SOME RESEARCH IS REALLY INTERESTING

Research is being done in so many areas with fascinating conclusions, though they are not always accurate. One, I would not have thought of, is that pain hurts more when the person inflicting it means it. Research was discussed in Science Daily on 12/20/08. "Researchers at Harvard University have discovered that our experience of pain depends on whether we think someone caused the pain intentionally. In their study, participants who believed they were getting an electrical shock from another person on purpose, rather than accidentally, rated the very same shock as more painful. Participants seemed to get used to shocks that were delivered unintentionally, but those given on purpose had a fresh sting every time." The research, published in the current issue of Psychological Science, was led by Kurt Gray, a graduate student in psychology, along with Daniel Wegner, professor of psychology.

While I make no claim that I can control my own heartbeat, make my knee grow more cartilage, or all that wonderful stuff that biofeedback has helped some people do, I find the concept interesting. For example, when an abusive husband beats his wife and it hurts, does the memory of it hurt less when he tells her he didn't mean it?

Selflessness -- Core Of All Major World Religions -- Has Neuropsychological Connection "All spiritual experiences are based in the brain. That statement is truer than ever before, according to a University of Missouri neuropsychologist. An MU study has data to support a neuropsychological model that proposes spiritual experiences associated with selflessness are related to decreased activity in the right parietal lobe of the brain. Read the full story
Selflessness (having no concern for self according to Merriam-Webster) cannot be a good thing in my mind. It goes against all instinct of self preservation and should not be confused with selfishness (selfishness (noun) Date: 1640
1: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others 2: arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others which most people would not admire.

Quoting from the article: "Transcendence, feelings of universal unity and decreased sense of self, is a core tenet of all major religions. Meditation and prayer are the primary vehicles by which such spiritual transcendence is achieved."

Having never sought a decreased sense of self, I am at a loss to see why that is desirable, other than escapism, which also doesn't sound too healthy to personal growth.

The article further explains: "People with these selfless spiritual experiences also are more psychologically healthy, especially if they have positive beliefs that there is a God or higher power who loves them, Johnstone said." Naturally, there is no indication on what scale those people are measured as 'more psychologically healthy.' Many people I bump into believe everything they read and assume all research is done scientifically and with accurate conclusions. Would that it would be so, but alas, it is not always the case. It brings to mind the blue-collar comedian who says, "There is no cure for stupid". Apparently, at times, education and immersing one in truth, facts and logic is also not enough. I urge everyone to carefully question conclusions they read as scientific and, especially, the editorial notes stating conclusions that are not reached by the research. It presents dangers of conflicting conclusions which is REALLY confusing to the readers who believe all printed words!

Reader, beware!!!