Parenting 2

 Turning to technology, we have the negative effects of smart phones; parents' dissatisfaction in their decision-making regarding facilitating smart phones  to their children and creating rules or policies  to combat the issue.Smart phones have "replaced" parents, family, and the socialization of friends and human lovers.  These phones are terrific ,just ask Gen Z’s with their receptive character orientation.  

 AI technology  not only affects socialization , it also affects cognitive development. There has been a dumbing down effect for many, in this country, that's related ,in part, to this technology.  Individuals don't have to take responsibility for their actions as they get their advice and information from AI.

The article, "Thanks to AI, Student  Cheating With AI Is Harder to Detect" dated June 21, 2026 was about plagiarism and cognitive deficits.For instance,  videos all over social media are telling students: to go ahead and let  AI do your homework--with the latest technology  you won't get caught.  These sites show students how to use tools as humanizers  that rewrite AI produced text to make it sound less robotic, formulaic and trite.  Another tool autotypers  drip words and sentences in the documents and even fabricate typos, deletions and revisions. 

 Colleges and K-12 schools are attempting to keep up with  AI detection. But, these apps allow students to generate writing from scratch, humanize text , scan, and replace phrases that could set off AI detectors.  About two thirds of American students are using AI regularly for schoolwork.  According to recent surveys,  it's been said that AI is short-circuiting student learning .Several studies have shown that people who were relying  on AI can experience cognitive offloading, a process in which they've failed to build new skills and/ or their existing skills degrade.

Psychologically speaking, inappropriate and excessive smart phone usage by children and adolescents has been associated with  mental health  and relationship problems,suicide, bullying behaviors and so forth.  According to 1006 members of a Gen Z survey, many young people felt trapped by Tik Tok  and Snap Chat   and nearly all the participants expressed regret about having access to many of the most popular social media platforms. Passive victims without fortitude?

 A national survey of 1013 parents  with children under 18  ,found that many parents gave their children, smart phones and social media access too early; many wished that social media had never been invented and hoped for  new social norms, policies and restrictions .It was also reported that 55% said that the children began  smart phone use  by the age of 12 and 61% said the same about Instagram  and by the age of 13  for Snap Chat. Those decisions were made by? 

A third of the parents  reported social media access  was given too early to their young  children and 22%.agreed regarding  smart phones  as well.  1% of parents said they were ok with  these technologies. A number of rationalizations were employed by the parents,for their inappropriate decisions such as  social pressure and their children would be better prepared for the future  by use of  technology.

Parents are  important when it comes to child development. With that being said, relationships with parents remain, for most children, the most compelling factor in determining the kind of person they become , the kinds of problems they will likely  face and resolve during their lifetime.  In the recent past, there was  pertinent research funding for assessing  parenting styles and  other variables for further understanding its effects  and relationship to child development.  

Today,the harmful effects of  parenting are apparent  with the Gen Z population .Unfortunately there has not been current in-depth or longitudinal research  to evaluate  the association with parenting ,social media and  AI at this time.

Capitalism can only survive with unlimited and excessive consumption. Children are able to manipulate their parents and the parents' response has been to express their “love” by reinforcing the consumption of things and devices. Of course there's  pressure  for everyone to fit in and have what  everyone else has.  Therefore it is not surprising that the knowledgeable technological industry takes advantage  of parental weakness with all its terrific devices.  Apple is just one of the companies making exorbitant profits with  consumers that are becoming more dependent upon . 

One significant factor in early childhood development is  narcissism which begins when the child is psychologically able to first identify with the parent and then learns to separate  from the parent .  With proficient parenting, healthy children have developed secondary narcissism,.With secondary narcissism, the child becomes able to make favorable attachments  or unions to others outside of oneself, if not successful, an unhealthy or toxic degree of narcissism interferes  with developing appropriate object relations . These narcissistic individuals  have difficulty in  looking to others for gratification. It's as if others are perceived as dangerous and to be avoided.

In other words, individuals that tend to have a significant degree of unhealthy narcissism, are extremely comfortable with these devices.  It's no wonder that so many are involved with excessive time spent with these devices.  Not only that, parents allowed their young children access to these devices . And, these electronic devices have interfered and in some cases have prolonged , contributed  and interfered with  developing healthy narcissism which is being able to have human relations with care, empathy, commitment and moral maturity.

Also,it's important to acknowledge the importance  and relationship of the ego's need for affiliation, union and friendship  and the consequences of separation anxiety , loneliness, isolation  and insecurity.  In other words, there's a strong ego need for union and the technological industries are well aware of this need  and have sophisticated advertising strategies in promoting its products. For instance , GenX  individuals have significant, but not surprising , difficulty in meeting the ego need of affiliation with the inorganic . These inorganic devices are not about emotional warmth, understanding , care or love.The devices are responsive to  questions. They do not engage, reach out nor provide significant  human necessities needed.

An article titled "Life Is Better With Siblings" provided input about the importance of  siblings associated  with positive mental health . For instance, older children have the responsibility and opportunities for caring, for understanding and for providing opportunities for teaching the young.  Older siblings can cook, do  laundry and clean and In some ways " replace "the parents.  Significant emotional experiences  with an older sibling are remembered and affect the emotional attachment of their relationship.  Realistically, no, inorganic device can duplicate, let alone replace the learning of empathy.

Technology has produced objects that have  an animistic "life" quality .  These objects are visual, auditory,concrete  and are able to verbally respond based on AI conformity.  The device is  “spiritual” and has a life of its own .In other words,for  many, these devices are  extensions of self. They have  to be attached and  in their possession . Do not leave home without it, and  they are especially stressed when there's some interference in the workings of these devices.

Furthermore, in addition to all sorts of psychological problems for the Gen Z population associated with these devices , also include the epidemic of loneliness.  Once again, it’s the importance of the  fulfillment  of ego's need of affiliation, which is to be able to enjoy, cooperate , reciprocate with another; as well as pleasing ,winning affection and remaining loyal as well.  With loneliness, there's failure to connect with the other despite the fact of the anxiety of being alone.  Of course ,those that are lonely because of the anxiety have additional psychological issues attributed to their inability to meet that important ego need.  In other words, technological devices have contributed to loneliness as people become more comfortable with their devices as opposed to  establishing significant relationships with others.  Unfortunately, people in the culture become associated with excessive conformity. It's no wonder that  we have an excessive amount of hate ,greed and lack of empathy when  toxic narcissism prevails within our inorganic technological society.

Reference

Fromm,Erich . Man For Himself An Inquiry Into The Psychology Of Ethics.

