You Aren't Dead Yet:
While positive psychology makes some sense for teenagers who are catastrophizing their first relationship breakup to the point of becoming suicidal, how much sense does it make to teach soldiers who are trying to stay alive in a war zone to put a positive spin on everything?
Bruce E. Levine is a clinical psychologist and his latest book is SurvivingAmerica’s Depression Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy, and Community in a World Gone Crazy (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007). His Web site iswww.brucelevine.net
It depends. Do we want a militaristic society or happy people? Happy people are allowed to ask questions and to feel sad upon occasion. Our schools, universities, hospitals, factories, and governments are still run top to bottom by those with authoritative personalities who do not tolerate being questioned. Anyone who attempts Socratic management gets treated like...Obama! Just TRY to be egalitarian and you end up branded as a communist. Nevermind that humans are communal creatures. Perhaps we have lost our humanity to the almighty sword. Or the almighty dollar...same thing.
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