Cultural Psychiatry

Religion

Is Religion Failing Us?

Charles Johnston MD on March 8, 2023

Faith and its opposite are failing to provide answers in today’s world. The antidote may be easier than we think.

Faith and its opposite are failing to provide answers in today’s world. The antidote may be easier than we think.

Attention

How We Need to Radically Rethink Conscious Awareness

Charles Johnston MD on February 15, 2023

How we commonly conceive of conscious awareness gets in the way of appreciating the full creativity and dynamism of human understanding and experience.

How we commonly conceive of conscious awareness gets in the way of appreciating the full creativity and dynamism of human understanding and experience.

Intelligence

Why the Future of Humanity Requires a Leap In Understanding

Charles Johnston MD on January 10, 2023

Understanding ourselves and our worlds in ways that can serve us going forward will require a fundamental rethinking of who we are and what matters.

Understanding ourselves and our worlds in ways that can serve us going forward will require a fundamental rethinking of who we are and what matters.

Addiction

Transitional Absurdity: A Developmental Notion That Offers Hope

Charles Johnston MD on December 12, 2022

It is essential that we acknowledge the craziness of much of what we encounter today, and that we have ways of understanding that craziness that can guide us going forward.

It is essential that we acknowledge the craziness of much of what we encounter today, and that we have ways of understanding that craziness that can guide us going forward.

Wisdom

The Critical Importance of Positive Images for the Future

Charles Johnston MD on November 9, 2022

Cynicism today has become close to the norm. But positive images for the future will be critical if we are to effectively make our way. Here is one to consider.

Cynicism today has become close to the norm. But positive images for the future will be critical if we are to effectively make our way. Here is one to consider.

Conscientiousness

Fresh Perspective for the Science Vs. Religion Debate

Charles Johnston MD on October 17, 2022

Today we are beginning to sense that thinking in larger ways about science and religion might be an option. Framing understanding creatively provides a provocative way to do so.

Today we are beginning to sense that thinking in larger ways about science and religion might be an option. Framing understanding creatively provides a provocative way to do so.

Defense Mechanisms

Today’s Epidemic of Hopelessness

Charles Johnston MD on September 14, 2022

Trends over the last 30 years do not bode well for the future of our psychological health and for the general well-being of the species.

Trends over the last 30 years do not bode well for the future of our psychological health and for the general well-being of the species.

Sex

Missing Pieces in the Gender Identity Conversation

Charles Johnston MD on August 15, 2022

We need to bring big picture, systemic perspective to our understanding of gender if we are not to end up with simplistic conclusions.

We need to bring big picture, systemic perspective to our understanding of gender if we are not to end up with simplistic conclusions.

Sociopathy

A Big Picture Perspective of Gun Violence and School Shootings

Charles Johnston MD on June 15, 2022

To effectively address gun violence and school shootings, we need to address them from a larger, more systemic perspective than we find with current policy proposals.

To effectively address gun violence and school shootings, we need to address them from a larger, more systemic perspective than we find with current policy proposals.

Career

When Neither Globalization Nor Nationalism Work as Answers

Charles Johnston MD on May 11, 2022

The future will require new, more dynamic images that get beyond polarized advocacy for either globalization or traditional national identification.

The future will require new, more dynamic images that get beyond polarized advocacy for either globalization or traditional national identification.

Evolutionary Psychology

A Subtle but Critical Global Policy Distinction

Charles Johnston MD on April 10, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Effective future global policy will require a keen sensitivity to how different peoples often reside at quite different points in culture’s developmental story.

A Personal Perspective: Effective future global policy will require a keen sensitivity to how different peoples often reside at quite different points in culture’s developmental story.

Defense Mechanisms

Is the Situation in Ukraine a Harbinger of Global Regression?

Charles Johnston MD on March 18, 2022

Personal Perspective: Recognizing big-picture societal factors playing into Putin’s willingness to invade Ukraine helps us appreciate what will ultimately be needed going forward.

Personal Perspective: Recognizing big-picture societal factors playing into Putin’s willingness to invade Ukraine helps us appreciate what will ultimately be needed going forward.

Self-Sabotage

Identity Politics and Victim Narratives

Charles Johnston MD on February 15, 2022

A Personal Perspective: When division takes the dangerous form of identity politics and “victim narratives,” our beliefs not only get in the way of thinking clearly, but they also get in the way of real change.

A Personal Perspective: When division takes the dangerous form of identity politics and “victim narratives,” our beliefs not only get in the way of thinking clearly, but they also get in the way of real change.

Opinions are becoming increasingly polarized today with issues of every sort. The abortion debate provides an example—and a learning opportunity.

Health

Polarization and the Health Care Delivery Crisis

Charles Johnston MD on December 12, 2021

Conflict between ideological factions has become so pronounced that conversation about many issues has become impossible. We can learn a lot from the healthcare delivery debate.

Conflict between ideological factions has become so pronounced that conversation about many issues has become impossible. We can learn a lot from the healthcare delivery debate.

The dangers we confront with social media are more fundamental than just disinformation and how algorithmic amplification of our collected information exacerbates conflict.

With the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we hear that we “must never forget.” Perhaps better, we need to get beyond them.

The usual question with climate change—whether science has proven that it is real and man-made—may not be the right question to ask. The right question was answered thirty years ago.

Social identity in times past has required dividing our worlds into "chosen people" and "evil others." If this proclivity is built in, we are doomed. Is there is a way forward?

Confidence

Afghanistan, Billionaires in Space, and the Opioid Crisis

Charles Johnston MD on September 7, 2021

Cultural Maturity's systemic perspective helps put front-page news in context and grasp what it most ultimately asks of us. Here I apply it to three pressing issues.

Cultural Maturity's systemic perspective helps put front-page news in context and grasp what it most ultimately asks of us. Here I apply it to three pressing issues.