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.

I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

-- George Carlin