BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDES Lower Extremity Trauma
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Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind and cognition. According to linguistics Professor Mackenzie H. Marcinko PhD, it combines various aspects from neuroscience, computer science, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and other fields, into a comprehensive study on the nature of intelligence.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics. Specific branches of linguistics include sociolinguistics, dialectology, psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, historical-comparative linguistics and applied linguistics.
Now, language and linguistics are closely related fields of study but they have distinct focuses.
Language refers to the system of communication used by humans, encompassing spoken, written, and signed forms. It is a means of expressing thoughts, ideas, and emotions.
On the other hand, linguistics is the scientific study of language itself. It examines the structure, sounds, meaning, and evolution of languages, as well as how they are acquired and used by individuals and communities.
While language is a broader concept that encompasses various forms of communication, linguistics delves into the intricate details and mechanics of language, aiming to understand its underlying principles and patterns.
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.
For more than 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.
Financial Advisor, Planner and Insurance Agent Information
By Staff Reporters
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Ostrich Bias is a behavioral phenomenon describing the tendency of individuals to avoid or ignore information that they perceive as negative or threatening. This term is derived from the popular but inaccurate belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when faced with danger, even though they do not exhibit such behavior.
Evidence: There is neuro-scientific evidence of the ostrich effect. Sharot et al. (2012) investigated the differences in positive and negative information when updating existing beliefs. Consistent with the ostrich effect, participants presented with negative information were more likely to avoid updating their beliefs; wills, estate plans, investment portfolios, and insurance policies, etc..
Moreover, they found that the part of the brain responsible for this cognitive bias was the left IFG – inferior frontal gyrus – by disrupting this part of the brain with TMS – transcranial magnetic stimulation – participants were more likely to accept the negative information provided.
EXAMPLE: The Ostrich Bias can cause someone to avoid looking at their bills, because they’re worried about seeing how far behind they are on home mortgage payments, credit cards, education or auto loans, etc.
COMMENTS APPRECIATED
The Medical Executive-Post is a news and information aggregator and social media professional network for medical and financial service professionals.
Feel free to submit education content to the site as well as links, text posts, images, opinions and videos which are then voted up or down by other members. Comments and dialog are especially welcomed.
Daily posts are organized by subject. ME-P administrators moderate the activity. Moderation may also conducted by community-specific moderators who are unpaid volunteers.
Posted on May 4, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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If getting answers from ChatGPT makes you feel dystopian, you may not want to hear about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s other co-founded venture, now rolling out stateside. It scans your eyeballs in exchange for cryptocurrency.
What in the Demolition Man? The device, which creates a unique user ID for your scan, is meant to address a problem that Altman had a hand in creating: how to verify identities and confirm humanity in a world full of artificial intelligence.
The project, called World (formerly Worldcoin), went live in other countries in 2023. Its US expansion, announced this week, featured retail outlets in five cities where you can get your eyes scanned:
Tools for Humanity, the company behind the orbs, says 12+ million people around the world have participated so far.
It claims to keep your data private, but authorities in more than a dozen places have suspended World’s operations or investigated its data practices, per the WSJ.
Posted on April 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Rick Kahler CFP™
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On January 21, 1980, in what I thought was a brilliant financial move, I bought gold. At what was then an all-time high of $873 an ounce.
Fast forward 45 years, and here we are again. Gold is on a tear, priced just over $3,000 an ounce at the time of this writing. It needs to rise another 16% to reach its inflation-adjusted record and many analysts think it might just get there.
What’s driving this gold rally? The same thing that drove it in 1980—fear.
Back then, the U.S. was grappling with rising inflation, double-digit price increases, and interest rates in the high teens. Investors feared that the dollar and stock market would collapse, that their hard-earned savings would erode into oblivion, and that gold was a safe haven. Sound familiar?
Today, inflation is less dramatic and the stock market would have to go a long way down to even register as a bear market, but it’s still a major concern. Central banks are buying gold at record levels. Gold-backed ETFs, which had been seeing years of outflows, are finally pulling investors back in.
For most, gold isn’t just an investment, it’s an emotional hedge against uncertainty. Back in 1980, I wasn’t thinking about long-term strategy. I was reacting to fear. Inflation had hit 14%, and like many others, I was convinced the dollar would soon be worthless. Gold, I thought, was my best shot at preserving wealth.
The problem? Inflation eventually cooled; it had dropped to an average of 3.5% by the mid-1980s. Gold prices tumbled along with it. Investors who, like me, bought at the peak, 45 years later still haven’t broken even on an inflation-adjusted basis. (My $873 purchase price, adjusted for inflation, equates to $3,580 today.) If I had stuck with a well-diversified portfolio, I likely would have fared much better over time.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that our financial decisions aren’t just about numbers. They’re deeply influenced by our Internal Financial System™, a framework that helps explain why we handle money the way we do. I now see that my decision to buy gold was a battle between different financial “parts” of myself.
One part panicked, convinced that money was about to become worthless. Another saw gold prices soaring and didn’t want to miss out. Yet another part convinced me that buying at the peak was still a smart move. Had I paused and examined these internal voices, I might have made a different decision.
My gold purchase shows why emotionally driven investment decisions rarely lead to great financial outcomes. Instead of asking, “Is gold a smart long-term investment?” I was asking, “How do I make sure I don’t lose everything?” Those are two very different questions.
If you’re thinking about buying gold, I urge you to consider these questions:
“Am I investing from a place of fear or strategy?” If you’re rushing in because you’re scared of inflation, pause and reassess.
“How does gold fit into my broader financial plan?” Gold can be a great hedge—if held in appropriate amounts in a diversified portfolio. It is best viewed as catastrophic financial insurance, rather than an investment.
“Am I reacting to headlines or making a well-thought-out decision?” The financial media loves a good gold rally. But remember, markets move in cycles. Today’s rally may be history repeating itself.
Back in 1980, fear persuaded me that gold was a sure thing. I forgot an essential caveat—there are no sure things in investing. If bad market timing were an Olympic sport, I’d have taken home the gold (pun intended) for least profitable performance.
Posted on April 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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A thought experiment is an imaginary scenario that is meant to elucidate or test an argument or theory. It is often an experiment that would be hard, impossible, or unethical to actually perform. It can also be an abstract hypothetical that is meant to test our intuitions about morality or other fundamental philosophical questions. The German term Gedankenexperiment was utilized by physicist Ernst Mach
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Mary is a brilliant scientist who is, for whatever reason, forced to investigate the world from a black and white room via a black and white television monitor. She specializes in the neuro-physiology of vision and acquires, let us suppose, all the physical information there is to obtain about what goes on when we see ripe tomatoes, or the sky, and use terms like ‘red’, ‘blue’, and so on.