PS

Thom  Darden and I have been invited by the University of Michigan Alumni to host a webinar regarding Bo's Warriors.  The event is scheduled for August 16, a Sunday, at 1 PM Pacific coast time.  To register for the event .  

https://umalumni.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1QUS00000C3rAX2AZ

Parenting 1

 

Freud emphasized child rearing experiences in his biological model of personality formation.  Neo-Freudians such as Adler, Horney Fromm, others and more recently Erikson  placed additional emphasis on the influence of society, economics ,religion and politics  on the developing personality. Since  the Middle Ages,  the Renaissance and the Reformation,the  family, social , political ,religious ,technological, and economic forces affecting man's development have changed  significantly . This brief disquisition associates the impact of today's society and technology affecting child rearing on  the development of the Gen X personality. An article titled "There Is a Way to Bring Back Childhood “in the June 22, 2025 edition of The New York Times was pertinent.

Early on, the religious ideas of Luther and Calvin pointed to a powerful authoritarian God who had unrestricted power over man. And man was taught to accept his powerlessness and evilness. But,  he could atone for his sins only by his submission to God. The  idea of God has altered but not the authoritarian -slave-dynamic economically and politically.

A compulsion to work ,passion for thrift and a sense of duty were ,early on, significant character traits  necessary and important tendencies for production  and profit in the rapidly developing capitalistic economy. With that being said, at one time multiple children were  reared  traditionally by both a mother and father and mother was a stay at home mom.The children learned and incorporated their beliefs and responsibilities to God, to each other and to others  as in the Golden Rule..

It’s clear that economically and psychologically, capitalism is predicated on  profitable consumption; meeting of  physiological needs ;perpetuating  the demand and desire for things, items,and objects ;searching for and pursuing  happiness,  “the American Dream;”power ,possession and status.  Briefly, it's  supply ,demand , profit and consumption.

Back in the day, I was reared by mom and dad and lived with my two sibs.  Dad worked outside the home and mom remained at home and ran the household.  Economically , dad provided for  our family on his  salary.  Mom,Bev,  Ron and I had breakfast together-dad had left for work; we  kids had lunch at school and the entire family ate dinner together .  That was  also the norm for  my  neighbors - Klaus,Noseda,Morrison,Russo, Forsyth, Pringle and Peppler families. I was cognizant about religion, economics, socialization, education and preparing for a career.  Plus,my grandparents resided nearby and all my aunts, uncles and cousins  on mom's side lived in Detroit as well .

Later, child rearing changed  because of parents chasing the economic propaganda of "Keeping up with the Jones ;" the rate of divorce  increased; moms entered the work force  and  children were saddled with multiple caretakers.  These  changes had a disastrous effect on the child's emotional,intellectual , moral and behavioral development . Other influences occurred like diminished church attendance ,  scandals; political ineptness and division ; numerous military involvements  and  a war on drugs as well.  Additionally, homeland freedoms diminished;  income discrepancy flourished ; homelessness; poverty ,  debt and  young adults  not being able to leave home increased ; school achievement declined  while college became unaffordable and technology became the new "god."

To make matters worse, remote work also contributed to isolation and a deterioration in mental health as individuals felt lless connected.Further, Plato warned us about wealth disparity and in the Republic stated that “ significant wealth disparity is not a state at all  but rather  two states, the  one of poor, the other of rich men , and they are living on the same spot and always conspiring against one another.”

Within the changes previously mentioned, a receptive character orientation tendency was developing and also being reinforced by  capitalism and its technology. This receptive  character orientation requires support from the outside-parents, friends, consensus, authorities, God and authoritarians.  Because the person believes that the only way to get what he wants, be it material, affection, love, knowledge, pleasure, etc. is to receive it from that outside source.  In other words, in this orientation , the problem of love is almost exclusively that of "being loved" and not that of loving.  

These people tend to be indiscriminate in their choice of the love objects and they "fall for anybody or anything that gives them love or what looks like love.”If intelligent, they make the best listeners since  their orientation is one of receiving.  It is the characteristic of these individuals and their first thought is to find somebody else or something else to give them that needed information or input rather than to make even the smallest effort to find the answer on their own. And,they are proficient at rationalizing their behavior.

Their critical thinking has been replaced and their reliance on memory has been greatly reduced.  Intellectually they are most susceptible , follow consensus and rely on someone or something else for decision making .

By themselves, these people feel helpless and alone.  However, they are also optimistic, friendly, loving when things go well, but easily become anxious and distraught with any rebuff or equivocation on the part of authorities because  they depend on the strength of their masters for their security and well-being even if the masters are selfish , exploitative , sadistic, don’t care and cruel.

These individuals also find consolation in eating, drinking, smoking  and the dream of being fed as a sign of being loved-issues with obesity come to mind.  This group is easily exploited by misleading advertising with its fast food bargains.  In other words, the power of the  food , nutrition and health industries are easily able to exploit their consumers.  Further, there’s a plethora of get rich  schemes;  well-being and happiness books  advertised and an excess   of  electronic apps and gadgets available for these vulnerable characters. We even have a gadget that allows us to remain seated while changing TV channels .

To be continued.

Amorality

 

About 5,786 years ago, according to the  Old Testament , Moses wrote God’s  10 commandments. In Exodus or  the second book, written in stone ,were Commandment V111 'You shall not steal "'and Commandment 1X “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. "  Both  commandments clearly and concretely describe negative, inappropriate interpersonal interactions  according to God's  moral precepts for righteous living.  Yet, turning to today's  politics and culture, it is obvious  that those two commandments seem irrelevant at times . A few synonyms for lie  to consider include deceive, fool,trick, mislead ,delude,fabricate  and falsehood Also, synonyms for steal include theft, larceny, thievery, pilfer, loot, embezzle,cheat, and take.The following provides  some of the motivations concerning both lying and stealing .

In Sigmund Freud's model, in a condensed version, conscience is formed in the superego early on and is related to  both the Oedipal complex and the development of the ego ideal.And specifically, initial helplessness of the child leads to feelings of inferiority and compensatory strivings for power. 

Parents are the main sources for gratification of needs ,safety and love resulting in dependence for the young child. The loss of affection ,love and safety results in significant fear that’s associated with the parental behaviors .Inherently, it’s all about the child’s  identification as he incorporates the wishes and demands of his parents.

This lays the groundwork for the development of a   conscience  which becomes the  super ego’s inner voice of the parents and cultures  moral values . Essentially, the young child learns and incorporates  ,with internalization, the means of how to  gain  approval and love   as well as how to avoid disapproval and the loss of love based on his actions .Doing what the parents dictates for right and wrong generally leads to affection, safety and belonging .

