Psychology & Philosophy | Animal Rights | Environment & Health | Science | Law | Politics | Days of Obama | Vietnam | Religion | Healthcare | Media | International | Young People | Culture
Corporal Punishment of Children
Dr Mroczek is joined by psychologists Drs Milburn and Conrad to discuss the undesirable consequences of using any form of corporal punishment on children. Matters discussed are a child’s anger which cannot be expressed to a physically big and needs-providing parent and the forms of displacement or unconscious scapegoating – here in terms of political/public policy sentiment – that result in the matured now adult child. Repeat “bad” child behavior should not necessarily be seen as defiance but as a need for something that has a sense of being gone wanting in the experience of the child. A most important point is that the emotions associated with childhood experience, in this case anger, do not go away. Several practical and common life examples are given as relates to the engendering of anger in children and its consequences. Alternate methods of essential structure and disciplining in the life of a child are given. Engaging a child in the choosing of what a desired consequence for refraining from bad behavior should be is described. Most of all: children are cognitively different developmentally than adults; children are human beings; a parent’s (or significant other’s) influence is paramount in the earliest part of childhood development; and, parents should strive to be the kind of behaving person they would like to see their children become. Children model greatly in observing what they are witness to. (2001)
Philosophy and Logic
Dr Mroczek discusses philosophy and logic with Dr Floyd. The introductory discussion seeks to acquaint the viewer with the relevance and inescapability of philosophy and gives guidance on concepts of logic and their importance to sound reasoning – ie, as in how we argue with ourselves and others. Examples from morality and political questions are applied. (2003)
Philosophy: Think with Discipline; Think for Yourself
Dr Mroczek discusses the hard but laudable idea of applying discipline to our minds: to train ourselves to think with the utmost objectivity we can muster (eg, entertaining ideas we may emotionally resist or deplore) and to think for ourselves as much as possible. The usual tendency is to not examine, to think as one feels, without further consideration. It goes against the grain, so to speak, and it is unpleasant to entertain ideas that are not part of what we easily feel or believe. Dr Mroczek further states that the only truth a person can have is that which is his or her own; also that belief is tentative to what best can be known through disciplined cogitation. She discusses ‘ideas’ which are only commercial conditionings. She discusses fallacies to ‘studies’ of which the studies’ poor validiities are rampant. Dr Mroczek also touches on the need for philosophy as a compass, on our existential crises and nihilism, and she encourages wide observation of everything around us in life.
A View of Neurology on Psychiatry
Dr Mroczek looks at major serious forms of psychiatric disorder and symptoms in discussion with Dr Price, chief of the Dept of Neurology at McLean’s Hospital. Dr Price advances developments in biological causation of such conditions as well as pharmacological models for their study and management. Dr Mroczek imparts a behavioral and phenomenological perspective to psychiatric disease.
Law and Philosophy
Dr Mroczek explains the sanctity and preciousness of the philosophy of US law and its practical application in our legal system (with particulars of Louise Woodward case) as it has evolved, including the high stakes to freedom and justice in maintaining it.
Behaviorism and You
Dr Mroczek talks with Dr Harshbarger, Chair of The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, about applied use of principles of behavior to business, and especially, to parenting. (2004)
Some Aspects of Psychodynamic Theory Discussed
Dr Mroczek discusses principles of psychodynamic theory based on psychoanalytic theory and largely from a Freudian perspective, with fellow psychologists Drs Millburn and Conrad. Emphasis is on the dynamic nature of human behavior. Descriptive examples in the development of young children are discussed. Good for persons trying to get a grasp of psychanalytically based psychology and personality development. (2001)
God Loves Psychology
The PSYCHOLOGY lecture begins at 18 minutes in. Dr Mroczek discusses subjectivity (livingness or being) and psychology as inescapable and the real reality of existence. Focus is also given to behavior being a function of environment defined as the miniscule to macro nuances of experience, both physical and sentient (phenomenological). [The first 18 minutes are given to brief points on GMO, irradiation, tinkering with nature, and the plea to be stewards of nature and to work on ourselves.]
Narcissism and The 44th Presidency
An outline of character narcissistic qualities of the 44th President USA. (Nov 2010)
Sports Mania/$ Mania/Work Mania I, II
Two videos of contemporary cultural context relevant to why and how Colombine 99 happened and new youth. Pivoting on the events of Colombine 1999, Dr Mroczek discusses contemporary young persons, cultural pathology, media mental and behavioral programming, violence and cruelty, and the increasing dehumanization to all persons, especially thise who are young.