Question: What will happen when Mary is released from her black and white room or is given a color television monitor? Will she learn anything or not?
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The Medical Executive-Post is a news and information aggregator and social media professional network for medical and financial service professionals. Feel free to submit education content to the site as well as links, text posts, images, opinions and videos which are then voted up or down by other members. Comments and dialog are especially welcomed. Daily posts are organized by subject. ME-P administrators moderate the activity. Moderation may also conducted by community-specific moderators who are unpaid volunteers.
Posted on April 20, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, Bereavement Sex is one of those coping mechanisms that sounds strange but makes sense when you think about it. In the face of loss, our brains crave connection and comfort.
Engaging in sex after a significant loss can be a way to feel alive and regain a sense of control. It’s a testament to our complex emotional wiring, where grief and intimacy intertwine.
Decoy Bias Effect is a dubious phenomenon in decision-making where the introduction of a third, less attractive option (the “decoy”) influences individuals to change their preference between two other options.
The decoy bias effect describes how, when we are choosing between two alternatives, the addition of a third, less attractive option (the decoy) can influence our perception of the original two choices. Decoys are “asymmetrically dominated:” they are completely inferior to one option (the target) but only partially inferior to the other (the competitor). For this reason, the decoy effect is sometimes called the “asymmetric dominance effect.”
EXAMPLE: This bias is commonly used in financial planning sales; as well as marketing and mutual fund, ETF, REIT, stock broker, insurance agent and financial advisor pricing strategies to manipulate investor choices.
Your knee hurts, so you pay a visit to your favorite orthopedist. He smiles, maybe even gives you a hug, and then tells you: “I feel your pain. Really, I do. But I don’t treat left knees, only right ones. I find I am so much better with the right ones. Last time I worked on a left knee, I didn’t do so well.”
Though many professionals — doctors as well as lawyers, architects and engineers — get to choose their specializations, they rarely get to choose the problems they solve. Problems choose them. Investors enjoy the unique luxury of choosing problems that let them maximize the use of not just their IQ but also their EQ — emotional intelligence.
Let’s start with IQ. Our intellectual capacity to analyze problems will vary with the problem in front of us. Just as we breezed through some subjects in college and struggled with others, our ability to understand the current and future dynamics of various companies and industries will fluctuate as well. This is why we buy stocks that fall within our sphere of competence. We tend to stick with ones where our IQ is the highest.
Though we usually think about our capacity to analyze problems as being dependable and stable over time, it isn’t. It might be if we were characters from Star Trek, with complete control over our emotions, like Mr. Spock, or who lacked emotions, like Lieutenant Commander Data. This is where our EQ comes in.
I am not a licensed psychologist, but I have huge experience treating a very difficult patient: me. And what I have found is that emotions have two troublesome effects on me. First, they distort probabilities; so even if my intellectual capacity to analyze a problem is not impacted, my brain may be solving a distorted problem. Second, my IQ is not constant, and my ability to process information effectively declines under stress. I either lose the big picture or overlook important details. This dilemma is not unique to me; I’m sure it affects all of us to various degrees.
The higher my EQ with regard to a particular company, the more likely that my IQ will not degrade when things go wrong (or even when they go right). There is a good reason why doctors don’t treat their own children: Their ability to be rational (properly weighing probabilities) may be severely compromised by their emotions.
A friend of mine who is a terrific investor, and who will remain nameless though his name is George, once told me that he never invests in grocery store stocks because he can’t be rational when he holds them. If we spent some Freudian time with him, we’d probably discover that he had a traumatic childhood event at the grocery store (he may have been caught shoplifting a candy bar when he was eight), or he may have had a bad experience with a grocery stock early in his career. The reason for his problem is irrelevant; what is important is that he has realized that his high IQ will be impaired by his low EQ if he owns grocery stocks.
There is no cure for emotions, but we can dramatically minimize the impact they have on us as investors by adjusting our investment process. First and foremost, investors have the incredible advantage of picking domains where they can remain rational.
To be a successful investor, you don’t need Albert Einstein’s IQ (though sometimes I wish I had Spock’s EQ). Warren Buffett undoubtedly has a very high IQ, but even the Oracle of Omaha chooses carefully his battles; for instance, he doesn’t invest in technology stocks.
Investors have the luxury of investing only in stocks for which both their IQ and EQ are maximized, because there are tens of thousands of stocks out there to choose from, and they need just a few dozen.
Meanwhile, I hope when I go see the doctor, he will tell me, “I don’t do left knees,” because the best result will come from a doctor who while treating me will utilize both IQ and EQ.
Posted on April 5, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
WARNING – WARNING
By Dr. DavidEdwardMarcinko; MBA MEd
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According to www.NPR.org, there are more than120,000 health care forums on the Internet with opinions ranging from pharmaceuticals, to sexual dysfunction, to acne. The same goes for commercial doctor blogs that promote lotions, balms and potions, diets and vitamins, minerals, herbs, drinks and elixirs, or various other ingest-ants, digest-ants or pharmaceuticals, etc.
And, to other doctors, the blogging craze is a new novelty where there are no rules, protocols, standards or precise figures on how many “medical-doctor” or related physician-blogs are “out there.” Unfortunately, too many recount gory ER scenes, or pictorially illustrate horrific medical conditions, or serious and traumatic injuries. Of course, others simply are medical practice websites, or those that entice patients into more lucrative plastic surgery or concierge medical practices. Some are from self-serving/credible plaintiff-seeking attorneys wishing to assist patients.
Not all physician blogs are geared toward practice information, marketing or medical sensationalism. In fact, just the opposite seems to be the case in extremely candid blogs, like “Ranting Docs”, “White Coat Rants,” “Grunt Docs”, “Cancer Doc,” “The Happy Hospitalist,” “Mom MD”, “Cross-Over Health”, “Angry Docs” and “M.D.O.D.,” which bills itself as “Random Thoughts from a Few Cantankerous American Physicians.”
According to some of these, they are more like personal journals, or public diaries, where doctors vent about reimbursement rates, difficult cases, medical mistakes, declining medical prestige and control, and/or what a “bummer” it is to have so many patients die; not pay, or who are indigent, noncompliant. We call these the “disgruntled doctor sites.” Some even talk about their own patients, coding issues, or various doctor-patient shenanigans.
