this reality with various deflections, such as immersing himself in sports, entertainment, travels, social media;  finds substitute satisfactions such as imagination, fantasy, art, music and science;  ingesting intoxicating substances such as nicotine, alcohol, drugs;  and   withdraws as in yoga or seeks religion to be taken care of  and for affiliation along with it’s preposterous explanations of   life and afterlife meanings .


What is the purpose of life?  Why do we exist?  Is it seeking pleasure, happiness and the satisfaction of one's needs?  In any event, the relation of unhappiness  to happiness goes back and forth . The reduction of pain is called happiness.  A brief example follows.  One of my friends, in his early 70s, recently experienced 12 1/2 hours of surgery with four surgeons .  His recovery was difficult and taxing .  From that assault on his body, he  recently told me that he was happy because the doctors didn't find cancer and now he no longer has to carry a bag.  But, he has to be within 15 minutes of the toilet.


The striving for pleasure and avoiding unpleasantness is difficult because of the forces of nature, the physiological changes in our body and the multiple relations with others.  Therefore, the  seeking of pleasure is extremely difficult to fulfill and our pursuit of pleasure is really a protection against suffering.  However suffering is a sensation that exists because we feel it.   Also, perhaps, most of our suffering within human relations is related to our society, with its restrictions, unfairness, and contradictions that are contrary to the satisfaction of  drives and needs?


Freud described man's drives for survival,  destruction and death while Murray identified man's needs for Affiliation (To draw near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate with an allied other. To please and win affection of a cathected object.  To adhere and remain loyal to a friend.) ;  Sex To form and further an erotic relationship.  To have sexual intercourse ) and Abasement (To accept injury blame, and criticism .  To blame, belittle or mutilate the  self.  To seek and enjoy pain, punishment, illness and misfortune).  Statistically, the behavior of roughly half the individuals in the United States are pursuing short-term pleasure for  long-term pain  with issues of obesity, diabetes, asthma, heart disease.  A great many are expressing aggression and hate directed both inward and outward as suicide and death rates multiply.  The pursuit of pleasure for the unhappy is  temporary and  has harmful long term consequences for  well-being.


Number of years ago nursing homes were established to provide  care for individuals unable to return home because of lack of family support and for those requiring nursing  assistance.  Family support was compromised because of mobility and separation between parents and children.  It was  not uncommon for children to leave home and search for their fortune elsewhere.  Other  living arrangements for seniors were established and became available that provided assistance for those requiring it.  When  mother was in her 90s, she wanted to remain  living at home rather than enter some senior citizen arrangement with all those old people.  Around that time, corporate America created a franchise that would send a minimum wage employee non medically licensed into the home to assist.They were there to meet one's affiliative needs.  Capitalism took advantage of the separateness and assisted many  seniors in meeting their affiliative needs.


Sex is necessary for  survival.  Developmentally, testosterone is the main hormone produced in the testicles and secreted by the testes.  The major effects of testosterone is that it promotes libido, aggressiveness and sexual desire.  The effects of testosterone are most pronounced during puberty. However, In the 10 Commandments , It's a sin to commit adultery.  In certain evangelical teachings, adolescents are taught not  to masturbate, watch pornography or have sexual intercourse.  The proud boys are not supposed to masturbate more than once a month.  Also, a woman is not to decide on whether or not to receive an abortion. These beliefs  are absurd.


Religious  teaching is supposed to restrict and repress the biological and psychological nature of man?   Well, we know how that has turned out with all the sexual scandals, with priests and ministers.  We even established laws regarding adultery and divorce.  We also know how that has turned out.  Could the so-called restrictions  of the sexual nature of man, result in psychological illness and dysfunction as well as the plethora of pornography ?  Religion has  equated sex and guilt needlessly for too many and it’s preposterous.  Thank goodness, Nevada has a realistic humanistic and rational approach to sex with its legal brothels.  A woman has a right to engage in sex and in a capitalistic society and appropriately charge for it. It's her body and the state  makes money on that business. For example, sex is pleasurable, natural and important for survival.  Franchise genital love bordello’s  without the guilt and shame.


