Functional Anatomy of HUMOR: Positive Affect and Chronic Mental Illness – Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences

Katherine H. Taber, Ph.D., Maurice Redden, M.D. and Robin A. Hurley, M.D.

While negative emotional states have been extensively studied, investigation of positive emotions is relatively new.6 An evolutionary perspective on the value of emotions is potentially illuminating. The adaptive value of many negative emotions has been related to promoting fast and appropriate responding during high risk situations (fight or flight).7 Under life-threatening circumstances, a narrowing of response patterns is necessary for rapid response selection and performance. In contrast it has been proposed that the adaptive value of humor and positive affect is to promote a broadening of response. This provides a way to explore new possibilities in times of safety.7 In Fredrickson’s model, general categories of positive emotions have different but complementary adaptive value that build an individual’s physical, intellectual and social resources. 

The emotion of joy (or happiness), for example, is associated with imaginative play, which is characterized by "exploration, invention, and just plain fooling around."7 Among other benefits, play promotes the learning of new skills. The emotion of interest (or wonder) promotes exploration, leading to a broadening and deepening of knowledge. Read more - Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences ------- Photo ---------- Photo

German Theologian Urges Bishops To Pressure Pope - The Associated Press – CBS News

(AP)  BERLIN (AP) - Dissident theologian Hans Kueng urged bishops on Thursday to push for reforms in the Roman Catholic in defiance of Pope Benedict XVI.

Kueng, an 82-year-old former colleague and friend of the pontiff, said the church was now in its deepest crisis since the Protestant Reformation after recent revelations of sexual abuse by clergy caused an erosion of trust.

In an editorial published Thursday in daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and other publications, Kueng said bishops should call for a new synod to discuss reforms.

Kueng accused pope of not living up "to the great challenges of our time," saying on the fifth anniversary of Benedict's election to the papacy that his traditionalist approach had failed.

Bishops should not be "actors without voice or rights," Kueng said, arguing that it was legitimate for them to press Roman authorities for reforms if the pope blocked their efforts.

The Catholic Church in Pope Benedict's German homeland has been rocked by a widening abuse scandal in the past three months with hundreds of self described victims of heavy physical or sexual abuse coming forward. Read more - The Associated Press – CBS News

In deep appreciation to Fr. Hans Kung, The Associated Press and CBS News for being a voice of sanity and clarity – extremely beneficial for children, MSK

Vatican -> WATERGATE (AGAIN)? - No “Checks and Balances” Kids Are Being Hurt!!! – read more

Flagrant Disregard For All Of Humanity, Especially For Children – Being Publicly Demonstrated by Benedict XVI and hierarchy - Failure to Accept Responsibility for Decades of Child Sexual Abuse Cover-ups – Kids Are Being Hurt!!! – read more

Pope should endorse independent investigation - By Gerald T. Slevin - retired attorney - The Washington Post – read more

“Pope’s No. 2” Bertone - Blatant Intellectual Deficit of Hierarchy, Condemning People by “Rumor, Hearsay and Innuendo” -> Slander, Flagrant Disregard of the Law, Civil & God’s – Harmful to Children – read more

Photo - “Rumor, Hearsay and Innuendo” GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. 

“Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit.” Erik Erikson

Kids Are Being Hurt!!!

…whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

Protect children and the entire world will be safe.

Important note: No disrespect meant to Pope Benedict XVI or the hierarchy, the one and only concern is the safety and well-being of children. Kids Are Being Hurt!!!

The Blind Side - Oscar acceptance speech of Sandra Bullock - Hot Indie News

Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down? I would like to thank the Academy for allowing me in the last month to have the most incredible ride with rooms full of artists that I see tonight and that I’ve worked with before and I hope to work with in the future, who inspire me and blaze trails for us. Four of them that I’ve fallen deeply in love with I share this night with and I share this award with. Photo

Gabby, I love you so much. You are exquisite. You are beyond words to me. Carey, your grace and your elegance and your beauty and your talent makes me sick. Helen, I feel like we are family through family and I don’t have the words to express just what I think of you. And Meryl, you know what I think of you and you are such a good kisser.

I have so many people to thank for my good fortune in this lifetime and this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I know. To the family that allowed me to play them, the Tuohy family, I know they’re in here and you’ll probably hear her in a minute. Maybe not. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to… the family that made this film that gave me the opportunity to do something different. John Lee Hancock, Gil Netter, Alcon, Warner Bros., the actors, everyone who’s shown me kindness when it wasn’t fashionable, I thank you. To everyone who was mean to me when it wasn’t… George Clooney threw me in a pool years ago. I’m still holding a grudge. But there’s so many people to thank. Photo

Not enough time, so I would like to thank what this film is about for me which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from. Those moms and parents never get thanked. I, in particular, failed to thank one. So… if I can take this moment to thank Helga B. for not letting me ride in cars with boys until I was 18 because she was right. I would’ve done what she said I was gonna do. For making me practice every day when I got home. Piano, ballet, whatever it is I wanted to be. She said to be an artist, you had to practice every day, and for reminding her daughters that there’s no race, no religion, no class system, no color, nothing, no sexual orientation that makes us better than anyone else. We are all deserving of love. So, to that trailblazer, who allowed me to have that. And this. And this. I thank you so much for this opportunity that I share with these extraordinary women and my lover Meryl Streep. Thank you. 

Watch video - Hot Indie News

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