But, according to psychiatrist and blogger Dr. Deborah Peel and others, the problem with blogging about patients is the danger that one will be able to identify themselves – the doctor – or that others who know them will be able to identify them.” Her affiliation, Patient Privacy Rights, rightly worries that patients might track back to the individual, and adversely affect their employment, health insurance or other aspects of life.
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And, according to Dr. Jay S. Grife; MA Esq., it is certainly true that if a doctor violates a patient’s privacy there could be legal consequences. Under HIPAA, physicians could face fines or even jail time. In some states, patients can file a civil lawsuit if they believe a doctor has violated their privacy. Still, internet privacy issues are an evolving gray-area that if not wrong, may still be morally and ethically questionable [personal communication].
Our colleague Robert Wachter MD, author of the blog called “Wachter’s World,” says it’s important for doctors to be able to share cases, as long as they change the facts substantially. On the other hand, the author of “Wachter’s World” and a leading expert on patient safety alternately suggests “You might say we as doctors should never be talking about experiences with our patients online or in books or in articles.” But, he says that “patients shouldn’t take all the information on blogs at face value. Taken for what they are — unedited opinions, and in some cases entertainment — blogs can give readers some useful insight into the good, the bad and the ugly of the medical profession”. Link: http://www.the-hospitalist.org/blogs
Well, fair enough! But, doctors unhappy with their current medical career choice, or its modern evolution, should probably consider counseling or even career change guidance, re-education and re-engineering. It is very inappropriate to vent career frustrations in a public venue. It’s far better for the blog to be private and/or by invitation only; if at all [Personal communication].
We believe that a hybrid mash-up of both views can be wholly appropriate, or grossly inappropriate in some cases. Of course the devil is in the details; linguistics and semantics aside. Nevertheless; what is not addressed in electronic physician “mea-culpas” are the professional liability risks and concerns that are evolving in this quasi-professional, quasi-lay, communication forum.
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Example: We have seen medical mistakes, and liability admissions of all sorts, freely and glibly presented. In fact,
“Some physicians find that the act of liability blogging as a professional confession that is useful in moving past their malpractice mistakes. And, it is also a useful way to begin a commitment to a better professional life of caring in the future. It helps eliminate the toxic residue and angst of professional liability and guilt. Moreover, as they are unburdened of past acts of omission or commission, doctors should remember to also forgive those who have wronged them. This helps greatly with the process and brings additional peace.”
However, although some may say that this electronic confession is good for the soul, it may not be good for your professional liability carrier, or you, when plaintiff’s attorneys release a legion of IT focused interns, or automated bots, searching online for your self-admissions and scouring for your self-incriminations. Of course, a direct connection to a specific patient may still not be made and no HIPAA violation is involved. But, a vivid imagination is not need needed to envision this type of blind medical malpractice discovery deposition query even now.
QUESTION:“Doctor Smith, I noted all the medical errors admitted on your blog. What other mistakes did you make in the care and treatment of my client?”
And so, the question of plausible deniability, or culpability, is easily raised. If you must journalize your thoughts for sanity or stress release; do it in print. And, don’t tell anyone about it so the diary won’t be subpoenaed. Then tear it up and throw it away. Remember, with risk management, “It is all about credibility.” Don’t trash yours! These thoughts may be especially important if you covet a medical career as a researcher, editor, educator, medical expert or something other than a working-class or employed physician.
SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com
Stocks were decimated yesterday in the first full trading day following President Trump’s tariff announcement. It was the biggest single-day decline since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Every Magnificent Seven stock was battered—Apple worst of all. And so perhaps it is a good time to discuss the concept of “Money Scripts”.
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Money Scripts are unconscious beliefs about money that are typically only partially true, are developed in childhood, and drive adult financial behaviors. Money scripts may be the result of “financial flashpoints,” which are salient early experiences around money that have a lasting impact in adulthood. Money scripts are often passed down through the generations and social groups often share similar money scripts. And so, we argue that Money scripts are at the root of all illogical, ill-advised, self-destructive, or self-limiting financial behaviors.
In research at Kansas State University [KSU], researchers identified four distinct Money script patterns, which are associated with financial health and predict financial behaviors. These include: (a) money avoidance, (b) money worship, (c) money status, and (d) money vigilance [personal communication Brad Klontz, PsyD, CFP®, Kenneth Shubin-Stein, MD, MPH, MS, CFA and Sonya Britt, PhD, CFP®].
And so, we all like to think our financial decisions are fully rational, but the truth is that our subconscious beliefs have a dramatic impact on our money and financial decisions. These money scripts are important to know and understand. A summary is below:
Money Avoidance
Money avoidance scripts are illustrated by beliefs such as “Rich people are greedy,”“It is not okay to have more than you need,” and “I do not deserve a lot of money when others have less than me.” Money avoiders believe that money is bad or that they do not deserve money. They believe that wealthy people are corrupt and there is virtue in living with less money. They may sabotage their financial success or give money away even though they cannot afford to do so. Money avoidance scripts may be associated with lower income and lower net worth and predict financial behaviors including ignoring bank statements, overspending, financial dependence on others, financial enabling of others, and having trouble sticking to a budget.
Money Worship
Money worship is typified by beliefs such as “More money will make you happier,” “You can never have enough money,” and “Money would solve all my problems.” Money worshipers are convinced that money is the key to happiness. At the same time, they believe that one can never have enough. Money worships have lower income, lower net worth, and higher credit card debt. They are more likely to be hoarders, spend compulsively, and put work ahead of family.
Money Status
Money status scripts include “I will not buy something unless it is new,” “Your self-worth equals you net worth,” and “If something isn’t considered the ‘best’ it is not worth buying.” Money status seekers see net worth and self-worth as being synonymous. They pretend to have more money than they do and tend to overspend as a result. They often grew up in poorer families and believe that the universe should take care of their financial needs if they live a virtuous life. Money status scripts are associated with compulsive gambling, overspending, being financially dependent on others, and lying to one’s spouse about spending.
Money Vigilance
Money vigilant beliefs include “It is important to save for a rainy day,” “You should always look for the best deal, even if it takes more time,” and “I would be a nervous wreck if I did not have an emergency fund.” The money vigilants are alert, watchful and concerned about their financial welfare. They are more likely to save and less likely to buy on credit. As a result, they tend to have higher income and higher net worth. They also have a tendency to be anxious about money and are secretive about their financial status outside of their household. While money vigilance is associated with frugality and saving, excessive anxiety can keep someone from enjoying the benefits that money can provide.
