You'd be surprised to know that some people actually admire -- and would love to emulate -- Donald Trump's personality. They say they wish they could speak their minds with no hesitation like he does. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Trump is the most bombastic, outspoken, and extroverted person I have ever seen on television. I'm sure most of you would second that statement. Interestingly, he appears a lot more composed -- almost slightly reserved -- in interviews with David Letterman and other TV personalities in the 80s and 90s. (You can find plenty of these on YouTube.) If you ask me, he looks and acts far more presidential in these clips than he does now. It seems he's gradually evolved into an irascible, unfiltered man who can't get enough of the spotlight. Scores of people are united in their contempt for the real estate mogul-turned-presidential-candidate, but some actually embrace his fiery, no-nonsense temperament. Among the latter are ...

As of today, I'll be dedicating select blog posts to examining the meaning of words most people are unfamiliar with and tying them, of course, to the world of psychology and human behavior.  This week, let's explore the meaning of the word curmudgeon .  According to Dictionary.com, a curmudgeon is a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person .  It brings to mind irritable characters like Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Scrooge from Charles' Dickins' "A Christmas Carol," and maybe even Donald Trump. We've all had to contend with so-called curmudgeons at work; in most cases, it's our own boss. We can also point to at least one person in our family known for being a major crank, whether it's a meddling grandparent or nosy aunt. It's safe to say we all have days in which we become curmudgeons . A couple of months ago, on the way to work, I noticed I had a flat tire. Having to take the car to the shop in the pour...