Dr. James Husen, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Attorney, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

  I’ve been participating in the Child Custody Evaluator Annual DV / IPV update with Dr. Love today: Family Code 6320 now has new categories of disturbing the peace / coercive control over various types but also Pet Abuse, Technology Facilitated Abuse and Reproductive Coercion—see the language at Family Code 6320 in the link below: Family Code 6320 Here’s a couple of new terms for you: Stealthing: “wen a partner secretly removes a condom during sex without the other person’s consent”; Fraping: “unauthorized alteration of information on a person's online social media profile by another person.”

Childhood sexual abuse can in some cases particularly disorganize the growing child’s attachment system resulting in among other things for some, an ability to lie about other caregivers. In the link below I explore this observation in my practice as an attorney and now as a psychologist. In saying that, I do not mean to minimize in any way the harm caused to the child or the importance of protecting such children from further harm. The link below will take you to a paper I wrote about 9 years ago but still think it pretty good where I offer some ideas that I explored back in 2013 as an attorney working with families back then. Husen, J. (2013). Attachment trauma in divorce: Recommendations for judges, lawyers, and child custody evaluators. Paper researched and written for Bereavement Counseling with M. Woodruff Johnson, Psy.D.

 I read Higgin's 1998 article entitled  Promotion and prevention: Regulatory focus as a motivational principle. The link to that reading is here . The link to the article itself is here .  Higgin's contributes to Motivational research by pointing out an important distinction accounting for the mixed results associated with the classic Motivational equation--i.e. that X Motivation = Expectancy of success x the Value of the goal to the person.  Worth the read as it will add your understanding of the pleasure vs. pain polarity underlying this key feature of human motivation--i.e. promotion of gain (seeking / approaching pleasure) and/or the prevention of loss (avoidance / pain / risk of harm reduction).  This line of research is consilient with attachment theory's emphasis on the regulatory features of different styles of attachment--i.e. secure flexible, anxiety underregulated, avoidant over regulated and disorganized as dysregulated. See for example  Calkins, S. D., & Le

  I think the consensus among psychologists that the self is essential to regulation of emotion. Furthermore, regulation of emotion has emerged as a general factors in most of the psychological disorders detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2013). We are calling this the p factor. 1. Chapter 1, The Self in Psychological Disorders: An Introduction 2. Chapter 2, 

  Generally speaking, guilt tends to be helpful and leads to personal growth and positive change. This is because "in guilt, the self is negatively evaluated in connection with something, but is not itself the focus of the experience." When it comes to shame; however, shame tends to be about one's identity. (Lewis, H. B. (1971). Shame and guilt in neurosis. Psychoanalytic Review, 58(3), 419-438) I read the entire article for your edification at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jtb0nzkz0l3kuph/Lewis%2C%201971%2C%20Shame%20and%20Guilt.mp4?dl=0 Lewis, H. B. (1971). Shame and guilt in neurosis. Psychoanalytic Review, 58(3), 419-438 For your read the article yourself click the following Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xsgnccm0kkkprv/Helen%20Lewis_%20Shame%20and%20Guilt%20in%20Neurosis_.pdf?dl=0 I do notice that a lot of the research on Shame and Guilt took place in the late seventies and early eighties. I haven't been seeing much in the literature these days

 1. Lack of Value and Justification

 I've been studying Systems Theory, Attachment, and Psychoanalysis as it relates to Family Conflict and how to ameliorate or help such families. I thought I would leave some of my readings on my Blog for others and myself: 1.      Pocock on Working with Emotional Systems 2.     

  I have been studying human development and writing a little piece thereon lately. In my studies I was reminded of Freud's "Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning" If desired you can listen to me read the entire paper--it's not long. Just click the link below highlighting Freud's title for his paper: Freud, S. (1911) Formulations on the Two Principles of Mental Functioning. The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud 12:213-226 The essence of the the paper is captured in the following quotes:

In some of my studies this morning I was reminded of the great pediatrician D. W. Winnicott and his observations of children and the capacity to be alone as associated with emotional maturity. I therefore thought I would read that short chapter. The link and reference for the work is as follows: Winnicott, D. W. (1965). The capacity to be alone (pp. 29-35). In M. M. R. Khan (Ed.), The maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development. M. M. R. Khan (Ed.). London: Hogarth Press. Original article published in 1958.

