Archive | January, 2014

Birthdays and Starting School

29 Jan

A recent 6-year Icelandic study found that children who were youngest in class were 50% more likely to be medicated for ADHD and had lower math and language grades until the fourth grade. Parents whose children are close to birthday cut-offs might carefully consider whether or not to have their children start school or wait until the next year. ( IPA PsychBytes, 1/21/2014)

Take A Chance

26 Jan

Lewis Carroll:If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much.

Insight Afterwards

23 Jan

Steven Stosny (2013) opines, “Except for saints and literary characters, enduring change rarely happens as the result of being knocked off our feet by a spiritual or psychological whack upside the head. Perdurable change is gradual and mundane. It occurs by extending, supplementing, and altering the habits that shape perspectives and drive behavior. First comes the hard work; then comes the epiphany.” (Stosny, S. Blue-collar therapy. Psychotherapy Networker, 2013,37, 6, p. 23)

Anti-Tiger Parenting

19 Jan

J. Chamberlin (2013) reports that  recent research findings suggest that tiger-parenting does not build child prodigies. Instead, supportive parenting leads to the most positive development and highest grade point averages. (Monitor on Psychology, 20123, 44, 8, pp. 16-17.)

True?

17 Jan

Bern Williams: Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.

The Quality of Mercy

12 Jan

In a recent issue of Scientific American Mind (2013, 44, 1), it was observed that compassionate goals toward others seem to protect against feelings of failure, even when the desired outcomes do not come about. Also, “self-compassion helps you accept life’s inevitable setbacks as simply part of what it means to be human” (pp. 32-33).

Talking to yourself?

9 Jan

Studies show that most adults spend one-quarter of their waking hours in silent self-talk and sometimes say what they are thinking out loud. Inner talk serves a variety of adaptive functions. It helps with solving problems, taming emotions, motivating us through our personal pep talks, self-correcting, and planning for the future. It can backfire, if it becomes too negative and pessimistic because it can fuel depression and anxiety  Nevertheless, some think it is responsible for our self-awareness. In other words, only through talking to yourself can you know yourself. (Jabr, F. Speak for yourself. Scientific American Mind, 2014, 25, 1, pp. 45-51.)

Joke

5 Jan

Jonathan Katz: I was having dinner with my mother last night, and I made a classic Freudian slip. I meant to say, “Would you please pass the the salt?” but it came out, “You ruined my life.”

2014

1 Jan

Happy New Year!