Thomas Ramey Watson

mental health

The Importance of Empathy

Empathy might seem like a squishy, vaguely liberal word—a sentimental virtue of minor importance. But the more we learn from neuroscience and psychology, the more it appears that much of human social and economic life, not to mention individual health, fundamentally relies on it. Which makes the rise of inequality— something that threatens empathy—all the …

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If You Want To Stop Violence Against People, Stop Violence Against Animals

Denise and Bray are right to be concerned. From Colorado to Australia, research on predictors of child abuse, domestic violence and other criminal behavior increasingly points to a link between animal abuse and violent crime. Now law enforcement and animal safety experts — as well as veterinarians, social workers, lawyers, judges and even the FBI …

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The Most Important Thing To Know About Parenting Sensitive Kids

The data supporting the idea that more sensitive, “vulnerable” people do worse than others do in bad conditions but better in good conditions is based mainly on studies of adverse conditions—and show repeatedly that the mere lack of bad, really trying conditions is enough to let orchids fare better than others do. In other words, …

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Why All Couples Could Benefit from (Good) Couples Therapy

Lena A. Derhally writes (wisely) Going to couples therapy at any stage in your relationship is your class on learning relationship skills that most people aren’t really that intuitive about. What is the shame or harm in wanting to be better at something or more knowledgeable and educated in the things that matter most? Finally, …

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