AU Blogspot

My name is Michelle, but my friends call me ‘Chelle (so please feel free to do so.)  I’ve been in the psychology program for almost a year, but experienced an upsetting time in my life and had to put it on hold for several months.

However; I just forged ahead into my study habits again.  I just finished Lesson 3 of Human Relations. 

I’m a 45 year old disabled housewife.  I find it totally ironic and absolutely wonderful that even though I hated school when I was younger, I find it awesome and fantastic as a mature adult.

I’ve always had a yearning to learn about psychology, especially forensic and abnormal psychology.  Maybe because I’m married to a cop, huh?  Anyway, I’m tickled pink to find out that I can talk to others on the student forum that are in the same program and learn the same things.

I’m also thrilled to hear about the Bachelor’s Program and will be checking into how I can transfer to the Bachelor’s Program as soon as it’s available.

Blessings,

‘Chelle
Student
Ashworth Associate Program In Psychology

              Thanks to Paul Goyette for permission to use this Photo.

I just finished reading Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, which is coming out towards the end of August. The book summarizes, in very accessible terms, thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.

It’s initially hard to get past the title. William Patrick, John’s coauthor, relates how a friend reading an early manuscript found the word “loneliness” to be disturbing, even more so than “rape,” “murder,” or “death.” This reaction fits perfectly with the major theme of the book–we humans are a very social bunch, and being cut off from other people, as in solitary confinement, might be the very worst punishment of all.

What I especially liked about the book is the constant, seamless integration of what we call “perspectives” in psychology, harkening back to William James. In other words, the neuroscience, social psychology, and cognitive science is all woven together so that you get the big picture. In other writing, John has compared psychology to a symphony, with the different perspectives contributing to the whole of our understanding just as the score, musicians, instruments, and conductor join together to produce fantastic music. He and William have definitely succeeded in bringing this integration to the study of loneliness. Given the all-too-frequent Balkanization of psychology into little subdomains, this approach is refreshing and informative.

Like William’s friend, I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book. I don’t consider myself a lonely person, as I am blessed by having a close family and good friends. But I know a lot of lonely people, and reading the various case studies brought these people to mind in a vivid way. The sad mood lifted, however, when John would throw in some of his modest and self-deprecating humor, as in his description of his trip to “Grenada.” Enough said. You need to read the book to find out the rest. (more…)

In response to Stanford Prison Experiment Video Post:

WOW! Some experiment. Now, as to what the experiment teaches or doesn’t teach is the ultimate question.

It has been 35+ years since that experiment was done. There have been loads of changes in the prison system since the Stanford experiment. So, what happens today when you put good people in a bad situation? Well, there are a lot of factors that affect how that good person will react. For example, I know a person who was an exemplary citizen and that individual ended up serving 2 years in a state facility. That person was considered a model inmate, worked in the law library, and when released became heavily involved in criminal law and the justice system.

So, I think that how a person reacts to that environment depends a great deal on how their inner psyche has developed. I do not believe that most “good” people will deliberately injure someone simply because a person in authority has told them to do so.

I have many examples from a life of military and exposure to criminal inmates that debunk that ideology.  But, those are simply my thoughts.  GREAT video.

Betty
Student
Ashworth University School Of Health Care

 
Are we on this again?

“Study doubts the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs.”  Or, even better, as per The Independent: “Antidepressant drugs don’t work– official study.“

I don’t know what passes for official nowadays.  The data is the exact same data that has existed for 30 years.  Yes, these authors are acting like they FOIA-ed the second Zapruder film, but let me assure you it’s the same old data.  These authors did the exact same study in 2002.  So have twenty other groups.  This is not new. 

But it is news.  The question is why.

I have a side question.  Why is it that when an article says something works, people are suspicious of bias, but when an article says something doesn’t work, everyone thinks it’s objective science?   IT’S ALL BIAS.  

People are completely missing the point of this paper and all the other recent re-investigations, the true social and clinical consequences of them.  For example: they’re saying antidepressants are no good.  Ok.  What do you think doctors are going to use  instead?  Psychoanalysis?  Nothing?  They’re going to prescribe antipsychotics.  Are you listening to me?  I’m not even saying this is clinically wrong to do, but do you not see the setup?  Abre los ojos, man. (more…)

Special thanks to Dan_Portnoy for permission to use this photo.

In the November 2007 issue of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, an article presents the result of a study examining chronic pain in depressed geriatric inpatients.  By examining the medical charts of patients who were admitted to a geriatric psychiatric unit over a two year period, 148 patients with a depressive disorder were identified. Of these depressed patients, 62% of patients were found to reports problems with chronic pain. Further analysis found that depressed older adults with chronic pain were more likely to report suicidal ideation, be diagnosed with personality disorder, have chronic care needs, and experience less total sleep time compared to depressed older adults without chronic pain. The results match those of previous studies identifying chronic pain as a possible suicide risk factor in the elderly, particularly when depression is involved. (more…)

 
                 Thanks to Erwan for permission to use this Photo.

After William Enman escaped from the New Jersey psychiatric hospital where he had been serving his sentence, he sent a letter to the governor and hospital CEO protesting that he had earned the right to sign himself out. The 64-year old patient has been serving a sentence for a brutal double-murder hat he had committed in 1974. Although diagnosed as schizophrenic, he has consistently denied the diagnosis and refused to comply with psychiatric treatment. Enman’s September 9, 2007 escape from Ancora Psychiatric Hospital sparked a nation-wide manhunt although he was recaptured without incident 48 hours later. After his rearrest, he stated that he had escaped the hospital to “clear my mind” and that he needed to “get away” from his drug problem. In his letter, he stated that he had “maxed out” the time that he had spent in hospital and was entitled to leave.

In the decades since he was first imprisoned for the brutal bludgeoning deaths of a man and his young son, Enman has committed numerous infractions including having contraband weapons being found in his cell and placing his hands around the throat of his then-wife in 2003. (more…)