G7. Fear & our Inner Child

Fear of public speaking? Fear of change, or foreigners or people who look or act differently than you? Fear of the people that your parents feared?

     What we value is learned from our parents or other caregivers and from our peer groups and educational and entertainment choices. "Morals" is another word for values. "Core values" is a term used in mental health regarding our early childhood experiences and what they taught us. It is difficult to change those core values because they are learned from very early ages and from nonverbal experiences primarily rather than from "rules." They are the "unspoken rules" discussed earlier in the 11: What is Sexism? section.

     A cognitive linguist, George Lakoff, discusses our core values in relation to politics in his book Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think, Third Edition.  A review of the book is available online at  uchicago.edu: (G7.13). He provides examples of words and phrases that we use and how they are connected to the values we make a priority in our votes or other actions. The first part of the book is academic and nonpartisan but it is clearly liberally biased in a later section. As examples the book typically includes some from both liberal and conservative voices as the title suggests. The parenting style we grew up with is related to our trust level as an adult. Attachment styles were discussed in 8. Trust is learned early. 

     The type of parenting style a child grew up with may lead to more secure attachment to others and is associated with being more trusting and more prosocial behavior - helpful to society.

• Strict parents may set firm boundaries and rules and enforce standards more harshly than nurturing or permissive parents. The child growing up with an authoritarian caregiver may develop an avoidant or anxious attachment style with a preference for authoritarian guidance or adherence from others, and expect more clear rules and adherence to following rules by people such as a candidate. 
• Nurturing parents have boundaries but they also listen and may make changes if appropriate. Negotiation with guidance can support autonomy and lead to a more secure attachment style. The author George Lakoff suggests this style represents the liberal voter and that the "strict" style represents the conservative voter. (G7.13) 
• There's also the anxious-resistant style which might correlate to the modern day "helicopter parenting" - a parent who may be overly involved in scheduling or controlling their child's life.
• The disorganized style is a mixture of some variety of the other styles. It may be most harmful to a child's development to have inconsistent caregivers who may demand adherence to strict rules and then never mention them again until suddenly they do.

Two points are mentioned but not really addressed thoroughly in the book Moral Politics:

1.  Authoritarian parents can be nurturing,."Strict" does not have to mean "spare the rod, spoil the child", it might mean more curfews and other rules - and some personality types may benefit from that type of more clear guidance, if it isn't accompanied by physically or emotionally damaging punishments or verbal criticism instead of guidance. In my observation of approximately 13,000 babies or toddlers, from the cradle some babies tend to be placid and happy to watch the world and wait for the world to drop by for a visit as long as it isn't too startling or crying may result and it is a good fit when the mother  or caregiver recognizes this and provides it or is by nature also calm and controlled and not startling to the infant. While other babies, from the cradle, are trying to get out of the cradle and while pinning them into the cradle isn't allowed, the straps on infant and toddler car-seats are elaborate enough to do a good job when used correctly - however while imprisoning a curious child in a playpen, highchair or car seat has become a cultural norm it is not satisfying the curious child's need to taste, touch and learn absolutely everything they can about their environment. Children are amazing if allowed to be. 
2. Liberals and Independents - what about the liberals and the other types of attachment styles? The initial work on which the current attachment theories are based included three basic styles of how infants and caregivers responded to each other. It is possible that a book about two groups is making an inaccurate assumption. What if both "Liberals" and "Conservatives" as group averages, not individuals, are not "secure" because they are identifying with a group, wanting a guide, and it is the Independents who are "secure" and comfortable enough to make their own choices from the variety of candidates.

Based on the conversational and other examples from the book the Conservative voice might indeed have the authoritarian parent, who might be nurturing but firm rather than physically abusive; but the Liberal voice might represent an anxious type of helicoptering parent who cares so much they may be overly controlling and therefore "authoritarian" in their own "this project is for your own good, whether you like it or want it or need it or not" loving way.

     The Independent who looks at controlling ways as being overly controlled might have a difficult time finding a "secure" candidate on either party's ballot because the "Party Platform" of both major parties is somewhat authoritarian, just in different ways, and so any candidate who is cooperating with their Team's platform or agreed upon plan of action - the policies that the team have agreed upon as  group to all try to work towards achieving together, against the platform or plan of action agreed upon by the other Team. 

