# Rogue Psychologist

> A Rogue Psychologist's Field Guide to the Universe


## Posts

- [Traditional Values in Today's World](https://roguepsychologist.com/traditional-values-in-todays-world/political-applications/): by Bob Daniel, Ph.D., with Editing Assistance from ChatGPT I recently read a graduation speech that called for a return to traditional values. In his commencement address to Hillsdale College graduates, Dr. Victor Davis Hanson highlighted three main virtues: honor, tradition, and optimism. While I respect these values, I find their application in today’s world not so simple and straightforward. They often mean different things to different people, and sometimes these values clash with one another. Instead of thinking in strict “either/or” terms, I think we need a “both/and” approach — one that balances competing values and even looks at ideas from outside […]
- [Reconciling American Values in a Polarized World](https://roguepsychologist.com/reconciling-american-values-in-our-polarized-world/political-applications/): American Values – why can’t we just agree about them? Why are we so polarized? These are important questions, but first, let’s start with a basic definition we can agree upon. I’d propose that a value system is a set of rights and responsibilities that enable us to function as a society. Pretty basic, no? Beyond that, though, we soon encounter controversy over the nature of values. Do we view values as fundamental and absolute entities, or do we consider them simply as social conventions? While we could view this disagreement as only a philosophical issue, it has real-life consequences. […]
- [Evangelicals and Trump's Redemption: A Critical Perspective](https://roguepsychologist.com/evangelicals-and-trumps-redemption-a-critical-perspective/general-and-miscellaneous/): While many evangelicals have endorsed Donald Trump for president, their support likely undermines his chances for spiritual redemption. During the waning days of the 2024 presidential election, Trump reveals his true colors – that of a crass and spiteful lost soul. Addicted to power and adulation, this false prophet cloaks himself in the American flag and wields the Christian cross. MAGA followers profess blind allegiance, while foes ridicule and vilify him. In my opinion, his redemption can only come through repentance – and how often have you heard him express remorse? A Recovery Program As practiced in 12-step recovery programs, […]
- [The Monks' Pilgrimage](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-monks-pilgrimage/stories-and-fables/): Pilgrimages often reveal their most poignant insights during the journey, rather than at their destinations. The demanding physical ordeal of the trip itself poses a trial of perseverance. For cloistered monks, though, the quest offers additional challenges. The journey often exposes them to the temptations, distractions and aggravations from which the monasteries have shielded them. Unplanned and unanticipated events along the way test their commitment to their spiritual paths. In the process, the monks have the opportunity to renew and deepen their spirituality. The Two Monks on a Pilgrimage Such was the case with two monks who embarked upon this […]
- [Practicing the Golden Rule and Its Variants](https://roguepsychologist.com/practicing-the-golden-rule-and-its-variants/general-and-miscellaneous/): We are all familiar with the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Variations of this guideline appear throughout various cultures and religious traditions. Most of us probably endorse it, whether we follow it or not. Yet this adage focuses only on how we treat others. How we treat ourselves, though, is also worthy of attention. We shall consider two variants which mirror and complement the standard Golden Rule. The first proclaims, “Do unto ourselves as we would do unto others.” The other version advises, “Allow others to do for us as we would […]
- [Handling Stressors: Approaches to Workload, Problems, Conflict and Loss](https://roguepsychologist.com/handling-stressors-approaches-to-workload-problems-conflict-loss/stress/): You may have great techniques for relieving stress, but how are your strategies for handling the stressors causing the stress? Using meditation, yoga, exercise, venting, or just plain relaxation to relieve stress is all fine and good. Even so, you’ll likely continue to encounter stressors throughout your daily activities and social interactions. And just where does that relief get you, if you continue accumulating stress? You may feel that your life is a revolving door, facing the same challenges day after day. Or worse yet, you may feel like a hamster on a treadmill, unable to keep up with your […]
