[info]unisimpsych

Psych @ UniSIM

Forums @ http://www.unisimpsychology.com/

Newsletter July 2009
[info]unisimpsych
July 8th, 2009

Hi Everyone,

 

                   We had our meeting on Monday 6th July 2009, and we covered quite a bit of ground. These include our objectives, the upcoming orientation, officer bearers, registering with ROSE, and many more.

 

Objective

 

UniSIM Psychology Students’ Society (UPSS)

 

Wishes to serve as a platform for constructive student feedback.

 

To promote and disseminate knowledge in psychology and its applications for the benefit of the individual and society.

 

We wish to advocate, set up and maintain high standards of conduct for its members in respect of teaching, researching or practising of psychology and,

 

To provide peer support for adult learners.

 

UPSS should be all inclusive and provide a sociable, learning environment for all students of UniSIM.

 

Orientation (11th July 2009)

Our orientation activities will be rather small with a tie in with Eun-Young.

We will have a small display set up either outside the lecture room or in the atrium (pending activities of the new students). We will also try to provide door gifts consisting of chocolates and a small leaflet containing our website and blog. Also we will have registration for new students who wish to become members of our student society and CogLab games (e.g. Stroop effect) for them to play.

 

Members currently contributing to this event are:

Lee Po Chu

Lim Aik Meng

Nadira Ahamad

Renu

Seng Yu Chye, Justin

 

 

Committee

The current committee is still a pro-term committee and office bearers are

 

President               : Seng Yu Chye, Justin

Vice President       : Seth Maximillian Tan

Secretary               : Lim Aik Meng / Jap Ren Fang

Treasurer               : Nadira Ahamad / Priscilla Chan

 

Committee Members:

Vinod Balagopal, Candy Lim, Lee Po Chu, Tok Xue Fen

 

There are many others whom have worked with us before, but we want to become an official and register ourselves with the registrar of societies. Hence we would like to get all members past and present to send us the following details Full Name, Address, Contact Number, Email, Year of Graduation, Year Joined, Area of Interest and MSN (for purposes of holding meetings online).

 

 

Facilitators Needed

-         I am looking for about 3 more facilitators for The Happiness Project (http://www.myhappysingapore.com)

-         The criteria for the facilitator is that the person needs to have

o       Completed the Positive Psychology module at UniSIM

o       Able to commit Friday evenings (1930H – 2100H) fortnightly starting 17th July.

o       Strongly believe in the benefits of that Positive Psychology can bring to the general public

o       Please email info@myhappysingapore.com to apply.

Future developments

 

Senior-Junior Mentoring Program

-         This idea was proposed as an incentive to new UPSS members, year one and two students could be attached to seniors or alums to help guide or provide a listening ear to working adults attempting to juggle career, family and studies.

-         This would help minimise dropouts, help students academically and provide guidance in choosing courses and other admin matters.

 

Internships

-         We are hoping to look into possible internship programs for students who wish to make a career switch.

-         If not internships, then we are looking to tie up with UniSIM lecturers who might have research programs and have spots for students to help out.

 

Bus and Carpooling

-         We also want to create a base where students can arrange for shuttle services or carpooling, knowing that many of us have to work and travel, reducing costs and time incurred from travelling would help many students.


 

 

Our next meeting is going to be online (MSN) on the 8th of August 2009 at1400H.

 

Present at the meeting were

Lim Aik Meng

Justin Seng

Tok Xue Fen

Jap Ren Fang

Vinod Balagopal

Candy Lim

Lee Po Chu

Priscilla Chan

 

Cheers,

Seng Yu Chye, Justin
Chairperson UPSS Pro-Term Committee


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Learned Optimism
[info]unisimpsych
July 8th, 2009


 


 

Just finished the book last week so I figure I'd better do a book review quickly before everything gets lost in the brain or forgotten.

I found the book particularly useful as an introduction into Positive Psychology, as Dr Seligman introduces quite a number of concepts relevant to the early stages of Positive Psychology.

Concepts include Learned Helplessness, Resilience, Hope and their relationships with depression, health and productivity.

In particular I found the sections where we could take surveys on our optimism and explanatory styles useful, in figuring out how I explain things to myself (I'm a mild pessimist and I quite agree, though I think it might be an Asian trait)

After reading a number of chapters I also found that it is particularly useful for parents to read it. Especially to reduce the chances of their children, adopting pessimistic explanatory styles or getting depression.

I would definitely recommend this as added reading for people doing positive psychology to supplement materials provided in the course.

In fact I think resilience and hope are areas that would be good to explore in the field of Positive Psychology.

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Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)
[info]unisimpsych
April 24th, 2009
I guess as Singaporean citizens this is something that involves us all, hence I believe that this should be posted here especially since homosexuality has been thrown into the arena
 
First off Homosexuality as a disorder has been removed from the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM) on December 15, 1973. I trusts the views of psychologists all over the world whom have worked to produce the DSM.
 
Recent research papers have also demonstrated a clear genetic link between homosexuality and genes (Mustanski, B., Chivers, M. and Bailey, J, 2002; Balter, M, 2008; Bailey, J. and Pillard, R., 1995; Wright, W., 1999), yes the environment has an impact but genes also play a part. 
 
This post shall therefore refer to homosexuals as a sexual minority
 
This is a short chronology of recent events
 
On March 28th 2009 a group of women all of whom recently joined the NGO AWARE, within the space of five months, attended AWARE's AGM. During the AGM, the group of woman successfully overthrew the incumbent Ex Co, by introducing 9 new members into the 12 seats up for grabs. (Wong, 2009)
 
It was rather surprising that DSB bank issued a strong warning against Josie Lau for taking up the post as President for aware, since many of it's board members often held concurrent appointments. Could it then perhaps be that DBS is objecting to ideals, objectives or methods employed? (DBS "reviewing" employee's appointment as AWARE president, 2009)
 
In Josie Lau's interview with Channelnewsasia (CNA) (April 20, 2009) Josie Lau also claimed that I quote 
 
Interviewer: This was not well organized well talked through constitutional Coup? 
Josie : No
Josie : I didn't know her until I started working with her
 
On Morality and Ethics
 
Let's just break it down to the bones, a bunch of 100 people decided they didn't like what AWARE was doing, joined AWARE and took over leadership. The takeover does not seem moral or ethical. 
 
These individuals are claiming what they did is morally right and ethical, and are therefore suited to lead and guide Singapore women. 
 
They also claim that the do not know each other even though, 6 of the 9 member new ex Co are from the same church. (Some attend the same church, Apr 18 2009)
 
Yet in an article in CNA today (Apr 24 2009) Dr Thio Su Mien AWARE's new "Feminist Mentor", replied in response to the question "if the takeover was orchestrated" 
 
"It depends on what you mean by organising. It is kind of flatteringin a way. I'm frustrated, I talk to people, I collect info, I send to different people. You want to join, join. I will help you..." 
 
I also found blogs and forums with emails purportedly sent by Dr Thio 
 
http://unbrandedbreadnbutter.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/are-you-aware-email-is-evil/
 
The author questions the suitability of the current ex Co which has demonstrated a obvious lack of transparency, to lead AWARE. Was the Coup orchestrated?
 
On inclusiveness and Helping Singaporean woman regardless
 
It would've been simple to just answer the question, when asked for the new Ex Co's views towards issues like homosexuality. 
 
that they do not matter 
 
Josie Lau responded in a way that makes the author question the new Ex Co's intentions further.
 
"she added that sexual discrimination is a controversial topic which the Exco will have to discuss"
 
as an active volunteer, the answer to the author would have been simple, if someone, anyone needs help, and I am there, I will help, as a human being, as a Christian, as a Singaporean, I would not hesitate. 
 
Let us simply rephrase what Dr Thio has said 
 
Dr Thio said she went on to discover that in Aware's comprehensive
sexuality education programme, which is taken to schools,
minority homosexuality is regarded as a neutral word, not a negative word.
(Straits Times, Apr 24, 2009)
 
or
 
organised a minority lesbian-friendly Mother's Day event in 2006
(CNA, Apr 24, 2009)
 
Their statements point to the fact that their inclusiveness is contingent on something, or their values. How then can the group reach out to minorities?  
 
I can't vote, but I can make a stand on the issue. 
What would it take to galvanize Singaporeans into action, to move from politically apathetic to a concerned citizen?
 
 
 
 
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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: Ageist youths more likely to have heart problems in old age
[info]unisimpsych
April 20th, 2009
This an interesting article that links the negative age stereotype beliefs to cardiovascular disease. Although this is essentially a correlational study, it is a longitudinal one which makes the relationship between the two variables more rigorous. However, do take note that causal relationship is probably not direct but a mediated one.

Negative age stereotypes is probably just one of the many factors although it is a significant one, since the percentages of those who develop cardiovascular disease are only 25 percent for those with negative views and 13 percent for positive views. The differences in percentages are still rather small.

But of course this reminds us that having positive views of old age can help us to age more gracefully and healthy.

http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2009/04/ageist-youths-more-likely-to-have-heart.html
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Girl, Interrupted
[info]unisimpsych
April 14th, 2009
This post shall be a little different from the previous ones, in the sense that it is a review of a rather old movie and a book
which the author has read, and watch recently

 Girl, Interrupted 


Those reading Psychology might wish to consider giving this movie a watch and the book a read,
It is in the author's view that the movie does not quite do the book justice nor is the intensity of 
the emotions conveyed well enough.

