Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE OLYMPICS that makes people who usually are fans neither of sports nor their country suddenly stay up at all hours for something called the men's modern pentathlon? How is it that those who are normally the first to make jokes about the president suddenly get warm fuzzies when seeing him in the stands of a swimming event?
Why is it that people who would never turn on a domestic sporting event — and may even scoff at the fervor shown for the Skins or the Nats or the Wizards — are suddenly chanting "Go USA!" while some person they had never before heard of dives off a platform? Is it just that watching women's volleyball lets you see almost as much skin as peeping into a locker room?
Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.
AND THE CHAISES are getting lonely: a new study shows that psychiatrists are relying less on talk therapy and more on medication, a trend fueled in part by insurance limitations and the exploding popularity of prescription medications.
That medication is taking the place of psychotherapy isn't news to anyone who's turned on a television lately ("Ask Your Doctor About Fill-In-The-Blank!") But less well-known are the dangers of relying on pharmaceuticals alone. Not only do some psychiatric medications cause side effects that need to be monitored regularly, but there is evidence that for many common disorders, relying on medication alone can make someone more prone to relapse. It's the band-aid problem: When a person simply takes a pill, they are not necessarily building the techniques, insights, or confidence to change maladaptive patterns — the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that helped bring on their condition in the first place.
COLT BRENNAN IS my new favorite quarterback.
For whatever reason — maybe because it's my job — I stayed tuned in during the second half of the first of five meaningless preseason games for the Redskins Sunday.
Brennan made it worthwhile. He looked every bit the gunslinger we heard he was at Hawaii.
John Madden went positively gaga for the Redskins' third-string quarterback, calling at least two of his passes "perfect."
For perspective, let’s remember Brennan most likely won't see the field once September rolls around. And if he is playing, then something has probably gone terribly wrong.
Yet, at least for a week, there is new cult hero in Washington.
Dubious? Just think back to Babe Laufenberg. Are you too young? OK, everyone knows Gus Frerotte around here.
D.C. loves the backup quarterback; always has, always will.
Brennan took his first steps to some sort of immortality, completing nine of 10 passes, two of which went for touchdowns. Plus, he showed the exuberance of Brett Favre — I almost made it a whole column without mentioning the Packers quarterback.
For fans, that is what the exhibition season is all about. Most starters don't play, and you just hope no big names get injured. Both were true against the Colts.
Wait until Brennan plays at FedEx Field. A new controversy could develop — not for first string, but for Jason Campbell's backup.
Brennan versus Todd Collins? It doesn't get much better than that in August.
Photo by Preston Keres/TWP
CUE UP THE "COPS" THEME SONG! A new study has isolated three specific genes that are associated with violent crime and antisocial behavior. The gene variations, affecting the monoamine oxidase enzyme and dopamine neurotransmitters, were found to affect about 1 percent of the American adolescent male population, but were exceedingly common among those who committed crimes.
Before we start breaking out the biology is destiny platitudes, however, it's important to note that the effects of the genes in question seem to be mediated by the environment. Once again, nature is nothing without nurture.
Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.
THE RECENT BROUHAHA over a New Yorker cover cartoon depicting some unfounded fears about Barack Obama — or, to hear some people tell it, further inflaming those fears — has engendered a spirited debate in the op-ed pages, talk radio and the blogosphere.
Though I'd need a hazmat suit to touch the argument itself, the psychology of the issue has a fascinating angle: the context and reception of satire. Central to the rants and raves of the cartoon is the question of just who will "get it," and what that getting or not getting will mean for the candidate, the campaign, the sale of magazines, the price of arugula, etc.
WHEN THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES TRADED 2007 All-Star pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners last February in exchange for four minor leaguers and a relief pitcher, Orioles fans expected to witness another rebuilding year in Baltimore.
The players they got didn't see it that way.
"Rebuilding is basically saying an excuse to lose," said Adam Jones, the top centerfield prospect Baltimore received in the trade. "There's nobody in here who has an excuse to lose. We are in the major leagues for a reason, so we just have to go out there and play."