- [Nightmare in Trump's America](https://roguepsychologist.com/nightmare-in-trumps-america/general-and-miscellaneous/): I awoke about 3 am this morning, just as a nightmare was coming to a resolution. I’d just dreamt that I and a crew of renegades were making our escape from an oppressive authoritarian regime that had overtaken our country. And when we were on the cusp of achieving freedom, some glitch occurred, such that we were being found out. That’s when I awoke from this nightmare. Fantasies of Chaos in America It didn’t take much insight to realize that my nightmare was my personal reaction to our national crisis. Just this Tuesday I watched the Presidential Debacle, in which […]
- [Understanding Political Polarization](https://roguepsychologist.com/understanding-political-polarization/political-applications/): Political polarization has been on the rise over the past few decades. This division has only intensified during Trump’s presidency. In today’s climate, the discussion of our political differences appears nearly impossible. This post will explore how the interplay of beliefs and values shapes our political positions. We will see how our quest for certainty can result in adopting polarized positions. Yet normal conflicts between values undermine our confidence in taking such absolute stances on issues. “True believers” resolve this dilemma by compartmentalizing their conflicting values. Additionally, they seek refuge externally, embracing dogma, cult, and authoritarian leader for their longed-for […]
- [Self-conscious or Self-aware  - Does It Matter?](https://roguepsychologist.com/self-conscious-or-self-aware-does-it-matter/general-and-miscellaneous/): How is it that being self-aware is generally viewed favorably, whereas being self-conscious is not? After all, aren’t awareness and consciousness pretty much the same thing? Much has been made of being self-aware, going back to ancient Greece and the Socratic counsel to “know thyself.” More recently, mindfulness meditation, particularly with its focus on experiencing our bodies (e.g., our breathing), encourages self-awareness. As for being self-conscious, I recall the scene from The Lonely Guy in which the Steve Martin character eats out alone. A spotlight follows him as the maitre d’ escorts him to his table. The scene, with a […]
- [Dealing with Bullies in the Age of Trump](https://roguepsychologist.com/dealing-with-bullies-in-the-age-of-trump/personal-conflict/): Further Reflections on my Last Post In a previous blog about dealing with bullies and bullying, I suggested that Melania Trump upgrade her anti-bullying motto from “Be Best” to “Be our Best.” This subtle change emphasizes our ethical striving to treat others with respect. This meaning contrasts with simply pursuing excellence, as would be implied by “Be the Best.” Omitting that one word (i.e., “our” or “the”), besides being ungrammatical, leaves the intent of the initiative somewhat ambiguous. I suspect that this omission may have been in deference to her husband, who would prefer “Be the Best”, while “Be our Best” […]
- [Melania Trump’s “Be Best” Campaign](https://roguepsychologist.com/melania-trumps-be-best-campaign/self-esteem/): What Does It Mean? On first glance, our First Lady’s “Be Best” campaign appears straightforward and noncontroversial, even if grammatically awkward. My critique, though, is not so much one of grammar, as of meaning. A single word could clear this up. Does she call upon us to “be our best” or to “be the best”? Though a subtle distinction, the implications can be major. Whereas both appeal to our sense of self-worth, the former promotes intrinsic self-esteem, while the latter supports conditional self-esteem. Since these terms are likely unfamiliar to many, this calls for further explanation. Intrinsic Self-Esteem Intrinsic self-esteem […]
- [The Monks' Interesting, Not-So-Silent Retreat](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-monks-interesting-not-so-silent-retreat/stories-and-fables/): Just as the former Soviet Union banished its dissidents to the Siberian gulags, so, too, did the Vatican exile its freethinking clergy to settings where they would cause minimal disruption among its faithful. Such was the case with Brother Costello, whose natural curiosity led him to question all matters, even what the Church considered to be established doctrine. In his case, the Church not only exiled him to a remote cloister in rural Ireland, but also promoted him to the position of abbot. This particular monastery experienced considerable tension among its monks, and the Church establishment apparently intended to give […]
