Effects of Subtle Peer Group Bullying on Development of the Self, Part 1
Growing up with feelings that your peers don’t like you or don’t accept you into their group can have lifelong negative effects. While we have fortunately become more aware of the dangerous effects of bullying on children, we often do not pay enough attention to more subtle forms of bullying that affect the development of self-worth, self–esteem, and self-confidence. Many adults continue to think of themselves as if they were still the 12 or 13 year old who sat alone in the lunchroom, who was whispered about as fat, or who never was invited to parties. It takes work to change this negative... Read More
Racism and prejudice are issues that are at the forefront of social concern today. Ethnic differences are causing riots, uprisings, and loss of life in nations throughout the world, including our own. Classic conditioning is a theory that suggests that individuals learn racism and prejudice through exposure to events by either experiencing them personally or observing them. Once a perspective is formed, it can be reinforced through continual verbal, visual, or actual cues. For instance, a person who has a fearful encounter with someone from another race may later see others exhibit fear, thus reinforcing... 
Imagery of pregnancy and motherhood surround us, with expectant mothers holding their bulging bellies and appearing to be filled with love, hope, and anticipation. Other photos of new mothers looking into the face of their child with a certain kind of love and fulfillment associated only with the connection between mother and baby also tell us what we should be expecting in the transition into parenthood. A visibly pregnant woman often becomes the object of projected nostalgia for those whose years with young children have passed. Strangers approach with pressured questioning and statements: “Don’t... 
In North Carolina, the rate of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is extremely high among African Americans. Specifically, 
The Internet is awash in opinions about children 12 and under viewing The Hunger Games, or not. There are professional, parental, grandparental, educated, and miscellaneous opinions, enough to make a reader dizzy. What do we really know about the human penchant for watching violence and its effect on children, adolescents, or adults? The answer is (drum roll), almost nothing. Effects are difficult to pin down when there are so many variables up front. Even so, if a child watches a movie that is inappropriate to that child’s level of development, the impact it has on his or her life is likely... 
Maintaining proper medical treatment and adhering to a specialized protocol is essential for people who live with AIDS/HIV (PLWH). According to many studies, barely half of individuals diagnosed with 
The shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in a small Florida town has sparked a national outrage and inspired discussions about racism, fear of the unknown, and the risk of overzealous neighborhood watches. In the onslaught of sympathy and outrage, however, a disturbing trend of labeling Trayvon as somehow deserving of being shot has also occurred. This practice is known as victim blaming and is common when a member of a historically disenfranchised minority— such as women, people of color, or the disabled—is harmed. Psychologists have studied this behavior and can offer us several explanations... 
Every day, you should be finding ways to contribute to your own good health, but it’s still nice to celebrate once a year the importance of being healthy. April 7 is World Health Day, and this year the focus is on improving health as people age.
Specifically, the topic of this year’s World Health Day is “aging and health,” with a theme of “Good health adds life to years,” according to the World Health Organization’s website. This is a day for people to focus on major health issues and implement changes that will affect the health of people all over the world.
Mental health in... 
The first 3 years of children’s lives are critical to their development. The behaviors and attitudes a child witnesses from caregivers determines many of their future relationship outcomes. When partners engage in aggressive actions and exhibit 
The recent shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin has sparked a firestorm of controversy. While everyone who’s given any thought to the matter agrees that Trayvon should not have died, explanations of what happened vary greatly. However, when examining statistics on shootings, it becomes clear that people of color are at an increased risk of being shot. There are significantly more police shootings of unarmed black people than there are of unarmed white people. But inevitably, the shooters claim that they were just doing their jobs and that they thought their lives were in danger, not that they... 
A dear friend was telling me the other day about a bumper sticker that had symbols of some of the world’s religions and writing that said “co-exist.” What a shame that as we approach the start of the Easter/Passover season, in which many of the world’s believers participate, that people are far from accepting the right of others to worship as they see fit without judgment or condemnation. Why is it that many people feel that their religion is the one true way to believe in and connect to God?
I can only speculate from my perspective as psychotherapist and Yoruba/Lucumi priest. Here are... 
Unintended pregnancies represent nearly 50% of all pregnancies in America. Half of the couples experiencing unintended pregnancies do so because they do not use any form of contraceptives. Couples choose not to use contraceptives for various reasons, one of which is assumed infertility. Teenagers are most likely to have sex without contraceptive use because they believe they are infertile. Many teens who have had sex in the past without getting pregnant think that they cannot conceive and therefore consider contraceptive use unnecessary. Although some of these teens may truly be infertile, the... 
