How Much Control Do We Have? The free-will debate in the time of coronavirus

For time immemorial, philosophers have debated the extent to which we have free will.

The coronavirus pandemic makes such a debate timely because something so important is happening to us that is out of our control. As a result, it's easy to feel helpless and unmotivated to do what we should do.

In my Psychology Today article today, I argue that they're wrong and that we do retain much free will. The article's goal is to reassure and motivate us to be assertive, to have internal locus of control even in this time of coronavirus. We can choose to make a difference or not to, in our lives and others.

I focus on behaviors related to the coronavirus.

Corona Q&A From My Clients

It seems that everyone mainly wants to talk about one thing: the coronavirus. My Psychology Today article today lists some questions my clients have recently asked me and my responses.

Corona Chronicle: Musings on today's coronavirus news

I've been offering my psychological and practical reactions to the latest coronavirus news. Here's what's going through my head today.

Another Conversation With Myself About the Coronavirus

My post yesterday was an experiment: a point/counterpoint exchange with myself on coronavirus. On rereading it with fresh eyes this morning, I still felt it was helpful to readers, viewers of my YouTube reading of it, and myself. 

So I paced my house this morning contemplating whether I had more to say that might be of value. My Psychology Today article today presents I’ve come up with.

How Will The Pandemic End? Best-, Worst-, and Moderate-Case Scenarios

No one knows how or when the coronavirus pandemic will end and join previous pandemics in the history book. But it may be helpful, psychologically and practically, to posit three scenarios: best-case, worst-case, and moderate-case and then consider the implications. I do so in my Psychology Today article today.

A Conversation with Myself About the Coronavirus

Sometimes, the most honest thoughts on the coronavirus come not from repackaging CDC advice, which I’ve been guilty of doing, but from honest reflection. My Psychology Today article today offers a conversation with myself.

How to Prepare for a Supply Chain Shortage

As I wrote in my post yesterday, experts as reported in publications such as the New York Times and The Atlantic are worried about possible supply-chain shortages. Today, a Reuters headline is “Coronavirus upends global food supply chains in latest economic shock."

Just as most of us buy insurance, for example, medical or fire insurance, my Psychology Today article today suggests what you might buy as “supply-chain insurance."