Research during  2016 Presidential Primary found authoritarian attitudes in Republican voters associated with more preferring more authoritarian candidates. Matthew MacWilliams asked primary voters "whether it is more important to raise a child to be (1) respectful or independent; (2) obedient or self-reliant; (3) well-behaved or considerate; and (4) well-mannered or curious. "  Republican voters choosing the first attribute in each pair tended to choose a more authoritarian candidate while Democratic voters did not show a pattern in attribute choice and primary candidate choice. For more information and a link to the original research see: Childrearing Beliefs Were Best Predictor of Trump Supporters, by Peter Gray, PhD, (Psychology Today). The author f the article discusses the possibility that the education system may also be involved in instilling more authoritarian values in children as many school systems may encourage obedience more than independent thinking. Creativity has been found to decrease from preschool age to adulthood over the years of schooling in the U.S., see: Evidence that children become less creative over time (and how to fix it), TEDTalk by George Land, (Idea to Value).

The U.S. electoral college makes the likelihood that a Third Party candidate would win an election, especially a contested election, practically non-existent.  As a "policy" trying to win a federal election as an Independent or Third Party candidate in the current system is not really plausible if not actually impossible seeing as how a candidate can win the electoral college while losing the popular vote. However a well delivered campaign might help move platform points that were raised by Third Party or Independent candidate onto a major party platform and feasibly into elected office - if enough voters appear to adopt the platform point then major party  officials or candidates may decide to incorporate the point into their own platform in the hopes of getting the independent voters to vote for a major party candidate.

     Since the Citizen's United decision by the Supreme Court changed fundraising rules for politics the focus on personality and mudslinging has taken even more precedence over platform points. You as a voter or candidate could help individually try to bring substance and discussion of policy back to the voters and out of the hands of lobbyist fundraisers by discussing policy in a rational and informed manner as a candidate and vote for candidates who discuss platform goals more than the character flaws of the other candidate or other party or other nations or blaming all societies woes on the handful of terrorists who have caused some destruction while ignoring the homegrown violence being perpetrated by white men against a variety of targets including racial, religious, disabled, or female victims - the "Brave" showing they are superior to the "weak" is not manly or macho and is not protecting "traditional values" except that of an irrational vigilante or someone who was made to feel their masculinity was slighted and they need to defend their "honor." Any tradition that encourages men to incite other men into killing women doesn't seem honorable to me it seems to be shouting the opposite - I'm so unmanly I have to try to build myself up taller by stepping on someone smaller. If honor killing was a female thing then our current President would have been "dishonored" three times already by three sets of women's families who all would have risen up to protect the honor of their female family member. Instead we hear talk of "boys will be boys" - when do men need to be men and take responsibility for bad policy decisions?

     Politics is about writing and enforcing effective policy that is helping improve everyone's lives on a daily basis, not just about throwing campaign rallies and asking for donations to cover the cost.

We all have some survival instincts because our ancestors did have to avoid dangerous predators in order to be able to survive. It is natural to want to protect family and friends over strangers, but it is also human nature to protect strangers too, when possible. 

     To return to the discussion of the Golden Rule, the moral values described by George Lakoff in his book Moral Politics, Third Ed., (G7.13) and attributed to the "Conservatives" and "Liberals" are similar to the "negative" and "positive" versions of the Golden Rule. According to the linguistic analysis by George Lakoff, roughly, the Conservatives may value the negatively phrased version more, "Don't do bad to others" - but maybe not to the point of giving them the shirt off your back especially if it doesn't seem like they are a hard worker,and they may even feel a right to take your shirt if they think they are more deserving because they work harder and deserve it because they earn more money. While the Liberals may value the positively phrased version more, "Do good to others," - even if the person doesn't really want the help. 

     My suggestion is bypass both of those versions now that we are all living in such a mixed society where "doing" anything "to" others might be taken wrong, and switch to the "Ask others how they would like to be treated first, and try to accommodate those preferences if possible, within reason," version that is also represented in human culture. 

     This concept is exemplified in the Native American Talking Stick strategy for group communication. And it is also represented by one of the concepts that Stephen Covey put into words in his book the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." (G7.14) Whitepapers on a variety of effective leadership strategies are available for free download from the time management business company which evolved from the initial book: (G7.15).

