The Big Five Personality Test: Cambridge Analytica, Odd Ducks, and the Predictability of Our Behavi
Cambridge Analytica captured the data of 87 million Facebook users, without their consent, and then used that data to target them with political advertising. This data included some people’s self-assessments on the Big Five Personality Factors: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. What and how much can the Big Five really reveal about us? As a clinical psychologist, who has been using the the Big Five with clients for over 35 years, my pro
Use the verbal "cutting strike" to neutralize a psychological attack
In a physical attack, we use an angled strike to deflect or nullify the attacker’s punch or kick. This keeps the attacker from striking our body. We also tune into our own body to make sure it is structurally stable and not leaning off-balance. We make sure that the attacker’s strike does not make contact with our body. We do something similar when dealing with verbal attacks. First, we tune into our body. we notice whether we are sitting or standing in a relaxed and bala
Neutralizing Interpersonal Attacks
Basic Mistakes Any attack is a matter of force impacting structure: In a physical attack, the structure consists of the body and how it is held in the face of physical force directed against it. In an interpersonal attack, our structure is strongest when we disengage from the emotionally laden words of the attacker who is seeking to elicit feelings of shame, inadequacy, fear or desire. Rather than impact our physical body, the interpersonal attacker is seeking to impact how
A tiny dialogue between lovers on the victim stance and a more appealing alternative (with diagram!)
Erik: At this point in my life, with hopefully around a third to go, I am only willing to work with people who are up for taking responsibility for writing the script of their life. People who take responsibility in that way are Navigators. In sharp contrast, Victims spend their lives looking for validation and change in the world outside of them. They tend to try and change others. Amelia: So you’re describing Victim and Navigator as a perspective or a fundamental way of rel
Five Practices to Increase Your Pleasure
A major principle in Tantra is the healing power of pleasure. Pleasure and play are not frivolous or pleasant extras after your work is done. Rather, they are vehicles for connection with the divine and the source of creative juice. Pleasure is intimately tied to our ability to be our full, radiant, authentic selves…. And show up in the world with our unique gifts. It’s big. This take on pleasure is not confined to sexual pleasure (although that is an amazing pathway to all k
