What is hate speech? Hate speech is defined as having target groups and is characterized by harmfulness, such as belittling, humiliating, dehumanizing or threatening targets. Derogatory expressions can take the form of words, social media posts, text messages or videos. Hate speech fuels discrimination and hostility and undermines the principles of equality and respect for […]
Melissa Fisher Paoni, Ph.D.
Melissa Fisher Paoni is a licensed clinical psychologist with Springfield Psychological Center, LLC.
Posted inOpinion
We all have COVID fatigue
“Weary,” “Tired of it all,” “Over it,” are phrases that we all hear due to the pandemic and its constantly moving parameters. Changes have occurred in work settings, school participation, and social interaction due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and these adjustments have resulted in high levels of stress. The extended nature of the pandemic […]
Posted inOpinion
How to stay positive
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has created significant anxiety in individuals throughout the world. The incidence rates continue to grow, and shelter-at-home executive orders result in unforeseen adjustments, including working from home, reduced income, children not attending school and loss of jobs. However, our ability to process these transitions through a positive lens may promote healthy […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass shootings take a toll on the American psyche
Mass shootings leave an imprint on the American psyche. Thoughts of “It could have been me” and a sense of vulnerability occur when shootings occur in places that citizens frequent, including schools, churches, concerts and shopping malls. Mass shootings are prevalent in our society. The U.S. is an outlier among developed countries in terms of […]
Posted inOpinion
Understanding the harm in hate speech
Due to the apparent disregard for civility in discourse in our country recently, as well as more mood and behavior problems in students, heightened anxiety in minority students and a trend suggesting extremist groups are trying to recruit youth, exploring the effects of hate speech appears to be in order. Hate speech is defined as […]