      With the Native American Talking Stick, only the person who has the Talking Stick is allowed to speak except for questions from the group which pertain only to clarifying the speaker's idea. Once the person agrees that the group understands the idea they pass the Talking Stick to the next person who wants to add more to the idea or bring up an alternative idea of their own. And then they repeat the process, speaking and clarifying the idea until it is fully understood and they pass the Talking Stick to the next person who wants a chance to be heard. (G7.16)

    The Covey version of the Talking Stick concept has made it into grade school lesson plans - so there are easy learning materials ready to adapt for employees too: (G7.17). Or there are many adult versions of books and time management aids that support and teach the Covey effective work habits. If your employee is stuck in a grade school humor mindset though - it might be just what they need to help snap them out of it so they can finally join the adult world of conversation with more effective communication strategies. (G7.18/The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) I used a variety of time management tools during my professional career from the Franklin Covey company and found them very helpful for keeping track of my many obligations as an government employee with more responsibilities than time or staff - magic, that is how policy gets written (not really).

     Dedicated employees working overtime for the love of the public good more than personal profit is the magic would be my guess. My policy books tended to get written in spare moments and in my personal time, so for me it came at a cost to my family and social life. 

     I made time by saving time and delegating work. Having adjusted to the tending of nine times four sets of policy and procedure manuals, I created on my own a set of self directed lesson plans with handouts and do-it-yourself lessons and quizzes that participants could complete on their own for completing the educational component required by the federally funded program. It saved time and many clients preferred it to having to make a separate appointment for a group class. The set grew into another ten or so binders times four, enough for each clinic location. The supplies for all of those ring binders may have been purchased by the agency but I may have bought the supplies myself, and saved receipts as a donation to a non-profit organization. 

     Public teachers also may spend a significant amount of personal money for educational supplies. My agency budget barely covered a few staff. I had to find free handouts from commercial organizations or make my own version to provide a variety of topics in addition to the basic topics covered in some state funded handouts. The requirements for a Lesson Plan Local Agency Policy Manual included a requirement for a lesson plan and examples of the handouts and analysis of the educational level of each handout for seventy or so topics. 

     Autonomy is nice, it was nice to have freedom to create our own materials but on the other hand why require each county to recreate the wheel? That was an enormous and impossible request to add on top of everything else I had to do. Somehow I managed, counties shared lesson plans and handouts with each other and some were provided by the state or shared at an interstate level - best practices for education in different  settings for slightly different target groups. It made for interesting reading to compare so many examples of how different agencies delivered the same educational message. I frequently shared my best examples too at the state's annual conference. I can't say that all of my handouts had grade level analysis forms completed though. I still managed to sleep at night about that issue - a client with health issues was occasionally an individual worry that showed up in a dream Obviously I still  remember the lack, time was the issue, writing and enforcing effective policy also means knowing it, but auditors didn't make an issue out of it. Maybe they realize impossible and implausible policies are also unreasonable. 

     One state level law tried to set policy regarding a federal program and didn't provide any budget. Rather than press the impossible nature of the legislation the program officials and local agency coordinators eventually reached a consensus on a policy that would shift more focus to the goal but by offering a fee service from another agency that used state funds - writing unconstitutional law that state workers have to follow is an example of bad policy, not just impossible, implausible or annoying but moving into illegal to use federal funds for a state goal.

     My own work may have been positively recognized as the county and agency where I worked was used as an example county for a federal audit that required two counties to be evaluated for the state agency's federal review and renewal of the accreditation of the program, and we did well - so I heard. 

     I became more stressed and unhealthy preparing for the audit, I had policy manuals to organize or update that had gotten overdue with the rest of the workload. there were also personal issues that reached new and bad levels of stress. I was asked to resign due to medical marijuana use, not due to poor job function or any complaints from clients. I knew there is no protection for use of medical marijuana as an employee and that I was in the wrong, and I resigned without filing a grievance. 

     When I'm wrong I admit it, however I do not agree with the national policy. People can work while using other prescription medications that affect cognition. Functional ability and whether the medication is aiding an employee's ability to function or reducing it should be a standard on which to base the question of the use of medications in job settings as well as the nature of the job. I was cleaning my office on a non-client day - in preparation for the federal audit.  I had told my boss that I was having some troubles coping about a month prior and instead of encouraging Employee Wellness Programs or additional staff support I may have just left myself open for increased scrutiny. (Don't bother calling for a recommendation, my boss is retired now.)

     If there is a genetic difference and it is actually helping me function better to have an external source of cannabinoids then it is discriminatory at the national level to make it illegal to obtain and use the most concentrated and effective source. 

     I'm not advocating for "drugged" employees but I am advocating for supporting the unique metabolic needs of all individuals rather than making some people's physiological needs illegal to easily obtain. For some people it might be the essential nutrient their body needs to reach the state of normal physiologic function that other people have everyday of their lives - from birth. That would be nice but I missed that experience.

