Category Archives: Political Psychology

Narrative Seduction

Posted on May 6, 2012 by hessd

If you think carefully about the experiences you have and how fully you can trust them, this might be a difficult essay for you.  I already know it is going to be difficult for me. Let’s start with some conventional … Continue reading →

Posted in Paying Attention, Political Psychology, ways of knowing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Hunger Games

Posted on May 1, 2012 by hessd

I finally saw The Hunger Games.  I had to wait until the initial furor passed so Bette and I could get adjacent seats.  I have read all three books of the series—of which I thought the first was by far … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Paying Attention, Political Psychology, Politics | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Stand Your Ground

Posted on April 23, 2012 by hessd

Since George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, a lot of attention has been paid to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” laws.  People have written about the effect of abundantly available guns on public safety, about the effect of the American Legislative Exchange Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Just Ignore Them and Make the Shot

Posted on March 28, 2012 by hessd

I’m giving some serious thought to ending my career as an educator.  But being an educator, I don’t just decide to stop and then stop.  Oh, no.  I think about it; I write about it; I examine whether I really … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Getting Old, Political Psychology | 3 Comments

I Want a Second Opinion

Posted on March 20, 2012 by hessd

The story goes that a mentally unstable and unattractive woman was seeing a psychiatrist.  She had been seeing him for awhile and no diagnosis of her difficulties was forthcoming.  “Well,” the shrink said, when pressed, “You’re crazy.”  “I demand a … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Uncategorized, ways of knowing | 2 Comments

David Brooks Has Caused Me All Kinds of Trouble

Posted on January 8, 2012 by hessd

David Brooks has caused me all kinds of trouble.  When I introduce him to people—my students at PSU, usually—who don’t know him, I say he is a conservative columnist for the New York Times.  When my students choose David Brooks … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Fractured Attention

Posted on December 17, 2011 by hessd

From my standpoint, this looks like a cultural avalanche.  If there is something good about it, it is not yet visible to me. Today, I want to talk about technology and personal presence.  It seems to me that the more … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Paying Attention, Political Psychology, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

All Reasonable Men Will Agree

Posted on November 22, 2011 by hessd

Honestly, it doesn’t seem too much to ask.  I just want to say what I mean and have it taken the way I meant it.  How hard is that? It turns out that it’s pretty hard, sometimes.  There is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Love and Marriage, Political Psychology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Do We Know Enough to Love?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by hessd

So…is unconditional love a good thing?  Is it possible?  It seems to me that the answers to both questions are going to have to be No, but the exploration of the context of this answer, these answers, will be meandering.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Love and Marriage, Political Psychology, Theology | Tagged | Leave a comment

Servants and Stewards and Unconditional Love

Posted on October 24, 2011 by hessd

We just don’t have the stuff for unconditional love.    The “we” I had in mind in that sentence is us humans and that’s the conclusion I came to at the end of Adam and Eve and Unconditional Love.  I’d like … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Love and Marriage, Political Psychology | Tagged , | Leave a comment