Fundamentally, it’s about the interpersonal interactions between child and parent that  superego(conscience) . And, depending on a history of  consequential experiences , is the voice of one’s conscience gentle and friendly when it comes to right and wrong or does  the conscience  become severe and cruel ? In other words, there can be a serious failure -irrationality in superego development, especially with an internal image of a troubled parent , parents or others  that’s associated with antisocial character tendencies.  And as an adult, that's usually coupled with inadequate inner controls which leads to destructive , deplorable  and narcissistic behavior .

Anna Freud categorized three types of lying.  First, delinquent lying was a deliberate attempt to gain advantage and to avoid punishment.  Second, innocent lying was being unable to separate inner and outer reality which is objective untruth, but valid from an individual's viewpoint, perhaps from ignorance.  Third, fantasy lying  was a wish to believe  in one's own  fabrication.  Obviously there is some connection between the three categorizations.

In the conscience ( right & wrong) is learned ,developed and highly related to the family dynamics  For instance, 1.  Is there an accomplice in the lies?   When the phone rings and asks for dad,and dad  tells his son  "tell him I'm not here ? “ Does mother say  regarding  spending money , "don't tell your father."  2.  Do the rules for truthfulness differ between what's told in the family versus what's told outside the family? Lying also requires an audience.3. Are the lies a cover up for not knowing - a fear of failure  exposing inadequacy ?

 

Psychologically, the superego’s, right from wrong,  can be easily overridden or ignored with intoxication from drugs , alcohol,  internal desires , peer group pressure , some code or belief ,  group consensus or because it comes from  a powerful flamboyant  narcissist.

Extensive lying is associated with a sense of personal weakness , fear of loss of control and/or personal sense of inadequacy.  Trump’s history of lying ,his individual experiences , and his lack of discomfort with his untruthfulness.Is well documented. He shows no remorse and doesn’t accept any responsibility for all of his lies,misinformation and deceit .Many of his lies seem related to his lack of  knowledge .

 Trump , however, when  emotionally disturbed,  aggressively  attacks, avoids or walks out, from the “fake media “ reporters especially  questions regarding  Epstein,tariffs,Iran , Biden . stolen elections and his grift .He denies and does not take any responsibility for his deceitful behavior.

Trump is a master at deceiving himself  as he believes in his fabrications and provides emotionally unimportant  statements which are not factually true. Pseudologia means that he goes to considerable trouble to make his stories plausible, including facts and inferences which lend a surface ferocity to it. His election lies are just one example .

With his excessive lying , he employs an extensive use of denial which interferes with logical thinking and is a predisposition for his aggressively verbally  acting out behaviors and his constant flip flopping responses. He’s full of contradictions and difficult to follow But, behaviorally he’ s accumulated more money  since 2025  ( last 18 months) than  in his entire lifetime of deceit .

With television and social media technology, the code of untruthfulness is internalized in the political attitude.  Constantly, so-called news programs conduct interviews with politicians.  Rarely does the politician answer the question but  instead presents his own talking points irrespective of the truth or question .  George Orwell's  1984 novel  brilliantly described the doubletalk by their Ministry of Truth  with 3 party slogans - War Is Peace; Freedom  Is Slavery and Ignorance  Is Strength.  Orwell’s relevance is paramount to today.And that “prediction” was written as recently as 1949.

A few comments about stealing . Our society places a tremendous value on money and the wealthy are easily able to protect their own from the consequences. Again, right and wrong begins with the superego in early childhood. What behaviors do the  parents  consistently reinforce  ?

From a developmental point of view:1. What is the extent of emotional deprivation for the child ?  Stealing can  be an “equalization” and/ or a substitution for affection-"I'm entitled."  Stealing behavior maintains the fiction of being loved 2.Does the stolen object provide security or meet some other ego need? 3.  Is stealing an act of revenge and easy because the enemy may be regarded as weak?  4.  Does stealing curry favor from the peer group or group at large ? 5.  Is stealing an act of bravado or some initiation ritual ? 6.  Is stealing an act of moral conduct ? Stealing from another is not ok but stealing or cheating the government ,insurance company is ok.  7.  Is stealing  associated with a  getting even behavior ,with parents  8. Is stealing   a projection of one's own hostility onto others in which they view others as exploitive, unreliable,  or just not worthy? 9. Is stealing an act to deprive,humiliate  and dominate ? 

Generally, stealing  behavior is often related to underlying depression and/or emptiness ;of  impotent fantasies which leads to alienation of and toward  others.  It appears that Trump and his governmental  cohorts are in fact rigid, empty , hostile  and exploitative.  Therefore , it’s not surprising that they would project on to others as being inferior, not worthy aliens and not deserving. Their  stealing policies result in excessive discrimination and not caring about the consequences, as long as they hold the power. 

Victor Hugo's Les Miserables  tells the story of Jean Valjean  and his experience with the law because he stole a loaf of bread to feed his sister's seven starving children.  Today's story with Trump and the billionaires demonstrates their toxicity and their inhumanity  toward so many and how the powerful avoid  negative consequences.

Trump, his family, his cabinet, his senators, his congressmen, his Supreme Court , his billionaires and Musk   all have a basic personality of emotional characterological  tendencies  and actions associated  consciously or unconsciously with passions of greed, exploitation, mendaciousness and thievery.  At this juncture, conscience, commandments, hell, incarceration, fines, and the rule of law have been inconsequential or moot .  Will any form of righteous justice ever occur  for these repugnant sycophants in our galaxy ?   

During Trump's first term as president, he’s made over 30,573 false or misleading statements .Since 2025, Trump  made over 21,000 security trades valuing between $600million - to 1.86 billion dollars according to Chat GPT.

.Reference

Disturbance of Development.  Basic Handbook of Child Psychiatry.

Thom  Darden and I have been invited by the University of Michigan Alumni to host a webinar regarding Bo's Warriors.  The event is scheduled for August 16, a Sunday, at 1 PM Pacific coast time.  To register for the event 

https://umalumni.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1QUS00000C3rAX2AZ 

Gen Z

 

Today's essay has to do with the recent conversation that Linda and I had with a  Gen Z young man.  Karl Marx's ideas regarding management, labor and alienation and Sigmund Freud's concept of transference are pertinent.

Alienation refers to the psychological process in which humans become alien, at odds, in their thinking, feeling, and loving with other humans. Marx's concern was that under the conditions of capitalism,man became estranged from his own creative powers and the object of his work became alien to him . He became an anonymous, insignificant  number .These objects   eventually ruled over him and became powers independent of him.  "Labor exists for the purpose of production and not the process of production for the labor."  