The book

The author remembers a scene described in the book where the protagonist, in a moment 
where her mental problems resurfaced and she began to cut herself, just to see if her bones were still there,
to feel human?

Those studying abnormal psychology will also remember that stress is often a trigger for mental problems,
the book in particular manages to convey this sense, where the protagonist drifts in and out of severity of her
mental illness before making a full 'recovery'. 

The movie 

it plays on several themes as mentioned in wikipedia in particular the definition of mental problems
and how mental problems should be treated

Wiki discusses the idea that mental illnesses are often the interplay between societal roles (conformity) versus 
"mental illness", the question here is are all psychologist quacks? trying to make bend deviant behavior back
to the norm? 

Let us take the example of Anorexia Nervosa, where the individual's perception is so warped by societal 
needs for being slim or prepubescent causes people to starve themselves to the point of death. Similarly 
in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), the order often becomes so severe that the individual is at risk
of taking their own lives or causing themselves grave injury. Should we as human beings let lives snuff themselves 
out? or should we adopt an attitude, unless the individually asks for it do we intervene?

The story also revolves around the theme of pharmopsychology (a term used for the treatment of mental disorders 
through the usage of mediciene alone) versus cognitive psychology (CBT, or psychoanalytic therapy).

The movie seems to skim through this section quite a bit, often taking a deriding position towards cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT), where it is simply the confession or betrayal of your closest friends to the therapist.

Whilst pharmopsychology is seem on it's own, the unquestioning intake of sleeping pills and various unnamed
drugs used to treat patients. 

The author feels that the movie fails to address or highlight that CBT and pharmopsychology often work
hand in hand to create an optimal environment for 'recovery'.

The author does not support prolonged treatment of most mental problems with pharmopsychology,
nonetheless drugs are oftentimes needed to alleviate symptoms long enough for effective therapy
to take place. Imagine someone with depression, he/she is not gonna to listen to you if the individual is
in abject despair.
 
 Book and Movie

One rather good portion of the book and the movie is their ability to highlight the fact that community therapy
is in fact a much better option as compared to hospitalization, and even in Singapore during our visit IMH
we found that patients once sufficiently 'recovered' are encouraged to return to the community, and are taught skills
to cope with stress, or deal with anger. 



The protagonist in the story has Boderline Personality Disorder defined by the DSM-IV-TR as possessing 5 out of the 9
symptoms listed below: 

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between
extremes of idealization and devaluation

3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

4. Impulsivity in at least 2 areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g. promiscuous sex, eating disorders, binge eating, etc) 

5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats or self-injuring behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing
of scars or picking at oneself

6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g. intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a
few hours and rarely more than a few days).

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness, worthlessness.

8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g. frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions or severe dissociative symptoms.

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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: In early Alzheimer's, when to give up the car keys
[info]unisimpsych
April 8th, 2009
This article talks about the Alzheimer's disease and driving. It highlights the problems of psychologists and psychiatrists in determining when an Alzheimer's patient should stop driving. The balance between indepdendence of the patient and danger to the public is a fine line here. Some correlational information regarding driving and aging is discussed as well.

http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=apdigital_2009_04_07_ap.online.regional.us_D97DFMLO0_news_ap_org.anpa.xml&provider=
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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: How a memory champ's brain works
[info]unisimpsych
April 7th, 2009
For all those students with difficulty remembering stuff, perhaps you can take a look at this article that discusses the methods that memory champs use.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7982327.stm
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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: Life: A medical condition
[info]unisimpsych
March 31st, 2009
This article talks about how human behaviour is increasingly being classified into medical conditions. It reminds us that any psychological condition is only a construct.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7967851.stm
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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: Women really are better than men at processing faces
[info]unisimpsych
March 31st, 2009
This is an interesting article on facial processing. It suggests that women are better than men in recognising faces because they have the assistance of emotional content of the faces. However, whether this is a genetic or social consequence is yet to be determined.

http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2009/03/women-really-are-better-than-men-at.html
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PsychGeek's Psych Sites: How to critically appraise an article
[info]unisimpsych
March 31st, 2009
This article talks about how to critically identify "the strengths and weaknesses of a research article in order to assess the usefulness and validity of research findings". I think every psychology student should read this research article and learn how to judge the merits of a research article and blindly believing whatever research paper that is published.

Box 1 Ten questions to ask when critically appraising a research article.

 

Is the study question relevant?

Does the study add anything new?

What type of research question is being asked?

Was the study design appropriate for the research question?

Did the study methods address the most important potential sources of bias?

Was the study performed according to the original protocol?

Does the study test a stated hypothesis?

Were the statistical analyses performed correctly?

Do the data justify the conclusions?

Are there any conflicts of interest?



www.nature.com/ncpgasthep/journal/v6/n2/full/ncpgasthep1331.html
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