- [Caretaker Burnout and Compassion Fatigue](https://roguepsychologist.com/caretaker-burnout-compassion-fatigue/stress/): Emotional burnout and compassion fatigue are common pitfalls among those of us who assume major Caretaker roles. Exhaustion, irritability, emotional numbness, and various physical complaints are warning signals indicating the need for better self-care. However, we often do not feel we have that option, as we see our own needs overshadowed by the needs of those in our care. We may develop a sort of tunnel vision, locked into a miserable path with no way out. What we had undertaken as a labor of love has evolved into a duty out of obligation, at times breeding an attitude of resentment. […]
- [Are You Afflicted with Pareidolia?](https://roguepsychologist.com/pareidolia/subjectivity-and-objectivity-a-dialectic/): Have you ever gazed up at the clouds and found human, animal, or mythological images, whether full-bodied or just facial, in them? If so, chances are that you have a condition known as pareidolia.  For further assessment, though, take a look at the following figures: What does this look like to you? And this? What do you see here? How about this? Does this look like anything to you?  What sort of images do you see in these splotches of ink? Animal, vegetable, or mineral? Or perhaps human, mythological, or extra-terrestial? Or maybe landscapes or seascapes? Then again, you may […]
- [Narcissists' Self-Promotions Trump Cooperation](https://roguepsychologist.com/narcissists-self-promotions-trump-competition/paradoxes-in-everyday-life/): The issue of narcissism has been in the news a lot lately, though not necessarily identified as such. Its current prominence in the Republican primary race has turned “politics as usual” on its head. Narcissism has become the “elephant in the room” which candidates have been reluctant to acknowledge, largely out of fear of being trumpled [sic]. Politicos have been scrambling about trying to figure out how to deal with it, as it has become a HUGE problem for them. In order to deal effectively with the problem, we must first understand what it is and how it operates. Reacting […]
- [Nostalgia – It's Not What It Used to Be](https://roguepsychologist.com/nostalgia-its-not-what-it-used-to-be/stories-and-fables/): This short skit is not so much about nostalgia as it is about appreciating what we have when we have it, and not just years afterwards. It also suggests how conflict can add spice to life, as long as we don’t view it as an ordeal merely to endure. Often it is only later that we see the adventure in it. Recently retired and former coworkers Vern and Ollie find themselves sitting on a park bench, reminiscing over the “good ol’ days” and pondering what to do with all the free time on their hands. Vern: Well, here we are […]
- [Cognitive Behaviorism: An Abridged History - 2.0](https://roguepsychologist.com/cognitive-behaviorism-an-abridged-history-2-0/paradoxes-in-everyday-life/): For years, cognitive behaviorism has been the self-proclaimed leader in psychotherapy, citing numerous studies to back that claim. That approach has touted its superior effectiveness in treating a variety of mental disorders. Its list of “evidence-based” applications has grown so broad that you’d think it’d cure all that ails you. Like other movements, it has tended to overreach its utility by trying to be all things to all people. In the words of a folksy adage, “When your only tool is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail.” Putting Cognitive Behaviorism in Perspective We can gain perspective, though, by […]
- [Being in Group Therapy](https://roguepsychologist.com/being-in-group-therapy/general-and-miscellaneous/): While many clients prefer individual therapy, group therapy offers various benefits beyond what we might typically expect in individual therapy. First, group therapy offers the opportunity to learn vicariously from the experiences of others who share in the group. Learning from the others’ mistakes means getting valuable lessons without having to suffer the consequences of learning from our own trials and errors. When this sharing is back and forth, everyone benefits. Another important benefit of group therapy is getting feedback from other group members. It should be noted that such feedback can be no better than the information upon which […]
- [Worry, Worry, Worry](https://roguepsychologist.com/worry-worry-worry/general-and-miscellaneous/): Do you ever lose sleep with worry over some situation that seems out of your control? And even though you realize that worry doesn’t help, you do it anyway? Or perhaps you try blocking it out to get some sleep, but it just won’t go away? And next day, does your sleep deprivation keep you from focusing on what caused all the worry in the first place? I hate when that happens. Possible Quick Fixes Well, what can you do about this pattern? Perhaps you can convince your doctor to prescribe sleeping pills. They might knock you out for the […]
