US Mythology

 

This essay has to do with five articles  found in the March 24, 2024 edition of The New York Times.  The articles are titled "Are You Thinking for Yourself.";  " Testing Limits In  Calling Out Anti-Semitism";  "The One Idea That Could Save American Democracy.";  "Angst among Youth.  Knocks US, Out of Top 20 in the World Happiness Report" and "America, the Reboot." Common themes are identified  in this essay.

Thomas Jefferson wrote about the "Pursuit of Happiness "  In our Constitution. A report ,issued in 2024 found that individuals  in the US under 30 years of age are unhappy . This is not surprising with the significant amount of irrationality and teen suicide in our republic . According to this  happiness report, the United States ranked 10th for people 60 and older, but 62nd for people under 30.  Covid 19 and its effect on socialization, pre- social behavior and the ability for people to feel connected in their community were mentioned . Additionally,  people between the ages of 18 and 25 reported the lowest levels of happiness , the poorest mental and physical health , loss  of purpose,  absence of close social relationships and  financial instability as reasons.  Time spent on social media was also  identified as a problem .The amount of time spent  on social media was correlated with depression and anxiety among  teenage girls  along with too much toxic news consumption .Teen,especially girls, are  in trouble ..

Related to happiness propaganda and mythology are the inordinate amount of  assumptions , falsehoods , contradictions and irrationality  regarding our republic. The false sense , irrationality  and the illusion associated with US greatness. superiority  etc. must be examined . Perception, actions, feeling and thinking affect our well-being.  It's time to rationally challenge the greatness myth of the US with objective findings,  Democracy , discrimination and capitalism are problematic . The “playing  field “ is not level..The streets are not paved with gold ,  but Trump’s toilet seat is. We are the wealthiest  statistically., cut  statistics can be biased and misleading. The pursuit of happiness is  an economic  irrational ,self-defeating nightmare for most.   For example ,the following  myth  was found in the March 31, 2024 advertisement of The New York Times and  titled " Coast of Happiness."  This advertisement was about Bodrum, Turkey. Where  you are guaranteed a warm welcome with clad white houses, tangerine trees, sun -soaked skies, cozy beachfront restaurants and  yachting adventures.  Additionally, there are 19 recommended restaurants, including 2  Michelin star restaurants, 2 Bib Gourmand restaurants, and 15 selected restaurants.  Also for those who truly want to indulge themselves and release the strains of modern life,  some of the world's finest spa experiences are on hand with top-notch facilities offering Turkish bath treatments as well as holistic therapies and  yoga while surrounded by some of the country's most breathtaking scenery. 

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Another article identified  the frontier and  the gunfighter nation myth . The article  suggested that reinvention could be achieved only through a white supremacist violence of” indigenous displacement “ with fatal shootouts. There have been a multitude of  movies, novels, TV shows embellishing John Wayne types- the rugged, no-nonsense ,non-feeling ,good versus evil males . John Wayne brought justice by killing the bad guys over and over again.  It was always a white superhero eliminating  the dark skinned.   The white males were  right and had an obligation to dominate all others that got in their way.  John Wayne was the American idol for many.  In other words, it's not only okay,  but  it’s legitimate to dominate and wipe out all the inferiors .  Once again, this type of irrationality ,mythology and craziness reinforces the idea that having a gun for killing  is associated with masculinity.This mythology is apparent with the ability to visibly carry a weapon and the far right's mythology regarding masculinity.. As a country, White male violence remains supreme.    

A sociologist identified  race, gender, education, demographics, community, urban, suburban and rural  variables influencing thinking with attitudes about crime, public safety, death penalty, gun control, and deportation of immigrants in our society.  Some people believe that when it comes to politics, Individuals have abandoned critical thinking and moral reasoning. That’s correct  because  children first learn  about   good ,bad , religious preference,,  political party favoritism from their  parents'  prior to their having a fully developed  cognitive and moral  capacity. Initial childhood learnings, biases, prejudices, likes and dislikes  are difficult to overcome because of their persistence through life. 

Further, critical thinking is  negatively affected by  the marketing propaganda of  a “smart”  phone  and computer use .These electronic devices are associated with a dumbing down . Getting your  medical  diagnosis  and political information from anonymous sources, suggests stupidity at best.  Critical thinking has to do with  credible sources , not  pathological liars and propaganda from other sources .Politically, the mythology surrounding Trump is frightening .

There is  a rise of anti-Semitism, especially in K-12 schools , colleges and social media .  According to the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights ,  swastikas  have been identified on  school doors and the October 7 Hamas attack on Israelis  being minimized. Anti- Semitism , hate, prejudice is irrational based on a history of misinformation ,mythology. envy and fear.  Anti-Semitism, prejudice, good ,bad , love and hate are initially  learned in the home from  parents and siblings before  cognitive development , reason and morality are fully established.  It is reason that  illuminates  and teaches man what is good  in order to truly be himself.  Exceptional  contributions from Jews - Moses, Jesus  Spinoza , Marx, Freud ,Einstein ,Oppenheimer , Teller and others are well documented .  Why would any rational individual  hate  these  Jews  -iCharlie Chaplin, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Carol King, Billy Joel, Harrison Ford, Jerry Bruckheimer,  AAron Sorkin ,Steven Spielberg, Bob Kraft, Stephen Ross , Al Davis ,Dan Gilbert ,Mark Cuban,  Bernie Sanders ?

On the  other hand, Jews have been perceived as greedy, dishonest, seeking a pound of flesh, while being in a superior position  as was Shakespeare’s depiction of Shylock in The Merchant  of Venice. .Currently,there are a number of falsehoods and misinformation regarding Israel found on social media.  For example, there was a Palestinian person , on video, pretending to be seriously injured in a hospital bed one day and then found to be completely healthy the next day ;  a video showing a large number of US Marines arriving at an airport in Israel;. That was  from a 2022 video .

The last article suggested that democracy can be saved  with solidarity  and not division.  Throughout history , there have been many events and policies that separate , segregate  and divide  our citizens.  Some say the current  political threat is existentially related to American democracy with the authoritarian Trump.  Trump spreads craziness with lies about immigrants ,incarcerating   political opponents , and attacking and disrespecting judges, prosecutors and democrats  out to get him.  All these messages portray Trump as a  hateful,vengeful  seeking victim.  Is he really a victim or was he responsible for the 91 indictments against him ? Trump appeals  for donations with  repeated messaging of  victimization, lies, irrationality , fear, hate, bigotry and misinformation . ..

Separateness , irrationality , lies are  dangerous, nonproductive, resulting in divorce.  On a personal level, marriage works when there is understanding,empathy, mutuality,  and compromise.  Also ,without respect and integrity, couples do poorly.  Our statistics on divorce suggest  that some  problems can't be reconciled.  For our country to trend toward some form of  mutuality is important in order for democracy to succeed.  We have to identify and confront the mythology, irrationality , narcissism and discrimination that gets in the way of our thinking, which is based on perception, actions and emotions. Emotions  such as fear and hate get in the way of objectivity, reason, and  rationality.  If we are able to think more clearly by understanding our emotional biases there is hope.  One trouble that exists is the amount of social media misinformation with its algorithms.  These algorithms  perpetuate and reinforce cognitive dissonance . They become a mechanism of brain washing and are difficult to counteract.

Misinformation,arrogance, falsehoods, mythology, and illusions  affect our emotions, which influence our thinking.  There is a preponderance of irrationality in our country. Factually, sapiens are born dependent  with anxiety , fear  and  the attempt to minimize it with drugs , alcohol ,defense mechanisms and mindless activity . Because of  unconscious  desires , strong emotional underpinnings , man's thinking, beliefs , judgment, idealizations ,actions and attitudes become compromised and contradictory . 

There are those in power that seduce  and have been excellent at influencing the masses which are eager to follow.  Sapiens  look for protectors to make things better for them.  It could be that special person, that special job , that special home, some promise that's going to bring them happiness. What follows is reality which is followed by another cycle  of repetitive ,irrational self defeating  perception, thinking, feeling  behaviors. What's important for well-being is what's created inside - character with appropriate  perception ,acting, emotional and thinking tendencies .Succinctly, happiness is not an end in itself but is what accompanies the increased potentiality which makes man most human.

PS

Albert Camus “ outside of that single fatality of death, everything , joy , happiness is liberty.”  He also said”there is no love of life without  despair “.  Carl Jung  “  where love rules. There  is no will to power and where power predominates , love is lacking.  One is the shadow of the other. “ Anna Freud “ I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence that comes from within.  It is there all the time.”Frederick Koenig "We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."    

Rationality

 One recent Sunday, I ran primarily on the street and not on the trail because of recent rain. I prefer not to run in the mud.  I was on upper Cascade and ran by Bobbie's house.  Linda and I first met her playing pickleball years ago.  She is 85, a year older than me,  and had one of her hips replaced last December.  The surgeon didn't cut her thigh muscle but instead  surgically went into the groin area . This procedure is better than cutting muscle. Bobbie said she just finished her walk and was exhausted.  I asked her why she was exhausted and she replied loudly” because I'm old.” I replied “no you're not .Your mother was 102 and I don't see anyone else.  your age doing what you're doing. ” Bobbie could have replied,  I just recovered from surgery; I walked many hills; and it's great that I pushed myself. This essay has to do with  thinking.  I don't view her as "belonging only or chiefly to the past or appearing to be far advanced in years.”

Epicurus said, "Nothing is good or bad , but thinking makes it so."  Notice that the quote has an  emotional appraisal .  Something considered good suggests  praise , reward, pleasurable ,pleasing  or liked ,while something considered bad is  frowned upon, punishment, evil ,distasteful, awful, ugly etc..  Value judgments, good and bad, are initially learned in childhood before the development of reason.  It's learned from parents and other important individuals.  As a result, seeking approval and fear of disapproval are powerful motives for behavior.  As a result, something is good or better because it serves the individual better than something else can.  And good refers to the usefulness of the thing that has things for the individual that come good. For example , a good employee is when the employer considers  him to be good  - an advantage to him, For a teacher , the pupil is considered good when he is docile and  does not cause trouble.  The good child may be frightened and insecure and only wants to please  by subjecting to someone's will . The bad child may have a will of his own and genuine interests that do not please and thus is bad  .

The existentialists suggest that man has difficulty thinking rationally.  Man is irrational especially with  his emotional  laden beliefs  and  that represents the absence of reason.  In other words, man creates his illusion’s, myths ; has difficulty with reason and objectivity ; and  relies on technology to deliver him from  all the chaos in the world . Man tends to be inauthentic and alienated as well.  Albert Camus expressed the notion that man's limitation is  his inability to understand, have meaning , and live rationally in  his  complex, immense and contradictory world  which is a philosophy of  absurdity.

Sigmund Freud identified a mental apparatus that takes place in the workings of a sapiens  mind.  He stated  that the ego employs defenses to protect itself .  These defenses attempt to deal with the unpleasantness of anxiety, but are not always successful.  For example, a few of Freud’s defense mechanisms  include repression, projection, reaction formation, fixation, regression, denial,  and rationalization . They  have two characteristics in common.  They deny, falsify or distort reality, and they operate unconsciously so the person is not aware of what is taking place.

Albert Ellis, an American psychologist, described the implications of perception,  acting, feeling and thinking. He believed that we feel as we think and  some of our  ideas, attitudes and  beliefs are irrational  and thus  self defeating. Irrationality is fictional which leads to anxiety, hostility, and  self-defeating behaviors.  In other words, sapiens perceive, move , emote and think  simultaneously and interchangeably . These four life  psychological processes are not distinctly different, but they overlap, and in some respects, are aspects of the same thing.

In order to alleviate   sapien misunderstandings., oversimplifications , lip service,  hate, prejudice, inappropriate actions  etc. , one has to challenge illogical assumptions, myths related to attitude toward self and others.  To understand the process, the following characterize man.1.  Man perceives ,senses, sees ,tastes, smells and  feels, 2. Man moves, walks, eats, swims, hikes, climbs etc. Perception and actions are called sensorimotor.  3. Man emotes,has  feelings - loves, hates, fears, becomes guilty, disapproves etc. 4. Man thinks, reasons; remembers,; imagines; hypothesizes; consolidates; and  solves problems . These are considered executive  ego functioning . Emotions and thinking are called connotative and cognitive. At times, emotions dominate thinking and behavior. This often results in the irrational with repetition and  a reinforcement history .

Ellis places emphasis on the ego by being able to modify the thinking process, Ellis defines emotion as "acute disturbance involving marked somatic changes which is experienced as a more or less agitated feeling. “ In other words, it's physiological, psychological, and social since others are usually the most highly emetogenic stimuli in our environment.. However, emotions can be influenced and calmed  down by taking barbiturates; doing relaxation exercises such as dancing, yoga, as well as positive self talk ..

 

Ellis believed that ,at times, rational  thinking can overcome some emotional neurotic disturbances . Emotions are a reaction, are located in the mammalian brain ,  complicated and  important for survival , but  often get in the way of  rational thinking and making appropriate personal and interpersonal decisions. However, one has to be able to recognize and attack that irrational, neurotic, discriminatory  emotionally based thinking.  For example, Ellis suggests that the excessive need for approval (pleasing another)is a neurotic  irrational reaction with moral implications.  We don't have to be loved and liked by everyone.  One has to be able to overcome the good and bad notions first learned in childhood. Ability to  reason. develops later .  We have to overcome the power,  fear, weakness,  insecurity  and criticism based on someone else ‘s standards.  We have to determine what's good and what's bad based on reason.  We cannot rely on someone else or consensus to determine what is good or bad for us.  Thus, overcoming the need to please , approval , fitting in , being liked and being praised can only be overcome through the use of objectivity, reasoning or rationality and feeling a sense of security ..  

Another irrational reaction  Ellis  wrote about  was eradicating blaming others but taking responsibility for your actions. Blaming ,scapegoating ,excuses are character flaws first learned as children wanting approval and fear of being punished.  These children do not trust ,but lie, cheat, deceive and are sneaky in getting away with their misdeeds.  Lying is reinforced and they become the same. They master the art of not being accountable with their denials , rationalizations etc.

A recent example of parents not taking responsibility has to do with the  current trial in Oakland, Michigan.  Parents were found guilty as their 15-year-old son murdered  4 fellow students and wounded six others, including a teacher.  The parents were talking to the judge before sentencing.  They were begging the judge to show mercy and reduce their sentencing.  The parents talked about being good parents , were sorry for the harm they caused  to the victim's parents , said it could happen to anyone, their heart ached , and they were ever  so sorry and looked for mercy.  However, neither parent took any responsibility for their son having a weapon and pulling the trigger that day.  They purchased  the weapon for their son and took smiling pictures of the family with the firearm.  They demonstrated and modeled not taking 1 ounce of responsibility.. Sorry’s are not the issue 

It's difficult to overcome the influences of the past , especially If they are not known . These incidents have to be brought to  consciousness .  It's important to look at  failures, frustrations, and erroneous decisions.  It's also important to change thinking that can change actions. 

 Allowing a fear of failure to interfere with some action is irrational and self defeating.   Fear of failure has to do with a number of variables, especially anxiety.  Achievement ,dissonance ,reinforcement , expectations., completed tasks, etc. play a part .Reinforcing an individual for their autonomy  and initiative are significant.  Perfection does not exist.  In other words, supporting an individual when facing difficult tasks while recognizing the individual effort.  Appropriate expectations with feedback like “ you're doing great, keep up the good work, and that's terrific “  is important in building self confidence. Also important for the individual is to be able to reduce the anxiety by acknowledging it.  It's understandable that one experiences anxiety and the key is to be able to reduce that anxiety.  When watching an NBA player taking the free-throw, they focus on the basket, make a motor motion and then do  a breathing exercise before taking the shot. Also, research has shown that low  achievers are more susceptible than high achievers for a fear of failure.  Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, and others do not shy away from taking the last shot to win the game.  They relish it. Epicurus said, "The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it."

I was  61 when I decided to run Western States.  To complete that goal , I focused on long distance  training runs of 25 to 30 miles  before I had to run a 50 mile qualifier. I teamed up with another competitive runner, read  appropriate materials and talked with friends about being pacers.  I had a positive mindset. Fear of failure was  not present .

Broadly speaking psychologically and philosophically, because of a repetitive history of reinforcement,and irrational impulses, It's difficult to think and act morally and ethically.especially  in a culture with a powerful, leader with supernatural qualities, powerful technology, and material success .With this being said, we have become an easy prey to irrational authoritarianism in which the authority lays down the laws and norms of conduct.. Rationality, objectivity and reason continue to be under attack.

 

PS

According to Marcus Aurelius “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength,🙂

Reference

Ellis, Albert and Harper, Robert.  A Guide to Rational Living.

Suicide

 What's behind the thinking and feeling experiences of female teenagers that's associated with the narrative that their reality is a living hell ?  How can our children be  considered our greatest  resource, when nearly 1/3 of female high school students considered suicide and nearly 60% were reported to have felt sad and hopelessness in 2021 ?  Note, in one study, suicide thinking is more common among teenagers who said they did not identify as heterosexual, and  had sexual partners of the same sex, or both sexes..  Also, how can we be the greatest country in the world, if suicides are one indication of the degree of mental illness in our country.  This disquisition addresses female teenage suicide. 

The existentialists maintain that sapiens are irrational.  Man attempts to find meaning, knowing and understanding in a world which is contradictory, ambiguous, unknowing and absurd.  In fact, Kierkegaard suggests that belief in God means the absence of reason ; man creates fictions and false narratives during his lifetime and has emotional underpinnings that limits logic   Freud saw sapiens driven by the interplay for survival or Eros and the aggression of sadomasochism and death  or Thanatos. Statistically,in the year 2000, death from violent crimes totaled about 520,000, and suicides around 815,000.  In 2002 violent crimes increased to 569,000 and deaths from suicide to 873,000. In 2024, one poll  reported  that 71% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, suggesting that one's perceptions both subjectively  and objectively, is of a  troubled society or a high degree of irrationality .

More specifically , an overview ot normal adolescent development provides some clues as to why there is an increase in suicidal ideation, suicide, depression and anxiety. First, a few  factors of adolescent development include the following: 1.  Growth or development toward being physically mature 2.   Growth and development toward a  mature  cognitive capacity.  3.  Ego Identity formation or identity diffusion that's related to certainty or uncertainty regarding oneself. and experimenting with roles.  Some  female GOP role model females express verbal abuse, anger, hate , irrationality  and prejudice.  4.  Occupational choices.  School curriculums , teachers, librarians, administrators and school boards are under attack, Teachers are stressed and being threatened  and are leaving the profession. Teaching does not provide at this time a terrific educational and professional  career path  for females. Colleges of education are experiencing less applicants.

Emotionally, depression is significantly associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. It’s apparent that there  Is no one cause for depression but many factors have been identified that increases the likelihood that someone will develop symptoms of major depressive disorder..Research has found that the biochemistry of serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin the pleasure, reward and behavior neurotransmitters are  reduced  with depression.

It's important not to overlook suicides with other sociocultural factors .  A few  to consider include the following:1.  Being Asian, Catholic, Wasp ,Jewish  or Black 2.  Intellectually superior with pressure to attend the "right" University or academically struggling because of  school absence during  Covid -19 or just not attending school. Being especially talented in sports , music, or none of  the above;.Bing attractive, popular or perceived being unattractive and not popular  3.  Family structure-Being adopted ,foster care, fatherless ,parental death  , divorce, only child.  4.Handicaps of being chronically ill , diabetes, obesity, asthmatic  5.Syndromes-Affective Disorder ,MBD, school phobia, masculinity or  femininity issues ,anorexia,,deprivation ,exploitation, sexual, physical or, substance abuse 6.  Excessive dependency with smartphones and social media apps use 

Although we don't have enough data regarding psychological autopsy of successful suicides, one study reported the following of  male and female teens pertaining to  suicide feelings  : 1.  Thoughts were present during the past year by 70% in the study 2.  3.5% stated that life was not worthwhile 3.  2.8% wished for death  4.  1%thought of actual suicide    5. 0.6% made a suicide attempt.  It was also reported that these young males and females experienced depression; recently  stressful events, somatic illnesses,  were socially isolated and more likely to be female.

Sapiens are irrational and fill their minds with mythology finding reasons for anything  irrespective of relevancy . For example, suicide among female teenagers might be a trend going in the wrong direction.  The  attitude toward suicide has changed dramatically in our country.  Years ago, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sent to prison for assisting individuals in taking their life.  Nowadays,  10 states have legalized assisted suicide.  suggesting a  political, legal , moral and ethical attitudinal shift.

 Also, suicide by overdose for males and females have increased from 2020 through 2021.  In 2020, a total of 106,699 deaths occurred in our country. Over the past ½ century countless Icons, legends, celebrities,role models have lost their lives.  as a result of drug overdose and include . Morrison, Hendrix , Joplin, Scott, Cobain,Jackson, Winehouse ,Houston. In the young minds of  female teenagers, suicide has become more permissible and a position of status, 

Suicide is  a hostile act.   It may represent Oedipal issues related to loss of father ,disturbed relationship with mother  and being  an expendable child ; inability to control exaggerated aggressive feelings and  fulfilling self punishment guilt feelings  with a desire to punish those that grieve . As well as thoughts about hurting, killing parents and siblings ; failed romance,rejection by boyfriend , family or siblings. Clearly , one message is  I don't  want anything to do with you ; I don’t have to interact with you, and you can go to hell.

  

 Socrates ``Know Thyself" is just one example of a Sapien illusion.  We "believe" that intelligence, morality and identity are developmental according to Piaget  Kohlbeg and Erikson . Heidegger stated  " Anxiety is the source of everything."  With that being said,  for a teen to determine  and act upon the question, “Is life  worth living or  a confession that life is not worth the trouble, but is ,in fact ,a solution “ suggests that death is an absurd and irrational reason. Furthermore,  we don't have a personal experience of death. In other words, without full development of intelligence, morality, capacity  or identity and being at the mercy of one's emotions , found in the Mamilian brain,  suggests that deciding on hope or death, teenagers committing suicide are short sighted irrespective of their story..

Too many adolescent females have continued to engage in   suicide. Why no outrage? These  female teens remind me of  Sisyphus.  Sisyphus angered the gods and they got their revenge when they condemned him by punishing him  relentlessly , actually for him, seeking revenge .He pursued  unconditional and committed love.  He was conscious of his wretched  miserable condition with such boundless grief and futility . Was his fate created by his actions or was it  out of his control and the result of some irrationality or excessive pettiness like  angering the gods?

PS

 FYI, a philosophy professor's book "How Not to Kill Yourself  A Portrait of the Suicidaal Mind," was reviewed in the April 30, 2023 edition of  The New York Times.  This professor survived 10 suicide attempts. 

About 50 years ago, I was taking a two day qualifying exam in  Los Angeles to practice the art of psychology.  After the first day, of testing , I was in my hotel room and heard commotion outside the door.  Police were engaged with a woman who  had locked her door and was talking about suicide.  I opened the door, and introduced myself as a psychologist.  Within seconds, I was talking with this woman in the hallway about her suicide.  Unbeknownst to me, the police  entered her room from the outside window..  No suicide. 

Remarkable Women

 

 I read a timely article titled "My Mother Got on a Bike.  It changed her life"  In the February 18, 2024 edition of The New York Times.   The article in question triggered thoughts regarding "It Has Nothing  To Do with Age" and   Linda who had her hip replaced in December ,2023 and is currently exercising on a stationary bike. 

This is a story of a mother ,aged 62, who  joined a bicycle group.  At that time, she was recovering from heartbreak and had just moved to a new town.  Also ,  she reportedly had no background as an outdoor activity enthusiast, thereby making her new activity difficult. Unfortunately, there is  negative messaging surrounding older females.  For instance, older women on television are portrayed on TV advertising smiling while taking medicine.  One recent advertisement in the New York Times by Pfizer stated something to the effect that getting old is associated with becoming sick. Other messaging has to do with failing looks, frail bones, cognitive decline, not being significant nor  happy with their age.

Research by a professor of public health wrote, "We increase our risk of cardiac events and speed of cognitive decline, if we believe that getting older is a time of suffering and diminution... Those of us that view later life as a time of growth and vitality are more likely to stay healthy and to keep senility at bay.  We also live a whopping 7 1/2 years longer. “ One conclusion from this longitudinal study was "Mindset was the most significant factor determining an individual's longevity."

It's true that media dating apps, a youth obsessed culture and too many preconceived notions suggest that "aging “stinks. Also, it’s unfortunate that affirmations and positive self talk are outnumbered by doubt and negativity for too many  aging females.  Mindset is defined as a set of attitudes held by someone.  An attitude is defined as a subtle way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, Typically, one that is reflected in a person's behaviors.  It’s obvious that what takes place between the ears is related to behavior and actions speak louder than words .

Ego needs  can also be fulfilled by behavior.  For example, this 62-year-old female incorporated  a number of positive subliminal phrases about aging like  being spry and capable . The researchers found that on physical tests , individuals with a positive mind set, ended up with a more favorable perception of aging.  While this 62-year-old was pedaling  downhill, she included positive self talk which assisted her ability to meet  her goals.  If her goal was to enter a hundred mile bike ride, then repetitive self talk and repetitive training  workouts became significantly important. She could build on success by telling herself something positive while exerting herself while biking up and down the hills . And  repeated successes would positively influence her aspiration level or her expectancy.  The more repetitive success she had , reinforced the greater the expectancy for success. And as Epicurus brilliantly stated : "The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it." Also, this paradigm meets the ego need of achievement, which is to accomplish something difficult.

By joining a cycling group, she also met the ego need of affiliation  which is to draw near and  cooperate or reciprocate with another. To adhere and remain loyal to a friend.  In other words, interacting while pursuing a goal or goals with friends or training partners results in meeting other ego needs as well. For instance succorance-to have one's needs gratified by a sympathetic aid of an allied object. To be nursed, supported ,sustained ,surrounded,  protected, advised, guided, and  consoled.   Exhibition- to make an impression , to be seen and heard . Deference - to admire and support a superior . These ego needs are powerful, necessary and required as we are a social species.

Typically, most older women don't join groups and instead pull back on physical activities, risk-taking, novel pursuits,  and telling themselves it's too dangerous for their failing body and mind.  Alfred Adler's quote fits "The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions."  Unfortunately, as the cycling mom approached 80, she began to feel unsteady and found out that she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  Her mother said  "I wish I was 60 again."

Linda is doing great with her exercise rehabilitation .  She also attends one session a week in physical therapy and meets twice a week for yoga.

In closing, I prescribed the following  in “ It Has Nothing To Do With Age” for increasing lifespan: 1.  Get inspired.  It's okay to begin a new activity by taking baby steps.  Physical activity can help improve physical fitness, losing weight, reducing anxiety and minimizing depression.  2.  Find meaning in an activity outside of family ,career , raising kids; it can build self-esteem 3 . Enrich your emotional life by making physical contact.; having friends ,sharing  interests , and learning about others  by becoming part of a new group 4.  Realize there is more to life than the accumulation of material things.  5.  Participate in outdoor activities to help nurture spirituality.  6.  Find a way to escape., read about other people's adventures 7 . Find inspiration and motivation through the illuminating profiles of the  eight remarkable senior athletes found within this book 

PS

Outdoor  remarkable enthusiast Linda,  while in her 60s , was active  as a white water river guide,  equestrian, bicyclist , golfer, down hill skier, fly caster,camper and swimmer.

Reference

Murray, H.A. Explorations in Personality..

Neanderthal Intellect

 

Homo sapiens have psychologically and biologically  evolved.  In other words, current sapient motivation has its emotional, cognitive , and behavioral “roots' ' and traits related to those classified and lived as hunters and gatherers  . Current anthropological ,archeology , and zoology research of primitive tribes in remote areas provides additional input and hypotheses related to our ancestors.   This disquisition suggests that not only biologically speaking, but of our mind , neural mechanisms , and the unconscious is carrying  information from our ancestors.

It's been calculated that a small portion of human DNA  1- 6% from modern populations of the Middle East, Europe, East Africa, Australia and Siberia are similar to the DNA of the Neanderthals. There are two theories as to  why the Neanderthals have become extinct.  It could be by some, yet to be discovered,  combination of  interbreeding or the replacement theory with its  genetic mutations . Factually,  Neanderthals were eliminated. Surprisingly, Neanderthal brains are larger than ours , born helpless,  required to be reared,and were able to walk upright with the ability to run.  And,  in the past 10,000 years or so , our species is the only human species that has been able to manipulate the lives of a few animals and plant species.  However, prior to that time.hunter -gatherers spent time in stimulating and varied ways ,had in depth knowledge of animals and plants ,and were more likely to not starve, get disease or become poor .

Hunter gatherers  gorged on high calorie foods.  If they came across food that was sweet  ,ripe  like fruit , they likely ate as much as possible before the competition from another tribe of other  powerful critters arrived to have picked it clean.  Gatherers became  extremely knowledgeable of what and what not to eat.  They identified the " right" mushrooms as an example.  They had to learn and become knowledgeable because their survival depended upon it.  They knew about various  healthy wild plants, acorns, fruits, vegetables, grapes, apples and seeds .  In other words, they ate  a variety of nutritious foods and periods of fasting that  were advantageous to their health.  And , they also incorporated protein and fats for muscle mass, strength,and hunting . In doing so, they met the following ego needs:1. Achievement,  They accomplished  something difficult , mastered , excelled,and increased their ability for survival.  2.  Affiliation. They cooperated with others to accomplish these tasks and established friendship with their commitment.  3.  Defendance . They had to defend themselves against assault from others.  4. Dominance .They were able to control their human environment with their successes.  5  Nurturance .They provided food  for those unable ,  gave sympathy and assisted in caring for survival 6.  Understanding . With trial and error they were able  to speculate, formulate and analyze edible from non edible.

 They also  became knowledgeable and experts  about tracking, establishing  safe and proper techniques for their kill and retention .  Hunting became an art and based upon skill ,endurance and physicality.  They might have had to pursue their prey for long distances and have the ability to climb rocks, navigate streams, mountains for safety, etc. in other words, hunter gatherers were able to use their fingers, arms, legs  effectively with strength and have the ability to run long distances.  Our physiology was  not designed to sit for long periods of time in fancy chairs, seats and sofas.  Physiologically and psychologically they were  smart, strong and were able to survive. Examples of ego needs met Included :1.  Abasement.  They had to submit to external force ,accept injury ,defeat at times when encountering an unknown or superior prey.  They seeked  pain and punishment while tracking down dangerous prey.  2.  Achievement.  They accomplished the difficult 3.  Affiliation, With  cooperation, they were able to be successful.  4.  Aggression . They overcame the opposition ,  prey  forcefully.  They had to fight , and attack for their dinner  5. Defendance.They had to defend themselves from potential failure or inability to  successfully gather, track and kill prey.  7 Deference . They admired a  superior alpha tracker 8.  Dominance . They had to control  and succeed against obstacles and barriers 9 . Exhibition . They made an impression with their ability to succeed and overcome so many difficulties.  10.  Understanding .They learned, they understood once again by trial and error and figured out and developed better techniques,  tools, etc.

Our ancestors were not monogamous,  nor resided in nuclear families, but were pollysexual human beings..  Having multiple sexual partners was advantageous to both male and female in that they believed that many sexual partners resulted in a wonderful array of positive traits that would increase the probability for beauty, intelligence, cunning ,strength, compatibility, and so forth.   They didn't have issues of possession, private property, jealousy, nor any need of any 10 Commandments , Oedipal issues , infertility, Viagra, abortion and so forth.  Their communal configuration was based on a collective fatherhood , cooperation and parenting with many role models and not with rivalries . The following ego needs met include : 1 sex.  They had sexual intercourse.  2. Succorance.  They had their needs gratified by a sympathetic allied other 3.  Sentience .They seeked, and enjoyed sensuous  impressions .

The culture of our ancestors included few artifacts.  These peoples moved around a lot and often  more than likely did not stay very long in one place.  That meant being able to transport oneself easily without a lot of "baggage."  They didn't rely on stuff, state-of-the-art or the latest fashion trend.  They didn't have to have it.  There was no dream house, nor exotic vacation location.  They didn't have to work, save, discriminate nor exploit others or themselves to attain.  Less  was considered more.  If a fire was coming , they weren't in conflict about what to take with them.

Our ancestors did not have to spend eight hours a day hunting and gathering food for their survival.  Their work week for survival was much less than the 40 hour week.  Their activities were varied, meaningful, with a variety of things to learn about, having sex and taking in the beauty of the outdoors.  Not only that, they ate nutritiously, with proper amounts of protein without carbs or worry about putting on weight.  They didn't die from heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and so forth.  Infections were a problem because they didn't have antibiotics. Ego needs met included: 1.  Play.  They could engage in fun without purpose and were able to laugh, make jokes, participate in games, sports, dancing, etc. 2.  Harmavoidance.  By their leisure activities ,they were generally able to avoid pain ,physical injury, illness and were able to take precautionary measures.  3.  Autonomy .They were able to avoid  activities prescribed by dominance of others and to be independent 4.  Affiliation. They were able to remain loyal and have friends.

Anthropological and biological research has studied the alpha male.  For example, chimpanzees have a dominant alpha male in which others submit.  The alpha male mitigates the violence between aggressiors, manages the concept of food  and can interfere with the mating of females. His position results  not because he is the most powerful, but because he has a lot of  mutual based coalitions in which they  spend time together, share food  and help one another in times of trouble.  It's like they are empathetic and know how to relate to one another with cooperation.  The Hunter gatherers. With their alpha male  interacted with smaller more manageable groups.  Ego needs like  Dominance (controlling human environment) ; Aggression (to attack and  kill another ) ;Autonomy (to resist coercion and restriction); Achievement (accomplish difficulty ,to suppress ,rule over  others and to excel ) are attributed to the alpha male.

 Suggesting diversity , barriers and conflict , our Neanderthal relatives had similar  ego needs fulfilled by their quest for survival.  In essence,  human history is a repetition compulsion . We repeat behavior over and over again. In  order to more fully understand our motivational behavior,  we can look to the past and view how our ancestors met with barriers, obstacles for their survival as well as our future . The Neanderthals do  provide some insight into the  motivational behavior of man. Of course we are unable to fully get into the minds of the Neanderthals for a more concrete understanding of their anxieties, beliefs, attitudes , irrationalities and prejudices.  The cliché "fly on the wall" would tell us more about our relatives.  

Testimonial

I recommend viewing Dr. Mark Hyman's  KVIE Public Television presentation "Eat Your Medicine: The Pegan Diet,"   Dr. Hyman is a functional medicine physician and in his presentation he talks about  fruits, veggies, nuts ,seeds, paleo ,exercise, stress reduction, and intermittent fasting for healthy longevity.

References

Harari ,Yuval Noah .  Sapiens  , A Brief History of Humankind.

Murray, Henry A.  Explorations in Personality.

Sapiens Repeat History

 An assistant professor of environmental studies program wrote an article titled "Extinction Panic Is Back, Right on Schedule"  In the January 28, 2024 edition of the New York Times . His last paragraph reads in part  "We are living in the very world that many in the 1920s already saw coming.  But we're also doing something they could not have predicted: surviving it.  At least for now. “  My response follows.

He acknowledged that we are in an age with the expectation of an apocalypse . We have issues with climate anxiety and  quoted an article called "The Morality of Having Kids in a Burning Drowning World"  B. We have public  health infrastructure problems  with worse  contagions to come. C. A.I  will soon threaten  humanity ,by  taking  jobs, D. Having an imminent population collapse as researchers are studying fertility and population decline .  Some call it a much bigger risk to civilization than  global warming. E.  Will the Ukraine and Middle East conflict trigger World War III with the use of nuclear weapons ?  The author adds that the human species could be  extinguished by our own selfishness . And , violence may well be the last bipartisan impulse .

The professor described the  extinction panic that occurred about a hundred years ago. The 1920’s was traumatized by a pandemic , a devastating world war and new technological developments.  Notable quotes about the doom , gloom and  the belief that we were headed for self-destruction  because of being hardwired were disseminated by  Winston Churchill , novelist H. G. Wells, biologist J. B. Haldane, F.C.Schiller, the British philosopher,  and the Czech playwright Karel  Capek .  Additionally, the 1925 Geneva protocol was signed. It was an  international agreement banning the use of chemical  weapons in combat.  These facts supported the author's contention that despite the near hysteria of the 1920’s,  we survived .

Is the evolution  of the Homo sapiens species , regarding extinction, consider the  following : 1. The human brain consists of  three parts.  The first is considered the Archaic or Reptilian brain which is  also found in lizards and snakes with the function of instinctual behavior like defending territory and keeping safe.  We can all agree that instinctual behavior is necessary in our survival . . However, more than Instinctual behavior is necessary for human survival .

The second part  of our brain , and more evolved,is referred to as the Old or the Mammalian brain as found in cats and dogs.  The functions of this "brain" include mood, memory, hormone production  and control of the limbic system.  The anterior cingulate is the structure primarily responsible for cognitive, emotional and attentional processing with the functions of the hippocampus for memory formation, spatial memory and navigation.  And the amygdala is primarily responsible for fear, fight or flight responses and anger.  Also, the hypothalamus is a major controlling organ of the autonomic/endocrine  system regulating temperature ,hunger , thirst, sexual arousal and the sleep-wake cycle. This part of the brain allows us more opportunities than the "Reptilian " brain for optimal functioning.  However, the emotional capacity, in the amygdala,  has not  significantly evolved and ,at times , contributes to  self defeating  irrational  interpersonal  amoral  motivational  survival behavior.

The third part of our  evolved brain is referred to as the New Brain located in the Cortex . Our human brain includes the functions of higher cognition.  abstract thought, use of tools, formation and comprehension of language and social behavior. This  section of our brain is the most complex object in the universe so far has allowed  us to have  created the most unimaginable technology with more to come. Perhaps,  biological or genetic engineering  technology might result with  unintended  consequences  being  related to the  darker side of man.. Man’ nature can be described as helplessness  with a  sexual propensity . Has a tremendous capacity for  learning , ego needs of  dependency,  aggression directed toward self and toward others as well as a preponderance of irrational and  amoral repetitive  behavior. 

On our planet, over the past millions of years , we've had several human species. Species are defined as being able to mate with each other , give birth to fertile offspring and share common DNA.  About 70,000 years ago ,species belonging to  Homo sapiens  arrived. For example ,there have been Homo rudolfensis, Homo erectus, Homo Neanderthal and others . For approximately the past 10,000 years , Homo sapiens have been premier and the only human species. What happened to all those earlier human species ? How did they  become  extinct ? And why should the extinction process end  ?

At one time, the Homo Neanderthals ruled.  They had exceptionally large brains and were able to hunt large predators such as mammoths, sabertooth tigers, etc. They were built stocky, strong, lived in caves and so forth.  They were not monogamous.  They didn't have one sexual mate, or even one sexual partner at a time.  In other words, the Neanderthals were tremendous hunters ,gatherers and polysexual beings . They  created wood tools, took what they wanted when they wanted it. 

There  also were alpha males to lead , control and direct .  Moreover, in thinking about our animal relatives, such as the chimpanzees, we find the dominant alpha male in their groupings in which other males and females submit.  The alpha male stops and controls violence between other aggressors, monopolizes special foods and deals with mating interferences.  He's in charge of the females.  This alpha male wins his position because he has a large and stable coalition in which they all spend time together, share food together, have mutual grooming and help one another in times of trouble. This sounds very familiar .

What happened to the strong aggressive sexually minded Neanderthals ?  How  and why did they become extinct?  Well, about 10,000 years ago Homo sapiens evolved .  The smaller brain weaker Homo sapiens conquered, destroyed and wiped out the competition for food etc.  The Homo sapiens were smarter  and formed larger groups.  

Did all the Neanderthals vanish by genocide?  I'm sure Homo sapiens contributed to the genocide of the Neanderthals.  On another note, roughly 1 to 4% of our unique human DNA  or self replicating material is a characteristic found in Neanderthal DNA.  In other words, we share , have borrowed and have  carried some genetic information from these primitives. 

Likely, our alpha aggression , difficulty with being monogamous and amorality  are built into the wiring in  our evolved brain . Psychologically, Jung wrote about  the collective unconscious . Jung suggested that all humans have an underlying experience in our mind . It’s latent memories of what our ancestors thought ,felt and behaved .  It's a collection of deposits of ancestral experiences that's located  and not visible in the unconscious.  In other words, we are born with predispositions to perceive, think, feel and react according to various  collected images , symbols or archetypes.  

According to Jung, we have images , memories of the great warrior; the  omnipotent , cruel and powerful  God, king ,emperor  ; the wise old man; the good nurturing loving mother; the bad, wicked, adulterous harlot female  and so forth.   Jung  wrote about a dark side that can become monstrous, dominant and evil .  Notably,  in  our  brain , there’s hard  wiring  with a propensity for impulsive, sadomasochistic, antisocial, emotional and evil  behavior  despite the more fully and well  developed executive functioning in the cerebral cortex. At times , the dark ,evil side of homo sapiens dominate . 

Historically, Homo sapiens are the prime rulers of this planet.  We've wiped out Neanderthals and are on our way to wiping out the Amur Leopard, Black Rhino, Bornean  Orangutan, Cross River Gorilla, Sumatran  Elephant and so many more on the endangered species list.  We have climate change disasters and have polluted our waters.  We've raped the earth of natural resources and have developed "state-of-the-art" weaponry.  Many in the world's population are anxious, fearful, and are turning to the "protection" of authoritarian rule.  Perhaps, it's time to arm ourselves like the evangelicals for the upcoming "Armageddon" as the nature of man is helpless, sexual , requiring, dependency for survival,  with tendencies for killing, hate, sadomasochism   and destruction . .Moreover, another threat to Homo sapien survival relates to  the future of  A. I. , genetic ,and/or biological engineering  technology with  repetitive compulsive , greedy self serving authoritarians.. 

PS

As the most dangerous , destructive and deadliest species in history ,  Homo Sapiens are associated with the extinction of 23 of 24 Australian animal species weighing hundred pounds or more; 90% of Australia's megafauna; and the majority of the local megafauna in New Zealand along with 60% of all bird species.  The American fauna was far richer than it is today . At one time it had mammoths, mastodons, rodents the size of bears ,herds of horses , camels ,oversized species like sabertooth cats  and,giant ground sloths. North America lost 34 of 47 of large mammals; South America lost 50 of 60;  and most of the large animals of Madagascar vanished according to paleontologists and zooarchaeologists with the arrival of Homo sapiens ..Is  it the "survival of the fittest" what Darwin meant  or man’s repetitive compulsive history ?

Reference

Harari ,Yuval Noah .  Sapiens  , A Brief History of Humankind.

Institute for Natural Resources.  Understanding Dementia.

Jung, Carl.  Psychology of the Unconscious.

Family

 

Last week, Linda and I drove to Phoenix, Arizona.  My first cousin Robert, a year older than me, was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery.  Dr. Bob was a psy chiatrist and  attained a rank of  Lieut. Colonel in the United States Air Force.  He earned a nine gun salute. Our flag covered  his casket and  then was handed to his son Lee.  Lee wore Roberts flight jacket to his burial.  

Robert was the oldest son of aunt Lillian  and uncle. Harry.  Aunt Lillian was mom's younger sister.  Robert's siblings were Richard, followed by Shelly.  Robert's first home was on Bedford Avenue located on the eastside of Detroit.  The family  then moved to Northlawn Ave. located on the west side of Detroit.  Robert attended Mumford high school , became a practicing physician and later pursued a residency in psychiatry.  He married Harriet and she gave birth to Lee .  Lee  lost his mother when he was 13 years of age.

Robert entered the Air Force and spent  time in aerospace medicine at Edwards Air Force Base.  After a time, Robert married Janice and they had their wedding in Branson , Missouri.  After leaving active duty  military service, Robert was employed by the state prison system in Texas.  Janice  passed and Robert remained in Texas until his health became problematic.  Roughly 3 to 4 years ago, Robert moved to Arizona to be cared for by Lee and his wife Grace.  Lee and  Grace have one son named Harrison.. At the end, Robert told Lee not to keep him alive. Robert was hooked up to a breathing device and had difficulty talking.  Lee acknowledged Robert's wishes, and they  sadly said their tearful goodbyes.

Lee's business card reads Owner Healthcare Consulting.  Lee operates a legal marijuana business .  He told me that he learned the art of growing marijuana from Willie Nelson's right hand man.  He doesn't advertise and his high-end clientele is based on word-of-mouth.

Linda and I stayed in their Casita that ‘s  next to their home in a large courtyard.  There, we met Ken, Lee's childhood friend from the fifth grade.  Ken graduated from the University of Michigan as a civil engineer.  He joined the Marines and became a helicopter pilot.  Ken enlightened me regarding the military.  He is a mountain climber waiting for treatment for his knee from the VA.  Unfortunately, his treatment by the VA has been negligent.

On the day of the funeral, Lee drove us to the National Memorial Cemetery for the barrial . The military service was brief and that was followed by a rabbi’s prayer.  The event was filmed for  relatives unable to attend.  That evening ,we set Shiva at Lee and Grace’s  home .  Sitting Shiva is a memorial service with prayers as in Mourners  Kaddish .  There, Linda and I had the chance to interact with Grace's parents, Lee's aunt Joy and uncle Jack and some of their friends.

Linda and I have spent more time with Richard and his wife Judy and Shelly and Avi than with Robert ,Lee, Harriet and Janice.  Shelly and my sister Beverly facilitated  a number of family reunions back in Michigan.  We had braunch, dinners, and attended  football games with our cousins and their children.  Robert and Janice attended one of the reunions.  

One delightful memory from my past was watching boxing , in their  Nortlawn den, on Friday evenings . Uncle Harry was into boxing and reenacted some of the fighting.  Uncle Harry owned the Whittier movie theater located near the Belle Isle bridge.  We would see a double feature and cartoon usually on a Saturday.  Uncle Harry  provided us with a large cardboard box filled with popcorn.  After the movie, we visited Saunders for a hot fudge sundae .  Those were the days.  

On Wednesday, Linda and I headed home for our 813 mile road . trip.  Going west on Interstate 10, we approached Palm Desert and Palm Springs.  We were on the phone with Bev and I mentioned to her that Jack and Joan  Sholl lived in Palm Desert.  Jack was Chapter 14 of  “It Has Nothing To Do With Age “ and  titled Jack Sholl  Patriot ,Rower , Gentlemen Unparalleled.  Jack passed away a number of years ago at age 85 and I didn't know if Joan was still there . I also mentioned to Bev that our 14949 Evanston Avenue ,in Detroit , neighbor Frank lived in Palm Springs as well.  Frank’s younger brother Hank passed away many years ago and his older brother John  recently passed . Other memories got triggered. like my good buddy  and 100 mile  Ride & Tie Jonathan Jordan partner  and  one dearest psychologist  buddy Denny who also passed.

On our way to Phoenix, we called cousin Sheldon .  Dr. Shell was married to my cousin Sybil. Aunt Sophie  was also  moms younger sister .  Sybil, age 85 ,recently passed .  Shell  was  not feeling well and discouraged with his  assisted living situation.  He told me not to go into any facility and dying in your own home is best.  We also called him on a return, and he was feeling a little bit better but was ready to go. Shell is 88.

Linda and I stopped at the Harris Ranch for barbecue and for dessert we had a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli Chocolate  Factory. 

With life,  there is a  plus - minus ratio of  past, present and.future . In death there is  a negative ratio of  sadness, loss, grief and aloneness.accompanied by  emotional and physical  pain,This becomes  a negative expectation of future  with an insurmountable  barrier of despair and therefore succumbing to the end. Einstein stated, "I want to go when I want.  It is tasteless to prolong life artificially.  I have done my share; it is time to go.  I will do it elegantly

PS

On my father's side, all our first cousins:  Sammy, Gloria, Sherman, David, Sis, Raymond and Martin are deceased . Sherman was  aunt Eva and uncle Abe’s only child.  They lived nearby in Chicago and visited often.  Sherman was about 10 years older than me and was my  model. mentor and advisor. Introduced me to such things as  intellectual encounters, fine restaurants, Second City and the Baha'i faith.  Sherman married Lorraine and had Roger Kevin, Linda and Diane.  Their family eventually moved to Southern California.  In fact, when the Raiders moved to Southern California, Sherman and I attended  a Denver Bronco -Raiders game.  I still miss him and Lorraine as well . On my mother's side, remaining first cousins include Stuart ,Jeff, Millie ,Jerry ,Roger and Stephen.

The Age of Aggression Part 2

 

An article titled "After Decades of Declining Fatality Rates, Why has Dangerous  Driving Surged Again  in America?"  was found in The New York Times ,  January 14, 2024 edition.  Doctors in emergency medicine, in Nevada, found an increase in motor vehicle and motorcycle injuries and fatalities.  They found that initially safety measures like seatbelts and so forth reduced the number of serious accidents .Then, with the pandemic , numbers have increased dramatically, not only in Nevada but in the country at large.  Primary causes  of accidents were related to speeding, not wearing seatbelts and intoxication.  Once again, these primary causes are related to aggressive human  behavior .  Speeding is impulsive, reckless, aggressive and dangerous to self and others on our crowded streets and highways.  People rationalize about excessive speeds and  speeding  is  reinforced  because there’s an absence  of violations or consequences for that behavior.  People become irritable, angry, for any number of reasons and being at the wheel of the automobile  becomes a weapon.

  Flouting authority by not wearing a seatbelt is not only dangerous towards others, but dangerous to self . Is there any rational reason for not wearing a seatbelt? Then add intoxication when driving . Intoxication affects executive ego functioning and/or judgment.  Speeding,not wearing a seatbelt and intoxication are examples of character flaws that contribute to malignant aggression. Annually, twice the number of people are killed in traffic than were killed in war, crime and terrorism combined.  Also, more than 90% of these accidents are caused by human errors like somebody drinking alcohol and driving ;somebody texting a message while driving ;somebody falling asleep at the wheel ;somebody daydreaming, and so forth. 21% of all crashes involved distracted drivers . Statistically, we have four times the number of deaths from car crashes than Germany.    

More specifically, accidents  are, in part, associated with a passive-aggressive personality. This disorder is characterized by aggressive behavior manifested in passive ways, such as in obstructionism, pouting , procrastination, intentional inefficiency or stubbornness.  The aggression often arises from resentment or disobedience in failing to find gratification in a relationship with an individual or institution upon which the individual is over dependent.  The aggressiveness can also be  civil disobedience, reactive and defensive like a rebellious child with sarcasm, provocative acts, verbal as in argumentativeness, demanding special attention and punitive regardless of what others do .

On January 6, we had a malignant attack on the capital because of  a narcissistic ,sociopathic leader with passive-aggressive tendencies.  He passively and aggressively told his followers to fight like hell.  Was he going to be like Alexander The Great and lead his warriors into battle or  be like the Persian King Darius,  and be  in the background , with his guards and watch the battle ,protected , and from a distance ?  Yes, it's easy to be passive-aggressive in words and not physically. Yes, he can throw his food dish against a wall.His words , his tweets result in a number of impulsive irrational and  passive aggressiveness among his amoral followers.  Mitt Romney favored impeachment and he had to spend an enormous amount of money to protect himself and family from crazy death threats.  More examples of crazy death threats for judges , prosecutors and those in the legal  justice system have occurred . Law and order is for whom?  Yes, it's passive aggressive to send anonymous threatening messages to anyone .

The crazies who attacked the capital police did not only exhibit emotional instability, they also did not control  their hostility. They reacted with verbal threats and destroyed private property. It was not their House. How does one treat their house ?  Of course, one-on-one, they may be outgoing, friendly but in the group they were a mob.  Did these socially sociopathic individuals realize that what they were doing was dangerous , illegal and destructive ?  Did they expect to be pardoned?  Likely, it didn't matter that once in the mob , they were the mob. These  oppositional characters  prepared for battle regardless of the consequences. Of course they claimed for the most part there was nothing wrong with what they did.  It was like fighting for independence in 1776  with slogans. Totally legit and patriotic  were these patriots? Will these people learn from their mistakes?  Perhaps being sentenced and being in jail might modify similar behavior but on the other hand, these antisocial sociopathic criminal types never seem to learn and just repeat the same stupid irrational amoral behavior. These individuals have serious personality disorders.

Symbolically, the January 6 stolen election attempt by Donald Trump is a symptom of the aggressive stance by the elites in the  authoritarian Republican Party for dominance and control by the few.  Their mission is simply to eliminate  liberalism , democracy, and return to the originality of the Constitution and nullify amendments that favor a majority that pertains to Asians, Blacks, LGTB, same-sex marriage, abortion , voting  ,poor and so forth. On the  state-and local level, governors, state legislatures, and school board  Republicans have declared  war against CRT, book banning , school curriculum , liberal colleges , immigration and against anything liberal or progressive.  They are discriminating  and rationalizing with "conservative" ideas and policies that represent white minority control.

 Additionally,there is a statistical rise in hate crimes against Jews and others and the plethora of passive aggressive oppositional chatter on the Internet and TV along with the popularity of aggression seen in movies , novels and video games . 

 Kings , Queens ,Caesars ,emperors ,Alexanders, Napoleon's,  tyrants , fascist Nazi-ism, Pharaohs, monarchies , dictatorships  that have dominated ,discriminated against the populace are well documented in the history of humankind.  Less than 100 years ago, we witnessed the terror of  authoritarian fascism  of Hitler and Mussolini and their  crowd.  Currently, politicians like Romney, Cheney, Kinzinger , judges and prosecutors and others have received death threats because of their opposition to  this authoritarian trajectory per an article titled "Trump Is Playing With Fire."  January 14, 2024.  The New York Times. Misinformation  Infotech, biotech , algorithms ,AI are  the tools ,in the hands of the powerful few, for manipulation to sadistically dominate , manipulate  control ,and  discriminate. The purpose is to retain  wealth and power. George Orwell's 1984 comes to mind . It's not a surprise to witness the  congressional and Supreme Court dysfunction in Washington by those few in power with their passive aggressiveness .Fair taxes ,abortions, elections, rule of law, minority rights, free choices, individualism, diversity, gender equality are under threat  in this age of aggression. And, the GOP addresses the age of violence with legislation, policies of proposing more guns .. May 14, 2023., The New York Times, "A Gun Filled America" article.

PS

Our crisis in mortality rates places our country below countries like Kosovo Albania ,Sri Lanka and Algeria .Statistically, the European Union reported 5,800  overdose deaths in a population of about 440 million . We reported 68,000 in a population of 330 million. We've  also had 22 times as many gun related homicides in our country compared to countries in the European Union..

The major  difference between the age of aggression in our past history that  includes  the founding of our country; our Civil War; the two world wars, and the Korean and Vietnam wars with our current state includes the following: 1.  We have  over 20 plus years ,our longest in duration,  of war  and destruction  taking place in the Middle East  with no resolution in sight.  2.  The Inordinate amount of guns possessed by our  populace.  3.  The excessive amount of hate perpetuated on social media, television and radio.  4.  The political dysfunction at the state and federal level . 5.  The antidemocratic GOP 6.  The authoritarian criminal ex-president again running for office  7.  A  biased right wing Supreme Court supporting  that Trump  is above the rule of law .  

References

Cameron, Norman.  Personality Development and Psychopathology  .  A Dynamic Approach.

Fromm, Erich  .The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness.

Institute of Natural Resources.  Understanding Dementia.