Notes from a Psychologist
Dr. Mel Whitehurst

​​​​​                            THE NOBBY HOPGOOD COLLECTION

Nobby Hopgood is a somewhat mysterious correspondent.  Some people reported they’ve seen him lurking in the library reading research journals.  He answers your questions about life problems or just about anything else that has to do with human.  Nobby is an optimistic free-thinker that now and then contributes astute and interesting answers to your questions.   

If you have a question for Nobby, send to drmelwhitehurst@gmail.com and I will pass on to

                                                         Letter 1

Dear Nobby:

Recently while getting an annual checkup with my family doctor, a nurse with a mask dashed in the room before my doctor and asked me to remember three words.  As I was leaving fifteen minutes later, she cornered me and ask me to repeat the three words from memory.  Needless to say, I was stupefied.  What should I have done in that situation?

Stupefied in Dry Gulch

Dear Stupefied

Don’t panic.  You should have tried to repeat the words.  Your doctor was testing your ability to remember in threes.  Three-thinking is essential as we age.  If you can remember only two words, then you’ve dropped back into two-thinking, and that’s not good.

Your doctor is screening your short-term memory, usually the first cognitive component to go when we get older.

Your Friend Nobby 

                                                        Letter 2

Dear Nobby: 

Recently while getting an annual checkup with my family doctor, a nurse with a mask dashed in the room before my doctor and asked me to remember three words.  As I was leaving fifteen minutes later, she cornered me and ask me to repeat the three words from memory.  Needless to say, I was stupefied.  What should I have done in this situation?

Stupefied in Dry Gulch

 

Dear Stupefied

Don’t panic.  You should have tried to repeat the words.  Your doctor was testing your ability to remember in threes.  Three-thinking is essential as we age.  If you can remember only two words, then you have dropped back into two-thinking, and that’s not good.

Your doctor is screening your short-term memory, usually the first cognitive component to go when we get older. 

Your Friend Nobby

                                                            Letter 3

Dear Nobby: 

Recently I took up competitive arm wrestling.  So far, I have not won even one match.  Should I switch arms for my next match?  My goal is to be world champion by next February.

Ready for Competition Ralph

Dear Ready for Competition Ralph

Sounds like you might need to switch brains, if you know what I mean.  There is a slight flaw in your thinking.

Nevertheless, definitely don’t switch arms.  Think like a champion.  Stay the course.  You’ll be probably make it.  If not, at least you will have one good arm left.

Your Friend Nobby

                                                        Letter 4 

Dear Nobby:

What is our real age?

Sincerely,

Sandro Platzgummer

Dear Sandro:

Society employs chronological age as the marker of aging.  However, a study has shown that chronological age does not explain or consistently predict the physical changes of aging.**  Instead, individuals’ subjective perception of age provides a more reliable predictor of physical change, particularly in late life.  If you believe you are older, age-related health problems may increase and if you believe you are younger, age-related health related problems may be less.

CONCLUSION:  Subjective belief about your age is associated with acceleration or deceleration of physical aging, therefore, it could be seen as the real age.  Think younger!

**Joel Petashnick, Yaakov Hoffman, Amit Shrira, Yuval Palgi, Gitit Kave, Dov Shmotkin, and Ella Cohen-Schwartz, Subjective Age and Personality Traits in Older Adults:  Reciprocal and Indirect Effects Through Positive and Negative Effect, Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 2025, Vol. 57, No. 1, 53-58

Your Friend Nobby

                                                 Letter 5

Dear Nobby:

What do you think would happen if I set out to do one good deed a day?

Brixham Biggleswade

Dear Brizham:

I don’t know for sure.  People might think you are up to something sneaky, being nice and kind like that.

To adequately answer your question, I would have to first observe other people performing good deeds, and take notes of the good deeds along with how people respond to good deeds.  Over time, that should give me several ideas for good deeds. Then I could set out to do some of them and observe the results. 

After doing this research, I could probably give you a good answer.  Nevertheless, I encourage you to keep doing good deeds when you can because I think nothing but good can result.

GOOD DEED:  Any action that is considerate, kind, or helpful to another.

YOUR FRIEND NOBBY

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