- [Baring Your Soul, Bearing Your Stress](https://roguepsychologist.com/baring-your-soul-bearing-your-stress/personal-conflict/): Social support is often crucial for bearing our stress, yet baring our souls is necessary for that to happen. Unless we open up, others cannot hear our pain and provide the needed comforting, encouragement, and understanding. This post explores how the Serenity Prayer offers guidance for choosing among these three listening approaches: A Personal Approach to Pain and Stress Few people relish the idea of embracing emotional pain. If we can avoid dealing with it, we often do. With repeated avoidance, our residual feelings – anger, sadness, resentment, shame, etc. – accumulate over time. As the various feelings get lumped […]
- [Escaping the Victim Role](https://roguepsychologist.com/escaping-victim-role/vicious-cycle-patterns-in-relationships/): The current post identifies features of the Victim role and explores strategies for escaping this role. This draws upon the vicious cycle patterns addressed in a previous post, including Steven Karpman’s Persecutor – Victim – Rescuer cycle, cited in Games Alcoholics Play, by Claude Steiner. Most people are probably familiar enough with the Victim role so that it needs no introduction. If you haven’t fallen into that role yourself, you no doubt have encountered others who have. Or perhaps you have been cast in the complementary role of either the Oppressor or the Enabler in dealing with the Victim role. Of course, […]
- [When Is a Conflict Not a Real Conflict?](https://roguepsychologist.com/conflict-not-real-conflict/personal-conflict/): Couples at times argue over only apparent differences, when they, in fact, agree in their basic concerns. Imagine, if you will, a couple arguing over whether the glass is half-full or half-empty. Or recall the beer commercials involving a debate over whether the beer “tastes great” or is “less filling.” Though actually a marketing ploy, this illustrates how you can have a disagreement between two mutually compatible positions.” Edward Albee took this theme of apparent conflict to the absurd in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Here, the spouses George and Martha clashing in heated arguments over the son whom they never […]
- [Interpersonal Conflict Strategies](https://roguepsychologist.com/interpersonal-conflict-strategies/personal-conflict/): An earlier post, Dealing with Conflict in Relationships: The Art of Assertiveness, affirmed that interpersonal conflict is a normal and healthy aspect of relationships. It proposed conflict a means through which we maintain a dynamic balance between our own self-interest and the well-being of our partners. While it noted self-expression, active listening, and negotiation as three basic components of conflict resolution, it did not identify particular strategies that one might adopt in this process. The below table outlines eight such strategies. This list is not etched in stone, such that others may come up with a different number of strategies, and different strategies entirely.  Much is simply […]
- [Our Social Roles - Which Are Yours?](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-roles-we-assume-which-do-you-play/vicious-cycle-patterns-in-relationships/): How often do you stop to reflect on your place in the world and the social roles you play out on this stage? If you are like most, it’s not that often. You may follow the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This approach is in direct contrast to the Socratic dictum that “the unexamined life is not worth living” and his admonition to “know thyself.” Here, we find an example of contradictory advice, which I propose is a direct result of our living in a paradoxical world. As we discover in other writings on this site, we […]
- [Vicious Cycle Roles on the Societal and Political Level](https://roguepsychologist.com/vicious-cycle-roles-on-the-societal-and-political-level/vicious-cycle-patterns-in-relationships/): Vicious cycle patterns play out not only in personal relationships, but also on the societal and political level. Below is a table identifying key characteristics of the Drama Triangle, a common vicious cycle. This pattern was first described by Steven Karpman and cited in the book, Games Alcoholics Play, by Claude Steiner. In this pattern, the participants assume three interacting roles that produce an impasse. (While common for participants to alternate between roles, they usually gravitate toward roles suiting their values and personality styles.) In applying this model to our Congress, we can better appreciate the dynamic process behind the polarization and […]