Thou shall not kill and yet the largest monetary expenditure in our budget is for the military.  It's difficult to remember when our country was neither at war nor was providing military aid.  Eisenhower called this the Military-Industrial Complex.  What would happen to our economy if we did not have so much expenditure for guns but had a large expenditure for butter as Paul's Samuelson, the first American to win the Nobel Memorial prize in economic sciences, wrote  ?  Samuelson opposed the craziness of Milton Friedman's trickle-down economics. In any event, our country has no problem when it comes to producing  killing devices.


Our citizens have more guns, and kill others with domestic terrorism on the rise.  To kill plays an important role in our culture.  Yet we have hospice.  Hospice is supposed to provide emotional and virtual care for patients and families. The dying patient requires anesthetizing that masks the pain . Why  witness a loved one in that intoxicated state?  The purpose is? 


 Years ago, Jack Kevorkian was incarcerated.  This physician helped another with incurable illness in  assisted suicide.  This was against the law in Michigan.  Seems to me that it is much more humane to assist someone in their death than to anesthetize them. Why go on in that state?   If the quality of life is important , if none exists, then suicide is most humane. We put down our animals. Yes, suicide is against the law and we have suicide prevention. Recently,  a ride and tie friend had Lou Gehrig's disease.  This  bright athlete progressively wasted away and was confined to an electric powered mobile device.  Thank goodness he decided on assisted suicide, which was a great relief to his spouse as well.


We know that older societies have more realistic practices and do not allow archaic thinking to get in the way of sex and death of a loved one.  It's time, In our country, to realistically address sex rationally and without the association of guilt.  When sex is spectacular  between loved one's, that's terrific for that union.  When sex is not good, that union is generally not working well.  Death and dying also requires rational thought as that too is part of the life cycle. It's clear that our society is challenged and requires change. For example, franchise grief, loss and dignity while removing shame and guilt. Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them, said Leo Tolstoy.



Applying  the analogy of Freud's id, ego, and superego to our fragile experimental Republic, briefly , we find the following. The id is dominant with its irrational , unorganized, no values, no good, no morality   reservoir of  the psychic energy system of  the mental  provinces. It affects the climate change terror and  degree of incorporation, ingestion, consumption of toxic ingredients bringing disease,viruses deadly to the brain and body  along with  hateful, insidious,  aggressive, neurotic and murderous interpersonal interactions.  The ego's executive functions of rational reality testing in which thinking and beliefs are compromised and distorted in the areas of capitalism, religion , politics and humanistic values of love ,respect and integrity .  The  morality of  law, truth and fairness within the superego have been perverted by identification with rigid, sociopathic authoritarianism. The energy of the  id, its irrationality and difficulty with reality  proves to be prevailing all too often.


Reference


Freud, Sigmund.  Civilization and its Discontents.

Murray, Henry A.  Explorations in Personality.


Friday, December 30, 2022

Survival of

 


Survival of the fittest was  noted in 1869 by Charles Steinman Darwin, in his famous "On the Origin of Species."  He suggested that the advantage for humans accrue with certain traits along an individual to both thrive and survive in the environment by out competing for limited resources.  This essay points out the importance of the motivational concepts of anxiety,  affiliation and dominance in reference to Darwin's survival idea.


 According to Freud , birth is a prototype of anxiety. It’s a reality, in which later signals of dangers  are  primary aspects  of man’s nature .  Sigmund Freud’s position influenced Otto Rank who then published a major book on this topic titled " The Trauma of Birth. '' Rank wrote  that the change from the all-encompassing effortless bliss of the womb to the painful  postnatal conditions required initiative from the infant. As a result and consequence  of this trauma, the infant experiences’ mortal fear’ for life.   He called this primal anxiety and the major goal for humans is to reinstate the embryonic bliss from the greatest human terror which is separation anxiety.


