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Creative Tools for Psychology

Viewing and reading dramatic works are effective methods to gain a better understanding of psychology.  The following are several which brings the science to life:

  • A Beautiful Mind.  We get to see what schizophrenia looks like, reminds us that everyone is susceptible, along with gifted members of society.
  • Cape Fear.  The Max Cadies of the world are people we hide children away from, along with ourselves.
  • Cover Her Face.  Using and hurting others is sport for the psychopath protagonist.  And yet several other characters have their own issues in this PD James mystery.
  • Gaslight.  Charles Boyer depicts a man with schizoid personality disorder, set on destroying the sanity of his new bride.  The viewer can observe the nuances of his condition and his ability to send his wife to the edge of her nerves.
  • I Confess.  An Alfred Hitchcock thriller with Montgomery Clift as a clergy.  When he’s on trial for murder he didn’t commit, he keeps the real murderer’s confession.  The killer demonstrates the lengths he’ll go to keep his confession secret.
  • Network.  With so many characters with antisocial behaviors, it’s easier to count the ones who don’t possess negative qualities.
  • Plenty.  An examination of a woman who had purpose when working for the French Underground during the Second World War.  Returning to civilian life, she experiences a gradual depression, an emotional brokeness, leading up to a total psychotic break.
  • Secret Agent  Another Hitchcock thriller, loaded with humor. The surprise ending illustrates how dangerous people blend into society.

Shakespeare was a brilliant author, who placed the psychology of many characters under a microscope, making the discipline breathe.  Several examples are:

  • Antony and Cleopatra (anger management issues, duplicity, NPD, intuitiveness)
  • Hamlet (anger management issues, emotional collapse/depression, duplicity, family violence)
  • Julius Caesar (duplicity, precognition, NPD, ASPD)
  • King Lear (emotional collapse/depression, duplicity, elder abuse)
  • All’s Well That Ends Well}
  • Measure for Measure}                Negative behaviors in general
  • Taming of the Shrew}
  • The Tragedy of King Richard the Third (the protagonist could be Shakespeare’s ultimate psychopath, with King Claudius {Hamlet} in second place)

Even though they’re not replacements for coursework texts, viewing and reading particular dramas are creative tools for having a better comprehension of psychology, to recognize genuine, specific traits in others.

Which dramas would you add to this listing?

Vikki

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National Surveillance, Privacy, and Social Media

When you’re a member of the medical community, patient privacy is one of the utmost concerns you’ll ever have. The topic has been covered in this blog previously.  With Mr. Snowden admitting that our government is spying on its citizens, he’s alerted us that patient confidentiality is jeopardized (along with everything else imaginable). Did he break the law for the greater good? Hmm…

But let’s add a wrinkle to the subject.

People are on social media for all sorts of reasons.  Here are some of them:

  • Education information
  • Health resources
  • Product/service awareness
  • Entertainers
  • Public officials
  • Business affairs
  • News media outlets
  • Music
  • Merely to socialize and find new contacts/friends

Unfortunately, there are millions of people on social media who breached their own privacy long ago before the surveillance programs came to light. The topics they’ve posted. Documents for all of the world to see. The language and behavior on social media would make a truck driver blush.  This is the World Wide Web, after all. Firewalls are only as strong as the people behind them, and the character behind the people.

So what does social media have to do with psychology?  Critical thinkers understand.

Vikki

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Psychiatric Medications and the Youth Population*

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While psychiatric medicines such as Lithium, Abilify and Risperidone exist designed specifically for younger consumers, pharmaceuticals need to create safer ones.  A young person’s brain isn’t fully developed until their early twenties.  The body as a whole should have the capacity to withstand medications. Presently, many youth experience toxicity, weakened bones, and neurological challenges from appropriate drug usage.  Kidney damage, at times irreversible, is one of the consequences from Lithium.

All medications have side effects and not every user will experience them.  However, side effects associated with psychotropic drugs can be greatly reduced with newer medicines targeted for this segment of the population.

*First-generation psychiatric drugs went on the market before the late 1980’s. These medications can result in neurological problems.  Second generation psychiatric drugs went on the market after the late 1980’s. These medications can result in weight gain, diabetes, elevated levels of cholesterol, and neurological problems. 

