Here you'll find current news, research, and media links from the worlds of health, psychology, relationships, sexuality, and culture. Items are listed by date, with the newest first. Scroll down for previous items that are still relevant. Your suggestions and comments are always welcome.
Culture: Interracial Marriage on the Rise
February 16, 2012
A new analysis of census data by the Pew Research Center shows that interracial marriage reached an all-time high in 2010—8.4% of all marriages compared to 3.2% in 1980, and 15% of all marriages in 2010. Rates are much higher in many states, such as over 23% in California and Alaska and 42% in Hawaii. The study also shows a rise in social approval for these marriages. Read more...
Reseacrh: Addicts' Brains May Be Different From Birth
February 3, 2012
NPR reports on a recent British study which imaged the brains of sibling pairs where one was addicted to cocaine and the other wasn't. Surprisingly, both brains showed differences in key areas associated with self-control. The study raises many important questions, including why did one sibling succumb to his/her susceptibility while the other found a different way to go? And the implications go way beyond drugs. Read more or listen to an audio summary...
Genital Herpes: Does It Deserve Its Special Stigma?
January 14, 2012
Sex educator, Dr. Paul Joannides, always has something interesting to say. In this 90-second audio clip, he asks why so many people are far more freaked out about herpes below the belt, when oral herpes is at least as serious. Of course, the herpes family of viruses are a terrible curse, causing enormous distress. But while many folks talk openly about their "cold sores" as if they're just an annoying fact of life, those with the genital variety are often awash with shame, and may even wonder if others will accept them. What accounts for this disparity? Listen now...
Binge Drinking: A Big Problem Among Young & Old
January 10, 2012
A new study from the CDC concludes that at least 38 million Americans (17% of the population) binge drink (defined as 5+ drinks for men and 4+ for women on one occasion). It's probably not surprising that 18-24 year olds tend to drink the most (9+ drinks) when they binge, but those over 65 binge most often (6+ times per month). This kind of drinking accounts for the lion's share of the public costs of drinking. But why are seniors so vulnerable? The study doesn't say, but I have two theories based on my observations: (1) Older people experience more losses and health problems (actual and feared) that drinking can sooth, and (2) Long-term alcohol exposure is more likely to lead to higher tolerance and addicted brains. Read more...
A Meditation on Sex for the New Year
January 1, 2012
This lovely little video was made by Dr. Amy Marsh. Watch video: time 1:40...
New Survey: One Quarter of American Women Have Experienced Violence From Their Partners
December 14, 2011
An anonymous phone survey of 9,000 randomly selected women conducted by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) reveals that 25% of women have been violently attached by their boyfriends or spouses and 20% have experienced rape or attempted rape. These rates of violence, rightfully called "astounding," are somewhat higher than found in other surveys, but this one is large, credible, and a huge wake-up call for our country. Read more...
lInternational Human Rights Day: Hillary Clinton Speaks Out for LGBT Rights
December 6, 2011
Expanding upon the United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights passed in 1948, Secretary Clinton makes an impassioned case that these rights must be honored for all, including LGBT people in all countries around the world. Her speech in Geneva is deeply thoughtful and inspiring. Watch Video: 30 min...
HIV Update: Most Americans with HIV Are Unaware
November 29. 2011
As surprising as it may seem (I know I was), only 20% of Americans infected with HIV realize that they have it. This is particulalry tragic with the advances made in early treatment and control of the disease. This news is also alarming from a public health perspective, since we now know that when HIV levels become undetectable with medications, transmission rates drop by a whopping 96%! We all owe it to ourselves and each other to get tested. Read more...
Planet Earth: Time Lapse From Space
Novemeber 11,2011
New views, courtesy of NASA, show glowing cities, vast oceans, billowing clouds, and clusters of lightening—all on our little home in space. If this doesn't move you, what will? Watch video: 5 min...
Brain Research: Troublesome Traits Among Teens May Be Required for Adulthood
November, 2011
Why has teen behavior so often left adults shaking our cranky heads in dismay? New brain imaging studies are nicely summarized in the November issue of National Geographic. Researchers propose that exasperating teenishness is part of a very prolonged process of human brian development—way longer, in fact, than conventional wisdom has lead us to believe. Find out what's up with those whacky teens of today (and every day, it seems). Read more...
A Top-Notch Resource for Forty-Plusers
November, 2011
Longtime health and sexuality journalist and prolific author, Michael Castleman, has pulled together an impressivee collection of crucial facts and wise advice for those of use trying to adapt gracefully to getting older. He tackles such issues as penis and labia size, advanced erotic tips, lubes, orgasm—plus the radical idea that older men often become more like women sexually—less focused on performance and more on sharing liesurely pleasures. You'll find lively Q&As, readings, blogs, research reports, and much more. Make it a bookmark for your ongoing sex life. Visit Now...
Freakonomics Radio: The Suicide Paradox
September 15, 2011
Did you know that there are more than twice as many suicides as homicides in the US? I didn't. Or that there are more suicides in Hungary than in any other country? Or that there aren't any suicides among the Piraha tribe in the Amazon jungle, in spite of rampant childhood deaths? And why do so many more men kill themselves than women? Why are Afican-Americans far less likely to kill themselves than whites? And what about "copycat suicides" triggered by the media? These, and many other mysteries are explored in a fascinating radio show broadcast on NPR. Time: 58 min. Listen or download...