- [President Bush – Lost in Cyberspace: Can You Help Find Him?](https://roguepsychologist.com/president-bush-lost-in-cyberspace-can-you-help-find-him/stories-and-fables/): by Robert Lowell Daniel, Ph.D. The following anecdote, inspired by a cyberspace entry, can be categorized as political satire, yet  this is a rather narrow view of its message. Rather, I propose that this offers an example of the phenomenon of “unintended consequences.” This frequently occurs when one adopts a simplistic cause-and-effect perspective on a rather complex issue, rather than appreciating the overall context, involving a  complex interplay of various factors that culminate in unforeseen outcomes. Fiction writers are our true anarchists. Who else can reduce our esteemed leaders to mere mortals by telling blatant lies about them, while escaping accountability […]
- [The Man Who Lost His Key](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-man-who-lost-his-key/stories-and-fables/): The following story is an adaptation of an old Middle Eastern tale, one version of which is about Nasrudin, who has been alternately characterized as a wise buffoon or a foolish sage. This setting has been changed so that it relates more to the modern world, and a new ending has also been added. The story begins, not with the man who lost his key, but with a conscientious preacher in a small town, with his parsonage at one end of town and the church and vestry at the other end. As such, each day he would walk across town to […]
- [When Thinking Distorts Feelings](https://roguepsychologist.com/when-thinking-distorts-feelings/cognitive-behaviorism/): Emotions tend to be looked upon unfavorably in a society that puts a premium on rationality and objectivity. Feelings are often seen as clouding one’s thinking, such that it is not uncommon to hear phrases like, “Let’s be rational about this,” and “You don’t need to be so emotional.” Yet when functioning properly, our feelings are adaptive in directing our responses to various events in our daily lives. For example, love draws us toward our partners and others who are likely to be supportive of our endeavors. Anxiety urges the exercise of caution, stepping back from situations to assess the […]
- [Vicious Cycle Patterns in Relationships 1.0](https://roguepsychologist.com/vicious-cycle-patterns-in-relationships-2/general-and-miscellaneous/): The following is an article that I wrote about twenty years ago, yet my message is much the same now, though I have elaborated on it and integrated it with other themes, particularly the explorations of relationships as organic systems, rather than in terms of simple cause-and-effect relationships.  The Beetle Bailey comic strip by Mort Walker that I cite is from October 6, 1991, and it continues to be a timeless pattern. THE CRITIC – VICTIM/REBEL – RESCUER CYCLE Adapted from the Persecutor-Victim-Rescuer Cycle, by Stephen Karpman, from the book, Games Alcohols Play, by Claude Steiner (1971) VICIOUS CYCLES IN […]
- [Dealing with Conflict in Relationships: The Art of Assertiveness](https://roguepsychologist.com/dealing-with-conflict-in-relationships-the-art-of-assertiveness/personal-conflict/): Though seldom pleasant, conflict is a normal and healthy part of relationships. Even in the best of marriages partners will view some situations differently and will have competing wants and needs that cannot be met simultaneously. These are times when the partners must choose between their own self-interests, those of their partners, and the common good of the relationship. These instances present opportunities for the partners to assert their independence or to affirm their commitment to their relationship. On the one hand, we declare our individuality, a primary component of our identity, by differing with significant people in our lives […]
- ["How Can I Like Myself Better?":  An Inquiry into Self-esteem](https://roguepsychologist.com/how-can-i-like-myself-better-an-inquiry-into-self-esteem/general-and-miscellaneous/): We all probably have an intuitive sense that self-esteem is an important factor affecting our interactions with others, our readiness to deal with problems, and our pursuit of our goals: liking ourselves gives us the self-confidence to meet these challenges and to do so more effectively.  Yet self-esteem is a vague and elusive concept, one which is difficult to apply on a practical basis.  This article addresses what self-esteem is, what its qualities are, and how it develops, and then applies this understanding to the issue of how to work on our self-esteem in our everyday lives.    What is […]
