Stress levels may actually decrease with age, according to David Almeida, a developmental psychologist at Pennsylvania State University. After two decades of research, Almeida and his team found that people in their 20s experience the highest levels of stress, with those in their 70s experiencing the lowest. The age advantage in dealing with stress may be due to the social roles people inhabit, the realization that life is short, and the experience of coping with stressors over time. Surprisingly, during the 2008 recession, it was midlife adults in their 40s to 60s who reported the highest levels of distress. 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
