30
Sep 20

How radical feminism has condemned an entire group of women

When someone says the words “radical feminism” what comes to mind? What type of women do you envision? The uprise of radical feminism in the 1960-70s formed the stereotype of the radical feminist being cisgender female lesbians (Cook, 2018). Angry women who are burning their bras and trashing men. There is an increasingly larger issue that is occurring though within feminism. The exclusion of transgender women (Cook, 2018). The issue has picked up so much criticism that the term “TERF” has been coined to call out those “Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists” who refuse to include or accept transgender women into discussions based on feminism.  Lesbian radical feminists are claiming “lesbian erasure” because of LGBTQ activism being primarily male-driven, in addition to claims that transgender activism is a detriment to lesbians (Compton, 2019).

Radical Feminist views on how transgender rights and activism is harmful to lesbians date back to the 1970s and despite progress regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion, acceptance, and rights the spillover from lesbian radical feminists continues to ostracize and refuse inclusion of transgender individuals, more specifically transgender women (Cook, 2018). Will there ever be a point in time where trans-exclusionary radical feminists will finally let go of their disdain for transgender individuals?

In the last few years more and more lesbian media outputs have been standing up and denouncing the radical feminist anti-transgender sentiments. Their aim is to condemn the rhetoric of “lesbian erasure” by pursuing a campaign dubbed “Not in our name” (Compton, 2019). The magazines that headed the campaign made it known that they believed that “trans women are women and that trans people belong in our community” (Compton, 2019).  Furthermore, they went on to discuss their condemnation of other lesbian media outlets “who seek to foster division and hate within the LGBTQI community with trans misogynistic content and who believe ‘lesbian’ is an identity for them alone to define” (Compton, 2019). The unity under which these media outlets banded together to fight trans exclusion in the lesbian and feminist community and take a stand against the long-standing division is just the beginning of a long road of needed progress that is still in the early stages.

Will the LGBTQIA+ community ever fully be whole and undivided? Or will there continue to be one level of division or exclusion amongst another? What will it take for marginalized groups to no longer condemn other struggling marginalized groups? Time, unity, understanding, empathy, and a willingness to work together is the foundation for which change can be made and divisions can be dissolved.

Sources:

  1. Compton, J. (2019, March 19). ‘Pro-lesbian’ or ‘trans-exclusionary’? Old animosities boil into public view. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/pro-lesbian-or-trans-exclusionary-old-animosities-boil-public-view-n958456
  2. Cook, J. (2018). When “Sisters” become “Cis-ters”: Failed Coalitionalism in 1970s Lesbian Separatism and its Twenty-First Century Remnants | Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association. Http://Www.Pamla.Org/2018/Proposals/%C2%A0when-%E2%80%9Csisters%E2%80%9D-Become-%E2%80%9Ccis-Ters%E2%80%9D-Failed-Coalitionalism-1970s-Lesbian-Separatism-And. http://www.pamla.org/2018/proposals/%C2%A0when-%E2%80%9Csisters%E2%80%9D-become-%E2%80%9Ccis-ters%E2%80%9D-failed-coalitionalism-1970s-lesbian-separatism-and

 


30
Sep 20

Social Identity and Gamers

In the age of Covid-19 and quarantines, it might surprise you to hear that every day millions of people are meeting, forming teams, tackling jobs, and building relationships.  No, I’m not talking about some germ-free utopian society, I’m talking about the internet and the rising popularity of MMORPGs. As reported by Nicholas Ye, “Every day, millions of users interact, collaborate, and form relationships with each other through avatars in online environments known as Massively Multi-User Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs).” (2006, p. 187). So, what do such games tell us about the social identity of the players? How does their role in such a game contribute to their social identity?

Examining social psychology through role-playing games and gamers provides a unique perspective in a completely fabricated environment. “MMORPGs are the only existing naturalistic setting where millions of users voluntarily immerse themselves in a graphical virtual environment and interact with each other through avatars on a daily basis.” (Ye, 2006, p.1880). In these games, they choose their species, race, sex, profession and so much more, which in turn means they choose their place in society including their rank both socially and to an extent economically. As most of these games are group efforts one earns rank and money through their efforts within the group. The more they accomplish in-game the more social rank they gain among the players. According to Ye “The result is that adventures, stories, and most importantly, meaningful interactions and relationships between users emerge. Functional constructs within the environment facilitate these social networks” (2006, p. 193).

But how much does the social capital earned in the game affect the player outside the game, meaning how much of their personal identity is wrapped up in the games they play online? There is an anonymity to playing an online game that seems to erase borders of race and ethnicity that afflict us in the real world. However, in the game, there is a whole new set of such identities, thieves against assassins, humans against orcs, and even terrestrials against extra-terrestrials. The games divide people by labels much like in the real world, while they bring people together in friendships that cross ethnic lines, racial divides, and national borders. According to pair of studies conducted by Guegan, Moliner, and Buisine examining guild members within an MMORPG, “Both studies showed strong in-group favoritism on the basis of guild membership.” (2015, p. 355).  So, for players in the game, their guild becomes a large part of their social identity. However, Guegan and his colleagues went on to report that “When surveyed within this environment, players identify more strongly with their guild than with the superordinate player in-group. This difference is reduced considerably when participants are questioned outside of the game. “(2015, p. 355). Meaning, when talking with people outside of the game they often identify as a player of the game, but when talking to another player of the game they are more likely to identify as being a member of a particular guild, rather than merely a player of the game. This reflects an interesting shift in the social identity of the individual depending on whether they are interacting in the real world versus interacting in the world of the game.