Identification
When money scripts are identified, it is helpful to examine where they came from. A simple behavioral finance technique involves reflecting on the following questions:
What three lessons did you learn about money from your mother?
What three lessons did you learn about money from your father?
What is your first memory around money?
What is your most painful money memory?
What is your most joyful money memory?
What money scripts emerged for you from this experience?
How have they helped you?
How have they hurt you?
What money scripts do you need to change?
Conclusion
Ideally, from a balanced middle ground, we can see past the limitations of money scripts, our self and others who are polarized. Those who believe “Money is meant to be spent” or “Money is meant to be saved” have a world view that results in extreme positions. Labeling them as “correct” or “wrong” is not a useful way to try to shift anyone’s polarized money script beliefs.
SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com
Posted on April 3, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Eidetic memory refers to the ability to vividly recall images from memory after only a few instances of exposure, with high accuracy for a short time after exposure, without using a memory aid.
Photographic memory, though often used interchangeably with eidetic memory, implies the ability to recall extensive details, like entire pages of text, with high precision. Genuine photographic memory’s existence is debated and hasn’t been conclusively proven.
Posted on March 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Negativity bias is not totally separate from pessimism bias, but it is subtly and importantly distinct. In fact, it works according to similar mechanics as the sunk cost fallacy in that it reflects our profound aversion to losing. We like to win, but we hate to lose even more.
And so, according to cognitive scientist Mackenzie Marcinko PhD, when we make a decision, we generally think in terms of outcomes—either positive or negative. The bias comes into play when we irrationally weigh the potential for a negative outcome as more important than that of a positive outcome.
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Pessimism bias on the other hand, is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the likelihood of negative things and underestimate the likelihood of positive things, especially when it comes to assuming that future events will have a bad outcome.
For example, the pessimism bias could cause someone to believe that they’re going to fail an exam, even though they’re well-prepared and are likely to get a good grade.
According to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, The pessimism bias can distort people’s thinking, including your own, in a way that leads to irrational decision-making, as well as to various issues with your mental health and emotional well being.
Posted on March 29, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
DEFINITIONS
By Staff Reporters
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Paradoxes are broader concepts that may include statements, situations, or phenomena, revealing a truth through contradiction (e.g., “less is more”).
Oxymorons are combinations of two contradictory words to create a new meaning (e.g., “deafening silence”).
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Most people tend to confuse a paradox with an oxymoron, and it’s not hard to see why. Most oxymoron examples appear to be compressed version of a paradox, in which it is used to add a dramatic effect and to emphasize contrasting thoughts. Although they may seem greatly similar in form, there are slight differences that set them apart.
A paradox consists of a statement with opposing definitions, while an oxymoron combines two contradictory terms to form a new meaning. But because an oxymoron can play out with just two words, it is often used to describe a given object or idea imaginatively.
As for a paradox, the statement itself makes you question whether something is true or false. It appears to contradict the truth, but if given a closer look, the truth is there but is merely implied.
Posted on March 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
The Power of Attorney Mistake That Could Cost You Everything
By Rick Kahler CFP®
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Recently, reading a training manual on elder abuse, I was reminded of a financial risk that is often overlooked. One of the fastest and easiest ways to unravel your financial security is to have the wrong person gain control of your money.
The example in the manual mirrored a heartbreaking situation I once experienced with a long-term client. As her mental and physical health declined, this single woman moved into assisted living. Her newly designated power of attorney, a relative from out of town, took control of her financial affairs.
Almost immediately, without consulting us, the relative began making large withdrawals, closed her accounts, and transferred funds elsewhere. They challenged the financial plan, investments, and strategies we had established to safeguard the client’s financial security and provide for her long-term care. Even though their actions threatened the client’s wellbeing, we were powerless to stop them. Our only recourse was to report the behavior to the authorities.
This heartbreaking and frustrating experience underscored just how critical it is to be mindful when executing a Power of Attorney. Besides designating someone you trust, it is wise to build in safeguards to prevent even a well-meaning relative from inadvertently derailing a carefully constructed financial plan.
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One such safeguard is to include a financial advisor in your POA—as long as that person is a fee-only, fiduciary advisor with an obligation to act in your best interests. In many cases, advisors are hesitant to suggest this option because they are sensitive to the potential conflict of interest and do not want to appear self-serving. An unfortunate reality is that you should be cautious if an advisor, particularly one who sells products on commission, seems eager to be added to your POA.
Including your financial advisor in your POA does not mean you designate them as your agent to manage your affairs. Instead, you include a clause naming them as the professional of record you want your designated agent to continue working with. This creates continuity and accountability. It prevents your agent from replacing your advisor with someone who may be unfamiliar with your needs and goals, unqualified, or untrustworthy.
Your advisor might also recommend adding a secondary safeguard, such as naming an attorney or accountant to oversee the selection of a successor advisor in case your current advisor is unable to continue. This additional layer of protection ensures that the financial professionals guiding your portfolio remain aligned with your best interests. Taking these extra steps can save you—and your loved ones—from significant financial stress down the road.
Including safeguards in your POA is not about mistrusting your loved ones, but about equipping them with the right resources and support to act in your best interest. Financial management is complex, and it requires expertise that most people, even those with the best intentions, may not possess.
One of the hardest parts about planning for diminished financial capacity is the emotional aspect. No one likes to imagine a time when they might not be able to manage their own money. But in reality, taking steps now to protect your financial future is the ultimate act of control. It can help ensure that your wishes are respected and the financial foundation you’ve worked so hard to build remains intact.
Remember, too, that avoiding conversations often increases financial vulnerability. If you don’t have a POA or aren’t comfortable with what you do have, now is the time to bring it up with your advisor, attorney, or a trusted family member. These safeguards are about protecting yourself. They also support those you will rely on to care for you and your financial legacy,
Posted on March 16, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
DOCTOR PODIATRIC MEDICINE
By Staff Reporters
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Background: Survey research is common practice in podiatry literature and many other health-related fields. An important component of the reporting of survey results is the provision of sufficient information to permit readers to understand the validity and representativeness of the results presented. However, the quality of survey reporting measures in the body of podiatry literature has not been systematically reviewed.
Objective: To examine the reporting of response rates and nonresponse bias within survey research articles published in the podiatric literature in order to provide a foundation with regard to the development of appropriate research reporting standards within the profession.
