To preface, I am not Anthony Weiner’s psychotherapist, psychologist, psychoanalyst, or hypnotist, but I thought it would be interesting to explore some of the facets of this mega faux pas and use this event as a “teachable moment”, a way of exploring psychological ideas.
Now, I do not know Congressman Weiner, so I don’t profess to know AT ALL, what was and is going through his mind. Even if I did know him, I’m sure there is such a panoply of potential explanations and rationalizations for his behavior that we could theorize for days and weeks and months, and still not know. Any understanding of his psyche will only occur within the private and secure bounds of his own therapy, painstakingly discovered through a dedicated and authentic process. We will never know. Hopefully he will articulate, for himself, a narrative that will help him express and rework these longings, fears and compulsions. I don’t know him, and I am not trying to figure him out– my friends and patients will tell you that I tend to believe it is a futile exercise to make any attempt to decode the meaning of a another man’s behavior. Let’s just use our imaginations and play and try to learn about how the mind works.
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Archives: Love & Relationships
thwarted
Armchair Psychoanalysis: Anthony Weiner and the Tweets of Doom
To preface, I am not Anthony Weiner’s psychotherapist, psychologist, psychoanalyst, or hypnotist, but I thought it would be interesting to explore some of the facets of this mega faux pas and use this event as a “teachable moment”, a way of exploring psychological ideas.
Now, I do not know Congressman Weiner, so I don’t profess to know AT ALL, what was and is going through his mind. Even if I did know him, I’m sure there is such a panoply of potential explanations and rationalizations for his behavior that we could theorize for days and weeks and months, and still not know. Any understanding of his psyche will only occur within the private and secure bounds of his own therapy, painstakingly discovered through a dedicated and authentic process. We will never know. Hopefully he will articulate, for himself, a narrative that will help him express and rework these longings, fears and compulsions. I don’t know him, and I am not trying to figure him out– my friends and patients will tell you that I tend to believe it is a futile exercise to make any attempt to decode the meaning of a another man’s behavior. Let’s just use our imaginations and play and try to learn about how the mind works.
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Wisdom for Teens (and Adults too)!
Brain science shows us that in teenagers, the prefrontal cortex is not yet well integrated with other brain functions, and therefore they have difficulty with judgment, impulse control and reasoning. They tend to act without thinking, and are motivated by more primitive impulses– reactive and seeking out easy solutions.
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reflected passion
Authentic Living, Part 1
“It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.” (André Gide)
This statement feels painful and confusing to me. I know deeply, though, how apt it is and how becoming your true self involves wearing these words everyday. Hopefully, to accept and live who we are doesn’t involve being hated very often, but it does involve facing our fears of being hated and abandoned. We are born to be attached and connected to others. Loving and being loved is what we live for. But this love often comes at a price. As babies, attachment is what keeps us safe and cared for. One of our greatest fears in life is being
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