Killing At School
Dr Mroczek explains why children can be cold blooded killers. She downplays “therapeutizing” the behavior of children by having agendas to ‘discover’ maladapted children who may commit atrocious acts as a replacement for living more meaningful, relational, and engaged lives with our children and each other. She emphasizes the need for shared everyday experience over time with each other to nourish mental well being which also functionally curtails mental states from being outside the fold of the norm. She points to values which belong to human beings as a group being subverted to technology and to the sale of products. She further talks about (psycho)pathology producing media content and bombardment. Dr Mroczek ends with a plea against using animals incarcerated and effectively tortured in research.
About Depression
A discussion laying out the symptoms and behavior of depression, with suggestions for causes and alleviation. With Dr Nierenberg of McLean Hospital.
Interview of Dr Nancy Mroczek with Becky Maisch
Dr Nancy Mroczek is interviewed by Becky Maisch. She is asked about her experience particularly in music against the backdrop of her occupation as a psychologist. Dr Mroczek discusses generating her music and its serious themes. She also touches on her proposition that rock music of the last many decades was in fact the genuine philosophy of the time with much to inform and teach. She further discusses philosophic ideas re: the hard experience of living generally. The interview is, overall, an exploration of thoughts and ideas on getting by in this difficult life as gleaned from the learning and experience of Dr Mroczek.
Interview I with L Farrar
Dr Mroczek talks with L Farrar and gives her thoughts on women, female sexuality, status of women, heterosexual relationships, mores and values of our time, God, science, religion, death, technology, existential purpose, and the human need to relate
Interview II with L Farrar
Interview of Dr Mroczek with L Farrar covers the case for rejection of use of animals in research; technological and environmental ills of society with respect to how or if these can be ameliorated; and personal struggles of the individual personality to get by in a fast and pressured existence.
Move Beyond Narcissism
The narcissistic slant of US life and its geopolitical price.
Political/Psychological Ways of Seeing,Part I
One of 2 videos on the meaning of our politics [USA], the nature of ourselves, and the net result. A talk about psychological personality traits and experiences which generally determine how we interpret events around us including what we choose to see and how we feel about it.
Political/Psychological Ways of Seeing, Part II
Talk begins at 17:23 minutes into video as Dr Mroczek first spends some time on environmental concerns.One of 2 videos about psychological personality traits and experiences which generally determine how we interpret events around us in our politics and political style including what we choose to see and how we feel about it.
Massacre at Fort Hood
Dr Mroczek describes Nidal Hasan, the lone shooter at the Fort Hood massacre in 2009, based on material gleaned from writings and accounts about him post his horrific action. She describes who he seemed to be as a human and how he was motivated to do as he did. The video, as well as a comprehensive essay Dr Mroczek wrote about him called Massacre at Fort Hood (2009), gives us a window into the genesis, etiology, and consequences of the complex problem of the radical divide of ideology and practice between East and West and the problems of terrorism against the US and problems of the US war in the Middle East.
Goodnight Vietnam
Dr Mroczek talks with Vietnam veterans who tell how they feel now and what their experience was in Vietnam and since that time. They describe being young, naïve, believers in stepping up to do what a person should for country, being totally unprepared for what they would face, having no way to escape their circumstance once in Vietnam, admiring the Viet Cong for their determination to save their country, and becoming hardened by death and the ever present threat of it all around. They talk about what it is like to kill, how they developed personal strategies to increase the probability of coming back alive, how they came to believe in the central role of corporate money in what was occurring. They describe what it is like to have PTSD. They also describe their great shock and dismay to come back to a country that they experienced as hating them, their painful “isolation” and aloneness once home in dealing with ostracism (and it being the ‘reward’ for their service), and the never ending harrowing condition of PTSD which continues unabated for them. They say the Veteran’s Administration has been unconcerned and ineffectual, and that the government just wanted them to effectively go away, disappear, once they returned to the USA.
Contingencies of Behavior; Thinking About How We Are Living; Quality of Life
Dr Mroczek discusses information on contingencies that affect behavior, enumerates certain contingencies that are adverse to well being, and reviews certain psychosocial aspects of human perspectives as a backdrop
Black African America
Dr Mroczek talks with African American Larry Higgenbottom LISCW who discusses some of the history of the black African race with respect to the United States and the individual process of black African America coming to terms with a sordid history.