 For Marx, socialism was never about the equalization of income.  It was essentially emancipation from alienation and not inequality of money.  An increase  in “wages" becomes  a better remuneration of slaves and would not restore ,either the worker to  the work  or their human  significance and worth . “ The division between labor and management interferes with the ability of man to connect with himself and develop his powers in order to be able to love and respect himself and the ability to love and respect others.  In other words,  alienation transformed man into a thing as well as making him a slave of things in our society of consumption

Marx  was concerned with the liberation of man from the kind of non challenging work which destroyed his individuality, which transformed him into a thing  and which made him into the slave of things.  It was a mode of production that destroyed individuality and enslaved man in the process.   And one consequence of this division was that the worker became poorer . And, the more the worker expended himself in work, the more powerful the world of objects that he had created  becomes .This results in him becoming poorer in his inner life and the less he belongs to himself .In other words, the object of  his production  is alien and hostile to man by mindless ,boring repetition  and his powerlessness and insignificance in the process.

In  the handicraft world, the worker made use of the tools and now it's the other way around - it’s the machines that make use of him.  In other words, at one time man was autonomous and created things with the use of tools but now it's the machine that becomes more omnipotent and significant .Man is now a cog, a thing , a non -enity in the production .

For Marx, socialism was a society in which the man experienced himself as the subject of his own powers and was able emancipate himself from the bondage of  things and circumstances In order to more fully develop a sense and capacity for love of self and the love for others 

Today in our capitalistic  consumption technological society, the worker, although needed for production, is becoming less, and less valued.  For example, an article in the June 14, 2026 edition of The New York Times was titled "Billionaires Billions Are Increasing Faster Than Ever."  That article described how the richest families and stockholders are increasing their political influence; why the rapid rise in wealth and  that the billionaires are accelerating their wealth  at the same time that the workers are getting a smaller share of the profits.  In other words, businesses have shifted the balance of power in the economy, allowing owners rather than workers to gobble up more financial rewards.  The top 0.1% of Americans, a group  of about 135,000 households own stocks, that total 13.7 trillion nearly double owned by the bottom 90% of Americans , a group of about 115 million households. And workers have less freedom, power because of the dominance, exploitation and unfair tax codes .

Essentially, man is becoming increasingly poor, even though there’s  an increasing need for money and this need for money is a real need created by the modern  capitalistic economy. In our society ,this only creates excess and  as a result greed for the favored but  exploitation, deprivation and alienation for the others. It’s the  commodity, the  possessions , the power  in how man relates himself and his status. The cliche “The one with the most and biggest toys wins.”

Our  society of consumption  affects man's tendencies.  For example, within a receptive  character orientation,the person feels that the source of all good comes from the outside.  He believes that the only way to get what he wants- something material , affection, love, knowledge,and/or   pleasure is to receive it from an outside source.  This results in seeking  a magic helper ; being loyal and dependent on others for knowledge , support ,making decisions and taking responsibility. On the negative side, man can be penniless, submissive, insecure, lacking self confidence, unrealistic , gullible and  wishful .

A brief story about our personable young man follows: 1.Homeschooling began around high school.  2.  He lives at home with his adopted parents  on farm-like property on  15 acres 3.  He said that college was expensive and that recent  college graduates can't find employment.  Currently there is a $1.6 trillion outstanding debt from federal student loans from 42 million people.  More than 5 million of these borrowers have not made a payment in the past 360 days, are in default and an additional 4 million are in what is called “late stage delinquency.”  The New York Times, April 27, 2025.  3.  He is learning to be a phlebotomist.  4.  He has had one date in his life that occurred at a coffee shop.  He said he's afraid of girls.  5.  He has an iPhone 6. He has reading difficulties . 7.  Everything is expensive except the foods that are not  healthy .8. Both  of his parents passed by the time  he was 5 years of age.His older brother was also  adopted shortly by the same parents. There are other adoptees in the home .9. He voted for Trump . On a 1-10 scale  to measure being surprised  by Trump’s not following through on campaign promises  with 10 being   the most  surprised he said ,he’s   a number 6.  A lot of people are fed up with the Democrats and won’t vote .10. He attends  a Christian church and believes in Jesus .11. He began weight lifting at age 13 because he was skinny.14. He doesn’t pay for room and board but is responsible for the total costs associated with his car.

According to an article in the New York Times June 22, 2025 "There is a Way to Bring Back Childhood,"  stated excessive smart phone usage by children and adolescents has been associated with mental health problems, suicide, depression, bullying behavior ,reduced dating, less  marriage,  fewer having children, and a plethora of problems associated with cognitive decline. 

 In a Gen Z survey ,many young people felt trapped by Tik Tok ,Snap Chat  and other avenues in which nearly all the participants expressed regret about having access to many of the most popular social media platforms.  Many of these parents gave their children smart phones and social media access too early; wished that social media had never been vetted and hoped for new  external social norms, policies and restrictions.Too late mom, too late.

Our young  man has been subjected to homeschooling ,living in a rural area and primarily relying on parents and siblings for his socialization along with his electronic devices.  In other words, his world, his socialization ,outside family , and opportunities for interacting with others has been limited with  reliance  primarily on consuming technology.

 Electronics has interfered with the meeting of ego needs and have replaced humans for comfort,security,acceptance, permissiveness  and reduction of separation anxiety. His socialization has  been disrupted ,his experiences have  been limited in dealing with others, but instead  has tended to rely upon technology with all its  toxic  lies and misinformation. 

Essentially, the inorganic , became a transference on a “thing” that represents the human qualities of power,love, acceptance, knowledge,safety,connection  and expertise -the  emotional deficits he experienced early on . And, as a result these objects psychologically  artificially “provide “  him with those qualities .However, this technology  did not and does not endow him with human or realistic emotional experiences but instead , he relies on the consumption of technological and social media responses that are programed on the  statistical averages  of the algorithms along with preponderance of misinformation ,prejudice  and deceit provided by AI.

Also ,other emotional deficits pertain to him as he is lacking in the capacity and readiness for intimacy.  Currently, he is unable to commit to concrete affiliations , reciprocate, to please and receive affection ,to remain loyal and  to follow through despite many differences.   And, has been unable to face his female fears  at this point, to  engage in close affiliations, sexual unions and close friendships.  The inability to meet the ego need of affiliation experiences leads him to isolation , self absorption and reliance on the inorganic for comfort in order to reduce his separation anxieties..  Unfortunately, in order to engage, he has to overcome those psychic difficulties with humans whose essence, at this time , seems dangerous and counter intuitive to his own survival.

