Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 28/08/2026)

Week ending 28/08/2026

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden

My parents expected me to work hard at school, go to university, have a professional job and have kids.  And I just did it! The tramline was there and I followed it.  And for most people the story is the same.

Musk was born rich and has stayed rich.  In fact, we heard this week that SPACEX was spending $100 billion on a launch facility.  Remember the time when Musk offered to end world starvation and then changed his mind?

And Trump had money as a child and now has even more money (despite several bankruptcies!).

But not everyone’s tramlines are so positive.

This week, data was released showing that young care leavers have a 4 times higher death rate than the national average between the age of 18-24 due to suicide, murder, traffic accidents or poorly managed medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes.  Their life starts off difficult and just gets more difficult – described as a national tragedy.

How we start off is so key to how our life progresses.

Andy Burnham announced a massive social housing plan for 70,000 new homes to give children a better start and Meta have at last had to pay out $18 billion for their harms to children.

BUT some people do buck the trend and change things for themselves and others.

Zac from Surrey completed his 500 mile challenge to show that he didn’t have to be defined by epilepsy.

And there is Dolly Parton.  I love her and this week at the age of 80 she died after a short battle with cancer.  Dolly started life dirt poor living in a one room cabin with 12 of her siblings in Tennessee.  She wrote wonderful songs, was a very successful businesswoman and a fabulous entertainer.  But she also just did so much good and was determined to help others have a better start in life than she did.  She was also very funny!  Her tramline started off tricky but she got off it and redefined her own life!  And that of others!

Other people have done the same – George Michael, Michael Sheen and Marcus Rashford.  All started poor (ish), turned it around and then did good!  There is hope!

Most of us stay in our tramlines, for good or bad.  Some start off well and fall off, often due to the problems with being too rich such as fame or drink or drugs.  But some turn it around in a good way.  And these are the really special ones.  Dolly was the best version of all of us.  Let’s all try to be more like Dolly.  And if you haven’t heard it – play Hard Candy Christmas.  The best song ever which is guaranteed to make you cry!