Our New Discontents

Perfectionism

Effortless Is a Myth

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on September 27, 2024

Much of the competition for social status involves the right performance. The key is to make it look like you’re not trying or don't even care.

Much of the competition for social status involves the right performance. The key is to make it look like you’re not trying or don't even care.

Forgiveness

The Mystery of a Genuine Apology

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on June 29, 2024

We often see apologies reduced to caricatures or treated as mere formulas. But, genuinely offered, they have transformative power.

We often see apologies reduced to caricatures or treated as mere formulas. But, genuinely offered, they have transformative power.

Education

The Deeper Agenda Behind Social Emotional Learning

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on June 21, 2024

Abigail Shrier’s new book, "Bad Therapy," criticizes therapeutic education but without helping us to see why educators and parents might find it convincing, even inspiring.

Abigail Shrier’s new book, "Bad Therapy," criticizes therapeutic education but without helping us to see why educators and parents might find it convincing, even inspiring.

Therapy

The Problem With Unconditional Positive Regard

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on May 16, 2024

However well-intended, our empathy and support can have a paradoxical effect. We can fail to take others seriously or appreciate their suffering as a response to moral demands.

However well-intended, our empathy and support can have a paradoxical effect. We can fail to take others seriously or appreciate their suffering as a response to moral demands.

Artificial Intelligence

Don’t Be Fooled by AI

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on March 19, 2024

Chatbots and other AI-powered applications are being tricked out to fool us into treating them like people. Such social interaction will not leave us unaffected.

Chatbots and other AI-powered applications are being tricked out to fool us into treating them like people. Such social interaction will not leave us unaffected.

Artificial Intelligence

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Our Encounters

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on March 5, 2024

Efforts, such as the new book "Encountering Artificial Intelligence," aim to help us resist the harmful deflation and trivialization of ourselves.

Efforts, such as the new book "Encountering Artificial Intelligence," aim to help us resist the harmful deflation and trivialization of ourselves.

Psychopharmacology

Prozac Culture: How Did It Happen?

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on February 13, 2024

How did we get to a place where tens of millions of people, both adults and children, take psychiatric drugs?

How did we get to a place where tens of millions of people, both adults and children, take psychiatric drugs?

Adolescence

Is the Youth Mental Health Crisis a Myth?

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on December 28, 2023

The troubles of youth are real but should not be confused with mental disorder or an intensification of the sort of problems that kids have always encountered.

The troubles of youth are real but should not be confused with mental disorder or an intensification of the sort of problems that kids have always encountered.

Parenting

For a Moratorium on Parent Blaming

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on December 22, 2023

Much of the criticism of parents is misplaced. They didn’t cause the mess we’re in. Like everyone else, they’re trying to cope with it.

Much of the criticism of parents is misplaced. They didn’t cause the mess we’re in. Like everyone else, they’re trying to cope with it.

Burnout

What's Really Behind Burnout

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on November 24, 2023

To understand burnout, we have to consider not only organizational deficiencies but the way in which achievement is defined in our society.

To understand burnout, we have to consider not only organizational deficiencies but the way in which achievement is defined in our society.

Education

The Real Roots of Student Cheating

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on September 28, 2023

Young people are in a bind with achievement expectations that sorely test their honesty. We need to shape an environment that mitigates their plight.

Young people are in a bind with achievement expectations that sorely test their honesty. We need to shape an environment that mitigates their plight.

Adolescence

Our Mysterious Epidemic of Despair Has a History

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on September 5, 2023

While our malaise seems new, it goes back decades. Looking back helps us to see deeper roots in the wearing away of enabling institutions and traditions.

While our malaise seems new, it goes back decades. Looking back helps us to see deeper roots in the wearing away of enabling institutions and traditions.

Artificial Intelligence

Will ChatGPT Replace Psychiatrists?

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on July 26, 2023

AI-powered chatbots cannot replicate the human element of care, but they may become more popular as the human qualities of psychiatric practice are increasingly sidelined.

AI-powered chatbots cannot replicate the human element of care, but they may become more popular as the human qualities of psychiatric practice are increasingly sidelined.

Adolescence

The Rise of Post-Competitive Grievance Disorders

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on June 30, 2023

Many of the struggles of young people arise from the challenge to establish their status, gain recognition, and prove their worth.

Many of the struggles of young people arise from the challenge to establish their status, gain recognition, and prove their worth.

Self-Esteem

Reflections on Loving Yourself

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on May 31, 2023

Contemporary life leaves people feeling unworthy and inadequate. We need to think of ourselves not as objects or projects but as irreducible persons deserving and capable of love.

Contemporary life leaves people feeling unworthy and inadequate. We need to think of ourselves not as objects or projects but as irreducible persons deserving and capable of love.

Loneliness

What We Misunderstand About Loneliness

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on May 5, 2023

Loneliness defies easy generalizations. It is not so much an absence of others, as a quality of relations that are “relationless”—that feel alien, unresponsive, superficial.

Loneliness defies easy generalizations. It is not so much an absence of others, as a quality of relations that are “relationless”—that feel alien, unresponsive, superficial.

Anxiety

Why Routine Anxiety Screening Is a Bad Idea

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on March 30, 2023

A distinguished panel has recommended anxiety screening for adults in primary care without any direct evidence of benefit. What is going on here?

A distinguished panel has recommended anxiety screening for adults in primary care without any direct evidence of benefit. What is going on here?

Self-Help

Being Normal Is Getting Harder

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on March 13, 2023

As the ways to be inadequate multiply, so, too, does our dependence on a myriad of specialists in living. We need to reclaim our experience and ourselves.

As the ways to be inadequate multiply, so, too, does our dependence on a myriad of specialists in living. We need to reclaim our experience and ourselves.

Adolescence

Teen Influencers as Social Media Psychiatrists

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on January 25, 2023

Young people are churning out videos showing “symptoms” of mental disorders and encouraging viewer self-diagnosis. Intended as empowering, they instead reinforce burdens.

Young people are churning out videos showing “symptoms” of mental disorders and encouraging viewer self-diagnosis. Intended as empowering, they instead reinforce burdens.

Embarrassment

Is There Something Wrong with Me?

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on December 21, 2022

While aware of distressing circumstances in our life, we may still have a difficult time seeing how our situation relates to our painful feelings.

While aware of distressing circumstances in our life, we may still have a difficult time seeing how our situation relates to our painful feelings.