Cognitively speaking, a relevant article titled "Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good" was found in the August 3, 2025 edition of the New York Times.  The writer pointed out that smart phones are breeding a new kind of inequality that's bad for democracies. For instance, individuals are reading less and literacy scores have declined significantly.  Nearly half of Americans read zero books in 2023.

Important brain activity, found in the analytic left hemisphere is related to capacity for concentration, linear reasoning, deep critical thinking and executive functions which are severely and negatively associated with this technology.  Also,  rich kids spend less time on their screens compared to the poor kids which also places them in a better position to enter the knowledge intensive industries that focus on thinking, reasoning, and are associated with higher pay.  Another concern was that  this  cognitive dumbing down favors oligarchs that  easily manipulate our citizens with their contradictory double talk , simplistic , irrational  and  populist brain rot  messaging .Essentially “smart” phones and these Mega rich types  are propagating an  additional inequity that’s detrimental for cognitive and emotional development .

PS

Fromm, Erich.  Marx's Concept of Man.

Thom  Darden and I have been invited by the University of Michigan Alumni to host a webinar regarding Bo's Warriors.  The event is scheduled for August 16, a Sunday, at 1 PM Pacific coast time.  To register for the event 

https://umalumni.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1QUS00000C3rAX2AZ 

Satisfaction

 

This essay is based on a May 5, 2025 article titled “Satisfaction “ found in the New York Times.  Happiness can be defined as a state of being; happy as in joy which is the feeling, or state of well-being and contentment.  A few synonyms of joy include enjoyment, pleasure , gladness, bliss joyfulness, blissfulness ,felicity, euphoria, glory ,satisfaction, ecstasy and intoxication.  In other words, there are many words associated with  happiness.  Therefore, an operational definition of happiness is necessary for any research.  In this essay I will address happiness  along with anxiety and affiliation.

There have been many studies of satisfaction and happiness employing a diversity of subjects.  One study began in 1938 at Harvard that included John F. Kennedy and Ben Bradlee. A short summary of results follows: 1.  Youth and modest life aspirations were key components to happiness as well as the person's mindset  2 .Happy people tended to refrain from comparing themselves with others ; had  a more positive perception of others ; found ways to be satisfied with a range of choices and did not dwell on the negatives 3.  Performing five acts of kindness resulted in students being happier by the end of six weeks 4.  Students contemplating ,once a week , the things for which they  were grateful .  5.  Happiness happens to people by virtue of their genes and circumstances are both 6.  Finding purpose in serving others. ; spending time and being connected to others.  7.  Having smaller points of connection throughout the day also leads to happiness.  And it's important every day to connect with other humans.  8.  Happy people seem to engage in religious observance, socializing and exercising.  9 Happy people spend less time alone every day 9.  Those in happy marriages, socializing with others in their circle contributed to their happiness 10.  Those in pain or ill health reported that spending time with their spouses seemed  to protect them from the mood of dampening effects of physical suffering 11.  People who scored highest on measures of attachment to their spouses were also the ones who reported the highest levels of happiness.  12.  The best predictor of a couple's overall well-being in their old age was how happily married they were at age 50.  12.  Happy people spent less time alone than unhappy people.  13.  Even interacting with strangers in public transit seemed to help people get a mood boost.

These studies suggest, because we are social animals, that "happiness" is related to interpersonal contact, connections and relationships.  With that being said, picture the following connections.  The sperm connects with the egg and it's called fertilization.  In the placenta is the mother's umbilical cord which is a conduit or connection between the developing embryo or fetus in the placenta.  Turning to psychology is the occurrence of the birth trauma which is a separation between the mother and newborn.  This trauma is the first separation between mother and baby, which results in anxiety and trauma from the influx of stimulus for that newborn.  Freud called the birth trauma ,the prototype of anxiety as it's the first reality signaling a dangerous situation.  In fact, Heidegger stated that mere anxiety was the source of everything.

Following birth, we have a multitude of significant and important connections and separations with the interplay between mother and baby.  That infant "learns" over time as to whether or not that mother can be trusted for nurturance, safety, protection and comfort.  If there are positive reinforcements occurring, a preponderance of positive reinforcements result in a sense and expectations of trust.  Thus, with a positive sense of trust becomes a favorable association or connection between the two, and, importantly, that infant baby emotionally develops a favorable interpersonal expectation that can generalize to others.  In other words, an interpersonal connection becomes established, and if that emotionally close connection becomes severed ,anxiety and a threat occurs .In other words, separation anxiety begins about six months, especially after that close bond or connection between mother and child.

The relationship or association between affiliation and anxiety has also been studied in depth .In one research,  Schechter studied female college students and subjected them to either high or low anxiety.  He found that high anxiety subjects chose to wait with others as opposed to being alone.  In other words, he concluded that anxiety leads to affiliative behaviors. Sarnoff and Zimbardo found that placing one group of subjects under a strong fear of shock resulted in more of a desire to affiliate with others compared to  those under low fear.  It should be noted that affiliative behavior is associated and based on anticipating past successful experiences that reduce  the discomfort of anxiety.

It's not surprising that psychologists , philosophers and others have identified the association of anxiety and affiliation for man's survival.  Of course, being with a positive other is more productive to reduce anxiety than being with a negative individual. Being with another is one way to  reduce anxiety as is sex,drugs,alcohol,and various other activities.  It's the belonging that reduces  anxiety and that offers a key for obtaining a sense of  happiness , enjoyment, pleasure , and satisfaction.

Stories, songs,  novels etc. have described a variety of significant  positive and negative interpersonal relationships .. The  stress ,anxiety , conflict , loss and intense emotional feelings in the stories of  Samson and Delilah; Helen and Teseus; Cleopatra and Antony; Abelard and  Heloise   come to mind as well as with  Taylor and Burton; Dr. Zhivago and Laura; Butler and O'Hara; and Bogart and Bergman.  Song lyrics  such as “Will You Love Me Tomorrow, “  “When Will I Hold You Again”and “ ,The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “ I Can’t Live without You” are three examples .  The novelist John Steinbeck’s portrayal  of Lennie and  George from  “ Of Mice and Men “ and brothers Cain and Abel  from East of Eden depict stress,anxiety ,separation and conflict are other illustrations pertaining to  human connections.The most intense and most desirable passion between humans is love and with  separation -anxiety, it's not surprising to find in a long-term relationship that the death of one is shortly followed by the other. 

