Comments for Insight Magazine

Comment on Psychology Across the Generations by Vigi

Vigi — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:38:13 +0000

I wonder if there is a decreasing desire to grow old and reproduce. Not only about younger generations psychology, but also related to over-population and the impact of it… Can it result in some subconscious self-destruction? Or, to live more intense in a shorter period of time? Better to burn out than to fade away mentality? I was wondering because we now see an increase in old people, and people have the capacity to grow older than ever before… What if a complete generation would choose not to, and what about the consequences for societies?

Comment on Can We Reduce Recidivism? by Marlena

Marlena — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:25:56 +0000

I would like to follow-up regarding this research & use some literature review for my dissertation

Comment on Home Again by L.A

L.A — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:54:30 +0000

I am a military child who has had a deployed parent and boyfriend. I am also a Sociology student minoring in Psychology and want to work with veterans and their families. This project is amazing and wonderful and might just the the deciding factor about which grad school I will apply to. I would love to see it expand all over the country.

Comment on Home Again by Simon

Simon — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:55:48 +0000

My son came home from Afghanistan & seems easily agitated and can’t sleep. He was adopted as a young boy from a Romanian orphanage. He seems detached from family & depressed. He was diagnosed with PTSD & RAD as a child & was often tranquilized at his orphanage. He had needle mark scars all over his legs. Has anyone done follow up research on post-adoption outcomes of Romanian orphans or any other at risk groups, especially ones who experience additional traumas as young adults?

Comment on Psychology Across the Generations by karen

karen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:07:03 +0000

Thank you for this piece.

Regarding Milennials’ ability to handle stress, may I suggest that overeating is also a risky, self-soothing behavior? I am not a statistician, yet the data I found below looks as if childhood obesity and morbid obesity doubled (or more) during their formative years (6-19 yrs).

As a famous Gen X song went: Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do ya do?

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus09.pdf#073

Comment on Returning Veterans Need You, 2009 Graduating Class Told by C. Liter

C. Liter — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:28:07 +0000

A timely article,
I too suffered a head injury and PTSD. By writing this I am breaking my own silence about a struggle that is perceived by many as nearly hopeless. A head injury and PTSD is unfortunately still considered ‘the kiss of death’ in many counseling offices and clinics but this doesn’t have to be a self fulfilling prophecy and as Duckworth states, “post-traumatic stress disorder does not mean life has to end.”
It was a long journey back for me yet I made it with the help of a few special people who were willing to reach out and help me up. The important message is that without those willing to explore and investigate solutions, and by those I mean you students and professionals @ TCS, it is likely that some of our people will never completely come home.
Before my injury I had several offers for jobs with engineering companies as well as good math scholarships. But once I was injured, and I couldn’t even remember my own phone number all those offers dried up. I felt as though I was kicked to the curb by society and health professionals who didn’t have the experience in dealing with these complex cases.
Like Tammy Duckworth I too made it and am thankful for those few professionals, early on, who persevered by cooperatively and working with neurology, psychoanalysts and other resources. I am here today at TCS, after my Bachelor of Science in psychology, studying for my Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology and hoping to use that knowledge to make difference.

Comment on The Happiness Recession by elizabeth

elizabeth — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:45:33 +0000

It’s too easy to tell people to “reset” their lives when yours might not be riddled with debt, bankruptcy, tax liens and the real possibility of homelessness. I have 5 children. My husband had a very successful construction business up until 2007 when the bottom just fell out from under us. We are trying to hang on by our finger nails and would gladly retire into the wilderness, if we didn’t have all this debt on our shoulder. Please -I am terrified and very touchy right now. When I hear people like you I get angry because you aren’t being tested while saying these things you have said. I am assuming by your title that you are still able to pay the bills. O well. I don’t mean to rant. Have a good day.

Comment on The Happiness Recession by Bob Potter

Bob Potter — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:26:02 +0000

The “happiness recession” is very much on my mind these days. My two sons, both IT “gurus” in the Chicago area, go to sleep each night not knowing how long their employers (and their own jobs) will be around. I encourage them to “reset” themselves—to look for opportunities in emerging technologies and to look for happiness in lifestyle simplification.

I point to a friend of mine here in Southwest Wisconsin, a college graduate and master carpenter, who chose to retire to a 12-acre hilltop in a sod home without electricity or plumbing. Harvey Baumgartner allowed me to transcribe, edit, and publish the hand-written (of course) journal he kept by candlelight while building his sod home by daylight. As I typed, I grew to appreciate Harvey’s joy in creating a home from materials provided by nature, his detailed observations of the flora and fauna surrounding him, his recollections of a lifetime of outdoor adventure, and his reflections on the changing world. Harvey is a modern-day Thoreau. He does not have 24/7 links with the outside world, but he seems to be more comfortable in his skin than most people I know.

The message of Harvey’s book Dancing in the Dew: A New Way of Living on Planet Earth, is that we don’t need all that stuff to be happy. That message apparently resonates with many people in this these troubled economic times, if online sales of his book are any indication (dancinginthedew.com).

I fully understand that most Americans would not willingly forsake the conveniences of modern living for a sod home, even with fresh vegetables and eggs. However, a “reset” of our values and “requirements” might just lead us to a place of greater human connection, less stress, and more happiness.

Bob Potter
Adjunct Instructor (Online)
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology