Psychology Update — How to Build Resilience in Hard Times

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Personality, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

How to Build Resilience in Hard Times

 

DESCRIPTION

What an important article by the fabulous science writer of the NY Times Jane E. Brody!  In this article she addresses the difficulties that people go through in their lives including the current continuing pandemic.   How individuals cope in hard times is the focus of the article.   Coping is an important psychological trait that is has to be cultivated and learned over time as we grow and develop.  Once important aspect of coping is the theme of the article:  RESILIENCE.  

“One way is to call upon an age-old characteristic that enables us to weather adversity: resilience. Resilience is the ability to roll with the punches, “because if you’re brittle, you’ll break,” said Pauline Boss, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota and author of the recently published book, “The Myth of Closure.” … “Resilience allows us to adapt to stress and maintain one’s equilibrium when faced with adversity. “When resilient people are confronted with a crisis that takes away their ability to control their lives, they find something they can control,” Dr. Boss said.”  The article discusses how resilience develops as a personality trait and further, and most importantly, provides the lessons to develop the trait.   

This article can be used with text chapters related to development, stress and health, and personality.

 

SOURCE

New York Times, January 31, 2022, by Jane E. Brody

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/well/mind/building-resilience-loss.html?smid=em-share

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2p82kx2d

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is “resilience” according to the article?

•Are we born with the resilience trait or does it develop over time?   Explain and provide examples.

•What guidelines are listed in the article to help cope and build resilience?

 

Psychology Podcast of the Week — Insomnia Coach Podcast

Posted by & filed under Nervous System, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Podcast of the Week, States of Consciousness.

PSYCHOLOGY PODCAST OF THE WEEK

NAME

Insomnia Coach Podcast

 

 

 

SOURCE

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insomnia-coach-podcast/id1469454957

 

DESCRIPTION

From the Podcast site:

“Welcome to the Insomnia Coach® Podcast! My name is Martin Reed. I believe that nobody needs to live with chronic insomnia and that evidence-based cognitive and behavioral techniques can help you enjoy better sleep for the rest of your life. In this podcast, I share insomnia success stories and expert interviews that I hope will motivate and inspire you to implement changes that can improve your sleep and transform your life.”

Martin Reed is an “expert” on the topic of insomnia.  His website and podcasts are very popular for those experiencing this sleep problem.   He also states:  “Personal sleep coaching and online sleep education to improve your sleep so you can live a happier, healthier life.”   He offers valuable advice and includes free “lessons” on dealing with the problem via email.  Also he offers a personalized, and expensive, coaching course.

It is worth exploring the free resources and course if this area of Psychology is of interest.  See the Psychology Weekly Website Update for information about his website.

It is worth exploring the free resources and course if this area of Psychology is of interest.  The resources are very valuable and are based upon empirical data on the topic.

Psychology Update — Try These Brain Foods to Improve Your Mood

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Nervous System, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

Try These Brain Foods to Improve Your Mood

 

DESCRIPTION

Can food affect our mood in the sense of improving it when we feel stressed?  Can food affect our feelings of depression?  Are there such things as comfort foods?  “For years research on healthy eating has focused primarily on physical health and the link between diet, weight and chronic disease. But the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry studies how foods can make us feel….Nutritional psychiatrists say food shouldn’t replace other treatments for mental health, including therapy and prescription drugs, but it shouldn’t be ignored either. A number of studies have suggested that dietary changes can lead to meaningful improvements in mood and mental well-being.”  The article highlights a number of studies and includes links to the studies that demonstrate that some types of diets (not the weight loss type) that emphasize healthy eating, such as the Mediterranean diet can have a positive effect on mood. Interestingly, the article describes the studies that have examined the use of comfort foods and provides details of a nicely designed experiment.  Further the article discusses the biome, brain, and neurotransmitters.  Further the article highlights food categories that have been found to be helpful for “mental well being.”  

 

SOURCE

New York Times, January 24, 2022, by Tara Parker-Pope

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/24/well/eat/brain-food.html?smid=em-share

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/yc7b2c4a

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is nutritional psychiatry?  What is the current belief regarding food and mood (mental well being)?

•What is the myth of comfort food?

•If you were working with a depressed individual in a therapeutic situation, what advice would you give about food?  How would you explain the beneficial effects of certain nutrients on the brain?