None Dare Call It Treason and the 1960’s
The first 9 min of this talk refers to the scandal of Pres B Clinton & M Lewinsky plaguing the country via an investigation being done about it at the time including the treason in trying to overthrow a duly elected president. It then moves to the period of the 60’s, the generational legacy from which the then-president derived, to describe what the “60’s” was about and what US citizen-afforded rights are all about. The 60’s are described as a time unique to history, a time of expanding consciousness and some attempt at brotherly love, a political generation trying to disavow materialism, and a generation educated in the liberal arts with a desire to understand who they were and the depths of what it means to be human. Barriers between persons were coming down, subcultures were mixing, and rock music was the voice and philosophy.
Teen Depression and Suicide
Dr Mroczek talks with licensed Social Worker Elizabeth Reid about the problems and clinical syndromes increasingly being experienced by young adolescents and teens. The discussion can be useful to teens and to their parents to better understand what they may be seeing in each other and how they might proceed with a better compass preclude a rut of depression, apathy, and despair.
Teen Love and Beyond
Dr Nancy Mroczek talks empathetically about the wounds between the sexes in trying to have relationship, especially for girls, when young and new to life, and new to sexuality and the vicissitudes of existence and personhood. Well worth a listen for the value of women and people.
Youth From Mars
Disillusioned young persons, New Youth, portray a sense of marginalization and alienation as they talk about their feelings and sense of the world.
Psychoanalytic Theory
Dr Mroczek discusses principles of psychoanalysis with Dr Anne Alonso, founder of the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital. Ideas such as inner conflict, basic drive, attachment, isolation, transference, etc, are reviewed for a broad based sense of the psychoanalytic perspective on human life.
Perspective for Understanding Psychoanalysis
Dr Mroczek talks with Psychoanalyst Dr Stechler and provides a beautiful, deeply informative discussion about theory, principles, and dynamics related to psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy.
Considering Mental Illness
Discussion of what mental illness can both feel and look like with the objective of helping both lay and afflicted persons better understand what is entailed and how to react to it. With Dr Barreira & M Parker of McLean Hospital.
Morality: We are Policing You
This lecture was delivered during the time of the presidential sex scandal in the late 1990’s. As such it begins within the context of an inferred backdrop of the sexual behavior of others. It progresses to an overall look at blaming and the vicissitudes of personal morality in general. Some commentary on children as our wards is given as well. Ethics is given as personal restraint against the condemnation of others.
Psychology I
Dr Mroczek delivers the first in a series of lectures on fundamentals of Psychology. Dynamic, behavioral, and existential basic principles are examined.
Psychology II
Dr Mroczek presents a broad canopy of psychology – including description of its many branches, kinds of phenomena studied and addressed in psychology, the metaphysics of psychology, and answers to a listener question.
Psychology III – Phenomenology: Be Here Now, Eyes and Ears Open
Dr Mroczek continues her lectures on fundamentals of psychological inquiry and includes definition of certain key concepts. She begins by disavowing teleological “explanations” of life and behavior and focuses on phenomenological understanding and observation instead. Phenomenological features can be those of behavior character, topology, purpose, emission, etc. Dr Mroczek criticizes a never ending multitude of “studies” approach to behavioral science as splintering to understanding and most often invalid at root. She favors a phenomenology of behavior as it exists at hand. Finally, Dr Mroczek emphasizes the importance of human beings being in relation with each other, the value of strict self disciplining of thought without commercial purpose or design, and going with the ‘flow’ as in be here now. (1998)
Psychology IV: the uniqueness of the science & the mind/body relation
Dr Mroczek discusses the special status of psychology in science due to its being a language of description based on observation and study which does not depend on physicalism or physical models of knowledge. She first addresses a mistake that ‘psychic’ is psychology as in purported future tellers but includes paranormal phenomena as tertiarilly related to psychology, and plausible, but not worthy to be the overwhelming focus. She places focus on the study of the practical and of the living, being, organisms and life in the here and now. She emphasizes the importance of words to psychology and the extreme importance of them being precisely defined and used. She describes that mind is never matter and matter never mind allowing that the physical houses the mental but the mental cannot be reduced to it. She describes psychology as everything we do, say, feel, such that it is hardly a science of pathology alone.
At the midpoint of the lecture, Dr Mroczek turns to practical matters that affect the health and welfare of us all such as inimical rule and law making, the environment, animal welfare, and serious problems in our food supply – especially because real life concerns get little to no exposition generally and awareness is essential to moving forward.
Quality of Life and Meaning to Living
Topic begins about 10 min into the video after Dr Mroczek spends some time talking about healthcare and its problems.