Another aspect to consider is, does being a gamer provide social clout in the real world simply by virtue of the title “gamer”? There was a time when gamers were the social outcasts playing with figures and dice in somebody’s mothers’ basement. In the past, according to Adrienne Shaw, “Negative connotations about gaming lead people to not identify as gamers, and even to not play video games.”(2011, p.28 ). This applied not just to video games, but tabletop games and online games. These players were the guys that were seen as those that did not have a date on Friday nights, and they had little to no social clout among the outside world. They would proudly claim the title of gamer among their friends, once again displaying that social identity within a group.

Today, gamers are no longer a marginalized group, they are a social majority. However, gamers do still touch on the idea of marginalized groups. Gaming has become widespread but the characters or avatars available are often not. According to Shaw, “Identity as a gamer intersects with other identities like gender, race, and sexuality.” (2011, p. 28). Shaw goes on to report that those making the video games are still realizing how many types of players are not properly represented within the games. There are players of different genders, sexualities, and ages. They just want to be able to play a character that represents themselves. It is hard to develop a social identity for yourself as a gamer and as a member of one of these marginalized groups at the same time. Shaw further pointed out, “People tied their opinion of whether representation in video games is important to how they felt about games in general.” (2011, p. 38). We have to consider the players’ identity outside of the game as well, if they are not represented within the games that they play for hours every day it will affect how they identity outside of the game. For instance, if they are not given a place in the games, they are likely to question if they have a place in the real world? Will it affect how they see their own worth in the real world? We need to realize that the importance of social identity in online games is a reflection of the importance of our social identity in the real world.

References

Guegan, J., Moliner, P., & Buisine, S. (2015). Why are online games so self‐involving: A social identity analysis of massively multiplayer online role‐playing games. European Journal of Social Psychology, 45(3), 349-355.

Shaw, A. (2012). Do you identify as a gamer? Gender, race, sexuality, and gamer identity. new media & society, 14(1), 28-44.

Yee, N. (2006). The psychology of massively multi-user online role-playing games: Motivations, emotional investment, relationships and problematic usage. In Avatars at work and play (pp. 187-207). Springer, Dordrecht.


30
Sep 20

Gender Diversity

Demographic diversity is a very complex and popular topic today. Demographic diversity is all about the core characteristics that make up a person and influence their life experiences. Examples of demographic diversity include but are not limited too race, gender, social class, sexual identity, and religion.

Sex and gender is such a common topic in today’s world. Gender still continues to affect people everyday especially in the workplace. The LGBTQ community also faces many challenges when it comes to this topic. Many people don’t think there is a difference between sex and gender but there is. “The term sex refers to the biological distinction of being male or female, whereas the term gender refers to the social or learned characteristics that are associated with being male or female.” (Gruman, 393). When thinking of gender think about the things that society “considers” to be male or female. Males are considered to be masculine, tough, the provider, and assertive. Females are considered to be caring, soft, and kind hearted. Females are also more likely to be stay at home moms while the males are more likely to provide for their families.

We have come a long way in the differences in gender and the diversity that is seen in this topic. Women used to not be able to vote or be a CEO of a company. Now a days women can vote, women are CEO’s or bosses, and there are even stay at home dads. The diversity in gender in the workplace has changed a lot since this first was a problem. Women are now have equal opportunities as men and are seen as just as strong as males.

Even though we have come so far in gender diversity there is still work to be done. Sexism is still a thing and problem today. “Sexism is differential and often detrimental treatment of a person based on that person’s sex.” (Gruman, 394). Sexism includes negative comments, thoughts, and attitudes towards women. Examples of sexism include women are supposed to cook and clean, women are supposed to be stay at home moms, or women can’t run a company. While sexism has really died down in today’s society there is still some work to be done.

There has been a huge improvement on gender diversity in the workplace and I would like to continue to see that happen. Women are filling just as many positions as males are filling in companies. Women are putting in just as much work as males are in today’s workplace. Women deserve to be treated equal and have just as many opportunities as males are. I love the progress that has been made in this topic and would love to see in continue and grow even more.

Gruman, Jamie A., et al. Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. 3rd ed., SAGE, 2017.


29
Sep 20

BLM

Nationwide people are being impacted from cruelty injustice acts by law enforcers. There are riots being started, and protests being done, in order for individuals voices to be heard.  Black lives matter, is a movement of umbrella that is using race, as a mean to promote causes. However the movement itself, is not benefiting or changing the actual issue. We should ask ourselves what has the movement actually changed? There are still people of color being killed and impacted daily.