Methods: This study reports on a secondary analysis of survey research published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Foot, and the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. 98 surveys published from 2000 to 2018 were reviewed and data abstracted regarding the report of response rates and non-response bias.
Results: 67 surveys (68.4%) report a response rate while only 36 articles (36.7%) mention non-response bias in any capacity.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that there is room for improvement in the quality of reporting response rates and nonresponse in the body of podiatric literature involving survey research. Both nonresponse and response rate should be reported to assess survey quality. This is particularly problematic for studies that contribute to best practices.
Posted on March 15, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
DEFINITION
By Staff Reporters and FTC
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Surveillance pricing is a broad term to describe the practice of linking pricing to individualized consumer data.
Companies employing it might use algorithms, personal information, and AI to set a price for their goods based on everything from where you live to your age to your browsing or credit history. The practice, sometimes called dynamic pricing or personalized pricing, is growing increasingly common, but isn’t completely new.
In 2012, the travel website Orbitz began directing people on Macs to higher hotels after realizing they often had more purchasing power. It stopped the practice after the Wall Street Journalreported on it.
Is surveillance pricing the same thing as surge pricing?Yes and no.
You might know about surge pricing from the last time you tried to call an Uber during a rainstorm. As demand skyrockets for a ride share, so does the price. This is one kind of surveillance pricing, but what the FTC is targeting appears more specific. The FTC said its probe concerns “when the pricing is based on surveillance of an individual’s personal characteristics and behavior.”
Is surveillance pricing bad?
The FTC opened its probe into companies using surveillance pricing because it’s worried about the risks it might pose to consumers
“Firms that harvest Americans’ personal data can put people’s privacy at risk. Now firms could be exploiting this vast trove of personal information to charge people higher prices,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement. “Americans deserve to know whether businesses are using detailed consumer data to deploy surveillance pricing, and the FTC’s inquiry will shed light on this shadowy ecosystem of pricing middlemen.”
The FTC is looking into four major areas of the practice: types of products being offered, data collection, customer and sales information, and impacts on consumers and prices.
Many Americans, it fears, don’t know when their data is being harvested and how it is affecting what they pay. “Consumers may now be subjected to surveillance pricing when they shop for anything, big or small, online or in person: a house, a car, even their weekly groceries,” the FTC said.
The FTC sent the orders for more information to Accenture, Bloomreach, Chase, Mastercard, McKinsey & Co., Pros, Revionics, and Task.
“Advancements in machine learning make it cheaper for these systems to collect and process large volumes of personal data, which can open the door for price changes based on information like your precise location, your shopping habits, or your web browsing history,” the FTC wrote.
Posted on March 12, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
Drugs: (List of Schedule I-V Controlled Drugs)
By Staff Reporters
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Any discussion on narcotics, prescription drugs, or other controlled substances is usually peppered with the word schedule. One substance may be Schedule I, while another is Schedule II, III, IV, or V.
Drugs, substances, and certain chemicals used to make drugs are classified into five (5) distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential. The abuse rate is a determinate factor in the scheduling of the drug; for example, Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and the potential to create severe psychological and/or physical dependence. As the drug schedule changes — Schedule II, Schedule III, etc., so does the abuse potential — Schedule V drugs represents the least potential for abuse.
A Listing of drugs and their schedule are located at Controlled Substance Act (CSA) Scheduling or CSA Scheduling by Alphabetical Order. These lists describes the basic or parent chemical and do not necessarily describe the salts, isomers and salts of isomers, esters, ethers and derivatives which may also be classified as controlled substances. These lists are intended as general references and are not comprehensive listings of all controlled substances.
Please note that a substance need not be listed as a controlled substance to be treated as a Schedule I substance for criminal prosecution. A controlled substance analogue is a substance which is intended for human consumption and is structurally or pharmacologically substantially similar to or is represented as being similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II substance and is not an approved medication in the United States.
Schedule I Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote.
Schedule II Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are: combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin
Schedule III Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are: products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone
Schedule IV Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are: Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol
Schedule V Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are: cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin
Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Inattentional Blindness: Is a psychological phenomenon where individuals fail to notice unexpected stimuli in their visual field when their attention is focused on a specific task or object.
This occurs because the brain prioritizes processing information relevant to the task at hand, leading to a temporary inability to perceive other, potentially significant details in the environment. Experiments, such as the famous “invisible gorilla” study, illustrate how people can completely miss prominent objects or events when their attention is directed elsewhere.
And, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, inattentional blindness highlights the limitations of human perception and attention, emphasizing that what we see is often influenced by where we focus our cognitive resources.
During the January 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Teladoc’s executives announced the company has partnered with Amazon Health Services, joining its Health Benefits Connector program. The program was rolled out in January 2024 and connects Amazon customers with virtual care benefits covered by their insurance plan or employer; if eligible, customers are able to apply to join the program(s).
Teladoc is the fifth company to join Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector program (formerly known as Health Conditions Programs), along with digital physical therapy company Hinge Health; chronic condition management company Omada; online therapy and mental health firm Rula; and behavioral healthcare provider Talkspace. (Read more…)
Posted on March 9, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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A Morton’s fork is a type of false dilemma in which contradictory observations lead to the same conclusion.
Morton’s Fork:Claims its origin from John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a public policymaker who used convoluted and contradictory logic to establish tax laws in the mid-15th century.
He contended that whoever lived humbly must be saving much money and hence would be able to pay higher taxes; and those that lived lavish lives were obviously rich, so they could also pay higher taxes.
In other words: a Hobsons Choice between two equally unpleasant alternatives.
Posted on February 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Becoming a speech language pathologist requires earning a master’s degree accredited by ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). A doctorate will take a minimum of three years to complete in addition to the master’s degree. These subjects are typically studied:
Aphasia
Fluency disorders
Craniofacial disorders
Augmentative communication
Disorders of phonology and articulation
Swallowing disorders
Cognitive effects on language
In speech pathology, there are several different choices when it comes to the most advanced degrees in the business:
Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (PhD)– A PhD is the oldest and most traditional type of doctoral degree. This path is most closely associated with research and academic study of speech pathology. PhDs may be heavily invested in becoming professors in SLP or in performing high-level research that drives the field forward with groundbreaking new therapies or diagnostic programs.
Doctor of Clinical Speech Pathology (SLP-D) – The SLP-D is the clinical doctorate in speech pathology. The education is just as advanced and in-depth as in a PhD program, but the focus is more on treatment and working directly with patients than with research and academics.