Vikki

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Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids (aka anabolic-androgenic steroids) are non-prescribed drugs composed of the male hormone testosterone for muscle enhancement (“the ideal body”), and sports performance enhancement.  These drugs come in the form of injections, pills, and gels/creams.  Even though many users don’t take them on a continuous basis, the usage history fosters many consequences.

Adolescent Males

  • Psychiatric difficulties
  • Aggression
  • Violence
  • Growth inhibition (i.e., height, genitalia)
  • Suicide

Adolescent Females

  • Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder
  • Potential psychiatric difficulties
  • Growth inhibition (i.e., height, breasts)
  • Acne
  • Ceases/prevents menstruation

Women

  • Psychiatric difficulties
  • Ceases menstruation
  • Significant breast size decrease
  • Diminishes female sculpture
  • Pregnancy difficulties
  • Cancer
  • Death

Men

  • Psychiatric difficulties
  • Significant breast size increase
  • Genitalia reduction
  • Aggression
  • Violence
  • Cancer
  • Death

The bodily effects from anabolic steroids are irreversible for many users.

Vikki

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Harmful Effects of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution (aka sound pollution) is defined as harmful environmental noises (i.e., construction equipment, lawn mowers, living near industrial areas, airports, freeways, railway systems etc.).

The following are consequences from noise pollution:

Children (more vulnerable because of developing organs)

  • Ignoring teachers in classroom because they’re conditioned to ignore sounds
  • Hearing Loss
  • Stunted reading and language skills
  • Elevated stress levels
  • Elevated blood pressure levels

Women

  • Abnormal menstruation cycles
  • Abnormal embryos
  • Miscarriages
  • Premature births

Men and Women

  • Psychological difficulties
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Blurred vision
  • Tinnitus
  • Hearing loss
  • Sleeplessness

Vikki

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Personality Assessments in the Workplace

“Personality assessments” need to become the norm as a requirement of the pre-employment process in all organizations, not just among those for the safety and emergency workforce.  It’s a controversial issue, but there are precautions which Human Resource Management can establish in alleviating/reducing lawsuits:

  • Write up the policy, place it on Intranet and company website, and on applications which applicants have to check and sign off on before any potential interviews can take place;
  • The policy should emphasize that applicants can be re-examined after 90 days, but with an entirely different Tester, when results from initial assessment are unfavorable;
  • If the applicant refuses to adhere to examination, the process ends immediately. Documentation stating applicant’s refusal is attached with the incomplete application for record-keeping purposes;
  • If second assessment results are also unfavorable, the pre-employment process ends immediately, with these results and the former attached to the application.

Vikki

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Diabetes and Mental Health

Individuals with pre-diabetes, or the full-blown condition, may experience personality changes (i.e., mood swings, irritability). We have to pay close attention to loved ones who suddenly have personality changes and suggest immediate medical attention. While these clues are important, we have to view diabetes from another perspective to understand what may happen for loved ones taking psychiatric medications.

Metabolic Syndrome is a group of risk factors which nurtures coronary artery disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.  The symptoms are elevated levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and excess belly fat.  Two medications closely associated with the syndrome are Clorazil (schizophrenia) and Zyprexa (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). These medications can elevate cholesterol and blood sugars five-fold, creating a profoundly dangerous health condition.

Vikki

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Anger Management

All of us become angry every now and again.  It’s a healthy emotion. We’re capable of recognizing the anger and calming ourselves down before it gets out of control. But when should individuals seek counseling before the anger governs their lives?  The following are a couple of examples:

  • A want to maintain the anger internally.
  • Repetitive arguments with spouse, friends, and co-workers.

RED ALERT. When the problem has escalated and therapy is a must:

  • Verbal violence (i.e., name calling, swearing, making threats against individuals, their property)
  • Destructive behavior such as breaking items.
  • Problems with the law.
  • Engaging in physical violence towards loved ones.

Individuals with anger management problems may have underlying depression and if  they refuse to enter therapy, may experience psychiatric difficulties because the brain chemistry has altered.

Anger management therapy will teach the patient to use anger constructively.  They will take their frustrations and develop clarity.  The patient will also learn how to discuss feelings they’re experiencing, instead of verbal violence towards others.  Finally, therapy will help the patient avoid searching for alcohol and illegal substances for a means of escape.

Vikki