Karen Horney in "The Neurotic Personality of Our Time" differentiated between fear and anxiety.  Fear is neurological or instinctual, and located in both the reptilian and the mammalian brain.  For example, when I ran on the trail, years ago, I encountered a lioness  and her two cubs. I immediately stopped because of fear.  I slowly backed away and when out of sight ,picked up a tree limb . While retreating, I constantly  looked over my shoulder.  I experienced fear from an actual danger. 


 Anxiety is also an emotional and subjective reaction to danger and can be accompanied by the physical sensations  of trembling, perspiration , and increased heartbeat. Strong sudden  intense fear may lead to death.  According to Horney, the content of neurotic anxiety is a reaction to danger, but often it is not transparent or objective like fear . It is hidden and subjective so individuals may be anxious without knowing it. I know there are lions and rattlesnakes on the trail.  However, that does not keep me from running on the trail. Do I carry a weapon?  No , I don't carry a weapon. I am cautious and aware of potential danger and at times experience anxiety. 


Another important variable is dependence and  defined as "the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.”  Henry Murray In Explorations in Personality incorporated dependency with the need for affiliation   "to draw near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate with an allied other ( an other who resembles the subject or who likes the subject).  To please and win affection of a cathected object.  To adhere and remain loyal to a friend."


Returning to birth, it's clear that  affiliation develops early in life as survival. For instance, a hungry, distressed, anxious infant  cries and begins to establish, with selective attention,   a particular pattern or mode of behavior of requiring food to satisfy.  The mother responds with acts of feeding, warming, drying, snuggling, cooing etc.  and the affiliation need becomes established  if there is a consistent ratio  of satisfaction  as distress or anxiety diminishes along with crying . Hunger satisfied and affiliation need met . In essence, attention seeking ,the need  for affiliation , on  another facilitates  survival.


 Patterns of behavior  toward another are not always rational, moral or safe because of the presence  of various emotions  of which insecurity, fear,  trust , distrust are examples .Thus, the infant,child, adult, moves towards another with either an approach or with avoidance.  Patterns and tendencies of behavior of child, adult can either be directed toward another, as in  fawning over a dictator;  aggressively against another ,although once a favored individual as with  personal lawyer Michael Cohen; or a withdrawal toward another, although once sexually pursuing  Stormy Daniels.  Liking, caring, respecting, non-respecting . being fearful, being suspicious as well as a host of other variables in situations determine the interactive behavioral character tendencies. Of course these three aspects of human interactions are tendencies that happen throughout one's lifetime depending upon the accumulative experiences in countless situations  found in our life space.


Stanley Schachter conducted a number of experiments measuring the relationship of affiliation to anxiety found in The Psychology of Affiliation: Experimental studies of the sources of gregariousness.  Stanford University press.  These were college students in introductory psychology classes.  In these experiments, Schachter created high and low anxiety groupings.  In one experiment, he told one group that they would receive electrical shocks painful but not harmful.  in  the other group, they were told that the shock would feel like a tickle and it wasn't harmful.  A number of conditions were set up with students either being alone or waiting with another prior to their  participation.  In this and other research conditions, he reported that anxiety led to affiliative behavior.  He also studied  firstborn, to see if they were more affiliative than second born  etc in research conditions.  He  postulated that the firstborn likely received much more attention from parents  than second born and as a result, that firstborn would receive much more attention and as a result likely to be more affiliative than subsequent children.  In his studies, high anxiety led to affiliative behavior and firstborns also exhibited more affiliative behavior.


We are born, we experience anxiety and we confront the world in a socio-relational configuration with the vigor of our behavior and the many conciliatory responses, placing us in many approach-avoidance situations.   In society, we experience many problems and conflicts that we have to solve .In essence, with anxiety, we develop a number of  needs that can or can not be satisfied at the expense of others.  With that being said, the necessity of  affiliation becomes all important and a significant need  as we dread separation.  However, there are other needs that we experience in order to satisfy our survival.  For example, the need for power. We seek power as a reassurance against our anxiety and  helplessness, which results in hostility that appears in the form of a tendency to dominate.  Murray has defined the need for dominance as "to control one's human environment.  To influence or correct the behavior of others by suggestion, seduction, persuasion or command.  To dissuade, restrain or prohibit."