Doctor of Education (EdD)– Although an EdD is not technically a degree specific to speech pathology, many practitioners consider earning an EdD as their most advanced degree. That’s because so many speech pathologists practice in education specifically. According to ASHA, 43 percent of SLPs work in schools.
The US Department of Labor [USDOL] does not track the specific salaries offered to doctoral-level speech pathologists. But according to 2020 data, the top ten percent in the profession can make more than $122,790 per year.
Again, while a PhD, EdE or SLP-D may use the title “Dr,” they are different than an MD/DO/DPM/DDS/DMD as they cannot write prescriptions or perform surgery.
Posted on February 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
VIRAL AUDIO DEBATES
By Staff Reporters
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Auditory Illusions are like magic tricks for your ears. They make you hear things that aren’t there or misinterpret sounds. Think of the famous “Yanny or Laurel” debate – two people hear completely different words from the same audio clip.
NOTE: Yanny or Laurel is an auditory illusion that became popular in May 2018, in which a short audio recording of speech can be heard as one of two words. 53 percent of over 500,000 respondents to a Twitter poll reported hearing a man saying the word “Laurel”, while 47 percent of people reported hearing a voice saying the name “Yanny”. Analysis of the sound frequencies has confirmed that both sets of sounds are present in the mixed recording, but some users focus on the higher-frequency sounds in “Yanny” and cannot seem to hear the lower sounds of the word “Laurel”. When the audio clip is slowed to lower frequencies, the word “Yanny” is heard by more listeners, while faster playback loudens “Laurel.”
According to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, our brains love patterns, sometimes too much, leading us to hear phantom sounds or misinterpret music lyrics. It’s a reminder that our senses are easily fooled, so don’t believe everything you hear.
Posted on February 23, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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ORIGINAL: May 2021 | Matt Cohlmia
As the future of healthcare becomes digitized, the threat of disruption to health systems has never been greater. Despite their best intentions, the flood of new competitors and ever-proliferating modalities of care each compete for patient attention, creating the potential for a fragmented, confusing, and impersonal patient experience. At the same time, health systems possess the breadth of care, the access to data, and the patient trust to become their community’s preferred partner in care.
But to achieve success, they must leverage these resources to create easy to navigate and personalized experiences for their patients, and for the first time ever, those are within reach.
Posted on February 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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According to colleague Eugene Schmuckler PhD MBA MEd, the Stockdale Pardox suggests that “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
Posted on February 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Dan Ariely PhD
THE IRRATIONAL ECONOMIST
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Of course you don’t need a human financial advisor … until you do. Today, we’ve had unfettered internet access to a wide range of investments, opinions and models for at least two decades. So, why the bravado to go it alone; fifteen positive years for equities, since 2009! Yet, the DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ just plunged and plummeted today!
The financial advisor’s role is to remove the human element and emotion from investing decisions for something as personal as your wealth. Emotion drives the retail investor to sell low (fear) and buy high (greed). This is the reason why the average equity returns for retail investors is less than half of the S&P 500’s returns.
No, of course you don’t need a human financial advisor … until you do.
Posted on February 18, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Motivated Reasoning is the tendency to process information in a way that aligns with your desires and preconceptions. It’s like having rose-colored glasses for your beliefs.
Motivated reasoning (motivational reasoning bias) is a cognitive and social response in which we, consciously or sub-consciously, allow emotion-loaded motivational biases to affect how new information is perceived. Individuals tend to favor evidence that coincides with their current beliefs and reject new information that contradicts them, despite contrary evidence.
According to Wikipedia, motivated reasoning can be classified into two categories: 1) Accuracy-oriented (non-directional), in which the motive is to arrive at an accurate conclusion, irrespective of the individual’s beliefs, and 2) Goal-oriented (directional), in which the motive is to arrive at a particular conclusion.
Furthermore, colleagueDan Ariely PhD suggests that when we encounter any new information, we twist and turn it to fit our existing views. This mental gymnastics helps us avoid cognitive dissonance but can also lead us astray.
So, next time you’re defending your viewpoint, ask yourself: am I seeing this clearly, or is it motivated reasoning at play?
Posted on February 16, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Complimentary Glow Effect is when something looks better simply because it’s next to something else that’s attractive. It’s like standing next to a supermodel to get a boost to your own appearance.
Marketers use this all the time by pairing products with glamorous images to make them more appealing. It’s a visual trick that our brains fall for every time.
So, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, the next time you’re tempted by a shiny new gadget, remember: it might just be basking in the complimentary glow of clever marketing.
Posted on February 16, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
DEFINITION
By Staff Reporters
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The Karpman drama triangle is a social model of human interaction proposed by San Francisco psychiatrist, Stephen B. Karpman in 1968. The triangle maps a type of destructive interaction that can occur among people in conflict. The drama triangle model is a tool used in psychotherapy, specifically transactional analysis. The triangle of actors in the drama are persecutors, victims and rescuers.
Karpman described how in some cases these roles were not undertaken in an honest manner to resolve the presenting problem, but rather were used fluidly and switched between by the actors in a way that achieved unconscious goals and agendas.
The outcome in such cases was that the actors would be left feeling justified and entrenched, but there would often be little or no change to the presenting problem, and other more fundamental problems giving rise to the situation remaining unaddressed.
Posted on February 15, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Bigorexia is a psychological condition and type of body dysmorphic disorder which involves a distorted self-image that focuses specifically on muscle size and physical appearance,” Kara Becker, a certified eating disorder therapist and national director of eating disorder programs at Newport Healthcare, told HuffPost.
With bigorexia, the afflicted person is obsessed with becoming more muscular and preoccupied with the idea that their body isn’t brawny enough ― even if they actually have the physique of a bodybuilder. And, although muscle dysmorphia can affect anyone, it’s more common in males, and research indicates the disorder is on the rise.
In fact, a 2019 study indicated that 22% of adolescent boys engaged in “muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors” in an attempt to bulk up or gain weight and found that supplements, dietary changes and even steroid use were common among young adult males.
Posted on February 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Paradox of Progress explores the tension between societal progress and individual well-being.
According to colleague Eugene Schmuckler PhD MBA MEd, it questions whether advancements in technology, economy, and society truly lead to greater happiness and fulfillment for individuals, or if they create new forms of dissatisfaction or inequality.
Posted on February 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Life Insurance: A contract under which an insurance company promises, in exchange for premiums, to pay a set benefit when the policyholder dies.
Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance.
Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.
