Grit: Children succeeding with character May 24
How do we measure a child’s success in school or socially? Plenty of attention is given to test scores and IQ. But there’s something else many educators and psychologists say is just as important, and it’s called grit. It’s a character trait we either have or develop that boils down to self-discipline [...]

Parenting with a mental illness May 20
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Daily demands add up and can be stressful and unnerving. For parents who’ve been diagnosed with a mental illness, life’s ordinary challenges and daily activities can feel extraordinary—and this can affect the entire family. Psychologist Dan Gottlieb and his guests discuss parenting [...]

Divorce prevention 101 May 10
Here in the U.S., odds that a couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary are about 50/50. That’s sobering news for young men and women ready to say ‘I do’ in this season of spring nuptials. Study after study, it’s been shown that factors such as educational disparities, compatibility, stress, and [...]

Women and leadership May 3
There's been a lot of discussion about the new book Lean In by Facebook COO Sherly Sandberg. It's part memoir and part self-help book with posits about women and leadership. Dr. Dan Gottlieb and his guests advance the conversation about how women lead, what propels women or holds [...]

Love through a scientific lens: Our true capacity to connect April 26
Positive emotions expert, social psychologist Barbara Fredrickson has some advice for all of us. It's time to upgrade our view of life’s most powerful emotion—love! In her new book Love 2.0, she defines love as micro-moments of connection between people, even strangers. Experienced fully, these mini-moments [...]

The Boston Bombings: Our Hearts, Our Homeland April 22
Explosions, loss of life, lockdowns, and a manhunt--the story of the Boston Bombings has a nation on edge and transfixed by daily developments in the investigation of this unprecedented act of terrorism. At a time when authorities are creating timelines and sifting through evidence, [...]

Sport and religion: Connections April 12
If you were to draw a Venn diagram of concepts associated with baseball and religion, there is a surprisingly large amount of overlap: faith and doubt, blessing and curses, miracles, conversion, and community. In some circles, springtime is synonymous with Passover, Easter, and Opening Day!

Slow medicine April 5
There’s a small trend afoot—a tendency toward slower, mindful, more meaningful living. Perhaps you’ve heard of slow travel, slow design, slow food. Well, how about slow medicine? In her book “God’s Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine,” physician and [...]

Psychopathy: It’s complicated March 28
Psychopaths. They’re often depicted as smooth-talking liars, devoid of guilt and empathy and immune to healthy fears and stress. Many mass murderers have been considered psychopaths, as are some successful business leaders and Wall Street employees. Our prisons are filled [...]

Autism in the family March 22
In the new book Autism in the Family: Caring and Coping Together, author Robert Naseef delivers a personal narrative, as a father of a grown son with severe autism, and supplies a comprehensive view of autism throughout the lifespan. Dan Gottlieb discusses how families of autistic children [...]

Looking deeply at the ID rights movement, a work in progress March 15
Like all civil rights movements, the intellectual disabilities rights movement is a work in progress. The emotional struggle that began more than 60 years ago is about respect, independence, and services, all of which are still fought for today.

Money as emotional currency March 8
It’s tax season, a time for close examination of how we handle our money. Seems simple enough: we earn it, save it, and spend it. But how we do these things says a lot about the value we place on money and how we feel about it, based on a myriad of personal experiences.

Strings or no strings? Sexual hook-up culture March 1
Outside of marriage, a “hook-up” is described as a fleeting, uncommitted sexual encounter with no strings attached. Surveys imply more young adults are having casual sex -- and talking about it. This opens the door for researchers to delve into evolutionary and social contexts [...]

The minefield of bullying February 22
Bullying. From the playground to cyberspace, for victims it can be a minefield of teasing, taunting, threatening, shunning, and sometimes physical harm. Studies show while bullies themselves act tough, their actions are often a tool to conceal shame or anxiety or to boost self-esteem. By demeaning [...]

Grit: Children succeeding with character February 15
How do we measure a child’s success in school or socially? Plenty of attention is given to test scores and IQ. But there’s something else many educators and psychologists say is just as important, and it’s called grit. It’s a character trait we either have or develop that boils down to self-discipline [...]

“True Refuge” with Tara Brach February 11
When we’re afraid and overwhelmed, it’s easy to turn away from ourselves for comfort. In her new book "True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart," clinical psychologist Tara Brach explores pathways that carry us to an inner sanctuary that she says is always there for us [...]

Conspiracy theory mentality February 4
We all love a good story, and some of the most fascinating ones are conspiracy theories – often full of intrigue and difficult to debunk. You know them: elaborate murder plots, clandestine government plans, and schemes behind big political, cultural, and historic events. Polls show 20 to 60 percent of [...]

Future Selves January 28
Why do people make decisions they regret 10 years down the road, like getting a tattoo or rushing to marry that certain someone? New research on what’s called the "End of History Illusion" says many of us underestimate how much we’ll change in the future. We pretty much believe who we are now [...]

Out of nowhere January 14
We silly humans tend to think we know what tomorrow brings; this gives us a sense of comfort and security. But life has a way of throwing things our way, seemingly out of nowhere. Things we subsequently label as good or bad can catch us off guard, make us feel off-kilter, and change our course.

Group therapy January 7
In the new television sitcom “Go On,” with Matthew Perry, the main characters – all of whom are suffering in some way -- connect with each other in group therapy. Feelings and stories are shared, compassion heightens, and each week, members of the group seem less alone and a bit more empowered [...]