 

Psychology Update — Pandemic Anxiety Is Fueling a Rise in OCD Symptoms

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Personality, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

Pandemic Anxiety Is Fueling a Rise in OCD Symptoms

 

DESCRIPTION

This is a very long and extremely comprehensive article that not only discusses Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the causes and treatments, but also, more importantly, how the pandemic has increased the incidence of the disorder.  The article begins with an anecdotal case about Roasalyn.   “Rosalyn (from the case) is one of the 2.3% of American adults diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. OCD is caused principally by excessive activity in the amygdala, a walnut-sized structure at the base of the brain that processes fear, danger and the fight-or-flight response. The disorder can manifest as compulsive, repetitive behaviors; an anxiety about getting ill or spreading germs; or an excessive sense of responsibility, and an intense fear of causing risk to others, as in Rosalyn’s case. Even people without an official diagnosis are affected; about 25% of Americans will exhibit at least some obsessive-compulsive behavior at some point in their lives, according to a 2008 study published in the journal Nature.  The pandemic has made life much worse for people with OCD symptoms. New research shows that OCD symptoms have gotten more severe for many people during the pandemic, and new diagnoses have increased. More and more people are turning up in doctors’ offices with new cases of the condition. “Studies have consistently shown that people without OCD have scored higher on our OCD assessments than they did before the pandemic,” says Andrew Guzick, a clinical psychologist at the Baylor College of Medicine. “They are exhibiting more OCD-like behaviors and reporting more intrusive fears characteristic of OCD.”  

The article discusses the difficulty with treatment of this type of contamination OCD and the problems with the usual successful treatment of ERP (exposure and response prevention).   The article goes in depth about the issues and also presents a brief 2-minute video.   For students who want to understand OCD and treatments, this is a great resource.   For the professor, the article provides many examples that can be used in teaching.

 

SOURCE

Time, January 20, 2022, by Jeffrey Kluger

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/6140256/ocd-covid-19-anxiety/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=health_covid-19

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2p85scn9

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•First, what is OCD?  

•According to professionals, how has OCD manifested during the pandemic?  Please give at least three examples.

•What are the usual effective treatments for OCD?  Why have professionals found that treating sufferers of OCD been more difficult during the pandemic?

 

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK — American Psychological Association

Posted by & filed under Professional Organization, Psychology Website of the Week.

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

 

TITLE

American Psychological Association

 

URL      

https://www.apa.org/topics

 

DESCRIPTION

This is the official website of the American Psychological Association.

It is listed here for teaching purposes to fulfill the APA guidelines for teaching Introductory Psychology.  Students should be directed to the site for an understanding of what the field is about, careers, applications of Psychology, and so on.  The site should be incorporated into a lecture and used as part of the initial introduction to the course.

Psychology Update — 3 Articles Related to Eating Disorders, Food Addictions, & Stress Eating

Posted by & filed under Brain Structure and Function, Motivation and Emotion, Nervous System, Personality, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

3 Articles Related to Eating Disorders, Food Addictions, & Stress Eating

(Though these articles are a recent few years old, they are more relevant now than ever through the pandemic.)

 

ARTICLE #1

TITLE

Here’s Why You Stress Eat — And How to Stop Doing It

 

DESCRIPTION

This interesting article details a number of reasons why we stress eat, and these include brain and hormone biology, environmental factors, developmental/cultural issues. “It should come as no surprise that Americans are stressed. A 2017 survey by the American Psychological Association (APA)  found that money, work, crime, violence, the political climate and the future of the nation are all significant stressors for Americans, each plaguing more than half of the survey respondents.” [add the covid pandemic to the list]  “While stress is bad for the body, the ways people deal with it can be just as unhealthy. The APA found in a different survey that almost 40% of adults reported overeating or consuming junk food in response to stress during the prior month. And of those people, about half said they did so weekly….What is it about food — particularly junk food — that calls to so many of us during stressful times?”  The article details a number of reasons why we stress eat and these include brain and hormone biology, environmental factors, developmental/cultural issues.  

The last part of the article focuses on ways to both recognize and control stress eating.  The article also includes a short interesting video.

 

SOURCE

Time, July 31, 2018, by Jamie Ducharme

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/5347612/how-to-stop-stress-eating/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=health_dietnutrition

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2tnmu22c

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ARTICLE #2

 

TITLE

Food Addictions Are Real Addictions—And More and More People Are Getting Hooked

 

DESCRIPTION

What an interesting article that speaks to our impulsive habits of everyday life.  The article describes how foods, especially ones that combine “the trifecta” of sugar, salt, and fat, affect the various regions of the brain.  The effect is often explained as impulse eating and for some the lack of control that is similar to addiction.  “But that doesn’t mean that the life-sustaining substances we come into the world loving and couldn’t survive without—the sugars and salts and fats and proteins, the fruits and vegetables and breads and meats—can’t get us into every bit as much danger as the deadly, often illegal substances that cause so much suffering. You can eat compulsively, just as you can smoke or drink or do drugs compulsively. And in all those cases, compulsions can become full-blown addictions, as repeated exposure plays the pleasure centers in the brain, creating a feedback loop of craving, indulging, consuming, regretting—and doing it all over the next day and the next.”  The article discusses how the reward centers of the brain along with dopamine are affected by certain foods, and the resultant compulsion to eat even when it is against our own best biological/medical interests.   Students interested in the area of eating disorders, neurophysiology of hunger, and the topic of motivation will find this article to be a useful resource.

 

SOURCE

Time, November 6, 2019, by Jeffrey Kluger

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/5718798/food-addiction/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=health_addiction

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/y4tdu53d

 

=================================

 

ARTICLE #3

TITLE

Searching for a Better Treatment for Eating Disorders

Cognitive behavioral therapy appears to be the best treatment for many eating disorders

 

DESCRIPTION

THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE ARTICLE REGARDING THE TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS, CAUSES, AND THERAPIES!   IT IS UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST DATA AND TREATMENTS.

The article begins with a discussion of the types of eating disorders.  

“The three most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia is characterized by severely restricted eating and/or over-exercising. It also has the highest mortality rate — up to 20 percent if left untreated — of any psychiatric illness.  Bulimia shows a pattern of binge eating followed by compensating behaviors, such as vomiting or using laxatives. And binge-eating disorder is defined as recurrent episodes of overeating without compensating behaviors. These three disorders share similar psychological patterns — such as a preoccupation with weight and shape — that lead to a loss of control around eating. Although they have different behaviors and physical symptoms, they are treated in therapy in similar ways.”  The article discusses the complexity of understanding the causes of eating disorders through the bio-psycho-social lens.  This means that the article looks at the biology of eating, the psychological reasons we eat, and the social/cultural reasons that contribute to eating disorders.  The article does a fabulous analysis of the different treatment interventions that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), other “talk therapies”, and  social interventions. 

 

Though the article is long it is well-worth reading and keeping as a book marked reference source.

 

SOURCE

Knowable Magazine, December 16, 2021, by Kendall Powell

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2021/searching-better-treatment-eating-disorders

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/4j3s5s4p

 

==================================

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is an eating disorder?  Under what circumstances would it be compared to an addiction?

•What are the three major classifications of eating disorders?

•What brain mechanisms are believed to be involved in eating certain foods made up of combinations of salt-sugar-fat (such as a doughnut or other similar snacks) ?

•What are the causes of “stress eating” ?  What actually explains why junk food is so satisfying when we are under stress?

•If you were giving a lecture about the treatment for eating disorders, what therapies would you discuss and why?

 

 

Welcome to  Wiley Introductory Psychology Weekly Updates

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Lecture Enhancement/Student Engagement, Psychology Update.

WELCOME STATEMENT

Welcome to  Wiley Introductory Psychology Weekly Updates

Every Monday through June you will find wonderful resources to enhance your learning, teaching and to engage  in discussions.   With each “published” edition, you will discover two or three interesting provocative articles to use as “triggers” to discuss important issues that relate to your learning as a Psychology student, and for the professor teaching content, subject matter, and/or important issues.  The choice of the articles is such that students can find these on popular sites such as the New York Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and read them without the pressure of going to the library or poring through their textbook.  The popular media choices are easy to find without the need for subscription services; these are often articles that you might have read and brought up in your class.   Further, the update will include a few questions that can be used to get a discussion started.

In addition to a listing of the articles, you will also be presented with a few websites for use in your classes, as well as personal and professional use.  The websites can be useful informative resources for both your classes and personal life.  Lastly, every week, you will find either an App Of The Week listing, occasionally YouTube video, or a Podcast that will both enhance learning, teaching and presentations.   If you have any suggestions please contact me.   