Posted on February 10, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
WHAT IS RANDOM?
By Staff Reporters
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Bertrand’s Paradox is a problem within probability theory first suggested by the French Mathematician Joseph Bertrand (1822–1900) in his 1889 work ‘Calcul des Probabilites’. It sets a physical problem that seems very simple but leads to differing probabilities unless its procedure is more clearly defined.
Based on constructing a random chord in a circle, Bertrand’s paradox involves a single mathematical problem with three reasonable but different solutions. It’s less a paradox and more a cautionary tale. It’s really asking the question: What exactly do you mean by random?
IOW: According to Dan Ariely PhD, two players reaching a state of Nash equilibrium both find themselves with no profits gained via exploitation.
Consequently, over the years the Bertrand paradox has inspired debate, with papers arguing what the true solution is: www.bertrands-paradox.com.
Update: The people from Numberphile and 3Blue1Brown produced a video on YouTube describing and explaining the Bertrand paradox.
The desire for security and feelings of insecurity are the same thing.
The idea of security, financial or otherwise, is an illusion; human life is inherently insecure. But, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prudent with risk and diligent financial planning with strategies like saving and investing.
However, according to colleague Eugene Schmuckler PhD, MBA,MEd seeking security is like many things; the more you try to grasp and obsess about financial security, the more quickly you will reach a point of diminishing returns. You will feel increasingly less secure at a certain point.
A century ago, one fifth of the country was involved in agriculture. Due to the transformation of farming technology, only 1% of the country is now involved in farming, while our supermarkets are flooded with cheap food. I could be wrong, but I don’t see the 19% of the country who used to farm wandering around unemployed. They have retrained to do other things.
Innovation disrupts, but it also creates new jobs and improves the standard of living of society. A century ago, you could not have imagined most of the jobs we have today. I’m not just talking about social media celebrities; think about software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts, etc. In fact, most white-collar jobs you see today did not exist 100 years ago. Yes, if you specialized in driving horse-powered carriages, you had to acquire new skills.
AI will displace many jobs, but it will also empower people with new productivity tools. Microsoft Excel replaced jobs that required people to add up rows of numbers with calculators, but it created many more. In the 1960s, corporations had departments filled with typists. A photocopier and then the personal computer put these hardworking folks out of a job, but they retrained to do other things.
If we have a victim mentality, AI will run us over; if we embrace it and adapt it to our lives, it may become our best friend to do the jobs we are doing, while our soon-to-be-unemployed coworkers complain about AI.
AI may have a similar impact on our lives as electricity did. Unless it becomes sentient and just like the Terminator, it turns against us (smarter people than me cannot agree on this, especially on a reasonable time frame, so I withhold my opinion on it), it will likely improve our lives significantly. One industry that immediately comes to mind is healthcare – we need major disruption in that sector.
AI may disrupt and completely reshuffle the power dynamics in some industries. Travel, for example, comes to mind; we may start looking for trips and booking tickets with the help of our AI assistant without going to the travel websites. Some companies will adapt and become winners, while others won’t and will become market-share donors.
As I am typing this, I realize (again, something I do daily now) how important management is. In our analysis, we should pay close attention to how companies are embracing AI. Are they giving it lip service or are they really adopting it and changing the business to take advantage of it?
ChatGPT is a statistical representation of things found on the web, which will increasingly include ITS OWN output (directly and secondhand). You post something picked up from it and it will use it to reinforce its own knowledge. Progressively a self-licking lollipop.
If you want to see ChatGPT creating art, for the fun of it, spend some time on myfavoriteclassical.com, where I post music articles. Every single picture there is created by AI. I love impressionist artists, and thus I love these little AI creations. However, if you zoom in closer, you’ll find violinists playing with toothpicks, pianists with three hands and cellists with multiple arms and legs.
This self-licking lollipop is impressive, but it still has a lot to learn. (By the way, if you have not signed up to receive my classical music-only articles, you have an opportunity to do it here).
Finally, the more we rely on AI and the more content it creates, the less creative it and we become.
Posted on February 8, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Implicit or unconscious bias is not intentional, but it has a detrimental impact. Implicit bias in nursing affects nurses’ quality of life and patient outcomes. In a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study, researchers found that 79% of nurses experienced or observed racism or discrimination from patients and 59% saw or experienced it from colleagues.
Asian and Black nurses are particularly likely to have experienced racial aggression, and 94% of Asian and 93% of Black nurses report that it has affected their mental well-being.
Explore more about implicit bias, including how it impacts nurses and patients. Discover some components of effective implicit bias training for nurses.
Posted on February 7, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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The Pygmalion Effect, also known as the Rosenthal Effect, is a fascinating psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to an increase in performance. This concept originated from a study conducted by Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson in the 1960s. They discovered that when teachers were led to believe that certain students were expected to perform better academically, those students indeed showed significant improvement.
Here’s a brief overview of how the Pygmalion Effect works:
Expectation Setting: When someone in a position of authority (like a teacher or manager) has high expectations for an individual, they often communicate these expectations through subtle cues.
Behavioral Changes: The individual receiving these cues tends to internalize the expectations and changes their behavior accordingly. They might become more motivated, put in more effort, and show greater persistence.
Performance Improvement: As a result of these behavioral changes, the individual’s performance improves, thereby fulfilling the initial high expectations.
This effect highlights the power of positive reinforcement and belief in someone’s potential. It underscores the importance of fostering a supportive and encouraging environment, whether in educational settings, workplaces, or personal relationships.
If you’re interested in applying the Pygmalion Effect in your life, consider these tips:
Set High, Yet Realistic Expectations: Believe in the potential of those around you and communicate your confidence in their abilities.
Provide Support and Resources: Ensure that individuals have the tools and support they need to meet these expectations.
Offer Positive Feedback: Regularly acknowledge and celebrate progress and achievements to reinforce positive behavior.
Remember, the Pygmalion Effect is a powerful reminder that our beliefs and expectations can significantly influence the outcomes we see in others.
Posted on February 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Cognitive bias is a pattern of thinking in humans that, although flawed, is repeated mindlessly, sometimes resulting in irrational behavior and decisions. Dental personnel need to understand how cognitive biases impact both their patients and their team members. Left unchecked, these automatic associations can cause grave mistakes and injuries, and result in real harm.
This course is designed to help dental team members recognize their own biases and see the need to introspect and self-regulate to change them.