 I am studying this morning and came across two articles I think important to understanding coparenting conflicts and the effect the same has on children. The scientific literature has identified problematic coparenting after the breakup / divorce as a "mediator" of child adjustment: 1.  Dallos, R. & Vetere, A. (2012). Systems theory, family attachment and processes of triangulation: Does the concept of triangulation offer a useful bridge? Journal of Family Therapy, 34 , 117-137. 2.  Woodcock, Jeremy (2009). Love and hate and the oedipal myth: The perfect bridge between the systemic and the psychoanalytic. In C. Flaskas & D. Pocock (Eds.), Systems and psychoanalysis : Contemporary integrations in family therapy . (pp. 199-222). Taylor & Francis Group, 2009.   London: Karnac Books.

Here I read Baumeister 1991 book entitled Escape from the Self. I was so impressed with Baumeister's work on the self in his 2022 book entitled The Self Explained that I wanted to read this one which deal with different ways we use to escape from the burden of the self. That burden as described by Baumeister in his more recent book involves his theory that the self evolved to facilitate complex social organization. As such the self is intimately bound to issues of reputation and impression management.  If you're interested in such constructs as I am read with me. Preface 1. Identity: Paradise or Prison? 2. Why Escape the Self?--The Burden of the Self. 3. The Self Against Itself 4. The Process of Escape 5. 

 Beginning about 2008 when I read Dr. Daniel Siegel's book entitled Mindsight, I have enjoyed the mental and stress reduction provided by mindfulness.  Later, in my doctoral studies 2012 to 2014 I was impressed with the concept of intrinsic motivation and what has come to be called Self-Determination Theory. In the Handbook of Mindfulness there is an article which discusses the two and although I have read it before have forgotten what I read. I therefore produce my reading this morning to you and myself to be listened to later. To cite the work use the following: Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Schultz, P. P., & Niemiec, C. P. (2015). Being aware and functioning fully: Mindfulness and interest taking within self-determination theory. In K. W. Brown, J. D. Creswell, & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of mindfulness: Theory, research, and practice , (pp. 112-129). New York: The Guilford Press (Kindle Edition). To access the recording of my reading with the text you can listen along wit

 I have been wanting to read Miller & Rollnick's Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change (preparing myself for change) since I was in my Master's Program studying Counseling Psychology at California Baptist University in Riverside. With an upcoming seminar I plan to attend on the topic, I thought it a good time to read the book. It's going to be an effort because as I peruse the book before reading it, I note there are 45+ contributing authors in addition to Miller and Rollnick. The book contains four parts with 25 chapters. That means to finish the book by Friday, May 6, 2022, I'll need to read about two chapters a day. To cite the book use the following APA citation: Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational interviewing (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.  Part I: Context 1. Why do people change? 2. Ambivalence: The dilemma of change 3. Facilitating change Part II: Practice 4. What is Motivational Interviewing? 5. Change and resistanc

 I have long found Rumi's poems inspiring. I thought therefore that in connection with my deep love for Gibran's work, I might also read from Rumi's works as well.     Preface       Proem: The Reed Flute       I. The Prince and the Handmaid       II. The Oilman and the Parrot       III. The Jewish King, Persecutor of the Christians       IV. Another Jewish King, Persecutor of Christians      V. The Lion and the Beasts       VI. The Greater (Spiritual) Warfare       VII. The Merchant and the Parrot       VIII. The Harper       IX. The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wife       X. Patience and Perseverance Under a Teacher       XI. The Lion’s Hunt, in Company       XII. Joseph and the Mirror       XIII. The Prophet’s First Amanuensis       XIV. The Chinese and Roman Artists       XV. Zeyd’s Inspiration       XVI. ‘Alī’s Forbearance       XVII. Conclusion      Please note: James Redhouse only translated Book One of The Masnavi

When I was young (in my twenties) I read The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. It stirred my soul. As I started reading Gibran again, forty years later, it still stirs my soul. I thought therefore that I would read the book aloud and record it so I could then listen to his on demand so to speak and provide the same for others who may be interested in hearing Gibran's soul-stirring words: The Prophet: 1. The Prophet on Love 2. The Prophet on Marriage 3. The Prophet on Joy and Sorrow 4. The Prophet on Houses 5. The Prophet on Giving 6. The Prophet on Eating and Drinking 7. The Prophet on Crime and Punishment 8. The Prophet on Clothes 9. The Prophet on Children 10. The Prophet on Work 11. The Prophet on Law 12. The Prophet on Buying and Selling 13. The Prophet on Freedom 14. The Prophet on Reason and Passion 15. The Prophet on Pain 16. The Prophet on Self-Knowledge 17. The Prophet on Teaching 18. The Prophet on Friendship 19. The Prophet on Talking 20. The Prophet on Time 21. The Prophet on G