     The cannabinoid group of chemicals are also available in a few food sources in the whole form or as the two main parts: phospholipids and fatty acids. More information about the chemistry and common food sources is available in the Glossary, within the Macro and Micro Nutrients section, and in an article suggesting a need for more research into supplementation with phospholipids for preventing or improving cognitive decline. (G.43)  Cannabinoids/phospholipids are foud in human breast milk and they help with stimulating the infant's appetite nd promote weight gain. They also help with learning and normal brain development. 

     There is a synthetic medication available approved for patients with Multiple sclerosis and a few other diagnoses but it is not as well balanced as the natural plant's variety of cannabinoids and physician typically won't prescribe it. It is not yet commonly recognized or admitted hat some people need an external source of cannabinoids every day as an essential part of their diet due to metabolic differences in their ability to make it internally the way people of average health are able -- in part because it is federally illegal to say that marijuana is of medical value -- we have a circular reasoning logic loop spiraling down into worsening health and worsening addiction and worsening fertility problem as a result of a physiologically impossible policy written by an administration whose leader was impeached. Why are we clinging to a policy about health from over fifty years ago which medical organizations have recommended we revise?

     Fear of the big, bad wolf? - the scare tactics that have been written into news and movies and books about the dangers of marijuana? It really isn't as dangerous as alcohol or cigarettes and it is certainly less dangerous than opioids - and may be more beneficial to health than many would ever have suspected. Infants need cannabinoids in breast milk to stimulate their appetite so the grow and gain weight well. A malnourished woman has less of the naturally produced cannabinoid content in her breast milk. The types of fats found in breast milk largely reflect the balance of fats found in the diet so a diet without essential fats will result in breast milk with little essential fatty acids.

     It is genetic discrimination to not provide infants or adults with the essential nutrients they need for health because the essential nutrient was declared illegal due to being "not of medical value." I read a book or two on assertiveness training but the time I've spent online trying to share the good news that health is possible if we simply allowed it has been a real lesson in better and less better ways to attempt to assert myself - but babies are being starved and I'ma mother who fights tooth and nail for her babies - all of them, no matter what their skin color is or their genetic issues may be. Everyone has a right to be able to seek a nourishing diet for their individual needs without being declared a criminal.  

     Children with seizures of some types are  helped by a noneuphoric type of cannabinoid and yet it is difficult if not illegal for them to obtain. Why should nature be made illegal just because we're scared of changing fifty year old policy? Our prisons and hospitals are full. Shall we wait until we run out of people? 

     Nixon's administration was found to have designed the policy as a means to harass and imprison the "hippie and black" populations - is the big bad wolf that we are still enforcing the policy for that very reason and so we really don't want to change the policy even if health is healthy? People who are healthy right now - ask yourself, if this medication could prevent seizures or paralysis or cancer from occurring in your own body - would you want to use before the chronic illness developed, once it had already developed , or never have access to the life saving herbal medication that humans have been cultivating and consuming for thousands of years - right up until the last century? 

     Ask yourselves if it was healthy enough for human consumption for 1900 years why aren't we benefiting from it now? Why has this life saving and environmentally friendly product not in use? Street drugs are stronger might be an argument, and more dangerous - well if safe alternatives were readily available at a reasonable price then there would immediately be no black market left. Medical marijuana has cut down on the black market sales of marijuana and that may have resulted in an increase in black market opioid sales as the workers still need a job and income stream. The story of drug policy in the US is murky and a documentary series is available online which dives into the unclear waters: (G7.19) the War on Drugs and the War on Terror are somewhat similar in that different elements of government seem to be funding one side and fighting the other. 

     An effective team has clear goals and makes priorities that don't have opposite effects. Dig a hole and refill a hole - shoveling sand on a beach is not an effective use of time unless you are playing and just making temporary sand castles for fun. National policy should be an effective use of taxpayer funds and be not too annoying for the surrounding environment and other nations.

So just who is the big bad wolf? did granny always have such big teeth? Disclosure: I have walked in a parade in a big bad wolf as granny costume, however in this metaphor, to be clear as mud, the granny in wolf's clothing is the government programs that fight drugs or terror with one program while supporting it in less obvious ways with  other agencies or foreign support. While the war on terror is complicated by many national interests our own nation could change the listing of marijuana to that of an herb with medicinal value and research into its use medically would be free to take place. 

• See the section from the Introduction, Addiction or Starvation?, for more information about the genetic connection between some types of eating disorders and substance abuse and the cannabinoid receptor system. 