- [Rationalizations Used To Minimize and Deny Substance Problems](https://roguepsychologist.com/rationalizations-used-to-minimize-and-deny-substance-problems/cognitive-behaviorism/): Recognizing Rationalizations We often use rationalizations to justify unhealthy activities we have difficulty giving up. This is certainly common with substance abuse. We may not even recognize how we are fooling ourselves with our excuses and alibis. If we can recognize our rationalizations, we might catch ourselves before doing further damage. By identifying common types of rationalizations, this blog seeks to support this understanding and to help prevent relapses. Definitions and Examples We start by defining “rationalization” and seven common types of rationalization. Note that “rationalization” is the all-encompassing or catchall category, and the other terms are specific types of […]
- [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Panacea, or Helpful Tool?](https://roguepsychologist.com/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-its-relevant-application/cognitive-behaviorism/): For decades, cognitive behaviorists have been touting their therapy as a cure for all kinds of emotional distress. In particular, this approach addresses how irrational thoughts often lead to emotional distress. Then, it challenges those beliefs, which can turn ordinary frustration and disappointment into emotional devastation. This post uses the syllogism to demonstrates that faulty logic through the use of a syllogism. Now, cognitive behaviorists rarely present their challenges in this form. This exercise simply presents their arguments in a more structured manner. However, we should note that clients usually seek help for their emotional pain, and rarely for irrational […]
- [An Abridged Cultural History of Cognitive Behaviorism](https://roguepsychologist.com/a-brief-cultural-history-of-cognitive-behaviorism/cognitive-behaviorism/): For years, cognitive behaviorism has been a self-proclaimed leader in psychotherapy, citing numerous studies to back that claim. Its list of “evidence-based” applications has grown so broad that you’d think it’d cure all that ails you. Like other movements, it has tended to overreach its utility by trying to be all things to all people. We can gain perspective, though, by placing cognitive behaviorism in its cultural context. In doing so, we can better appreciate both its promises and its limitations in resolving particular problems of living. This exploration will allow cognitive behaviorism to assume its rightful place among other […]
- [Wants and Needs vs. Shoulds](https://roguepsychologist.com/wants-and-needs-vs-shoulds/general-and-miscellaneous/): There’s nothing quite as effective as obligating yourself to something for turning play into work, especially if you put a schedule or a deadline to it. I found that out quite early in my blogging career, with my setting a goal of posting a blog each weekend. Here it is Weekend Two, with my having plenty of ideas in mind, as demonstrated by my Preview of Coming Attractions: Blogs under Construction, and yet I am obsessing about what to put out. Of course, having difficulty finding and retrieving past files and navigating HTML and the blogging platform doesn’t make it […]
- [About "A Rogue Psychologist's Field Guide"](https://roguepsychologist.com/about-a-rogue-psychologists-field-guide-to-the-universe/general-and-miscellaneous/): A Rogue Psychologist’s Field Guide offers a practical perspective for addressing the inevitable stressors of daily life. At times, this endeavor involves a logical process of finding specific solutions to life’s problems. Yet, at other times, we encounter life’s paradoxes. By definition, these defy logical solutions. These include the conflicting values of individuality vs. belonging, order vs. freedom, security vs. adventure, and being vs. becoming. Here, we must strike a balance for ourselves, without clear-cut standards to guide us. A Guide to Conflict – A Path of Growth Thus, life often presents us with messy dilemmas. While we often view […]
- [THE MAN WITH A MONKEY ON HIS BACK: A STORY OF THE STRUGGLE WITH SELF-BLAME](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-man-with-a-monkey-on-his-back-a-story-of-the-struggle-with-self-blame/stories-and-fables/): by Bob Daniel, Ph.D. There once was a man with a monkey on his back – well, not a real monkey, but he thought it was real – at least, I think he thought it was real. (But I’m getting ahead of myself now.) Anyway, he came to me to help him get rid of his monkey. It wasn’t just his having this monkey on his back that was the problem – he could probably handle that. Rather, it was how his monkey treated him – that is, if you believe his story. He complained about how his monkey kept a running […]