Recently, I have been impressed with Firestone's work on Separation Theory and Voice Therapy. In reading his 2021 book entitled "The Enemy Within" I was reminded about the power of transference in all our love and work and family relations.  Accordingly, I thought I would read to my Blog fans (if any) Freud's 1915 work on Transference-Love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this little work and the pervasive influence of transference upon our lives and especially in the lives of "neurotics" (i.e. those whose adjustment is being compromised by historical antecedents). Of this Freud wrote in his 1912 "Dynamics of Transference" (read to you below, 4/18/21), "Transference is so much more intense with neurotic subjects than it is with other such people" not under such stressors.  Click the link below to hear my reading of Freud's "Observations on Transference Love (1915)"( Freud, S. (1915) Observations onTransference-Love (Further Rec

                   I've wanted to read the Big Book for some time now. It is the Bible of recovery for thousands perhaps millions of men and women since it was first published in 1939. This is from the fourth edition published in 2001. It is also the official version of Alcoholic's Anonymous: Preface Forward to the First Edition Forward to the Second Edition Forward to the Third Edition Forward to the Fourth Edition The Doctor's Opinion 1. Bill's Story 2. There is a Solution 3. More about Alcoholism 4. We Agnostics 5. How it Works 6. Into Action 7. Working with Others 8. To Wives 9. The Family Afterward 10. To Employers 11. A vision for You Part 1: Pioneers of A.A. Doctor Bob's Nightmare 1. Alcoholic Anonymous Number Three 2. Gratitude in Action 3. Women Suffer Too 4. Our Southern Friend 5. The Vicious Cycle 6. Jim's Story 7. The Man Who Mastered Fear 8. He Sold Himself Short 9. The Keys to the Kingdom Part II: They Stopped in Time 1. The Missing Link 2. Fear of

I'm reading William James' Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature . The book was written in 1902. This version from Routledge was published as a Centenary (celebrating it's 100th anniversary) with an introduction from William James' grandson and to Prefatory commentaries by two James Scholars. As with my other readings, I'll read the text and from time to time comment thereon. Enjoy this fascinating, seminal, and mind-expanding book: 1.    Introduction 2.    Mickey James' Forward 3.     E. Taylor's Introduction to VRE 4.    J. Carrette's Introduction to VRE, Neuroscience's Amnesia 5.    William James' 1902 Preface to VRE 6.    Lecture I, Religion and Neurology 7.    Lecture II, Circumscription of the Topic 8.    Lecture III, The Reality of the Unseen 9.    Lectures IV and V, The Religion of the Healthy Minded 10.  Lectures VI and VII, The Sick Soul 11.  Lecture VIII, The Divided Self and the Process of It's Unification 12.

Ever wondered how life began? Was there a "primordial soup"? Here I read from a leading Biology Textbook, Brooker on Biology 4.1 in answer to that question. The origin of cellular life on earth .

 Dr. Husen reads:  Finkel, E. J. (2019). Complementing the sculpting metaphor: Reflections on how  relationship partners elicit the best or the worst in each other. Review of General  Psychology, 23 , 127–132 “To the extent that we adopt the “love is a collaborative work” of art metaphor rather than one of the conventional metaphors, we think about love in a fundamentally different way. For example, whereas the “love as a physical force” and the “love is madness” metaphors cast lovers in a passive role in which they are subject to physical or psychological forces beyond their control, the “love is a collaborative work of art” metaphor casts lovers in an active role in which they are part of a deliberate, shared effort to create a unique work of beauty. In doing so, the new metaphor does what all metaphors do—it highlights some features while obscuring others, influencing how we think, feel, and behave. A partner who is a good fit (and a potential marriage partner) from a “love is a phy

Dr. Husen reads from Goffman's 1959 classic on the subject and the chapter on " performance " Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life . New York: Anchor  Books “When an individual plays a part, he implicitly requests his observers to take seriously the impression that is fostered before them. They are asked to believe that the character they see actually possesses the attributes he appears to possess, that the task he performs will have the consequences that are implicitly claimed for it, and that, in general, matters are what they appear to be. In line with this, there is the popular view that the individual offers his performance and puts on his show “for the benefit of other people.” (p. 17) “To the degree that a performance highlights the common official values of the society in which it occurs, we may look upon it … as a ceremony-- as an expressive rejuvenation and reaffirmation of the moral values of the community. Furthermore, insofar as the e