The insurrection is  the news.  Will DJT and his cronies be held accountable?  It's clear that this narcissist has exhibited insecurity, affiliation and dominance during his lifetime. He certainly was dependent upon his father and others ( received money and all forms of assistance for his school studies).  Of course, his college transcript and records have not been released.  Additionally, there were records of lawsuits, failure to pay numerous individuals, bankruptcies, business failures, sexual scandals, and so forth.  However, he was not alone but in cooperation with depending- affiliation upon others such as his CEO ,family, attorneys and accountants to further his illegal activities.  His TV show symbolizes his character tendencies in that he arbitrarily fired whomever.


Then, DJT became the most powerful individual in the world.  His anxiety  and  affiliation and dominance needs surfaced for all to see.  He surrounded himself with a gang of loyalists.  The sycophants remained loyal to him regardless of consequences to them.  If you're not a loyalist you're an enemy.  His cabinet changed frequently as he fired those that were not fawners to him.  He was not properly audited by the IRS, controlled the Justice Department,  FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the Military,  Health and Human Services etc, the media, and  the narrative around  Covid-19.  The Evangelicals  and Catholics supported him and were loyal because he appointed  justices that would overturn Roe versus Wade.  He also appointed federal judges, and signed countless executive orders.The range of his gang reached both federal and state levels of power.


DJT lied, cheated, falsified and was criminal in his behavior.  He was impeached twice.  He was right when he said that he could kill somebody in New York and not be prosecuted.  As commander-in-chief, he identified and was “a want to be” with Russia, China and North Korea’s totalitarian dictators.  He was above the law.  He was the law.


Evangelicals and Catholics supported and voted for this amoral individual with their rationalizations.  Others in government like his  Chief of Staff and others were told by some  attorneys about illegality.  That didn't stop them, the Secret Service, and others in the media from lying or claiming executive privilege or taking the fifth.  They obviously were seeking some advantage for being his flunky.  They too are guilty by association and have significant character flaws as well. They know right from wrong.



Some might ask why are there so many dependent supporters and followers of this despicable person?.  A few examples include: 1.  Identification with an authoritarian controlling father figure.  2.  Economic policies that support the top 1% 3.  Employment security in highly advantageous positions with great benefits for power, possession, and prestige and afraid to lose it. 4.  Nominating Supreme Court and federal justices favorable  to overturning Roe versus Wade   5.  Expectations of pardons for breaking the law.  6.  Lack of dissonance with policies of discrimination , prejudice, exploitation , racism  and amorality 7.  Permission to express hate and act out aggression against authority.  8.  Hating Nancy Pelosi, her party, people of color, rule of law ,Intelligence, the educated,  human decency and democracy 9.  Mad at the Democratic Party for giving Hillary the super delegates and not Bernie Sanders in 2016 10.  Dissonance for voting Democratic 11.  Limited intelligence, lack of knowledge, easily manipulated with false ideas, lies and irrationality.  12.  Willing to risk incarceration, legal censure and loss of ability to practice law suggests the abasement need, which  according to Murray, to submit passively; to accept injury, criticism, punishment; to seek and enjoy pain, punishment, illness and misfortune 13.  They have similar character  traits of being narcissistic , paranoid, egotistical, and sociopathic .  In other words, they have no problem lying, cheating, and being above the law.  Note, these are egotistical, they are not moral equivalencies ,not democratic , not  humanistic behavior that can be  found in the 10 Commandments, the writings and brilliance of  Moses, Jesus, Aristotle, Confucius, Buddha, Kierkegaard, Marx, Spinoza, Mother Teresa, Bertrand Russell, Gandhi, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, Noam Chomsky and others .  Further, morality and love are not ego needs .And this is a Christian what?


His door of opportunities is closing.  Consequences for DJT are now a likelihood.  His anxiety and fears are real and likely to increase.  His circle of sycophants is becoming smaller.  His prestige and reassurance against humility is humiliation with hostility.  Caesar was stabbed by Brutus and others; Hitler and his girl ingested poison in that bunker and Saddam was found in a hole. DJT's options do not look promising for this obese criminal .  With additional anxiety, expects more aggression, irrationality, and affiliation with attorneys and other crazies. He has been able to survive because of his inheritance and his affiliative needs.  However, his  character  as exemplified by  his destructive abasement need points in  despair nearing the end of his lifecycle.