I was so busy working or recovering from too much work that I didn't really pay attention to politics except for the major news events and even those I may only have caught the headlines. The headlines and what I was seeing didn't always match. Cognitive dissonance is a term for when the mind has to deal with having to believe two different "conflicting beliefs at the same time," (G7.20) or to have to try to suppress one belief about reality because someone is claiming a different version of reality to be true. 

     For children having inconsistent caregivers can lead to the most difficulty coping as a child or later as an adult according to research into early childhood development and attachment theory, discussed in 8. Trust is learned early. 

     If a child knows that they can trust dinner will be ready or can trust that they have to scrounge for themselves then they at least have a sense of control over what to expect. The child who occasionally gets lavished with great meals and then is left with an empty kitchen and no money is going to have less skill to scrounge for themselves and more bewilderment or hurt that they occasionally may need to fend for themselves instead of always getting the lavish meals. 

• Bruce Dow, M.D. discusses the effects of early childhood trauma and cognitive dissonance more in the article Cognitive Dissonance, PTSD, and Control.  (G7.20)

Starting to dislike something is a common strategy for coping with the cognitive dissonance of not being able to get something that we want according to the article by Bruce Dow M.D.. (G7.20)

     If you can't have something anyway, associating a negative idea with something may make it easier to think about it less. However if it is a false association, a false reason for the dislike, you may end up fooling yourself in the long run by talking yourself out of trying for something that only seems unobtainable but may just require additional work to obtain or additional teammates or time, etc.. The best way to try to solve a problem is to believe that there is a solution; the worse way to try to solve a problem is to believe that is can't be solved. 

     What is the definition of "is." That is a problem that can be solved with a dictionary or a lawyer. I choose a dictionary or common sense. The definition of "is" is the sort of news headline that I ignore, policy manuals are more exciting. In a "he said, she said" story I want to hear the words "I was wrong," or I change the channel.

     I don't need a dictionary for what the definition of "is" is.  The definition of "is" is existential at the most literal sense of the word existential - "is" is about the existence of something or the state of being at which it currently is existing- a caregiver to a child: "The stove is in the kitchen and it is hot, so if you go out there please don't touch it or you might burn yourself."

     How we phrase things and speak to each other or about our actions can give subtle messages that we may not realize.

     The stove is not a bad evil dangerous thing that is maliciously out to get the child: "don't touch it, like a naughty child, or you might get burnt."

     The stove is a tool that exists in the kitchen and it currently is in the state of "on" which is "hot to the touch" and so a child reasonably deserves a safety warning that the tool in the kitchen is in a state of "hot" and it should not be touched for the purposes of safety. Messages that warn the child with threats or shaming don't educate them about their curiosity about the tool that the caregiver uses occasionally. Children are curious.

     Never mentioning history because it is agreed by a group to be not mentioned by anyone, ever, is cool if everyone is in agreement, but not cool if there is a significant difference of opinion and if sanctions are used to enforce the "not mentioning it ever" policy - controlling what is allowed to be discussed is a sign of dictatorship. 

     Pretending something didn't happen is a child's behavior not an adult's. Not talking about something can be polite, but it can also be a bad thing on which to base policy - what if deep down everyone isn't comfortable about the issue and just not talking about it isn't actually making the situation childishly "all better now." What if the polls only represent the ones who are being allowed to voice their "yes" opinions and everyone else is choosing to voice their opinion in the voting booth? 

     Cognitive dissonance may be used as a tactic by extremely manipulative people to gain and maintain control over other people or children. Narcissism is a personality trait that can be more or less evident in a person's characteristic behaviors, some narcissism is healthy, too much isn't. As a parent or as a person in a relationship of a personal or business nature the manipulation of a narcissist may not be noticed until already caught up in the cycle of loving or flattering attention followed by dismissive neglectfulness and messages of unworthiness. 

