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Trump Supporters: Are They Gullible?

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

Welcome to From Insults to Respect. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Recently, I wrote a post titled “On Being Gullible,” the goal of which was to guide gullible people we care about toward more discerning ways. We focussed on three sets of skills that people use to avoid being gullible–Plausibility Checking, Trust Calibration, and Assessing Argumentation. In my earlier post, I…

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On Being Gullible

And What You Can Do About It

Welcome to “From Insults to Respect.” Today we spend a little time on the topic of being gullible. We begin with a parable that illustrates someone who is acting gullible. Then we sift through a research article that deepens our understanding of this topic. Our goal throughout is to guide the gullible people we care about toward more discerning ways. A Short Parable The scene,…

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APA 2017 Speech on Psychiatric Diagnoses

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

Welcome to From Insults to Respect. A few weeks ago I asked for some feedback on a presentation I was preparing to deliver at the American Psychological Association’s 2017 Convention in Washington DC. I here want to thank all who chimed in. After reading the many comments, mostly from Facebook and Google+ members of groups/communities that I belong to, I thought long and hard on…

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A Scientific Alternative to Psychiatric Diagnosis

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Regular readers know that I have, from time to time, been dealing with a conflict regarding psychiatric diagnosis. Said briefly, there are many people who immediately lose respect for anyone who questions the validity of the mental illness/mental disorder theoretical construct. On the other hand, many people have lost respect for the psychiatric profession because of its pathologizing approach of…

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A Revolutionary Alternative to Psychiatric Diagnosis

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Regular readers know that I have, from time to time, been dealing with a conflict regarding psychiatric diagnosis. Said briefly, there are many people who immediately lose respect for anyone who questions the validity of the mental illness/mental disorder theoretical construct. On the other hand, many people have lost respect for the psychiatric profession because of its pathologizing approach of…

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Bob Dylan on Friends

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Today’s topic, friends. Why are friends relevant to respect? Well, for a variety of reasons. Seeking to have at least one or two good friends that are respected in your community can serve to increase the respect community members have for you. The skills that led to why these respected people have become respected may very well rub off on you…

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Do Antidepressants Increase Risk of Adult Suicide?

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

According to the FDA, there has been a long-standing concern that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients during the early phases of treatment. Pooled analyses of short-term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs showed that these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18-24)…

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Is Suffering a Symptom of Mental Illness?

by Jeffrey Rubin, PhD

In America, the polarization of opinions is incredible. Many Americans, for example, have enormous respect for President Trump, while many others have the polar opposite opinion. There is something similar to this when it comes to how Americans feel about psychiatrists. There are many people who hold the belief that psychiatrists are enormously helpful to our society by relieving suffering while others believe that psychiatrists…

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On Calling President Trump a Liar

A Bernie Sanders, John Kasich, Jeff Rubin Perspective

On 5/17/17, Senator Bernie Sanders and Governor John Kasich held a CNN nationally televised town hall style discussion. At one point, a questioner asked about President Trump’s frequent lying, at which point Sanders and Kasich had a fascinating exchange. It can be viewed for free on YouTube HERE.  It begins with Sanders turning to Kasich and asking him, “Is Trump a liar?” “Well,” Kasich replies, “sometimes…

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Is Life Worth Living?

A William James Perspective

When Professor William James took up today’s question over 100 years ago, he began with the following witty answer, “It depends on the liver.” He then quickly explained that the quip was not intended to be the serious answer the subject certainly deserves. He went on from there to say: “Without further explanation or apology, then, I ask you to join me in turning an attention, commonly…

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