Evolution: Clitoral Stimulation & the Brain
September 7. 2011
Evolutionary psychologists have worked themselves into something of a tizzy trying to explain the purpose(s) of female orgasm, and why such a sprawling internal organ—the clitoris—is dedictaed to making it all possible. Neuroscientist Jim Pfaus explains how clitoral stimulation affects the brains of humans and rats alike. He also proposes that clitoral stimuation is an ancient development in animal and human brains. See how creative and patient research assistants are stimulating the clitorises of female rats with itsy-bitsy paintbrushes. Yikes! Picaso seems to have had the right idea on a grander scale. Watch now...
New Wave of Census Data Paints a Changing Potrait of American Marriage
August 29, 2011
The PBS Newshour asks the experts to explain how marriage is becoming less of an "institution" and more of a personal relationship choice with growing variations. More poeple are unmaried than ever before. Same sex couples are on the rise, and not just in urban areas. More married couples are deciding not to have kids. And, of course, divorces are an unmistakable feature of our search for marital satisfaction, especially in the South and the West. Watch this segment...
In Case You've Wondered: Not All Bisexuals are Gay
August 23,2011
Researchers at Northwestern University have confirmed that some bisexuals are actually, well, bi. A 2005 study appeared to confirm an old notion that bi-identified men are just denying their homosexuality. That study involved a group of men who said they were bi, but showed much stronger genital arousal to images of men. The new study took the trouble of asking participants if they actually had sex and at least a 3-month relationship with both genders. No surprise: these guys showed genital arousal to both sexes. Read more...
Film: "My Penis and Everyone Else's"
June 24, 2011
British filmmaker, Lawrence Barraclough, explores men's reluctance to talk about their penises in this revealing, funny, sad, and ultimately liberating film. Time: 55 min. Watch film...
Birth Control: The IUD is back and It's a Great Choice
June 22, 2011
Well-known sexologist and author of the popular Guide to Getting It On, Paul Joannides, has published a succinct update in his Psychology Today column. The big news: The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has announced that the IUD is now the most effective form of reversible birth control for women of reproductive age. It once got a bad rap when the old version included a string that allowed an entry point for bacteria. This problem has been solved and the IUD is a safe and hassle-free option. Read more...
Orgasm & Brain Imaging
May 11, 2011
Ever since functional MRIs have allowed neuroscientists to see the brain in real time while people think about or actually do stuff, the complexities of orgasm have received quite a bit of attention. An article about a new study summarized in the latest issue of New Scientist shows the brain of a female reporter lighting up all over the place when she imagines touching herself to orgasm—or actually does it. But it's the activity in the prefrontal cortex that most fascinates the researchers in at least two ways. Thoughts of orgasm can ease pain—just like the real thing. And orgasm involves an altered state of consciousness, not surprisingly called "letting go." There are some cool implications here for pain-sufferers and pleasure-seekers alike. Read more...
Mindfulness and "Heartfulness": Meditation for Anxiety
January 4, 2011
San Francisco psychotherapist, Tom Moon, MFT, has noticed something similar as I have: When anxious people become mindful of their state, they feel even more anxious. Moon insists that we need to focus our mindful practice on sending deep compassion into the very heart of our anxiety—the only way to counteract the profound loneliness of our fears. His recent talk to a group of regular meditators reveals the power of this remarkable insight. Listen now...
Psychology of Class: Is Affluence the Enemy of Emotional Intelligence?
December 30, 2010
Researchers from UCSF and UC Berkeley discuss their rigorous and convincing studies which clearly reveal that those in higher socio-economic groups lag far behind poorer folks in empathy (tuning into the feelings of others), compassion, and generosity. And here's an amazing wrinkle: simply imagining oneself being in a different class produces a rapid change in emotional intelligence, with affluence working against it pretty much across the board. You can hear lots more about these remarkable findings on Michael Krasny's Forum on KQED-FM. The researchers make it clear that they're identifying strong trends, not universal truths. Listen now...
Research: Men, Dopamine & Alcoholism
October 22, 2010
More men than women have serious problems with alcohol and here's an interesting clue from researchers at Columbia and Yale. Men appear to produce more of the brain chemical, dopamine—often called the "reward/pleasure neurotransmitter"—in response to alcohol, and less of it as they develop tolerance. Read more...
Research: New Sex Survey Highlights Variety, Condom Use, Adolescent Behavior & More
Ocober 1, 2010
The Journal of Sexual Medicine Has devoted an entire issue, including nine separate papers plus commentaries, from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior from Indiana University. Data comes from a representative "probability sample" of 5,865 Americans ranging in age from 14-94. Ambitious readers can download a free pdf of the entire issue for personal use. Or you can peruse a brief summary of selected findings (with a couple of graphs). A Web search for "nsshb sex survey" will show you a wide variety of summaries and discussions.
Culture: Wave of Videos Supporting LGBT & Questioning Youth
September, 2010
One of the amazing things about contemporary culture is the speed with which trends can take off. Unfortunately, most such trends are meaningless fads. So it's notable to see something positive—and genuinely helpful. The It Gets Better Project is the brainchild of popular sex columnist and writer, Dan Savage. In a response to a wave of teen suicides by victims of anti-gay taunts and bullying, Savage asked gay and gay-supportive adults to post their own videos on You Tube. Most are from gay and lesbian adults with messages of hope about a brighter future. But many celebs, and even the President and Secretary of State, have also heeded the call. In what looks like a case of "mass empathy," the surge of videos is deeply moving and inspiring. Do yourself a favor and watch some of them.