     It can be easy to get caught in a cycle of admiring and enjoying the charismatic fun side of a narcissistic person and then feel that they are right about your need to become more "worthy" in whatever way is being implied - which quickly change, as one hurdle is met another is simply added - the point is not to help the person improve. The goal of the extreme narcissist is to make the other person feel unworthy so they will continue to try to please the narcissist by doing what they want or giving them the flattering attention that they need. (G.narcissist manipulation) 

     The more severe narcissistic personality may have once been a defense for a child who found safety in making people laugh or admire daring stunts. More narcissism was found in males than females for two of four sub-categories that were reviewed in a meta-analysis of research on the topic.  Exploitative/Entitlement and Leadership/Authority were facets of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) that were found to be more significantly common in males than females. There was no significant difference found between males and females for the Grandiose/Exhibitionism facet of the NPI or for vulnerable narcissism, another type that isn't included in the NPI which is less similar to the stereotypical mirror loving "narcissist". Vulnerable narcissists have symptoms of low self-esteem, neuroticism and introversion. (G.digitalcommons)

• Of "three facets of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)" the "Exploitative/Entitlement facet (d = .29; k = 44 studies; N = 44,108) and Leadership/Authority facet (d = .20; k = 40 studies; N = 44,739)" were significantly associated, "whereas the gender difference in Grandiose/Exhibitionism (d = .04; k = 39 studies; N = 42,460) was much smaller." Another type, "vulnerable narcissism - marked by low self-esteem, neuroticism, and introversion," was also reviewed and found to be represented fairly equally between the genders, "men and women did not differ on vulnerable narcissism (d = –.04; k = 42 studies; N = 46,735) ."  (G.digitalcommons)

The discussion suggests that the difference may be based on a true difference between the genders but that how boys are raised may also affect their sense of entitlement or leadership.  (G.digitalcommons)

     Child trauma can affect lifelong reaction to stress and cause an increase in cortisol response. (G.PTSD & cortisol) For either gender, levels of testosterone and cortisol have been associated with an increased risk for severe narcissism but not for the other antisocial personality traits. Speculatively then, that could mean there may be potentially treatable health factors involved in narcissistic tendencies that may not be involved in other antisocial traits. Read more:  Testosterone, cortisol and the Dark Triad: Narcissism (but not Machiavellianism or psychopathy) is positively related to basal testosterone and cortisol. (G.researchgate) Having a history of PTSD has been associated with increased risk for intimate partner violence among male Vietnam veterans with PTSD. (G.PTSD domestic violence)

     Family Systems Therapy (G.Family Systems Therapy) was recommended for helping patients and families role play new ways of communicating together with the therapist in the book by Colin Ross about treating patients with severe child trauma. Changing behaviors for one person without addressing an unhealthy group interaction can result in worse problems for the patient or child who is still in the unhealthy setting. Problems can occur when one person in a group tries to change to a style of communication that would be considered "healthy" in normal groups but which might be received as an "attack" by a group that is used to dominating the patient in some way. 

     By role-playing the new ways to communicate with the therapist the family will be expecting the change. They may also learn something in the therapy setting that they might be unwilling or unable to learn from the family member who they are used to only thinking about and seeing in the dominated role that the person had been filling within the group. 

     In neuroscience the term cognitive dissonance is used more specifically to refer to the tendency to change beliefs if actions occur that conflict with previous attitudes. Neural activity was measured during conversation that involved cognitive dissonance and found to consistently occur in two areas of the brain. Read more: Neural Activity Predicts Attitude Change in Cognitive Dissonance,   (G.omicsonline.org) 

     The cognitive effects of music for helping cope with cognitive dissonance to better handle the stress was estimated by measuring how long participants were able to continue working on a test and with how well their results were. Listening to pleasant music during the test that included cognitive dissonance promoting factors of some type, was found to help participants work longer and achieve more correct answers compared to listening to neutral or unpleasant music. Read more: Mozart Effect, Cognitive Dissonance and the Pleasure of Music, (G.music for cognitive dissonance) 

     Cognitive Dissonance in research science is mentioned as a problem in the area of autism research in the book Autism: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Immune Abnormalities, (page 356, 2009)

     The topic of cognitive dissonance in evidence-based medicine by physicians, researchers or unrealistic patient caregivers is discussed in helpful detail with additional resource linked in the article.  Read more: Cognitive Dissonance and Evidence-Based Medicine, (G. skeptvet)

     Thankfully we already have a solution that helps the body overcome the negative effects of oxidative stress and it would be fine for animals or humans. The TV show character Walter "Radar" O'Reilly from MASH may have been getting some extra health benefits from his Grape Nehi - extrasensory benefits though? (G.Radar) Whether or not it helps you sense the future, grape powder may help with recovery from effects of  stress induced by cognitive dissonance - the real thing, 1950's style Grape Nehi, not artificial flavor and colored "drink". Deep purple antioxidant rich grape juice or likely red wine would retain some of the positive phytonutrients more than white wines made from green grapes. 