Dr Mroczek then begins a discussion on the quality of life being mostly poor in the way we now live, ideas for better quality of life and the usefulness to focus on it, and the importance to persons that life be meaningful. Persons also call in with questions.
Nancy Talks Philosophy with the Garage Dogs
Dr Mroczek & rock band The Garage Dogs discuss personal views on philosophy of living, survival, and getting by in life as dictated inevitably by personal belief.
Psychology And Everyday Living with Call-Ins
Topic begins at 8:12 after Dr Mroczek makes note of certain weather anomalies, pesticide use, and harm to animals which are problems she repeatedly reminds about. She then begins to speak about quality of life and psychology, asking the audience “what are you living for” and “is it even worth examining what you are living for”. She explains that psychology is more than psychopathology or abnormality and that humans tend to be resistant to taking a candid naked look at who they are. She describes some mechanisms of defense and the importance of trying to be objective to the best of one’s ability. She posits the overall task for humans is to become better human beings – more civil, ‘human’, moral, and ultimately brotherly.
No More Coercion
Dr Mroczek gives an acapella version of her song entitled “No More Coercion” (©Mroczek 1997) which speaks to ceasing forcing and punishing persons the world over who do not fall in line with the views someone insists that they have; a song against using coercion as a means to an end.
A Woman Loathed – HC
Dr Mroczek delivers this talk in the beginning of 2008, an election year during which HC first ran for president of the US. Dr Mroczek describes the deep collective animosity to HC as a female. She opines that women have to be on guard against both men AND women, that neither gender is particularly sympathetic to females. She gives examples of animosity toward women based on deep rooted ridicule, fear, and disdain. She also talks about the weaponization of sex, the proclivity of women to want loving attention and devotion, and the brains vs beauty conundrum. She sees the most important thrust for women to become fully fledged as neither male nor female – and these are not the same – but as human beings.
Toward A Quality Of Life With Call-Ins, Show 3
A ‘Toward A Quality Of Life’ session with live call-ins. In this sesion, Dr Mroczek continues to ask the question ‘what are you living for’, exhorts persons to think, discusses some of the ways we impact ourselves physically and behaviorally, and proffers ideas for achieving and living a better quality of life together. She points out the role of habit, including in our thinking, to be an overriding reality to be reckoned with in thinking about change. She solicits persons to think about being aware of contingencies controlling behavior and thought and to think about managing our lives in new ways. Some practical ideas discussed today are the wrongheadedness of separating the elderly and the young, children’s need for 1:1 ongoing involvement with at least one significant other, single payer health care, smaller and local enterprise to replace non-responsive and controlling huge institutions, and the role of inflation in personal economy together with the need to be aware of it and the changes being made to its measurement as it impacts our everyday living. Callers ask questions about multiple personality disorder, domestic violence, etc.
Toward A Quality Of Life: Live Show 4
Dr Mroczek continues discussion about critical problems facing us as a people together with ideas about making ourselves more aware and about thinking to the very best of our ability. Calls to the show are not available due to technical difficulties. Dr Mroczek discusses certain particulars about weather at the time, especially emphasizing the extremes of it. She notes the potential for serious extremes to interfere with food supply, for example, and that the future for weather problems will intensify and can be understood in terms of adverse inputs multiplying mathematically. She touches on the malady of ‘Gulf War Syndrome‘. She discusses certain research on animals and considers the potential for diseases inadvertantly being carried from the laboratory to society at large. She laments the horror of xenotransplantation. She describes the meaning and use of the word “environment” as it pertains to psychology with regard to behavioral function – a meaning separate from the everyday meaning of environment. She notes some deleterious environments we must frequently be exposed to. She talks about engineering behavioral environment in terms of facilitating ourselves to talk with each other, be more cooperative, and live at a more moderated tempo.
Toward A Quality Of Life Show 5 With Live Call-Ins
An episode of Toward A Quality of Life With Call-Ins. Dr Mroczek solicits ideas on reasons to be living and purpose in life, with exhortation to persons to train themselves to be in the habit to think hard, really hard, and to try to discipline themselves to objectivity.
She then talks about the urgent problem of environmental malaise and crisis. She describes widening ranges of short term temperature changes, multiplicitous oil spills, manufacture of styrofoam, and use of harsh salts on snow and ice which then gets into the water supply. She takes calls from viewers. She makes an overall case to love, ameliorate, and protect nature and for human beings to absorb more of the context in which they live – as in to be more AWARE. This she posits is possible for most everyone through phenomenological observation.
