Getting inside Putin’s head requires us to delve into the dark depths of the human condition. Only then can we predict his next moves — and maybe how to stop him. — This piece was turned into a webinar with the Ernest Becker Foundation, co-paneled by Sheldon Solomon. It may be viewed here. For a similar piece exploring far-right populism, click here. Terror Management Theory (TMT) posits that all humans adopt worldviews to cope with our existential fears, namely death anxiety. Humans…

On the Human Condition and Our Urban Angst — Humans are like cactus. In spite of the harsh conditions allotted to us — or because of them — we have become resilient creatures, tall and mighty and able to withstand much of what is thrown at us. But underneath our layer of thorns is tender flesh. Indeed, upon closer…

Terror Management Theory and our Urban Environment — Martin Heidegger believed that emotions were humanity’s way of experiencing the world. Positive or negative experiences therefore translate into positive or negative emotional states. In other words, how we experience the physical world has a direct impact on our mental health. Recent studies have demonstrated this. For example, those who…

Suburbia and Its Discontents — This past winter, I was in a transitional period of my life. I was back in the United States after four years abroad and waiting to start my PhD program. To pass the time and earn some extra money, I began working at my local community center. My co-worker there…

This follows a much earlier piece discussing TMT in relation to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a war in Ukraine. It became a webinar with one of the founders of TMT, Sheldon Solomon. That video may be found here. Terror Management Theory (TMT) holds that humans form cultural…

The socio-existential psychology of insecurity and control — In my last post (linked in case you’d like to tear it apart), I went with a hunch that ultimately turned out to be wrong. A “red tsunami” did not materialize as I and many other commentators expected. …

On the eve of the mid-terms, Democrats are set to be shellacked — Post-mortum: This analysis was wrong. I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, however. In any case, I will not delete this post. Letting y’all rip it apart as the low-hanging fruit will still allow me to glean more insight. Moreover, I prefer to leave posts, right or wrong…

Economic insecurity, inequality and the solution to racism. — About a month ago, I was getting my haircut here in Gainesville, FL near the UF campus. I will not say exactly where in order to protect his identity, but the man who cut my hair would qualify as racist. The man asked me what I study, and I told…