Red Wine, Alzheimer’s and Media Violence

narnia

I was excited by a recent article in ScienceDaily (How Red Wine Compounds Fight Alzheimer’s Disease ). I’m quite sure it is all a matter of balance, but I really like red wine, so these research findings really work well for me. I do try to keep informed about developments in nutrition. This is not the same thing as developments in new diets and exercise approaches. These are interesting to me, too, but I am talking about the biology and chemistry of nutrition science. I wasn’t surprised to read that it is the compound called polyphenols. Polyphenols block the buildup of proteins that are the basis for the buildup of toxic plaques that scientists believe contribute to the deterioration of cognitive function. Polyphenols are also good anti-cholesterol compounds for much the same reason. As I was doing my victory lap around the living room, it struck me that I was committing the same mistake that I was so angry about others making a week or two before. I didn’t read … [Read more...]

California Prop 8: Minorities vote to block rights of other minorities

I’m supposed to be packing because moving vans come tomorrow, but I had to remark on this story in the Washington Post: Most Calif. blacks backed proposition 8: 53% of Latinos Also Supported Proposition 8 In it, Vick and Surdin write: LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 -- Any notion that Tuesday's election represented a liberal juggernaut must overcome a detail from the voting booths of California: The same voters who turned out strongest for Barack Obama also drove a stake through the heart of same-sex marriage. This makes me extraordinarily curious about the rationale these voters had on this issue.  Is it religious?  Or is it that we all need to “other” somebody?  A huge body of research talks about intergroup conflict, group affiliation, and the need to establish clear boundaries of others to affirm our own groupness.  This is the same tribalism I talked about in the last post. I question if it is every possible to overcome this because biologically we’re driven to form … [Read more...]

Media framing: “Conservative” or Cognitive Inflexibility?

Scott Kaufman in a Psychology Today blog discusses research claiming that conservatives are less creative (Are conservatives less creative than liberals?).  Kaufman is fairly even-handed, but I have a problem with research that takes several political policy positions and uses that to establish that some is a "conservative" since that has a much broader social connotation. Why not frame of this finding using a more appropriate (and possibly more accurate) designation such as cognitive inflexibility. This takes away the political baggage and inherent emotion that baggage brings. There have been many studies that link individuals who need cognitive closure and have an intolerance for ambiguity with lack of creativity. (note: links are relationships, not causality). Given the research premise, these findings should be consistent with anyone who is firmly and unwaveringly committed to ideas and positions without questioning--conservative or liberal or in between. As he notes, there … [Read more...]

Post-Election Withdrawal?

I had a question from a reporter this morning about post-election withdrawal.  What are all those people who have been “addicted” to websites, TV, and text messaging to follow the election going to do with themselves? Call me an optimist, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.  First of all “addicted” is a strong word.  Emotions were definitely high.  But the presumption that emotional engagement and passion leads to a sense of withdrawal and letdown is problematic, if not downright pessimistic. I think it’s pretty clear that the majority of Americans wanted change.  This election is certainly historic for a number of reasons, but it is emblematic to me of what is best of the American culture: the ability to redefine ourselves. Americans has been living in a climate of fear and anxiety in recent years, particularly since 9/11.  The fear response has led to policy choices that have restricted American’s freedoms and tarnished America’s image … [Read more...]