     However the grape powder used in the research study was made from a mixture of purple, red and green grapes. Quercitin and resveratrol were the most effective antioxidants from the grape powder that was found effective for reducing oxidative stress in an animal based study. The animals were allowed to drink as much of the powder as they wanted in the form of diluted sweet water mix (like grape juice made from actual dried grape powder). (G.grape powder)

     For responsible grape juice drinking - stick to a moderate amount of alcoholic servings if you are of age and mix with some other carbohydrate foods for healthier microbiome and digestive health. Fruit sugar can increase bloating from imbalance in the intestinal microbes. Table sugar or other starches like crackers would provide sugars that feed other types of microbes than those that feed on fructose. Cognitive dissonance and a dislike for conflicting nutrition messages  is understandable. 

     With changes in understanding of health the public have been informed opposite messages about fats and sugars and various health products that turn out to be unhealthy. It's nice that we can still appreciate a glass of grape juice for it's health benefits - and if it has a little table sugar that helps feed a balance of intestinal microbes. Moderation is the key. 

     The 1950's bottle of Nehi soda was small, only 7 ounces. (G.ebay, a vintage oxidized sample - please don't drink this it is a food safety hazard) (G.soda history) Sipping grape juice all day long is not a "serving size" any dietitian I know would recommend. A four to six ounce serving of fruit juice is one serving and provides approximately the same calories as one large apple or medium banana. More concentrated amounts of quercitin and resveratrol are available from a variety of vitamin and herbal supplement companies however then the price per unit becomes costly. The Life Extension Foundation is a company that invests in extensive research and whose products I do use and have found reliably helpful for my symptom management. Other reliable companies exist. 

     A concentrated dark purple fruit juice of various types likely also have antioxidant benefits that would be similar. Adding 2 ounces of a berry concentrate juice to a glass of water would be tangy, adding a tablespoon of table sugar or honey would balance the types of sugars for the intestinal microbes.

     Trust your body not just a bottle or a health care recommendation and consider keeping notes when trying new products. It is easy to forget just how bad you used to feel until you stop taking the supplement and start feeling bad all over again. Do that a few times and you won't need cognitive dissonance to stress you out. Taking notes about symptoms and changes in dosing or frequency of doses can help you remember to take the supplement or new food product and can help you see your progress in fewer negative symptoms or more positive mood days. Record keeping can help make cognitive dissonance less of a problem because  - it is right there in black and white, written down for you to toss out in a week or two or share with a doctor or therapist if you have someone helping you with your health care progress. 

     Taking notes during a lecture was found to be more helpful for achieving better test results than trying to take notes after a lecture. (G.taking notes) Maybe note taking is most helpful during the short term memory phase when the long term memory is still being formed. Cognitive dissonance would likely be challenged by keeping records of events as they are happening. It would be more difficult to try to re-remember things differently in the case of becoming uncomfortable with one's own actions if you had a physical recording of the real event instead of just your memory of the event and that of your family or friends or coworkers. What is history? Whatever we all say it is, but we don't all agree so it is tends to be whatever the majority of history books say.

To bring it back to the beginning - and the question of what the definition of "is" is - I picked up a book I had left at an exciting point and hadn't returned to and there was an answer in neuroscience lingo. The word "is" is about existence and our sense of our place in it. Our ability to recognize emotions in ourselves and in others is a skill that varies for reasons of Nature and Nurture: 

• Nature - physiologic reasons that may have to due with genetics or an imbalance in nutrients or an unhealthy mixture of intestinal microbes 
• Nurture - who well our early childhood caregivers and other adult and peer experiences helped teach us a language for recognizing and discussing emotions - and skills for helping cope with stronger feelings in a way that supports healthy behaviors and healthy self esteem. Using shame and guilt as an educational method to control emotions and behaviors in children or teenagers can lead to problems with their ability to cope with emotions or relationships as an adult.

Returning to neuroscience, alexthymia is a term describing a condition causing difficulty to recognize emotions or to have empathy for others emotions. this isn't "rudeness"  although that is what it would seem like to others - but a general inability to identify emotions at all. The condition can occur with autism but can also be present without other autism symptoms so it is a separate condition. 

