I thought overall AP Psych was a great class. I loved the relaxed atmosphere of the class and I enjoyed most of the lectures. For advice, I would recommend making the blogs more of a once in a while thing, and not using it to teach an entire section, because I didn't really learn as much as I would have liked to. The personality tests were kind of random, and it seemed more just like busy work than an assignment, and for a class so short with so much information busy work is kind of a bad thing.
However, I enjoyed many of the things such as the sensation projects and the play-doh brain. That actually helped me learn the structures; I still know them now.
I think the chapter at a glance sheets were a much better study tool than the STTS, as I often found myself mindlessly copying the STTS's, but with the chap at a glance I actually had to know the material to study from. Keep those for sure for next year.
Overall I had a great time, thanks for teaching us.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
Ineffective Antidepressents
In the article entitled "Health Year in Review: 2008" I found the comments on the ineffectiveness of antidepressents very interesting. In today's market you will see dozens of commercials for various medications treating similar cases of "depression." As the article says, these medications often encompass a larger spectrum of illness than just "depression." I have always found it interesting - the need for medication to treat the natural human condition of sadness, and I wonder if these medications are in reality just fabricated ideas. The fact that many of these medications are equally as effective as placebos only prove that it is really the thought behind the medication, rather than the medication which treats our illness. If this is true, which it seems to be, then why risk dependence on a medication just to treat something you can change yourself by thinking in a different way. Most of these medications have side effects that do not justify taking them for a condition such as sadness.
All of this leads to another question, one which the article proposes indiscretely. This is, why are the results of these studies skewed to show even negative results in a positive light? The answer is obvious: money. It is difficult to discern which studies are biased, and which aren't, especially when advertisements cite them simply as "clinical studies." Doctors don't perform background checks as they are receiving funding from the drug representatives, and unfortunately for the patient, a doctor's word is law in his office. Often times people will not properly question what it is they are taking, but will follow a commercial, or their doctor; one of which is paid for by the drug company, and the other of which is paid by the drug company. The drug companies also use those studies which benefit them most, and lock up those that don't in order to sell a better product. This is why the "Paxil study 329" had to wait for legal prompting in order to be released.
The power of the drug companies is often underestimated by the normal consumer, and if unchecked misdiagnosis is both logical and inevitable. As companies promote the selling of their product by offering monatary incentive, doctors will keep peddling their product. Unfortunately for us - a race set on feeling sorry for ourselves - "depression" is an extremely easy sickness to sell. Everyone feels sad, but doesn't want to, and if the doctor tells us this can be cured by taking a pill we are likely to listen.
All of this leads to another question, one which the article proposes indiscretely. This is, why are the results of these studies skewed to show even negative results in a positive light? The answer is obvious: money. It is difficult to discern which studies are biased, and which aren't, especially when advertisements cite them simply as "clinical studies." Doctors don't perform background checks as they are receiving funding from the drug representatives, and unfortunately for the patient, a doctor's word is law in his office. Often times people will not properly question what it is they are taking, but will follow a commercial, or their doctor; one of which is paid for by the drug company, and the other of which is paid by the drug company. The drug companies also use those studies which benefit them most, and lock up those that don't in order to sell a better product. This is why the "Paxil study 329" had to wait for legal prompting in order to be released.
The power of the drug companies is often underestimated by the normal consumer, and if unchecked misdiagnosis is both logical and inevitable. As companies promote the selling of their product by offering monatary incentive, doctors will keep peddling their product. Unfortunately for us - a race set on feeling sorry for ourselves - "depression" is an extremely easy sickness to sell. Everyone feels sad, but doesn't want to, and if the doctor tells us this can be cured by taking a pill we are likely to listen.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Personality
From the "Jung Typology Test" my personality type was an "INTJ". After reading the description type by D. Keirsey, describing the "Mastermind" personality type, I found that it described me well: "Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be." Also, "Masterminds do not feel bound by established rules and procedures, and traditional authority does not impress them, nor do slogans or catchwords. Only ideas that make sense to them are adopted; those that don't, aren't, no matter who thought of them." A bit of egotism is definitely involved, and I suppose that I am guilty of this. Although I believe my ideas are right, I will still "insist on looking at all available data before [I] embrace an idea, and [I am] suspicious of any statement that is based on shoddy research, or that is not checked against reality."
I scored a 35 on the EQ test, which falls within the "Slightly above average" range (35-44). They describe this type saying, "We spend countless hours in our given roles - sometimes without much joy or satisfaction. In the process we become tranquilized by the trivial. Sedated by the small details of life." This is definitely true in my current job, but I don't think it's that serious considering my job is only part time, and I definitely don't plan on doing it for the rest of my life.
On the "Personality Test" I scored low-mid range on extraversion, which means I tend to be "reserved and serious," which is definitely true at times. My "agreeagleness" is mid range, which means I am moderately agreeable with the people around me, not overly or underly friendly. I scored high on Conscientiousness which means I am a hardworker and what I do matters to me. And I scored low on Neuroticism which means I "tend to be secure, generally relaxed even under stressful conditions, and worry little."
I averaged a 2.04 on the Attractiveness test, and apparently I am more attracted to "Trendy" and "Intellectual" women. This makes sense, and I could somewhat trust the validity of this test, however the pictures should really be changed to represent more of the better-looking women in the world.
On the "True Crime" personality test I scored a "extraversion = 3.12, agreeableness = 3.33, conscientiousness = 3.89, neuroticism = 1.75, and openness = 4.50. " And I found that I am not attracted to criminal women... I probably could have discerned this for myself but it's good to have reassurances.
In summary, I guess I really didn't learn a whole lot about myself, as I answered these questions well aware of the results I wanted. There will always be a degree of bias when assessing your own personality, because everyone has an "idealized self" that they wish to be. I will not deny that my bias probably had to do with some of these personality tests; it was unavoidable.
I scored a 35 on the EQ test, which falls within the "Slightly above average" range (35-44). They describe this type saying, "We spend countless hours in our given roles - sometimes without much joy or satisfaction. In the process we become tranquilized by the trivial. Sedated by the small details of life." This is definitely true in my current job, but I don't think it's that serious considering my job is only part time, and I definitely don't plan on doing it for the rest of my life.
On the "Personality Test" I scored low-mid range on extraversion, which means I tend to be "reserved and serious," which is definitely true at times. My "agreeagleness" is mid range, which means I am moderately agreeable with the people around me, not overly or underly friendly. I scored high on Conscientiousness which means I am a hardworker and what I do matters to me. And I scored low on Neuroticism which means I "tend to be secure, generally relaxed even under stressful conditions, and worry little."
I averaged a 2.04 on the Attractiveness test, and apparently I am more attracted to "Trendy" and "Intellectual" women. This makes sense, and I could somewhat trust the validity of this test, however the pictures should really be changed to represent more of the better-looking women in the world.
On the "True Crime" personality test I scored a "extraversion = 3.12, agreeableness = 3.33, conscientiousness = 3.89, neuroticism = 1.75, and openness = 4.50. " And I found that I am not attracted to criminal women... I probably could have discerned this for myself but it's good to have reassurances.
In summary, I guess I really didn't learn a whole lot about myself, as I answered these questions well aware of the results I wanted. There will always be a degree of bias when assessing your own personality, because everyone has an "idealized self" that they wish to be. I will not deny that my bias probably had to do with some of these personality tests; it was unavoidable.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Dear Mother
Dear Mother,
How are you doing? I'm doing well. Well enough, that is. I finally found a job, but I'm having trouble and I feel I might be fired soon. The manager said I took too long to mop the floor at closing last night, but I swear to you it was still filthy after four hours of mopping. Some people just don't know cleanliness. I've been saving the money just in case something happens to me out here, and I hope you are proud of that. I rarely spend anymore; I'm too afraid that I'll be hurt and I won't have the money to cover my medical costs. It's just not right that doctors charge so much for simple procedures, the ethics of it are completely outrageous, don't you think? I've been working hard on my schoolwork, but I'm finding it difficult to write papers by hand as I often times rewrite several times to get it just right. People make fun of me because, to them, I write a good paper, but I can't explain how it's just not perfect. I'm becoming familiar with all of the campus rules (I shouldn't want to break one) and I've read the handbook at least eight times cover to cover; it'd be embarassing to get caught over a minor rule infraction. I've had some trouble making friends as I occupy my room most of the time straightening up and organizing the many new things I am acquiring such as books. I still haven't found the perfect furniture arrangement, and I actually got up just now as I was typing this to fix the bed; I could see it was crooked out of the corner of my eye. I like it here. Anyway, I've written this letter about fifteen times by now, so I think I'll just go ahead and send it even though my handwritting is atrocious.
Sincerely,
Devon
How are you doing? I'm doing well. Well enough, that is. I finally found a job, but I'm having trouble and I feel I might be fired soon. The manager said I took too long to mop the floor at closing last night, but I swear to you it was still filthy after four hours of mopping. Some people just don't know cleanliness. I've been saving the money just in case something happens to me out here, and I hope you are proud of that. I rarely spend anymore; I'm too afraid that I'll be hurt and I won't have the money to cover my medical costs. It's just not right that doctors charge so much for simple procedures, the ethics of it are completely outrageous, don't you think? I've been working hard on my schoolwork, but I'm finding it difficult to write papers by hand as I often times rewrite several times to get it just right. People make fun of me because, to them, I write a good paper, but I can't explain how it's just not perfect. I'm becoming familiar with all of the campus rules (I shouldn't want to break one) and I've read the handbook at least eight times cover to cover; it'd be embarassing to get caught over a minor rule infraction. I've had some trouble making friends as I occupy my room most of the time straightening up and organizing the many new things I am acquiring such as books. I still haven't found the perfect furniture arrangement, and I actually got up just now as I was typing this to fix the bed; I could see it was crooked out of the corner of my eye. I like it here. Anyway, I've written this letter about fifteen times by now, so I think I'll just go ahead and send it even though my handwritting is atrocious.
Sincerely,
Devon
Friday, November 21, 2008
Case Study - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Case Study 10: A 36-year-old man and his young son were driving through an intersection when another car ran through a red traffic light and struck them. The two were trapped in the car until a fire department rescue team freed them. The patient was bruised but not seriously hurt. His son had a broken leg. The first few days after the accident the patient was preoccupied with arranging care for his son and getting the car repaired. A few days later he began having recurrent distressing thoughts and images of the accident. Theses symptoms lasted for several weeks. The memory of his son’s screams after the car was struck seemed particularly vivid. The patient became irritable, had difficulty concentrating, and avoided talking about the accident. He went out of his way to avoid driving down the street where the accident occurred. As time went on he could no longer remember whether the traffic light was red or green when he approached it.
The patient in this case study appears to be suffering from what the DSM-IV-TR describes as "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Many of the patient's symptoms relay this, including his "vivid" memories, flashbacks, irritability, avoidance, and memory loss. The reason this is believed to qualify as Posttraumatic Stress syndrome, and not Acute Stress Syndrome is that the symptoms lasted for several weeks (DSM-IV-TR lists that it must be for about four weeks), and Acute Stress Syndrome is marked more by a "derealization", "depersonalization", and "daze." Perhaps if the patient was to be studied further, and more information given, it could be determined further whether the patient was suffering from PTSD or Acute Stress Disorder, but as it stands it seems the former is the case.
The DSM-IV-TR gives four qualifications which must be met for the label of Posttraumatic Stress Syndrom to be used: "the person has been exposed to a traumatic event; the traumatic event is persistently reexperienced; persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness; [and] persistent symptoms of increased arousal" (DSM-IV-TR). The patient meets all of these qualifications. The traumatic event is the car crash in which the patient and his son took place. The patient also experiences persistent "recurring distressing thoughts and images of the accident," which meets the second qualification. He avoids driving down the same road the accident took place on, which meets the third qualification, and has also forgotten whether the light was red or green ("inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma" is cited by DSM-IV-TR as a symptom of this disorder). The anxiety, lastly, and the disruption of thought pattern by the vivid memories shows that the final qualification has been met, and that the patient suffers from "symptoms of increased arousal" (DSM-TV-IR).
Treatment for this patient should consist of a two-stage process, in which drugs and therapy would be administered. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors would be one such drug that could be given, however drugs can not be the permanent solution. "Structured stress debriefings," are also recommended by the AAFP for patients whose trauma was recent, such as the patient in the case study. Psychotherapy, and these debriefings, can help alleviate the stress incurred by the incident, and help prevent a more severe case of posttraumatic stress syndrome in later life.
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1035.html
The patient in this case study appears to be suffering from what the DSM-IV-TR describes as "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Many of the patient's symptoms relay this, including his "vivid" memories, flashbacks, irritability, avoidance, and memory loss. The reason this is believed to qualify as Posttraumatic Stress syndrome, and not Acute Stress Syndrome is that the symptoms lasted for several weeks (DSM-IV-TR lists that it must be for about four weeks), and Acute Stress Syndrome is marked more by a "derealization", "depersonalization", and "daze." Perhaps if the patient was to be studied further, and more information given, it could be determined further whether the patient was suffering from PTSD or Acute Stress Disorder, but as it stands it seems the former is the case.
The DSM-IV-TR gives four qualifications which must be met for the label of Posttraumatic Stress Syndrom to be used: "the person has been exposed to a traumatic event; the traumatic event is persistently reexperienced; persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness; [and] persistent symptoms of increased arousal" (DSM-IV-TR). The patient meets all of these qualifications. The traumatic event is the car crash in which the patient and his son took place. The patient also experiences persistent "recurring distressing thoughts and images of the accident," which meets the second qualification. He avoids driving down the same road the accident took place on, which meets the third qualification, and has also forgotten whether the light was red or green ("inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma" is cited by DSM-IV-TR as a symptom of this disorder). The anxiety, lastly, and the disruption of thought pattern by the vivid memories shows that the final qualification has been met, and that the patient suffers from "symptoms of increased arousal" (DSM-TV-IR).
Treatment for this patient should consist of a two-stage process, in which drugs and therapy would be administered. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors would be one such drug that could be given, however drugs can not be the permanent solution. "Structured stress debriefings," are also recommended by the AAFP for patients whose trauma was recent, such as the patient in the case study. Psychotherapy, and these debriefings, can help alleviate the stress incurred by the incident, and help prevent a more severe case of posttraumatic stress syndrome in later life.
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/ptsd.htm
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000901/1035.html
Friday, November 7, 2008
Hemingway's Psychological State
Ernest Hemingway, although one of the greatest American writers, was also a man in a shaky psychological state. Because of his participation in war, leading to possible post-traumatic stress syndrome, Hemingway went the route of alcoholism, and extreme risk taking sport to calm his nerves.
Alcohol in particular would lead later to more psychological problems as his brain functions were severely effected by the long-time use of alcohol as medication. These "defense mechanisms" (Martin) were clearly a result of his continual battle with depression. Hemingway would eventually be admitted to the Mayo Clinic where he would receive shock therapy. In a quotation from him there, he described that a true way to understanding the underlying psychology of a person is through creative writing. "They should make all psychiatrists take a course in creative writing so they'd know about writers," he claimed. From this statement it is obvious that his main source of coping with his disorder was to write, and his personality is found in his stories, which is what makes him the great author critics see him to be.
After receiving a second round of shock therapy, even after disclosing his distaste for it, Hemingway committed suicide. After a life of war, battles with stress and depression, the modes of curing just were not suitable for Hemingway. Hemingway exemplified a recurring group of people in history, masterful artists whose own mind is their downfall. Although paradoxical, it makes sense that the people with the greatest minds would also have the most dangerous.
Alcohol in particular would lead later to more psychological problems as his brain functions were severely effected by the long-time use of alcohol as medication. These "defense mechanisms" (Martin) were clearly a result of his continual battle with depression. Hemingway would eventually be admitted to the Mayo Clinic where he would receive shock therapy. In a quotation from him there, he described that a true way to understanding the underlying psychology of a person is through creative writing. "They should make all psychiatrists take a course in creative writing so they'd know about writers," he claimed. From this statement it is obvious that his main source of coping with his disorder was to write, and his personality is found in his stories, which is what makes him the great author critics see him to be.
After receiving a second round of shock therapy, even after disclosing his distaste for it, Hemingway committed suicide. After a life of war, battles with stress and depression, the modes of curing just were not suitable for Hemingway. Hemingway exemplified a recurring group of people in history, masterful artists whose own mind is their downfall. Although paradoxical, it makes sense that the people with the greatest minds would also have the most dangerous.
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