Affiliation is one of the ego needs described by Murray.  He defined it: To draw near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate with an allied other-and others who resemble the subject or who likes the subject.  To please and win affection of a cathected.  To adhere and remain loyal to a friend.  In other words, affiliation is one of our ego needs.  And ,successful gratification  with significant connections as in being loved,liked ,cared for and appreciated  leads to a reduction in anxiety with positive emotions which is just one of the variables associated with well-being.   However, it's clearly an important need to be gratified and one of the best ways to  protect against fear, anxiety ,terror and loneliness .

I prefer to use the term well-being. or eudaimonia  In describing my motivation.  I take into account  growth ,development and individuation while making  choices  pursuant to mind and body ; gratifying important ego needs while being productive with meaning, purpose , care,respect,responsibility and understanding especially with loved ones .  It's clear that  the pursuit of happiness is  short-lived and paradoxically results in self deception, illusion and irrationality. And that happiness is not found with the pursuit  for power,prestige or   possessions. Well-being is related to a  tendency, and a character orientation .

 PS

Thom  Darden and I have been invited by the University of Michigan Alumni to host a webinar regarding Bo's Warriors.  The event is scheduled for August 16, a Sunday, at 1 PM Pacific coast time.  To register for the event 

https://umalumni.my.site.com/s/lt-event?id=a1QUS00000C3rAX2AZ

Brain Size

 

The preponderance of  stereotypes ,lies  and bigotry put forth by sadistic, hateful, and greedy individuals continues today, especially by the “right “on social media.  An article in the January 25, 2026 edition of The New York Times titled Genetic Data of Children Misused for  " Race Science" described the misuse and falsification of data collected from the NIH.

A  right "researcher" tricked and falsified innovative NIH safeguards for his particular " study." NIH  provided  data for his article from the genetic research with children that were tracking brain development and that  research would result in discoveries about DNA’s impact on behavior and disease.  The NIH also promised to safeguard the sensitive data from the children. He lied and misused the information .

 According to the article.  This professor essentially misused information based on IQ scores for the purpose of  claiming that biological differences occurred , in intelligence ,between races 1. He ranked ethnicities by IQ scores and concluded that black people earn less because they are not very smart.  2.  This professor's actions resulted in him getting fired from his  teaching position  3. His falsified results  were broadcasted by conservative commentators and placed on social media.  3.He violated NIH guidelines.  4.  And his simplistic  research and conclusions were debunked  by credible authorities .

Unfortunately, the article did not provide research methodology  used by this bogus researcher.  A few comments about IQ testing.  1.  In the past , there was misuse of IQ test results  by placing individuals in institutions. based on inaccurate testing results .2  Also,there are numerous IQ tests which means that the intelligence quotient is based on the theory of the test originator.  In other words, each IQ test is based on separate,similar  or different  variables   3.  The test sample is also a factor.  For example, the WISC IQ test was based primarily on  white middle-class children. 4.  Each IQ test has a designated age range.  5. Emotional,and psychological issues,at  the time of testing, also affect IQ scores .

Intelligence is a product of complex interactions of numerous hereditary and environmental forces.  It is difficult to sort out the specific  contributions of each.  Research suggests that social class and early rearing impacts IQ performance. 

Arthur Jensen, in his studies ,concluded that heredity accounts for approximately 80% of variation in IQ scores with an average score of whites scoring 10 to 15 points above blacks.  However,in another study, with 38 pairs of identical twins reared in different environments , they found an average     IQ  difference of 14 points for at least 25% of the twins suggesting the importance of environment because identical twins reared together have statistically significant similar  IQ scores .

Note ,that authors of IQ tests  have selected test  items that have discriminated between children of the same age who were successful academically compared with those who had low grades.  As this was a major criterion for including items in the test, it is not surprising that IQ scores are highly correlated with grades in school and college. Essentially socioeconomic differences  is a major variable that differentiate IQ scores between children .In other words,   poor black and and poor white children score significantly below that of middle-class children.

 I administered the WISC IQ test in order to assess emotional issues for a better understanding  of the patient based on the responses of the child on the 11 subtests .  Each of the 11 subtests on the WISC has a description of what each scale attempts to assess, measure and reveal .  In other words, an IQ test provided a considerable amount of information in assisting to understand that particular child irrespective of an IQ score.

There are differences in brain size and, in fact, the Neanderthals had the largest brain size.  The  adult Homo sapien  brain weight is about 3 pounds, has about 100 billion neurons and about 100 trillion synapses  Neurons have three parts- dendrites, cell body and axons .Dendrites take in  information  and axons send out information. Neurons can have as many as 20,000 dendrites and axons .

  Simply put, the size of an individual's brain is a weak predictor of intelligence as Einstein’s brain weighed about 10%,less than the average male adult.

The density of the concentration of nerve cells influences the speed and efficiency of information processing, it’s the  functional complexity related to the cerebral cortex. The relationship between  gray and white matter determines overall cognitive capacity. The working efficiency of these neural networks rather than the bulk of the organ relates to  complex thought. And it takes about 20 years to reach neurological maturity.

Variation in brain size is related to genetics. 70-90% of variability such as nutrition, especially during early childhood when the human brain's metabolic requirements consume up to 66% of the body's resting metabolic energy should be considered.  And ,environmental factors such as chronic disease or exposure to toxins can also impact brain development. 

Usually men's brains are bigger than women's brains.  Around age 20 ,the brains of men and women begin to shrink over time with aging.  There is some evidence that men's brains shrink at a more advanced age of 65-95 compared to women.  And, differences in brain size between men and women do not differ significantly in intelligence or IQ scores although they use different parts of their brains to achieve the same scores.  For example, women seem to have a better developed left hemisphere "social" brain with better language and personal perception or social behavior  that’s related to better cognition of facial emotional expression.

Trying to prove that brain size is associated with "success" is ridiculous.  Yes, there can be statistical correlations between an infinite number of variables . But a correlation is only an association and associations  do not prove cause and effect. 

Does  the trillionaire  Musk have the largest brain in the world?   Success can be defined as accomplishment of an aim, or purpose; attainment of fame, wealth or social status or the good or bad outcome of an undertaking. Musk is financially successful . Is Elon Musk’s brain size larger than Einstein's?  Is Trump’s brain size  larger than Hitler’s, Epstein's or Stalin's?   

Genetics,  family, socioeconomics,environmental, psychological, political,religious and philosophical are  some of the variables to consider when defining success .  The books "It Has Nothing To Do With Age"  and "Bo's Warriors  Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football" provide numerous examples of these successful characterological  athletic individuals, during their life’s journey meeting their ego needs . Parenting, executive ego functions, decision making, emotional and moral factors are  some of the factors associated with success . Or, according to Maslow, those individuals who are self-actualized have reached the top of his hierarchy of needs .  Also , there’s a poor correlation between  income and measures of happiness.