 Dr. Husen reads and thinks his way through  Novikoff, A. B. (1945). The concept of integrative levels and biology.  Science ,  101 (2618), 209-215. This is a seminal article, written in 1945 at the end of WWII, about the concept of emergence and the importance of understanding the concept of integrative levels of analysis. He also clarifies why vitalism (the idea that there's a vital spirt in matter accounting for life), teleologisms, anthropomorphism, and organicism all fail completely because of a failure to understanding the distinction between different integrative levels of life particularly for the human. Why is it that in the 35 million years of data on insects there has been no innovation or change in their social structure / culture? Why, he says, when you compare out 6 to 8 thousand years of known history there has been enormous change. The key to understanding such phenomena is our culture--i.e. Humans unlike other animals pass on our knowledge and technology to the nex

 Dr. Husen reads from  Fredrickson, B. L. (2016). Love: Positivity resonance as a fresh, evidence-based perspective on an age-old topic . In L. F. Barrett, M. Lewis, & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.),  Handbook of emotions,  (4th ed., pp. 847-858). New York: The Guilford Press at p. 852 She wrote: Core elements of love-the-emotion include: 1. “ Shared positive emotion ”; 2. “ Mutual care ”; and, 3. “Biobehavioral synchrony.” 

  I've been studying Moral Foundations Theory and reading this morning from  Graham, J., Nosek, B. A., Haidt, J., Iyer, R., Koleva, S., & Ditto, P. H. (2011). Mapping the moral domain.  Journal of personality and social psychology ,  101 (2), 366. If you click the link you can hear some of my reading and studies. Moral Foundations Theory begins with the idea that " Moral systems are interlocking sets of values, virtues, norms, practices, identities, institutions, technologies, evolved psychological mechanisms that work together to suppress or regulate selfishness and make social life possible.” (p. 368) While traditionally, Kohlberg and Gilligan tended to tap into Justice and Care as the foundation of research into morality. This led to what Haidt and his line of researchers would call "truncated" views of morality emphasizing rational codes of conduct that reduce harm to others.  Kohlberg himself posited three levels of moral development each having two stages.

 I still remember the first time I heard the term spiritual bypass. I was at a weekend seminar with Dr. Daniel Seigel at a large church in Pasadena. A young pastor asked a question about spiritual bypass which sparked my curiosity.  That would have been about 10 years ago. Since that time I have thought, studied, and discussed the topic with others. I've even written about it in my reports where the issue has come up.  Essentially, spiritual bypass occurs when a person has a transcendent experience which is associated with a new path or direction in life. For Christians it is often a born again experience. For Buddhists it often involves the peace and presence found in meditation--especially group meditation. For others it will be something similar which connects the individual with a group who have experienced or routinely experience transcendence in it's various permutations.  In the Christian tradition there is the idea that in the born again experience the individual has be

  Why does Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Work? I love the power of the mind body psychotherapies to heal not just PTSD but anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. EMDR and many offshoots from EMDR, including Brainspotting (David Grand), Comprehensive Resource Model (Lisa Schwarz), and many others such as Lifespan Integration Theory (Peggy Pace). So what I thought I'd do is read relevant chapters on the theory behind these different therapies to you: 1. EMDR  Russell, M. C., & Shapiro, F. (2022).  Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.  American Psychological Association .  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000273-000 , Chapter 3, Theory; 2.  Pace ,  P.  (2003).  Lifespan integration: Connecting ego-states through time . Eirene Imprint ; 3. Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.; and,  4. Schwarz, L., Corrigan, F., Hull, A., & Raju, R. (2017). The comprehensiv

  A lack of power is synonymous with “helplessness or weakness”. It is the opposite of feeling “strong”.  Rollo M ay said there are five kinds of power: 1. Exploitative: 2. Manipulative 3. Competitive 4. Nutrient 5. Integrative At the attached link I read from May's 1972 book on power. ( May ,  R.  (1972).  Power and innocence: A search for the source of violence . Norton at  pp. 105-113) Social psychologists have researched 5 sources of social power or influence. These include (1) reward power, based on a person’s perceptio n that another person or entity has the ab il ity to distribute rewards in exchange for obedience of some sort; (2) coe r cive p owe r , based on a person’s perception th a t another person or entity has to ability to punish him or her; (3) legitimate power, based on th e perception that another has a communally sanctioned or l egitimate right to prescribe behavior for him or her; (4) referent power, based on the subject’s identification with th