Friday, December 23, 2022

Obesity

  The New York Times of November 27, 2022 had an article titled "Scientists   at Least Know What Doesn't Cause Obesity." Approximately 40% of US adults are obese with a costs of about 172 billion a year and nearly half of 133 million adults are diagnosed with at least one long-term health condition like asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  The following is my input on this article.  


The CDC's definition of obesity "an adult who has a body mass index or BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.”  Among children of the same age and sex, overweight is defined on CDC growth charts as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile.  Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile.  Further , overweight is a BMI of 25.00- 29.9; low risk obesity is a BMI of 30.0- 34.9; moderate risk, obesity is a BMI of 35.0- 39.9 and high-risk obesity is a BMI equal to or greater than 40.0.  BMI is calculated with a  formula based on weight and height . Furthermore, a BMI rating of 18.5 – 24.9 is considered normal; and less than 18.5 underweight. In other words, BMI measures excess weight but not excess fat.


The following  points were made in this article: 1.  Obesity is not a personal failing , so don't blame them entirely for having full control over their size  2.  The obesity rates accelerated from the 1980s in high income countries and then to much of the rest of the world 3.  Obesity is a complex chronic condition.  4.  Nutritional biologists presented the idea that all the carbohydrates and fats in our food today dilutes the protein in our bodies, driving us to consume  more calories to make up for the discrepancy 5.  An endocrinologist spoke of the low-carb diet, suggesting that eating patterns heavy in carbohydrates are uniquely fat producing 6. Evolutionary anthropologists argued that many lean hunter gatherer societies ate a lot of carbohydrates with a special affinity for honey.  7.  Processed foods make up more than half of the calories that  Americans consume 7.  A Nutritional physiologist stated  people  eat more calories and gain more weight  on an ultra processed diet compared to whole food diets of the same nutrient composition 7.  Endocrinologists stated that when food becomes scarce, animals eat fewer calories but gain more weight. Studies in humans have also found a robust association between food insecurity and obesity or the hunger obesity paradox 9.  Body fat is much more than the storage depot for energy and  not everyone with obesity  develops  complications which include cancer, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, and premature death 10.More specifics on calories, carbohydrates, nutrition, fat,etc. was presented.


From a centenarian's point of view, are the following: characteristics based on Michael Howard's research in "16 Lifestyle Characteristics of the Oldest and Healthiest People in the World.  1.  Had less than 100 mg/DL fasting of blood sugar.  2.  Had low blood pressure.  3.  Had low blood total cholesterol 4.  Kept weight low and steady.  5. Consumed fewer calories.  6. Stayed busy after retirement.  9.  Didn’t smoke and/or  stopped smoking.  10.  Drank less alcohol.  11. Got regular restful sleep.  12.  Had healthy gums 13.  Challenged their minds.  14.  Stayed positive in attitude and avoided anxiety and depression.  15.  Shed  stressors , had daily structure and were resilient?  16.  Stayed socially connected with serenity and had a life purpose .  It was clear from Howard's research that these 16 factors are highly related to lifestyle choices. 


A few  points regarding DNA.  My father had juvenile diabetes and became obese while my mother was not.   I am the oldest sibling with a younger brother and younger sister.  One of my siblings is severely overweight. I have two children, a daughter and a son.  One is severely overweight . Neither Linda nor her two sisters are severely overweight. However, my wife has three children and two are severely overweight  as are their two children . With  one of my cousins, one of three siblings is severely overweight but their child. Their parents were not severely overweight.  Three other families of cousins, aunts and uncles  and their  children have no issues with being overweight.  This limited sample does not suggest that DNA or genetics is a main cause of being severely overweight.


