Disgraced ex-president plans to reiterate false claims on anniversary of deadly January 6 attack
Ex-President Donald Trump has said he will hold a news conference on January 6, on the first anniversary of the deadly riots that attacked the Capitol to protest his electoral loss, repeating unfounded claims about election fraud. With a congressional panel...
Opportunism and Cowardice: Why Republican falsehoods were designed to destroy democracy
At hand is a plot to destroy American democracy from within. Its organizers have infiltrated the highest echelons of state and federal government, and have instigated and condoned acts of violence directed against our elected officials. This might sound far-fetched....
Slaying social anxiety: How Dungeons & Dragons became a safe haven for many during the pandemic
The world’s most successful role-playing game could provide a sanctuary of comfort amid the chaos for those struggling with post-lockdown angst. As pandemic restrictions give way to more face-to-face activities resume, socializing can be a source of profound anxiety...
Post-Pandemic PTSD: Research finds increased mental trauma after recovery from COVID-19 hospitalization
Research finds COVID-19 associated with mental health problems after discharge, with majority of people not recognizing significant symptoms as a concern. COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the body from the lungs and heart to the kidneys and liver. But those that survive...
Social change is coming: When rightwing ideology focuses its fear in a perpetual war against progress
While their fear and dismay is often regarded as rooted in delusion, rightwingers are correct that the world is metamorphosing into something new and, to them, abhorrent. They are likewise correct that what version of history we tell matters. The history we tell today...
Toxic Positivity: When pursuing happiness can overemphasize its value and cause more unhappiness
By Brock Bastian, Professor, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne; and Ashley Humphrey, Lecturer in Psychology, Federation University Australia The term “toxic positivity” has received a good deal of attention lately. Coming off the...
A.D. 2022: Why years are counted with a Gregorian calendar when most of the world is not Christian
By Miriamne Ara Krummel, Professor of English, University of Dayton On December 31, people from cultures all around the world welcomed in A.D. 2022. Few of them thought about the fact that A.D. signals “anno Domini,” Latin for “in the year of our Lord.” In A.D....
Poisoned Cars: Why the oil industry sold leaded fuel for a century while knowing about its health risks
By Bill Kovarik, Professor of Communication, Radford University On the frosty morning of December 9, 1921, in Dayton, Ohio, researchers at a General Motors lab poured a new fuel blend into one of their test engines. Immediately, the engine began running more quietly...
A holiday survival guide: How to transform the Christmas experience in the second year of a pandemic
By Heather B. MacIntosh, Associate Professor, Director, MScA Couple and Family Therapy, School of Social Work, McGill University For accountants, it is tax time; for teachers, it is September. And for therapists, the busiest time of year is the holidays. Every...
Those left behind: How to help survivors of suicide loss cope with grief during the holidays
By Michael R. Nadorff, Associate Professor of Psychology, Mississippi State University; and Julie Cerel, Professor of Social Work, University of Kentucky No matter the merriment of the season, the holidays remain a struggle for those who have lost a loved one to...
From German roots to American soil: How the image of Santa Claus made Christmas a holiday tradition
By Thomas Adam, Associate Professor of International and Global Studies, University of Arkansas Each season, the celebration of Christmas has religious leaders and conservatives publicly complaining about the commercialization of the holiday and the growing lack of...
A Yuletide Blockbuster: Why the film “Die Hard” is legitimately a Christmas movie
By James Chapman, Professor of Film Studies, University of Leicester It is the time of year for hunkering down to watch a Christmas film with the family, and to hold the annual debate over whether or not “Die Hard” actually counts as one. This debate has...
