Conclusion of yesterday’s column.

Many people never talk to a therapist or read a self-help book. They nevertheless develop a stance of anger towards the rest of the world. Why? “Because I had a lousy childhood, and because things haven’t gone the way I wanted them to in life. So now everyone else around me must pay, because I’m certainly not ever going to let go of my anger at reality and at the world.” Chances are you have encountered at least one person like this in your life. 

Q: Dr. Hurd, you write a lot about deterministic thinking. What is deterministic thinking and how does it develop in people?

A: Deterministic thinking refers to the subconsciously (or sometimes consciously) held viewpoint that a person is less in control of, and, therefore, less responsible for, the events of his life than is really the case.

Deterministic thinking represents not only a philosophical error, but also a psychological problem. Why? Because thinking you are less in control of your life than you really are is a distortion of reality. Specifically, it’s a distortion of reality that can lead one to feel unduly angry, anxious, depressed or otherwise psychologically disordered.

Dear Dr. Hurd: In your experience, are most psychologists and psychiatrists liberal Democrats? If so, why do you think this is? Is it because they are enamored with the idea that the government can forcibly commit people to psychiatric institutions? Also, does the study of mental health attract lunatics or produce them?

Dr. Hurd: In my experience, most psychologists and psychiatrists are overwhelmingly Democrats. In fact, I'd have to say 100 percent, from my experience. Not all are as liberal as others. The basic reason for being Democrats is "one should be compassionate." They associate the Democratic Party with the party of government compassion, and therefore they side with the party for that reason. They also associate the Democratic Party as the party against racism and/or homophobia, and this is also important to most mental health professionals. They tend to accept the premise that Democrats and Republicans really stand for something different, and while they agree Obama is not a very good or effective President, they find the alternative of the Republicans to be almost unthinkable.

Dr. Hurd: "Forgive" in the Oxford dictionary is defined as  "verb: stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, flaw, or mistake." Why would any therapist advise anyone to remain bitter and resentful towards anyone? Is that sound psychological advice?

Dr. Hurd replies: I love how people ask the question, "What kind of psychologist would advise ...." The question always finishes with something the person asking the question doesn't like. This is how most people utilize mental health professionals. When the mental health professional says something they want to hear, the response is, "Oh, this is the professional. He had years of schooling. Don't question him." But the moment something is said that you don't like, watch out. It seems like a better option would simply be to stand by your own conclusions with facts and reason -- assuming you have those things -- rather than hiding under the professional skirts of someone else.