     The lingo regarding our ability to recognize our own and others emotions is divided into levels of awareness by "Lambie and Marcel (2002)":

1. First-order experience: the biochemistry level of emotions, "the neurophysiological arousal associated with emotions". (p233, Lyons-Weiler). In other words - if we can measure it in a lab and prove that it exists - then it exists ("it" is the emotion in this example of  what the definition of "is" is: - She "is" happy! Her lab tests showed elevated levels of oxytocin and GABA and serotonin, which are all associated with a positive mood.).
2. Second-order experience: The second level of awareness of emotions is referring to the individual's awareness of the physical arousal associated with our own emotions - recognizing the body language you may be "shouting" without realizing it. The scientific term typically used to describe this specific ability is "interoception." Examples: - My hands are curled into fists, do I want to punch someone? should I or should I walk away? more evaluation is needed - is there danger or just annoyance?; or - My hands want to reach out and touch, am I intimately aroused? or concerned for someone's pain or loneliness? should I touch or should I walk away? - more evaluation is needed: is this a business or social setting; is the person in a vulnerable position where you might be intruding on their ability to say No Thanks?; - etc.
3. Third-order experience: The authors are suggesting that there is a need for third level of awareness of emotions - the awareness of the awareness of the physical signs of emotional arousal. Or in other words the ability to think about what emotions you might be feeling. That is the level described by the term alexthymia and to a lesser degree in many people on the autism spectrum according to the authors of the research article. (page 233, James Lyons-Weiler,, Ph. D. The Environmental And Genetic Causes of Autism, Skyhorse Publishing, 2016, (G.skyhorsepublishing). 

It would be difficult to discuss something you aren't even aware of, whether the feeling is present or not,  if someone isn't sensing it in the way people expect people to "sense" things then how could the person be expected to respond or discuss the feeling that they may be exhibiting in their body language but which their brain isn't recognizing. 

     A blind person isn't expected to understand the difference between "blue" and "green" but might be taught that the sky is considered blue to people with vision and that the grass and leaves on the trees are considered green to people with vision. a body sense of moist cool fresh smelling "green" might eventually develop in a blind person who spends time with "green" growing things. Or a sense of airy calming serenity might develop around the concept of "blue" for a person without vision who spends time walking in fresh air with cool breezes.

     Wise words from many writers over the course of time helps me to stay grounded when cognitive dissonance is disturbing my peace of mind. Serenity is difficult when two opposite beliefs are being forced to try to coexist in the mind. Trying to suppress, or to dislike or disbelieve one of the two conflicting beliefs can be a natural tendency to protect against the discomfort of the clashing truths. Looking to history, looking to wisdom from the ages of brilliant authors helps me identify the core values of human goodness that stand out across time - and which help identify which side of a cognitive dissonance issue to plant my flag.

     So the take home point for a potential health strategy for coping with political cognitive dissonance - skip the artificial fruit drink, of any color, and go straight for the natural grape products, of any color. Health benefits for reducing oxidative stress were found with red, green, or purple grapes. But freshness is important, the oxidized green of the 1950's soda in the image below is not safe and the antioxidant nutrients would have deteriorated to have produced that dark green color, it is the typical shade of oxidized fruit acids. 

     The benefits for coping with oxidative stress caused by cognitive dissonance are in the colorful antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables. And, ideally for a goal of health promotion, look for grape products or resveratrol or quercitin supplements that were made with grapes or other fruits or berries that were grown without artificial herbicides or pesticides. Any deep purple berry or other brightly colored fruit product is likely to have some similar antioxidant benefits to those seen with grapes.

Glad you asked, and a sticker for your cosmic perseverance chart for making this far down the page - the main point is denying our fears or growing up in a family or social system that denies fear and other emotions or other aspects of reality doesn't help us learn how to cope with emotions or other difficulties. Change, or more to the point, adapting to change is the key to survival. The species who are best at adapting to changes in their environment are the species most likely to survive over thousands or millions of years. If we hope to see the human species survive millions of years than we need to become better at accepting each other's differences and work together to create a safe environment for ourselves and other species. 

     Biodiversity - many different types of plants and animals and insects within an ecosystem - has been found to be healthy for the species, less disease is seen in the plants and animals and insects when there is variety living in harmony.

     Infants and adults need a diet that supports all of the body's various nutrient needs and phospholipids/cannabinoids is a need that is supported within the milk of a healthy human mother. Progress has occurred in developing infant formula that is more similar to human milk. The essential fatty acid DHA and arachidonic acid, another fatty acid that can be found in some types of cannabinoids, have been found to help support the brain and eye development of infants. Most commercially available infant formulas now contain the two fats but it is a voluntary addition by the formula companies so read the label if you want to be sure your formula purchase contains DHA and arachidonic acid. (See this review article for more information about the additional fats for infant development.)