PS

One study of Einstein's brain found that his prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes were unusually well developed with densely packed  neurons.  These areas are associated with abstract thinking,mathematical skills and spatial reasoning. Einstein believed that he thought visually rather than verbally.  And, Edward H Rulloff, a noted medical doctor and criminal had the second largest brain recorded on record.

Furthermore, another greedy,lying  racist  in the 19th century promoted phrenology.  He maintained that he could identify 37 portions of the brain, each responsible for a certain type of temperament  and that African skulls were thicker than those of Caucasians because black people had less brain activity.

Reference

Cerebral Dominance  .The Left & Right Brain .  Institute for Natural Resources.

Glasser, Alan J and Zimmerman,Ira Lee.  Clinical Interpretation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. 

TRT

 

What to Know About the New Obsession With Testosterone as a Lifestyle Drug" was found in the May 24, 2026 edition of The New York Times.  The article highlighted how testosterone went from a heavily regulated medical treatment to a lifestyle drug for millions of men seeking to compensate for their feelings of inferiority and insecurity regarding their irrational understanding of  masculinity.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone also found in  females.  This male sex hormone is produced in the testicles and secreted by the testes.  Major aspects of testosterone include: 1.  Promotes libido aggressiveness and sexual desire.  2 .Stimulates the growth of certain organs.  3 .Promotes protein anabolism. 4 .Stimulates sperm production.  5.  Nourishes all tissues of the male urinary and reproductive systems.  6.  Regulates the production of prostaglandin, which seems to keep prostate growth under control.

Levels of testosterone gradually drop in men over time .However,it's estimated that testosterone levels in 20% of men after age 50 will drop to abnormally low levels and these hormonal changes result in impotency and/or libido problems.  It's also known that testosterone production is affected by a number of external factors such as illness, medications, psychological states, obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Also, factors such as reduced activity, nutritional deficiency, diabetes, growth hormone deficiency can also contribute to lower levels of testosterone .

Men diagnosed with hypogonadism, a loss of sex drive/inability to maintain an erection; fatigue; irritability; depressed mood; aches and pains in the joints; dry skin; osteoporosis; loss of weight; absent or regression of secondary sexual characteristics  have received  appropriate medical TRT treatment.  Further  TRT  studies of men  with  a hypogonadism diagnosis aged 55 and older have reported better sexual performance , initiation of sexual intercourse and increased ability to maintain an erection.

In the article, Kennedy Jr.called the declining world wide levels of testosterone over decades an existential  threat to humanity.  With that being said , Trump , Oz,Hegseth,Cristine and others are  behind TRT(testosterone replacement therapy).  Also on board are other Trump media faithfulls .

In fact, it's even promoted as an antiaging treatment by some. Additionally, there are many young men ,without a hypogonadism condition , purchasing the steroid hormone from doctors online, clinics and even unregulated underground labs. These individuals  continue to use this  drug, irrespective of the  health risks.  Some complain that they can't get the drug from their doctors so they find other sources.  And these younger individuals are pursuing this  drug to compensate for their incompleteness  by employing  defense mechanisms to justify their actions.

Drugs and sports go hand in hand and are hardly an issue for professional athletes and bodybuilders.  Barry Bonds, José Canseco, Lance Armstrong, Roger Clemens,Mark McGwire, Sammy Sousa  etc. are just a few  and are no strangers to drug use.  Bill Pearl, Mr. America, Mr. California ,a bodybuilder, decided to enter the 1961 Mr. Universe contest.  “ By then steroids were out of the experimental stage and well known to most competitive bodybuilders.  They were no longer an underground item.  I remembered the fast progress I'd made using them and decided to do so again.  Looking back, I think they were a crutch.  I didn't really need it, but at the time it seemed easier to take them-so I did.  I won the contest, but something inside me wasn't happy with steroid use.  So I quit them again, this time for good."

The following are health risks with some potential side effects from TRT : 1.  Fluid retention, leading to swelling in legs or ankles.  2.   Possible mood swings or increased aggression.  3.  Risk of enlarged breasts in some men. 4. Possible development of sleep apnea leading to disrupted sleep patterns like excessive daytime sleepiness.  5.  Increased risk of cardiovascular issues such as a heart attack or stroke.  6.  Changes in libido, which may increase or decrease. 7.  Changes in cholesterol levels potentially affect heart health.  Unfortunately, much of the research  data that exists on TRT is for older men diagnosed with testosterone deficiency.  The TRT side effects for young men without testosterone deficiency is not clear  Yet online.everyone is saying that testosterone is the solution to all of your problems.

If you believe that this is a miracle drug, and will fix your "masculinity “ consider the following from the Mayo Clinic .  With older healthy men, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone in otherwise healthy men. From the American College of Physicians ,testosterone therapy might improve sexual function somewhat in some men, with little evidence that it will improve other functions such as vitality and energy. 

Is testosterone replacement therapy  the ultimate antiaging formula?  Only , if you believe online testimonials , GOP  characters and their podcasts. Reality, the health benefits   of testosterone replacement therapy for age-related decline is not clear.

In conclusion, it's known that an individual's lifestyle, including the physical, emotional, and sexual factors affect testosterone levels.  Diet , physical and mental exercise , and lovely Linda have worked well for me . I have never used “drugs “,with the exception of Marijuana ,nor have ever taken Testosterone supplements in my lifetime.  And today, at Ironworks Fitness, I began by performing numerous chins; followed by bench pressing the 200 pound maximum on that  machine; doing another (my variation)  biceps/ triceps exercise with 200 pound maximum, on a different machine; doing a shoulder shrug on another machine with a 300 pound maximum in each hand and working out with other machines, barbells and dumbbells. After that workout, I went to the treadmill and varied the speed over 10 minutes and then finished my workout with more chins. That’s my magic pill .

PS

Are our fickle leaders health symptoms of fluid retention-swelling in  ankles, increased aggression; sleep apnea leading to disturbed sleep patterns like excessive daytime sleepiness and numerous tweets in the early hours of the morning, enlarged breasts and increased risk of cardiovascular issues associated with TRT?

Reference

Klatz,Dr. Ronald and Goldman, Dr. Robert.  Stopping The Clock

Pearl, Bill and Moran, PhD and Gary T.  Getting Stronger.

Parenthood

 

An article titled  "Why Are More and More People Passing Up Parenthood?"  was found in the May 10, 2026 edition of The New York Times.  This article pertains to the decrease in children presented primarily with economic and sociological factors.  My response is as follows.