Fund managers Tom Bailard, Larry Biehl and Ron Kaiser identified five types of investors, each type characterized by their investment preferences and actions. These 5 types are: Individualists, Adventurers, Celebrities, Guardians and Straight Arrows. Key to the different categories is their different attitude to seeking professional financial advice. Defined below:
Individualists have faith in their own investment abilities so do not approach a financial adviser. But they are also cautious.
Adventurers are what may be called high rollers, in that they like big bets, tend not to diversify and are happy to put all their eggs in one basket. They, too, are unlikely to seek financial advice.
Celebrities tend to follow the crowd in investment terms but are aware of their lack of expertise so frequently consult advisers.
Guardians are fearful of losing money, thus prefer rock-solid investments such as government bonds. They, too, are likely to seek professional investment advice.
Straight Arrows exhibit some of the characteristics of individualists and some of adventurers.
Posted on January 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Cognitive Dissonance is the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions, like believing in healthy eating while munching on a doghnut. It’s a mental tug-of-war that makes us squirm.
To reduce this discomfort according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, we often change our beliefs or behaviors to align them. This is why smokers might downplay the health risks of smoking. Understanding cognitive dissonance helps us recognize these mental gymnastics and strive for consistency in our beliefs and actions.
So, next time you feel that mental itch, it’s cognitive dissonance asking for some resolution.
Posted on January 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Ego-Protection refers to psychological strategies individuals use to defend their self-esteem and sense of self-worth against threats or failures. This can include attributing failures to external factors, minimizing the importance of negative feedback, or comparing oneself to others in ways that maintain a positive self-image.
According to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, ego-protective mechanisms help people cope with setbacks and maintain mental well-being, although they can sometimes prevent individuals from learning from mistakes or accepting constructive criticism.
Posted on January 23, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Fighting or arguing over text is also known as “fexting.”
While for some it might be more practical, it can harm relationships.
Misunderstandings and misinterpretations are more likely to happen over text.
Frequent arguments and disagreements between partners over text, also known as “fexting,” have become commonplace because of the convenience and ease of expressing your thoughts with text messages. We are all so used to communicating digitally in our daily lives that it can become an unconscious habit to express our feelings and frustrations via text message [SMS].
Dr. David Edward Marcinko works with doctors, nurses, technicians and healthcare professionals who struggle with professional disillusionment, burnout, financial distress and an unbalanced life–all of which can happen at any stage of a medical career. Through our coaching sessions, medical and healthcare professionals can achieve a more meaningful, purposeful, and flourishing life.
Posted on January 20, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
BREAKING NEWS
By Staff Reporters
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WASHINGTON: 8:15 am: The President Joe Biden administration just preemptively pardoned Anthony Fauci, MD.
“Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,” Biden said in a statement just hours before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a statement.
Posted on January 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Premature Closure is the tendency to make quick, decisive judgments without considering all the evidence. It’s like jumping to conclusions on a trampoline – fast and often wrong. Our brains crave certainty and dislike ambiguity, leading us to close the case prematurely. This can save time but often results in mistakes and oversights. To avoid premature closure, take a step back, gather more information, and keep an open mind about this cognitive bias.
And so, colleague Dan Ariely PhD suggests that we remember: haste makes waste, especially in decision-making.
Posted on January 16, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Cognitive Dissonance is the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions, like believing in healthy eating while munching on a donut. It’s a mental tug-of-war that makes us squirm.
To reduce this discomfort, we often change our beliefs or behaviors to align them. This is why smokers might downplay the health risks of smoking. Understanding cognitive dissonance helps us recognize these mental gymnastics and strive for consistency in our beliefs and actions.
So, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, the next time you feel that mental itch, it’s cognitive dissonance asking for some resolution.
Posted on January 14, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Selective Mutism: Some people experience selective mutism, a condition where intense trauma or anxiety leaves them temporarily unable to speak. It’s a defense mechanism that shields them from emotional overwhelm. It is characterized by:
A person’s inability to speak in certain social settings, even though they are otherwise capable of speech.
Triggers for selective mutism can include specific situations, places, or people.
People with SM can speak comfortably and communicate well in other settings, such as at home with family.
For many, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, this silence is involuntary, reflecting how deeply emotions affect speech.
Posted on January 14, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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In-group bias refers to the unfair favoring of someone from one’s own group. You might think that you’re unbiased, impartial, and fair, but we all succumb to this bias, having evolved to be this way.
That is, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, from an evolutionary perspective, this bias can be considered an advantage—favoring and protecting those similar to you, particularly with respect to kinship and the promotion of one’s own line.
Posted on January 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd
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Saying a patient’s name in the emergency room will almost ensure that person comes in that day.
A code cart next to an unstable patient is said to ward off evil spirits.
Traditional healers usually use superstition in their practices to manage human health problems and diseases.
Such practices create a conflict with the medical profession and its evidence-based practices.
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So, what exactly is a Superstition? Does superstition change a measurable patient outcome, such as decreased anastomotic leak rate, surgical site infection, or mortality? Hard to say. But does it improve the surgeon’s confidence, thereby improving their performance? Likely so.
Science is not the opposite of superstition; it is the result of superstition, the result of humans trying to make sense of the world and prove each other wrong. We keep doing the things we do to maintain some semblance of control. In further defense of superstition, ritualistic behaviors ensure that the necessary boxes are checked and that we pay attention to the details. In surgery, details matter.
“Superstition is the irrational belief that an object or behavior has the power to influence an outcome, when there’s no logical connection between them. Most of us aren’t superstitious – but most of us are a ‘littlestitious.’” – Gretchen Rubin
So, until there is evidence to the contrary, I will keep tearing off the little patient labels and keeping their names with me in hopes that they do well after surgery.
Posted on January 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
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Activation due to release from adaptation = Extra activation caused by stimulus change = (Response to the two different stimuli paired together) – (Response to same stimuli presented without the change) E.g. (1/4 + 4/1) – (1/1 + 4/4) To look for adaptation paralleling same/diff perception. Make a contrast weighting each adaptation release value by the subject’s behavioural responses on that part of the same/different curve. Rajeev Raizada – UW MRI talk, Oct
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Release from Adaptation is the joy you feel when something changes after becoming accustomed to it. It’s like the relief of a cool breeze after a hot day. Our brains get used to stimuli, making them less noticeable over time. When there’s a change, it’s like hitting the refresh button on our senses.
This is why, according to colleague Dan Ariely PhD, novelty feels so exciting and routine can become dull. So, inject some variety into your life to keep things fresh and enjoy the small releases from adaptation.
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