Geoff W. Sutton Blog

  Mispers is British slang for missing persons. People of any age can have memories of missing persons during the holidays when we’d expect them to be present. Of course, we know they died. And most of us, but sadly not all of us, know where their mortal remains are located.  We especially recall those who recently died or died close to Christmas. For example, we flew home to London England when my gran died one December or as an adult, I flew back to be with my mum when dad died just 5 days before Christmas. It doesn’t matter exactly when they died, the loss of people we loved enough that they live on in our memories can bring a smile, a tear, a longing, and many other feelings. So, for many at holiday gatherings, there will be unseen friends and family very much alive in memories.  Some people will see what others cannot see. Merry Christmas! Ad BUY ON AMAZON Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD  is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was ...

  Repeated Stories in Conversatio n   Recently, I looked at some photos of Christmases past as I was moving to a new computer. I smiled a lot and enjoyed the good memories. Like most people my age, a lot of family members are no longer present. Sometimes, repeating an old story at family gatherings can be a pleasant experience. We remember someone we loved and something funny about what they said or did. It’s repetition, but it’s pleasant. Context and frequency make a difference. But you may have had the common experience of annoying repetitions. Someone you know has a habit of repeating old stories, jokes, or awkward one-liners. Sometimes they are out of context or sometimes they fit the context, but they’ve been heard so many times. And sometimes, the stories are obnoxious. Why People Repeat Themselves:  And Some Suggestions Why is this? There may be several reasons for repetition. 1. Reinforcemen t. We tend to repeat behavior that feels good. Smiles, laughter, and posi...