Theory and Praxis

Biophilia

Do Plants Care What Happens to Them?

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on June 3, 2024

Recent evidence suggests that plants can cry, mourn, and feel pain. What does that mean for humans?

Recent evidence suggests that plants can cry, mourn, and feel pain. What does that mean for humans?

Animal Behavior

Habitat Fragmentation Is Turning Commuters Into Roadkill

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on February 13, 2024

Many of the risky behaviors of both men and small animals can be attributed to human inventions—such as roads separating living things from the things they need to survive.

Many of the risky behaviors of both men and small animals can be attributed to human inventions—such as roads separating living things from the things they need to survive.

Magical Thinking

The Benefits and Consequences of Magical Thinking

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on October 17, 2023

Does your baby have an unexplained mark on her body? Are you afraid to play baseball without your lucky glove? Superstitions are here to stay, but why?

Does your baby have an unexplained mark on her body? Are you afraid to play baseball without your lucky glove? Superstitions are here to stay, but why?

Gender

Denial of Gender-Affirming Care Could Result in Suicide

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Maybe we should leave kids a way out, no matter what we believe.

A Personal Perspective: Maybe we should leave kids a way out, no matter what we believe.

Education

Are We Seeing the Death of Trust?

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on March 22, 2023

Personal Perspective: Have you noticed the loss of trust in our society? Wouldn't you like to get it back? Maybe reverence is the way.

Personal Perspective: Have you noticed the loss of trust in our society? Wouldn't you like to get it back? Maybe reverence is the way.

Fear

Can Touch Help Us Overcome Fear?

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on November 5, 2022

When what you're seeing is making you anxious, try focusing on what you're feeling instead.

When what you're seeing is making you anxious, try focusing on what you're feeling instead.

Decision-Making

The Unexpected Consequences of Becoming an Organ Donor

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on June 6, 2022

Did you know that the business of brokering human bodies is legal and unregulated? Maybe we should be better informed before we become organ donors.

Did you know that the business of brokering human bodies is legal and unregulated? Maybe we should be better informed before we become organ donors.

Bias

Bias and Hate Over a Vaccine

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on February 22, 2022

Has our war with the pandemic become more important than our respect for one another? Could an equal distribution of the vaccine help us remember the principle of mercy?

Has our war with the pandemic become more important than our respect for one another? Could an equal distribution of the vaccine help us remember the principle of mercy?

Bias

Bias in the Competition for Scarce Kidneys

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on November 8, 2021

Is the process of kidney allocation unbiased? Maybe it can't be fair. But as life and death decisions get harder to make, random selection seems more just than human criteria.

Is the process of kidney allocation unbiased? Maybe it can't be fair. But as life and death decisions get harder to make, random selection seems more just than human criteria.

Suicide

No Child Should Think About Suicide

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on August 12, 2021

A Personal Perspective: Children are thinking about suicide more often now. If we honor the epoch of childhood instead of making them ashamed of it, we can extinguish these thoughts.

A Personal Perspective: Children are thinking about suicide more often now. If we honor the epoch of childhood instead of making them ashamed of it, we can extinguish these thoughts.

Memory

Cherishing a Lost Loved One's Irritating Habits

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on August 2, 2021

A Personal Perspective: Do you remember your partner's annoying habits?

A Personal Perspective: Do you remember your partner's annoying habits?

Fear

Is Our Fear of Catching COVID-19 a Public Health Problem?

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on April 30, 2021

Maybe nurturing the hope of not catching it will alleviate our symptoms.

Maybe nurturing the hope of not catching it will alleviate our symptoms.

Fear

The Uncanny Fear of Loss, Part 3

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on May 30, 2018

Maybe our thoughts aren't just thoughts. Maybe they keep us company just like real things do, when those we miss are elsewhere.

Maybe our thoughts aren't just thoughts. Maybe they keep us company just like real things do, when those we miss are elsewhere.

Fear

The Uncanny Fear of Loss, Part 2

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on April 23, 2018

Why is it always too late to say goodbye? Maybe our need to remember each other outweighs our need to see one another...

Why is it always too late to say goodbye? Maybe our need to remember each other outweighs our need to see one another...

Fear

The Uncanny Fear of Loss, Part 1

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on April 14, 2018

Our species is afraid of loss, even though we'll lose everything anyway when we leave this world. Often, we miss the thought of one another more than we miss life itself.

Our species is afraid of loss, even though we'll lose everything anyway when we leave this world. Often, we miss the thought of one another more than we miss life itself.

Aging

I Hope We Have a Daughter, Not an Heir

Lonny D. Meinecke Ph.D. on April 2, 2018

Many cultures want sons, not daughters. Yet evidence suggests that a long line of anonymous daughters made the difference in our survival, not the few first-born sons we recall.

Many cultures want sons, not daughters. Yet evidence suggests that a long line of anonymous daughters made the difference in our survival, not the few first-born sons we recall.