In this article it was pointed out that 1.  Birth increases when economics are on the upswing and with high levels of equality in the home and in society.  2.  Worry about sending a future child to school with unvaccinated classmates 3.  Affordability 4.  Future uncertainty -life expectancy, AI ,immigration, global trade and climate change 5.  American women with less education have more children.  6.  Current and future employment. concerns  7.  Marked decline in marriage 8.  Increased social isolation 9.  Median age of first-time homebuyers-40 10.  In  South Korea-a construction company offered its employees roughly twice South Korea's annual per capita income,to  women who had a baby.  Last year the company reported 36 births and an increase of about 60% compared to the average before the program began

According to the article, there is a focus on economic uncertainty in the present and future affecting today's couples.  Uncertainty suggests anxiety and insecurity and is likely masking underlying issues regarding  parenting  .  1.  Have they considered or have they had individual , marital therapy or a medical consultation ?  The issues were?

2.  What  ego needs are being met and which are not?

3.  Are there  health issues?

4.  What would be the advantages and/or disadvantages of having a child? How important is having an offspring?

5.  How did they spend their time away from work?

6.  What did they like about being a child?

7.  What type of additional support do they expect after the birth of the child?

8.Use of TRT. Testosterone  Replacement Therapy is associated with low sperm count.

These questions are starting points in evaluating the issue of parenting for these couples .

Low birth factors  in our culture, aside from 24% of males experiencing ED,  pertaining to declining birth rate  include a masculine dominance created by men associated with morality,  religion, capitalism and science suggesting female inferiority.  It took how long for women to be able to vote in this country ?  The male masculinity stereotype is that man is the king of the castle, earns more, is more aggressive, withholds  emotions and females are passive, inhibit aggression, inhibit display of sexual urges, less competent, less independent, less objective and less logical.

Another factor of low birth rate from a psychodynamic point of view, suggests female penis envy in which  the clitoris is conceived of as a phallus. Within  Oedipal complex dynamics , a female with penis envy gives rise to the desire for a child  which then forms the basis for a love bond with father and subsequently a femininity orientation .With this attachment to the father results in the existence of a desire for penis and a desire for a child. However, with  the occurrence of a negative attachment to the father, a femininity orientation is  rejected. This psychological dynamic becomes associated with an unconscious wish , a desire to be a "man"  in orientation with its advantages .

 From this penis envy role of inferiority, the female has to master this desire to be a man throughout life and deal with men.Simply put, is motherhood going to be a handicap and significantly interfere with professional goals and achievement ?

Further, some "masculine" oriented women have an attitude of hostility towards men.  Sometimes it takes the form of depreciation and/or castrating them in the process.  Essentially, these women have dismissed father as a sexual object and simultaneously recoil from the feminine role altogether.

Other factors interfering with having children are the fear of pain,and/or  injury with  penis penetration ; frigidity, along with the dread of childbirth.  And , the anxiety related to this fictitious male role allows the woman to escape from the feminine role, even though burdened by guilt and anxiety.

On the other hand traditionally feminine oriented limited education females have adapted themselves to the wishes of men as exemplified by the religious right which promotes a stay at home mom with many children .along with help from the Supreme Court ‘s Roe vs Wade decision .

 Erikson's seventh psychosocial stage is characterized as Generativity vs Stagnation presents another factor to consider .  Erikson presents the following: 1.  Mutuality of orgasm.  2.  With a loved partner 3.  Of the other sex.  4.  With whom one is able and willing to share mutual trust.  5.  And with whom one is able and willing to regulate the cycles of a.  Work b.  Procreation c. Recreation 6 So as to secure to the offspring, too, all the stages of a satisfactory development.

Psychologically , the crisis is about  establishing and guiding the next generation to their own or to another's offspring coupled  with the  attitude of the belief in the species along with making the child a welcoming trust of the community- progeny?

 Progeny , is not  effectively valued in our society There's an absence of effective gun legislation; gutting of the Department of Education; inadequate funding for the schools; inadequate teacher salaries; insufficient staff , nurses, school psychologists, master teachers; lack of school safety; book banning, and the rewriting of US history

 Parents, for their own narcissistic needs, are too involved in their children's sports, arts and school social activities with their overprotection, smothering and controlling patterns not allowing for autonomy, separation and independence.  They've spoiled their children with harmful technology and monetary bribes.

 On the other hand, there's child abuse,  neglect, and dead beat dads with  their child support. Further, there are numerous reasons for parents not to have children.  For example, an article titled "The Anxiety of Influencers" found in the May 24 2026 edition of The New York Times described how parents are monetizing their children by posting content of their kids wearing various brands, skimpy clothing,  exposing intimate details about their children on Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok and even selling photos of the young children to men.  Apparently this is a multibillion-dollar influencer industry and about parental exploitation.

Should All females become mothers?  Not if that mother is unable to provide unconditional affirmation for her child's life and its needs.  This means and relates to her ability to care and be responsible for her child's life and growth.  For instance, can the mother instill a positive attitude  for the  love of life and it's good to be alive in the child ?  Turning to the Bible, the Promised Land  symbolizes the mother, with Milk and Honey . Milk symbolizes the first aspect of love and Honey symbolizes the sweetness of life.

In order for the mother to give "honey," that female must be good and happy. She has to be able  to transmit an attitude of being unselfish and altruistic. It's  emotionally easier for the mother to love her small infant, but the crisis is being able to love her growing child. The child must be able to grow and emotionally separate  in order to become a complete human being.  Can the mother still love her child as a separate human being?

The government  plays their part also with inadequacy in school lunch programs; health insurance; daycare and other  after school programs; maternity time off : attacking vaccinations and not assisting with  limiting cost of college and the inordinate amount of school debt. And,there are few employment opportunities for recent  college graduates .

 

In conclusion, there are a number of psychological, sociological, economic, political components affecting whether or not couples should have offspring in our capitalistic society.  Once our K-12 model of education was superior.  Not so today.  Yes, the anxiety of uncertainty without control is not new.  But  our capitalistic society, with discrimination has unfairly affected the majority as far as income inequality ,health insurance , education and  other safety net programs are concerned. Our health industry is too expensive, and our current political power structure is dreadful and shameful.  It's not surprising that there's  isolation ,less sex ,relationship issues and a decreasing health and birth rate in our country with its  negative attitude,values and policies regarding children. And, importantly, not all couples are psychologically or morally equipped to become parents. Bring back Roe vs. Wade and remove Alioto from the Supreme Court for starters .

Reference

Erikson, Erik H.  Childhood and Society.

Horney, Karen  Feminine Psychology