Take NFL lineman for example.  Their  BMI’s would place them as  obese.  Yet, their muscle mass and athletic ability is not the same as a random group of obese men in the 20 to 30 year old age group.  Yes, there is a difference as to BMI makeup.  A long-term study  following NFL obese lineman into their later years, working out,nutrition , eating and habits along with exercise would likely provide useful information regarding obesity ,illness and disease .


The article suggested that positive actions would regulate outlawing junk food marketing to kids, banning vending machines in schools and making neighborhoods more walkable might be some actions taken by the government.  However, it is clear that our government's priority is not addressing the health in this country, especially obesity.


Research from the Framingham Heart Study showed that a 30-year-old female had a 74% chance and the male had a 92% chance of becoming overweight at some point in life.  Further, the risk of becoming obese, if you are a 30-year-old today, is 39% for women and 48% for men.  The study included 4,117 white men and women between 1971 and 2001.  Also, the lifetime risk for overweight approaches that for high blood pressure and exceeds that described for most other chronic diseases.


Few other facts: 1.  Obesity related illnesses have been responsible for a tenfold increase in private health insurance spending since 1987 2.  It is predicted that as the obesity epidemic continues, skyrocketing costs will soar even higher. 


 At Duke University's  Obesity and Eating Disorders Clinic  , their professional staff advised their patients to employ a simple strategy known as Halt to help against emotional overeating.  They suggested  before eating, ask yourself if you're feeling any of the following: H or hungry,  A or angry,  L or lonely, T or tired.  Only eat when you're actually hungry, but not when you're feeling angry, lonely or tired.


Each morning I make a smoothie that consists of oatmeal, MCT Oil ,whey protein. banana, orange , apple, beets , yogurt, carrots, ginger, broccoli, blueberries and peppers. For lunch,  sardines, or tuna with rye bread and peanut butter are examples.  Dinner varies from beef or pork  ribs, pizza, vegan spaghetti or non vegan spaghetti , chicken , pickles, sauerkraut, green tea, coffee and vegan  or non vegan stew . Dessert can be ice cream or sherbet or Linda made cookies with reduced sugar.  Supplements include vitamin B 6 and 12 , fish oil, Co Q 10, D3 and zinc.  I also run about 40 miles or so per week. My weight is roughly 165 pounds . All my blood work is within  normal range and I am  not in pre-diabetes, or diabetes danger.  I have a BMI less than 25.0.  Neither  brother nor  sister follow my  obsessive routine.  Howard's 16 points for centenarians seem  reasonable .  Will I become a centenarian?  I'll tell you in 17 years. George Harrison once said "if you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." Obesity is a complex and difficult problem.  However, personal choices play a significant part in this epidemic.  People are clearly responsible for what they put in their mouth .


PS


I attended Russ Kiernan's service last Saturday.  I enjoyed hearing more about Russ from a  grade school friend, a running friend and from his daughter.  Sorry to see you pass Russ.  I have fond memories of you and thank you for introducing me to Ride and Tie.



Reference


Obesity: A Scientific Update.  Institute for Natural Resources.


Friday, December 16, 2022

Dependency Needs Unmet

 


"Toxic Masculinity" caught my attention in the November 6, 2022 edition of The New York Times.   The article was about a book titled  "We Are Proud Boys."  In this essay I  shall  clarify, expand and correct .


Points made in the article  include:  1. Liking a favorite TV show  where the male host put down feminism, black activism. and political correctness -which is hate 2.  The group's origins  started as an  all-male drinking club -which is adolescence behavior.  3.  The group became bodyguards  for right wing figures and  battled Black Lives Matter advocates- which is hate and being a bully 4. Use of clichés - drunk as a skunk; rear their ugly heads; word salads; and  you know what , hit the fan suggests a limited educational background and attainment. 5.Thrills of aggressive behaviors like being in the military  without risk, hardships and obligations but with the promise of violence . 6.A ranking system  of status - take an oath and swear not to masturbate more than once a month; and  commit a significant act of political violence or get arrested  which is rigid  obedience and conformity7.  Blamming  the industry of pornography as a Jewish plot Is simply-associated with paranoia ,prejudice ,and hate. 8.  Believing that testosterone and masculinity was being depleted or lost suggests ignorance and rationalization for feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and low self-esteem 9.  Many in the group were reared by divorced, stressed, inadequate single mothers  10.  Complaining that  Nancy Pelosi was the country's most powerful woman  which is reality11.  Native born are being replaced by minorities and women which are people with intelligence and  skills 12.  Fearful about the changing role of women as with voting  birth control, and power over reproduction. Women demonstrated they could perform  in jobs that were typically male which scares them .


