Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

  On 5 March 2021, Claire Giangravé wrote a conspiracy theory opinion piece for  Religion News Service .  Photo G Sutton Vatican 2019 In this post, I comment on a problem with articles like this one that offer selected quotes from people as a basis for supporting a premise without any obvious attempt to counterbalance the voices or either offer supporting data or a statement of limitations where there are no data. In short, readers are left with the notion that the author has presented factual news when we mostly have a collection of opinions. Following is the RNS title. Where is the evidence for a "breeding ground" that warrants singling out the Catholic church as worthy of an opinion article in a news source? Her opening statement offers a premise that allows us to pause and consider if the statement is true or false:  "If it’s true that all roads lead to Rome, it’s also true that in one way or another, all conspiracy theories lead to the Vatican."  In a liter...

  I have found hints that vaccinated people may not transmit COVID-19 to others but there are no large scale studies documenting the level of risk of infecting others (See BBC review of evidence 3 Feb 2021 ). Irrational Belief #2: Vaccinated people cannot transmit COVID-19 to family, friends, and others. Rational Belief: As of February 2021, the evidence is not available to determine the risk of transmission following vaccination therefore, keeping a safe distance from others and wearing a multilayered mask is rational behavior. When it comes to science, new findings can change best practices. Even scientists are dependent on what specialists believe is best based on their analysis of their data. Links to Connections Checkout My Website     www.suttong.com    See my Books    AMAZON             GOOGLE STORE   FOLLOW me on    FACEBOOK     Geoff W. Sutton ...

  Expect irrational talk and behavior to persist even after most people in any given nation who want to be vaccinated for COVID-19 get vaccinated. People created and propagated so many false stories about COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic. Now that vaccines are becoming more available, the vaccines are part of false beliefs. What’s particularly striking is the harmful beliefs infecting the minds of Americans—a nation where leading scientists were a part of developing effective vaccines and exercising caution in approval. Vaccine Claims The scientists do not claim that their vaccines are 100% effective nor do they claim there will be no side-effects. The data reveal amazing statistics for protecting the vaccinated from serious COVID-19 symptoms and death. So I’m all in for getting my jab when it’s available. The results of clinical trials revealed different rates of effectiveness for those vaccinated. That means the vaccines were NOT effective for every person. Irrational ...

Have you ever seen something you searched for show up on Facebook? I have. I recognize it right away. It's nothing embarrassing--just annoying to realize you are being tracked. I appreciate Facebook for several reasons most of which have to do with family connections. Aside from my immediate family, most of my family live in England. And my US family live far away. Add to that friends we have made over many decades and it can be pretty addicting to enjoy lots of positive images of people enjoying life or expressing care when tragedy strikes. I get that Facebook is a business. It's only free because some businesses are willing to buy ads--hoping we will buy something or that we may support their cause. I get rid of offensive ads and occasionally look at an interesting product. No problem here. But privacy is important at some level. Who is tracking me when I'm not on Facebook? Fortunately, there is a way to turn off that type of tracking. But the key is a bit hidden so, I to...

BBC linked image Congress works under the protection of heavily armed guards. Images of America under attack have gone round the world. The violence of Jan 6, 2021 coming on top of increasing deaths and hospitalizations linked to Covid-19 offer a horrible context of anxiety for the lawmakers. BBC linked photo The whole transition of power period is worsened by warnings of threats of violence coming to DC and US State Capitols in the next few days. Sometimes fear is worse than reality--but not always. BBC link / Getty Images As Congress discovers that their members are work under death threats and that some of their own colleagues may have helped the rioters gain entry, they have a basis for high levels of anxiety. Add to this anxiety rumors that those who are supposed to protect them may have supported the rioters, the basis for paranoia arises. We need a Congress that is able to work in a safe setting to conduct our business. We will need to do what we can to create a safer community ...

  The Statue of Liberty is truly a welcoming site for many of us immigrant who came to the US by way of New York City. Freedom is indeed precious. Yet my freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness requires responsibility. A nation cannot protect the freedoms of its citizens when citizens use personal freedoms to harm other citizens. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl once said we need a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast to supplement the Statue of Liberty. Well, I will nominate the Golden Gate Bridge as a symbol of the bridge that joins one to another. “Freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.”      ― Viktor E. Frankl Links to Connections Checkout My Website     www.suttong.com    See my Books    AMAZON    ...

In an overwhelming show of force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff offer Americans reassurance: of their commitment to our constitution their commitment to protecting us their commitment to defend us AGAINST ALL ENEMIES a clear characterization of the violent riot as an assault on the US a line that cannot be crossed when it comes to rights - No violence, sedition and insurrection a reminder of who is the lawful president and Commander in Chief. ********** The escalating rhetoric and concomitant violent threats, plans, and actions that have divided this nation are now under attack from multiple sources against the backdrop of the most powerful military on earth. Their carefully crafted text should be studied. As they wrote, these are "unprecedented events." The date, 1621 (1-06-2021) is a date to remember--not only for what happened but also for seeing the rise of power behind this great nation. Truly the shameful destruction of life and battering of those defending our elected lead...