- [THE ESKIMO WHO LOST HIS ART AND SOUL](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-eskimo-who-lost-his-art-and-soul/stories-and-fables/): By BOB DANIEL, Ph.D.  Every now and then we are blessed with some unique experience which may profoundly influence our lives. The events seem to fold together as neatly as any story ever told, yet they come out of our day-to-day reality. There is a dreamlike quality to them, though they occur at full wakefulness. These occurrences happen in a state of grace in which reality is saturated with enchantment. Just how frequently they occur is hard to say – perhaps they are happening all about us, though usually without our notice. And sometimes they descend upon us before we […]
- [COPING WITH REALITY THROUGH ENCHANTMENT: THE HEALING POWER OF MYTH](https://roguepsychologist.com/coping-with-reality-through-enchantment-the-healing-power-of-myth/stories-and-fables/): by BOB DANIEL, Ph.D. Long before psychotherapy was invented, healers have been using stories to help their people cope with life’s adversities. More recently, storytellers such as Joseph Campbell, Robert Bly, and Clarissa Pinkola Estes have demonstrated the power of myth for attaining personal transformation. Fannie Flagg dramatized this process in Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Here, the elderly Mrs. Threadgoode inspired Evelyn, a dowdy, submissive housewife, by recounting her family tale. Through this encounter, Evelyn was able to discover her own inner strength (Towanda!). Many such tales have been recorded and preserved as folklore. Countless others, […]
- [Beyond Rationality and Into the Realm of Paradox](https://roguepsychologist.com/hello-world/paradoxes-in-everyday-life/): Cognitive behaviorism has generally been recognized as the current prevailing model being applied to life’s problems. It has achieved such dominance that many assume this perspective as the preferred approach for understanding human experience and behavior. Indeed, some are so deeply embedded in this worldview that they don’t even consider other possibilities. This website proposes an existential model that provides a more relevant perspective from which to address certain aspects of the human condition, particularly those related to the paradoxical aspects of life. In particular, it draws on the distinctions between objectivity and subjectivity and between problem and paradox. The […]

## Pages

- [Rogue News](https://roguepsychologist.com/rogue-news/)
- [The Making of a Rogue Psychologist](https://roguepsychologist.com/the-making-of-a-rogue-psychologist-2/): One does not grow up with the aspiration of becoming a rogue psychologist, nor does it happen overnight. While the path varies from person to person, there are certain factors that predispose one to this role. For me, a key element was my growing up in the monoculture of a conventional, middle-class community, only to discover that its values and principles were relative and of limited benefit in preparing me for the broader culture that encompasses a diversity of viewpoints and lifestyles. I grew up in the staunchly conservative, white-collar town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in the stark landscape of the […]
- [Vicious Cycle Patterns in Relationships 2.0](https://roguepsychologist.com/vicious-cycle-patterns-in-relationships-2-0-work-in-progress/): I recall a cartoon reprinted in an intro psychology text many years ago. In it, two lab rats are returned to their cage from their sessions in “Skinner boxes.” This is a device that trains them to press a lever by reinforcing them with food pellets. One rat says to the other, “Boy, I really have this guy trained. Every time I press this lever, he drops this chunk of food in this trough.” While I don’t recall the point the cartoon was used to illustrate, I will provide my own: causality is often not a one-way street. Frequently it […]
- [Muddling Down a Middle Path:  Wading through the Messiness of Life](https://roguepsychologist.com/muddling-down-a-middle-path-wading-through-the-messiness-of-life/): Muddling down a Middle Path:    Wading through the Messiness of Life    by Bob Daniel, PhD    Modern life has so many options that we can drive ourselves crazy trying to choose among them. Even for a person of modest means, life has vastly greater possibilities than were available one or two hundred years ago, or even decades earlier in one’s life. Yet are we any happier as a result of this? Many would answer “No.” Some get so caught up in the work needed to achieve these possibilities that they don’t take the time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Others harbor the suspicion that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, on the path not taken, such that it tarnishes the options that they had chosen. And yet others buy into the message that we can have it all, only to be disappointed when they fall short of those expectations.    