Toward A Quality Of Life: Live Show 7 with Call-Ins: Contingencies
In this discussion with live call-ins, Dr Mroczek begins to discuss the meaning and importance of contingencies regarding our psychological function and behavior. She focuses on the
importance of environmental context in what we do, feel, and say. She also touches on the meaning of stimulus and conditioning. She calls for persons to try to discipline their thinking to be as objective as possible and to recognize the role of emotion in thought. She advocates tolerance of ambiguity and keeping simple reactionary conclusions in abeyance. She says emotion precedes thought. She notes that contingencies can be arranged to optimize how we feel in every day living. Callers ask questions related to the field of psychology.
What Does ‘Toward A Quality Of Life’ Mean?
This is Part 1 on the idea and meaning of quality of life and Toward A Quality of Life. Dr Mroczek outlines major stresses to living that afflict all persons in contemporary life such as fatigue, alienation, frustration, coping with contaminants & environmental malaise, etc, etc. She speaks about these issues within the context of there being contingencies that bear down on our sentiment and behavior in every step of living. She prompts us to think and to think hard. She introduces the idea of working toward changing and re-arranging contingencies upon which behavior is based to afford a more livable and pleasant quality of life – ie., toward a quality of life. She gives a feel for how to look at the context within which, – and contingencies by which -, our behavior and sentiment is dictated. She hears from two guests about the set ups in their own lives causing unhappy consequences and steps taken to map a better path. In general, persons tend to accept contingencies as being given. This is a call to be a) way more aware of the intricacies (contingencies) producing poor consequences for living and b) to make change on an individual basis to one’s own life as well as to perpetrate change for a greater quality of life in the culture as a whole.
Toward A Quality Of Life Live December 2005
Dr Mroczek continues her series of live broadcasting Toward Quality Of Life sessions. In this discussion she covers the area of stresses in modern existence, citing several kinds of non-enjoyable realities citizens passively endure. She encourages persons to speak out, to make observations, and to take those observations to persons who have some influence with respect to them. She argues for tactics of gentle persuasion. She notes a lot of passive belief and acceptance in the citizenry. She touches on myriad situations that stress or are negative and un-enjoyable (a subway ride, e.g., long prerecorded telephone menus, lines at grocery check outs, etc). She also talks about the duty of a country to provide for it’s physically, mentally disabled, and infirm persons. She urges viewers to be perpetually active about bettering factors external to ourselves that disturb quality in living and to be aware of preserving freedoms taken for granted as well.
Toward A Quality Of Life series live with listener call-ins 1-30-06
This session is one of a series of live shows done by Dr Mroczek with listener call-ins invited on any topic. Dr Mroczek begins with various problems of environmental malaise which, (as she explains at the time in 2006), was virtually lacking in mainstream media outlet reports for common consumption. She brings this together with information on the great suffering and harm being done to animals. She also poses thoughts on how the culture is perceiving terror in the still ongoing aftermath of 9/11 and the stances of GW Bush. She talks about blind fear and barbaric proclivity existing in the stead of human wits, civil rights, and liberties. She touches on the grave trauma to military persons serving in the Iraq war. She also addresses individual questions from callers.
Toward A Quality Of Life live with listener call-ins 11-22-05
Dr Mroczek does one in a series of live shows with listener call-ins. She first touches on research on living organisms and the likelihood that pathogens from laboratories have or will make their way to the non-lab population. She further notes the terrible suffering of animals used in biological research. She then moves to the idea that individuals living in the US do not necessarily have appreciation, awareness, or much knowledge about other countries the world over. A caller responds, noting the US refusal to allow Cuban doctors to come to the US to help Katrina victims and this is discussed. She then turns her attention to the topic of stress, talks about everyday cultural sources of it, and encourages persons to speak back, clamor about to rectify, situations that are frustrating and degrading to quality of life. Finally, she demonstrates slow deep breathing as a method to help with stress.
Toward A Quality Of Life with listener call-ins re: violent criminality
This is one of a series of live call-in shows done by Dr Mroczek. She begins with a customary spot for highlighting the pain, suffering, and predicaments animals endure on a planet controlled by humans. She makes a plea for getting animal pets from shelters rather than from breeders. She then talks about the US government’s penchant for war, the cost and waste of the Iraq war being waged at the time, its arguable goals, and the overall detriment to the health and welfare of the US because of it. She then takes calls on any topic from viewers, each of whom pose questions about murderous criminals and the effect of violence as a normative cultural theme on such persons as well as a listener question about a possible legacy of genetic disposition to criminality.