A Guide To Anger And Conflict Resolution
Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Recently, I happened to be at a social gathering, and I ran into a guy I hadn’t seen in a few years. When we had last met, I said something that he took to be criticism of Israel, and he angrily rebuked me, making furious statements that Israel has a right to exist. I don’t remember exactly what I said…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Please consider the following quote by Mathias Risse of Harvard University: “Surely, political debate about what America should be, and which kind of economic system it should have, must count among the most basic themes in democratic discourse.” Add to this, if you will, that the very first amendment declares that U.S citizens have, as a basic right, freedom of…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Today we’re going to take a few minutes to compare a Palestinian conflict to one that Native Americans had been engaged in. Doing so, will suggest a path toward peace for the very violence-prone Middle East region. The Comparison The conflict Palestinians are engaged in can be briefly described by using the mnemonic DIG. These letters serve to remind…
Read MoreWelcome to From Insults to Respect. Here’s a story that just might deepen your thoughts about racism. Cool Steve Deals With Racism Monday morning. Lincoln feels more familiar now. Here and there I see someone I know. After lunch, my black friend, Leroy and I are talking about our rock band rehearsal next Thursday night while heading to math class. I spot Steve Marino…
Read MoreWelcome to From Insults To Respect. When thirteen-year old Cool Steve’s parents no longer can afford the rent where they had been living, they move to a less expensive, run down apartment. Steve has to start a new junior high school even though it’s the middle of a school year. Let’s see if we can learn something when we see how Steve handles his first day…
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Welcome to From Insults To Respect. Today, I present a brief story that asks the question, How would someone people respect handle the challenging situation of racial discrimination? The story is an abbreviated section from my novel, Fights In The Streets, Tears In The Sand. The story’s setting, 1965, Brooklyn’s lower middle class section of Brighton Beach. Jeff Star, one of the two major character’s of…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. In my last blog post, we discussed how criticism often leads to an angry conflict related to the desire to be liked. We now turn to another reason why criticism often leads to a conflict — the desire to maintain freedom. Back in 1966, psychologist Jack W. Brehm published a remarkable book entitled, A Theory of Psychological Reactance. In…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. When someone provides criticism anger often ensues. The above comic offers us a fine example. Why is Sally getting so angry over her brother’s comment? Could it have to do with the desire to be liked and loved? For many of us, not being liked or loved is the worst thing imaginable. When you’re around someone who likes you, oftentimes that…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Today, we take a look at the question, Can psychologists come up with a kinder, more respectful, healthier approach for dealing with the types of concerns people seek mental health services? The current approach, often referred to as the “medical model” or the “mental disorder model,” is promoted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the World Health Organization (WHO)…
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Welcome to From Insults to Respect. Let’s start off this post with a brief tale that illustrates some of the strong feelings that come about when religion is discussed: A rabbi and atheist are heatedly arguing over whether or not god truly exists. After a whole hour of this, finally the rabbi cries out in a rage, “How can you be so absolutely certain that there is…
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