November 2020
Featured Article:
Using Psychological Insight to Understand the “Fatal Denial” That Is Allowing the Coronavirus Epidemic to Continue to Spread on a Deadly Path & How to Use Psychological Insight to Breakdown This Denial and Save Lives. An Analysis and a Plan.
by Michael Blumenfield, M.D.
The deadly Coronavirus epidemic continues to spread in my state of California and throughout the country. Medical experts have clearly identified the reason that the epidemic is getting out of control is that a significant number of people are not listening to the medical experts and are not using facial masks, keeping social distancing nor are they following other precautions concerning opening businesses, restaurants, beaches, sporting and political events etc. Of course, these people do not want to get sick or spread this illness to their loved ones. Such individuals are using a very common unconscious psychological defense mechanism of “denial” to keep out of their consciousness that their behavior could be fatal to themselves and their loved ones. They support this denial with another well-known psychological defense mechanism known as “rationalizations.” Examples are, “I am healthy and won’t get sick,” “These precautions by the experts are political in nature,” “You are only young once” and many other rationalizations. Because these are psychological defense mechanisms and they won’t protect anyone from this fatal virus, I have coined a new term for this denial and am calling it “FATAL DENIAL.”
Please read Dr. Blumenfield's complete article beginning on Page 6
