Lifelong Learning Institute at Waubonsee Community College

Who to believe? The local newspaper, the national news channel or our own personal intuition? Famed psychologist Erik Erickson (1902-1994) argued the first stage of psychological development (infancy to age one) is “Trust vs Mistrust.” Local newspapers are notoriously biased as are the warring national TV news channels, Fox News vs MSNBC. What is the best way to have white teeth? Who to believe? Veneers vs dental crowns vs the glowing promises of your favorite toothpaste? Advertisements fall into categories of veracity, hypocrisy, duplicity and fantasy. There is virtue in hope. There is comfort in “black and white” thinking. There is assurance in the promises of a trusted brand, person or procedure. “It always worked in the past.” As lifelong learners who do we believe? Why? Hard questions generate new ways to look at the decisions we make and in whom or what we trust. Together we can learn and move forward.