Thank you,

David Berg

 

Psychology Update — Inside the Effort to Expand Virtual Reality Treatments for Mental Health

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

Inside the Effort to Expand Virtual Reality Treatments for Mental Health

 

DESCRIPTION

Most of us think of “virtual reality” as a headset with games.  However, over the past few decades VR has been used a an important tool in treating a variety of Psychological Disorders.  “The term “virtual reality” had been coined less than a decade prior in 1987 by computer scientist Jaron Lanier—although cinematographer Morton Heilig built the first immersive virtual experience, known as the “Sensorama,” back in 1960. At the time of Rothbaum’s study, the nascent technology was still primarily considered entertainment, and so the notion that it could have clinical utility was unexpected.  Rothbaum and her collaborator, computer scientist Larry Hodges, were set on devising a virtual alternative to traditional exposure therapy, in which therapists help patients confront anxiety-inducing stimuli in real life or by simply visualizing triggers. Using VR meant that Rothbaum didn’t have to rely on her patients’ imaginations, or physically take them to the highest heights to face their phobias. She could also precisely control the environment and grade the exposure. For example, when she is treating someone for a fear of flying, she can determine when and if to introduce turbulence. And, her patient can take off and land as many times as needed during their hour-long session.”  The article explains and describes the use of VR and the various modes of employment.  The article is fascinating in the sense that it explains how VR is useful for a variety of psychological symptoms and disorders.

The article can be used in conjunction with chapters on Stress and Health, Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology, and therapy.

 

SOURCE

Smithsonian Magazine, May 6, 2022, by Raleigh McElvery

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-the-effort-to-expand-virtual-reality-treatments-for-mental-health-180979995/?utm_source=smithsoniantopic&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20220508-weekender&spMailingID=46798430&spUserID=NzQwNDU3MDAyMDIS1&spJobID=2240679465&spReportId=MjI0MDY3OTQ2NQS2

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2p92k8ca

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is “virtual reality”?

•How is VR used in the field of Psychology and Mental Health?

•What types of problems are best suited to treatments with VR?

 

Psychology Update — ANXIETY

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Personality, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Resource of the Week, Psychology Update, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

ANXIETY

 

DESCRIPTION

WOW!  This is quite a comprehensive article about the topic of ANXIETY!!!  The article covers the entire spectrum of the disorder, symptoms, types, causes, and treatments.  “Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined.  “The cognitive feelings of dread in anticipation of some bad outcome, and physical sensations such as jitteriness and a racing heart are designed for discomfort. Anxiety is meant to capture attention and stimulate you to make necessary changes to protect what you care about. Occasional bouts of anxiety are natural and can even be productive. Anxiety can be considered the price we humans pay for having the ability to imagine the future.”  The article can be used in conjunction with chapters on Stress and Health, Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology, and therapy.

 

This article should be considered a major resource and bookmarked for future use in Psychology.

 

SOURCE

Psychology Today

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/yer3vczn

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is anxiety?  What are the various types?

•What are the symptoms and causes?

•What are the empirically evidenced best treatments for anxiety?

 

 

Psychology Update — How Does Hypnosis Work? Here’s What the Science Says

Posted by & filed under Introduction To Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Therapy, Psychology Update, States of Consciousness, States of Consciousness & Sleep, Stress and Health Psychology.

TITLE

How Does Hypnosis Work? Here’s What the Science Says

 

DESCRIPTION

Many think of hypnosis as a form of entertainment seen on stage or in the movies.  Also, hypnosis has gotten a bad reputation from early charlatans who tried to employ the process of nefarious purposes.  “But hypnosis has a surprisingly robust scientific framework. Clinical research has shown that it can help relieve pain and anxiety and aid smoking cessation, weight loss, and sleep. It can help children and adolescents better regulate their feelings and behaviors. Some people can even use “self-hypnosis” to manage stress, cope with life’s challenges, and improve their physical and emotional health.  Hypnosis creates “a non-judgmental immersive experience,” says Dr. David Spiegel, a Stanford University psychiatrist and leading researcher of hypnosis. It’s been used in various forms for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1843 that the Scottish surgeon Dr. James Braid popularized the term “hypnosis.” Braid’s central discovery—that concentration can guide the brain toward a more suggestible state—was and remains controversial. But physicians have continued to test and teach the technique over the centuries with great success, Spiegel says.”

The article can be used in conjunction with chapters on States of Consciousness, Stress and Health, Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology, and therapy.

 

SOURCE

Time, April 28, 2022, by Eleanor Cummins

 

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/6171844/how-hypnosis-works/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=health_mental-health

 

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/38w2s7j7

 

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is the process of hypnosis?

•How can it be employed as an adjunct therapy in mental health?

•What types of problems are amenable to the use of hypnosis.