Community-focused article published!

Article published Hi! I want to let you all know about an article of mine that was recently published online, in partnership with the New York State Trauma-Informed Network and Resource Center. The NYS TINRC is a wonderful resource. It connects people trying to find support for challenging circumstances for themselves and people they care… Continue reading Community-focused article published!

Psychological misinformation: Noncompliance

Noncompliance: What is your role in planning your life? While I’m on the topic of assessing how mental health workers assess people receiving services (see the post on insight), let’s discuss a neighboring issue. This one is perhaps more blatant, and certainly more widespread. I’m talking about the use of “compliance” or “adherence.” It is… Continue reading Psychological misinformation: Noncompliance

Psychological Misinformation: Insight

Deconstructing power imbalance in psychology Psychology has been a noble profession in some ways, and quite murky in others. While our aspirations have generally been laudable, our actions can be more problematic. Psychology has often taken advantage of restricting, manipulating, and interpreting science to suit ideas of how the people with power believe things should… Continue reading Psychological Misinformation: Insight

Psychological Misinformation and the Killing of Sonya Massey (cont)

Psychological Misinformation Myths In the context of the horrific death of Sonya Massey, I hope that helping people challenge psychological misinformation can help us make safer responses to each other. In part 1, I described myths regarding how people with mental health diagnoses reason, and whether they are unpredictable or dangerous. Let’s now look at… Continue reading Psychological Misinformation and the Killing of Sonya Massey (cont)

Psychological Misinformation and the Killing of Sonya Massey

What is our social contract? Like many others, I was shocked and horrified to watch, on the news, Sonya Massey get killed. Such a tragic death brings out many strong feelings, and I want to be careful and explicit about which aspects I talk about here. Careful in particular because escalation and violence like I… Continue reading Psychological Misinformation and the Killing of Sonya Massey

Our Legal System of Justice (2)

Legal system: Social justice In the first part of examining psychological factors for our legal system of justice, we looked at individual factors. Now I will explore system/social factors. There’s a lot of talk about social justice nowadays. Many groups wish to bring attention to how our social systems have built-in methods of inappropriate discrimination.… Continue reading Our Legal System of Justice (2)

Our Legal System of Justice (1)

What is our legal justice system for? Our legal justice system is a bedrock institution. In any society, we make an agreement to work together and support each other. This can come with significant personal sacrifices, but with the understanding that we all ultimately benefit. Courts are a vital tool to maintain this balancing act.… Continue reading Our Legal System of Justice (1)

Psychology and Literature (3)

We’ve talked about many similarities between what psychologists and writers do. There are also some important differences. Beyond the obvious that one is through writing and the other is verbal/nonverbal communication (although psychologists often write, too!). Differences Beneficence is a Core Value of Psychology Psychologists have a responsibility in their work to do no harm… Continue reading Psychology and Literature (3)