What if I told you that there is a logical formula that takes all the guesswork out of our decisions, and one that unlocks all our possibilities, so that we can have all the rewards that we deserve?  Sound too good to be true?  Of course, it is!  Life is just too messy for logic to solve all our problems.    A central reason for this messiness is that life involves a trade-off between conflicting positive values: the more we have of one, the less we have of the other. Is freedom important to you? Then expect to give up some order and control. And if you want security, then you’ll have to give up some freedom. If belonging to a group is important, then you will likely be called upon to give up some of your individuality in order to fit in.  These trade-offs point to the paradoxical nature of human existence, such as expressed in the saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” which speaks to the inherent tension between living in the moment and building a future.    This page is from a Power Point presentation I made in July, 2014. It addresses how these paradoxes play out in practical, day-to-day life (e.g., Do we apply the tax refund to our retirement fund, or do we take that special vacation? Do we make hotel reservations for that trip, or do we keep our schedule open for unanticipated opportunities? Do we keep our plans to attend the play we’ve eagerly anticipated, or do we cancel them to offer moral support to a friend dealing with a tough loss?).  While the presentation will not tell you what you should decide, it offers a framework and guidelines for coming to such decisions. For example, this perspective proposes that the extreme positions favoring one value to the exclusion of its complement tend to be unhealthy, whereas a balance between these values tends to be adaptive. Still, there is plenty of middle ground between the two extremes, which means there is plenty of room for honest differences.  You might submit a comment that describes a specific situation involving such a paradox, whether real-life or “hypothetical.”
- [Living Rationally with Paradox: Staying Sane in a Crazy World, or Trying to Force a Round Peg into a Square Hole?](https://roguepsychologist.com/living-rationally-with-paradox-staying-sane-in-a-crazy-world-or-trying-to-force-a-round-peg-into-a-square-hole/): The following is the Power Point outline of a presentation that I have given several times. LIVING RATIONALLY What do we mean by living rationally? Living rationally involves applying logic to knowledge derived from past experience, in making decisions about current situations. This orientation has its foundation in the logical empiricism school of philosophy. Empiricism refers to using sensory data that is generally agreed upon. Logic involves rules for using the data.  Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on the agreement of numerous specific examples.  Deductive reasoning involves deriving specific facts from generalizations through the use of syllogisms. (More on […]
- [A Rogue Psychologist's Field Guide to the Universe](https://roguepsychologist.com/a-rogue-psychologists-field-guide-to-the-universe-beyond-rationality-and-into-the-realm-of-paradox/): Beyond Rationality and into the Realm of Paradox The Rogue Psychologist presents an existential model that encourages an exploration of the paradoxical polarities of life. This is not your father’s – or your grandfather’s – existentialism, though. It does not dwell on the absurdity and meaninglessness of life. Rather, it focuses on the inherent paradoxes of the human condition – mysteries in the normal course of daily life. (Now, isn’t that more appealing than the emphasis on angst, despair, and loneliness in the “Old School”?) Reconciling Life’s Polarities This approach involves a running dialogue between polar opposites in personal values. […]
- [Preview of Coming Attractions: Blogs Under Construction and in the Planning Stage](https://roguepsychologist.com/preview-of-coming-attractions-blogs-under-construction-and-in-the-planning-stage/): The following are planned blog posts that are in various states of planning and production, which are to be posted over the coming year. I have broken them down by general topic areas.   CONFLICT   Imagine a World without Conflict (Boring!) Conflict: A Normal, Expectable, and Healthy Aspect of Life Internal and Interpersonal Conflict: Two Sides of the Same Coin Internal Conflict: Reconciling Opposing Values Interpersonal Conflict: A Vehicle for Balance in Relationships Conflict: Internalizers and Externalizers “I Hate Drama!” – “Oh, Really?” Resolving Conflict with Effective Self-Expression, Active Listening, and Negotiation Eight Styles of Dealing with Conflict and […]


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