Instead of rebuilding, the Orioles (44-44) are off to their best start since 2005, in large part because of Jones and reliever George Sherrill.
Continue Reading "Good Deal: O's Give Rebuilding a New Look" »
HAVE YOU EVER lost touch with a friend for a while — not because you had a fight, but because there just wasn't a whole lot of news to report?
This, I think, is similar to the problem facing the Washington Nationals.
According to a study released this week, an average of 9,000 fans tune in to the Nats' televised games each night. Not only is this by far the lowest number in major league markets, but it is also significantly less than the number of fans who watch D.C. United play that other football.
Some will say D.C. is showing why it lost two baseball teams already. Others may argue this city is full of fair-weather fans just waiting for a winner.
There may be some truth to both explanations, especially the latter, yet I don't think either gets at the real heart of the matter.
This current team is lousy and, worse yet, boring. It was boring last year and two seasons ago, too. Only the remarkable first half of the inaugural year brought any real excitement.
Fans have settled into a routine of not watching the Nationals, whose games were not even televised regularly until the second season, when the going got tough.
Baseball fans exist here, as Washington draws three times its TV audience at home games. The new park is nice, and taking in a live game is always fun.
Sitting on a couch trying to figure out which MASN channel the hometown team is losing on isn't nearly as fun.
"Same old Nats" should be the team's motto. When the team changes its fortune, fans will change the channel and catch up with their friends.
Photo by John McDonell/TWP
Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.
THE ADVENT AND EXPLOSION of social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace has given rise to dozens of sociological and psychological questions: Are these trends associated with an increase in narcissism and exhibitionism, or are they helpful vehicles for creative expression? Are they draining productivity and dumbing down our workforce, or are they providing innovative ways to be inspired and enlightened without leaving the office? Is it funny or cliché to turn one's picture into a Simpsons-esque cartoon character?
One of the most intriguing uncertainties is the nature of the relationships that these sites build. We are in a new frontier, with many long-standing pillars of social psychological research being tested. Several factors have long been thought to encourage close, quality friendship, with proximity and interaction paramount among them. Obviously, you are more likely to develop meaningful friendships with someone you lived with, worked near or studied next to — geographical closeness can breed emotional closeness. But the new twist on this question is this: Can "proximity" be achieved via broadband signal?
BACK WHEN THE Kemper Open/Booz Allen Classic was the big show in town, the reason given for the lackluster field was that all the top golfers preferred to play at Congressional over host Avenel.
What's their excuse this year?
The most famous person I saw in Bethesda Saturday afternoon was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has having a good old time on the first of a caravan of carts going around the course.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Florida, Tiger Woods was probably embarrassed his name was on the event.
GOT ISSUES? Dr. Andrea Bonior will help you sort them out.
Last year I proposed to my girlfriend of three years. But then I cheated on her, and she found out. I immediately recommitted myself to my fiancĂ©e. Of course, the fact remains that I did cheat, and the hurt I caused her affects us to this day. We've both agreed to try to work through this, but we seem to take two steps forward and three back. I know there is no quick fix, but I was hoping you could you lead us to some reading material or relationship exercises or a list of help groups. — Please Help
I rarely get such a gleaming opportunity to tout the benefits of couples counseling — you'll have to give me a moment to compose myself. I'm just surprised you mention the idea of reading material, groups or relationship exercises when what you both are crying out for is one-on-two care. You have an important advantage: You're willing to work hard with the goal of your partner's happiness, but I think you also realize that neither of us can predict exactly how this will play out. Your cheating might be a symptom of basic, unchangeable incompatibilities, or it could be a big, sloppy, let's-leave-this-out-of-the-wedding-toasts blunder that nonetheless ends up helping you both change for the better, together. The only way to know is to give counseling a shot; she'll figure out what she would need to be able to get past this, and you'll figure out whether you can give it.
Continue Reading "Baggage Check: Hey, Dude, That's My Pew!" »
Addison Road
