Belinda Borrelli, a professor of health policy and health services research at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, is an expert in motivating the unmotivated. Through her research, she has found that in order to help people break bad habits or start good habits, it is important to show them that the effort will be worth it, and to match their treatment plan to their readiness to act. Her latest projects are exploring the impact of virtual reality (VR) and text messages on curbing unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, vaping, and poor oral health. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