Briefly , male dominance and strength over females was exhibited by the prehistoric males as they were the hunters and protectors.  Religion followed with the idea of a male God and Adam being the first male.  Depending  upon translation, the creation of  Eve followed.  Abraham,  Noah, King David ,Samson, and Moses furthered the idea of male power..  Generals, kings, popes and explorers were glorified.  In our country, we have founding fathers  and no mothers .Women  were not allowed to vote.  50 -60  years ago, the medical, legal, political, media, educational  and government was  male dominated.


Today, things have changed in that there is a greater percentage of females in the medical legal, political, media, educational and government.  Hillary Clinton had approximately 3 million more popular votes than  Trump. Kamelia Harris is our VP.  In the Olympics, the male record for 100 m is 9.58 by Usain Bolt  while the female record is 10.49 by Florence Griffith Joyner. The difference is ?  We have female astronauts .Who would like to get in the ring with Ronda Rousey?  In David Balducci's novel Daylight, the protagonist was a female FBI agent and a weightlifter.


Masculinity is not biological but notions, qualities and descriptions  first used in 1613. Characteristics of American males have been described as adventurousness, self-confidence, assertive, ambitious and competitive.   Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Ketanji  Brown Jackson come to mind . Don't forget Helen Klein, Ann Trason and Meghan Arbogast.  For more specifics, read the life stories of Doc  Shay, Sammie  Stanbro and Beverlee  Bentley in "It Has Nothing to Do With Age.". 


Yes, there are  biological differences between males and females.  Psychologically however, mental disorders apply to both males and females; as well as character and personality. Instead of talking about toxic masculinity, it's more accurate to talk about character development as pertaining to these paranoid, antisocial  sociopathic dependent criminals.


Developmentally speaking, newborns are reared by parents.  Identification then occurs with reinforcement expectations.  In other words, the child adopts same-sex parental behavior as a function of their nurturance, affection, competence and power. In the traditional family , where both parents are involved in reward and on the same page with their expectations and goals for their child ?  Studies have shown that boys identify with fathers, if the father is perceived as strong, powerful, and nurturing. There is  also a cognitive component of identification in that self-concept is an issue.  Does that child perceive himself to be male and if he does, what are the characteristics and components of that ideal male? Further, how much reward  was provided by parents for displaying these traits? Older siblings, peers and others also influence development of sex roles and behavior  through identification and imitation of others of the same sex. 


What about the identification, unmet dependency needs, character and personality development of these individuals ?  This group of males  were reared by a single mother.  If this mother was limited educationally and had health issues herself, child rearing would be a real challenge.  Not only that,  the boys were limited in identifying with primarily  her and with her character .  Was she authoritarian, permissive or  democratic within her child rearing? How obedient were they ?   It's not surprising that these boys had educational, emotional  and social problems or crises of  Identity in their development.  It's also not surprising that many of them went into the military where they learned to kill ,became obedient and were provided with food and shelter. And now they are in jail while being obedient and receiving  food and shelter with tax dollars again.  Don't forget, many of them are still dependent and living at home with mommy.


Drinking ,hate, gun ownership and  attacking defenseless minorities is associated with being a bully.  Were these boys bullied growing up?  They were certainly fearful and had to join a dysfunctional group to act out violence. Masturbating  only once a month is equated with  craziness.   Being a dependent boy with no power, limited skills, inadequate physical,  sexual and psychological development are their characteristics . 


These dependent boys named their group proud boys.  Boy refers to being male lacking maturity, strength and judgment.  Other boy terms have been "lover boy, boy toy, errand boy toy boy ,” not at all flattering. The name of this group is nothing about pride, but suggests inadequacy and being ashamed.  Their heroes include Rambo. Owning guns for non-hunting is a negative status and lack of security which leads to problems. With identification, they modeled with a  hateful, narcissistic  paranoid sociopath individual as their leader. Briefly, early identification is a process that leads the child to think, feel, and believe he has characteristics of another person. In  essence , a child acts as if he has possessed some of the characteristics, feelings or emotions of the person with whom he identifies. Security is key as the child incorporates himself in the person’s strength and adequacy.  In other words, the identification or model for these dysfunctional individuals  was toxic  and yet they were obedient, dependent and faithfully followed.


This is a group of males.  They are immature, and limited educationally, intellectually and emotionally.  They have a  mental illness diagnosis.  Yes, they are being discarded and replaced  in our capitalistic system that requires marketable skills in which they are limited.  They can't compete and with low self-esteem they are stuck on a treadmill of doom and gloom.   With jail time, they still do not have to compete.  Females are populating our colleges and universities in higher numbers than males.  Asians, Indians, and others come to this land motivated, educationally, socially and professionally suited.  We are fortunate to have females and others enter the professional workforce.  They get ahead for all the right reasons. We thank you.


There is no firm evidence that male and females are destined biologically  for sex roles .  However, cultures do socialize males and females differently.  These societies have  males being more self-reliant, independent,  and given more authority  with. legal and moral matters with prestige  than  in primitive societies.  Physical strength, endurance, motor skills and speed of movement were great determinants for their assignments and sex roles because of the importance for hunting and protecting others.  Does this mean make America great by going back to a time  when  less civilized blacks counted as two thirds ; slavery; killing “savage”  Indians; Civil  War ; kicking the Spanish out of Cuba; KKK running wild   and not allowing women to vote ?  No, this makes America stupid. 


 Roughly 30 to 50 years ago, the parents or parents of these dependent "boys"  had idiosyncratic ideas regarding being a competent human being based on their identifications and role models resulting from their parents.  They implemented, by modeling, and employed various  reinforcements for what they liked and disliked.  Were they consistent, probably not.  Did they reinforce behaviors related to pursuing truth, objectivity, reason and value education, learning, others, law and morality?  Were these parents secure in their relationships or were they under stress as well, as indicated by divorce.  In other words, the foundations of the “boys” character was established a long time ago for their role and behavior as citizens and their responsibility towards fellow men.  Moreover, the concept and practice of mental health principles is important for teaching and learning about how to treat others that are different from you. Hate by these  dependent  “boys” was  apparent toward fellow citizens. These individuals have failed miserably as  humans. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes said the Dalai Lama,

 










The story of masculinity or sex typing begins very early, but not before identification.  Briefly, identification is a process that leads the child to think, feel, and believe he has characteristics of another person. In  essence , a child acts as if he has possessed some of the characteristics,feelings or emotions of the person with whom he identifies. Security is key as the child incorporates himself in the person’s strength and adequacy. 


 Basically socialization of the child begins with the child's perception that he and the model are similar in many ways  as with some physical  or psychological attributes.  Parents usually have desirable characteristics such as power over the child's and other people; mastery of the environment and the ability to love.  In other words, the parents capabilities and privileges far exceed the child's own lack of power and mastery .Desirable characteristics and commands of resources such as power,love, and other skills, compensates vicariously  in that it employs emotions and pleasures enjoyed by that model.  Children may feel similar to the model by similarities in physical(white,male) appearance.  Hair color with various gestures,  type of speech,  language of put downs or  swearing etc. if the models are aggressive, the child  experiences fear and power.


It should be crystal clear that the how and when an individual perceives himself to be male begins very early in life.  Yes, society has stereotypes regarding masculinity.  However, how the child begins life is a socialization process with parents or parents .Was there  a strong nurturing and loving father present ?   


So they're going to protect older white males by identifying with an old, obese, amoral and narcissistic exploitative white male?  They perceive him as powerful.  How nurturing and loving can be received from this narcissist?  He didn't even come to their trial and testify on their behalf.