BLM is a movement that involves the injustice and discrimination of people of color. However, if we look deeply into the movement, there are promotions being rallied in such a difficult time (Bigger issues for BLM, 2020 Thursday). The purpose of the movement is too act against the police, and law enforcers. However, this has not made any changes in the law system. Everything continues to be the same. There are still people being killed and mistreated due to foolish acts.

Have you seen, how many BLM wardrobe has been made during this issue? There are people making money endorsing BLM wardrobe. Yet is the money being used in order to change the actual situation? Anyone can put the logo BLM and advertise it, to the community. As, the people we need to unit together, all races and come together and demand change. Rioting and rallies will not change the situation. We should write letters and demand meetings in people that are of rank and start by educating everyone in the discrimination that millions are facing.

There are more effective strategies, that can be used in order to bring awareness to the BLM. One strategy for reducing prejudice and discrimination was proposed by social psychologist Gordon Allport in 1954. The work of Gordon, argued that if people with different group characteristics could get to know each other and work together, prejudice, stereotypes, and the impulse to discriminate would decrease (Gruman, J.A., 2016). We need too use our influence to try to activate social change. Law makers need to educate their staff on discrimination. And lectures need to occur about the history of black people. This will bring an understanding to the matter. We have tried other ways, and it has not helped the situation. But, how can people be understood, if there is no understanding.

References

Gruman, J. A.,  Schneider, F. W. , &. Coutts, L.M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems 3rd edition. SAGE Publications.

(July 23, 2020 Thursday). Bigger issues for BLM. The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved from https://advance-lexis-com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:60DR-HB51-F0JP-W1D7-00000-00&context=1516831.

 


28
Sep 20

Politics Through the Lens of Diversity

Who are you voting for? Now, don’t take offense, I don’t want actually care, I just wanted your attention. With the elections fast approaching, more and more people are finding themselves with riffs between their families or friends. Why is that? What allows us to prioritize our beliefs over our relationships? Sadly, I don’t have complete answers, but I do know some things that may be contributing to these conflicts.

Let’s start at the beginning, with the definition of conflict. According to the text, conflict is defined as a perceived incompatibility of interests. “Great”, you’re thinking, “I already knew that”. Good, then you’re one step ahead. So my next question is, do you know what gives rise to these conflicts? The answer: prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes. My answer isn’t all-encompassing, but it hits on the major points. And don’t tell me those things only relate to racism, ethnicity, or SES, because they don’t.

Diving right into these terms, prejudice is defined as an attitude toward others based solely on group membership. So, what are the two main groups of politics? Republicans and democrats. However, these are often used interchangeably with conservatives and liberals, respectively. Now I’m almost certain that when I say (type) these words, thoughts instantly jump into your head. Take a minute and think about your thoughts. What are they? Too often they are not necessarily factual about the parties, but rather the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of the individuals who make up the groups. Those thoughts are better known as stereotypes.

If you’ve studied self-development you’ve probably heard of thought work, and if you haven’t I’ll enlighten you. Thought work is thinking about your thoughts, where they come from, and what they do. The dogma of this is emotions create thoughts, thoughts create feelings, feelings create actions, and actions create results. How’s this tie in? Well, stereotypes are thoughts, and you get to decide what you do with those thoughts. Often this results in the action form prejudice, which is discrimination. Remember prejudice is an attitude toward others based solely on group membership. On the other hand, discrimination is the actual behavior directed at others based on their group membership.

You might be thinking that it’s a bit of a stretch to consider the separation between friends and family discrimination. Don’t worry, I don’t. That’s conflict. However, discrimination is not befriending a new student on campus between they’re a conservative. Or not hiring someone because they are pro-choice.

Conclusions shouldn’t be based off of large groups, not all conservatives are pro-gun, just like all liberals don’t believe in climate change. The problem is, relying on groups rather than individuals leads to the preception of extreme and exaggerated differences. This creates more potentials for conflict. Based on the knowledge of the contact hypothesis, if members of each in-group (conservatives and liberals) make an effort to positively interact with the out-group (aka each other), then intergroup hostility declines and their relations overall improve.

 

 

References

Gruman, J. A.,  Schneider, F. W. , &. Coutts, L.M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems 3rd edition. SAGE Publications.

 


24
Sep 20

Growing Greener

In recent weeks we have seen over 3 million acres of land burned on the west coast of the United States and for the second time in modern history, we have 5 tropical storms formed in the Atlantic. Some may say that this is just chance, but for many who are watching the environment, they can’t help but believe that these all too often occurrences are due to human impact on the environment. As we watch the world change before us, in more ways than one, there are those who are asking the question, “Can we make changes that can have a lasting impact?” Nona Yehia would say it is possible.

We know throughout history that wars have been fought over land and resources. Our environment is changing on a daily basis and we are finding a world that seems to be less hospitable to its inhabitants due to the lack of behavior change in order to help our planet be a healthier place. We continue to cut forests, rely on fossil fuels and use pesticides that end up as run off in our lakes and ponds and we are seeing the results of our poor behavior. The consequences are only going to get worse. Resources will become scarcer, temperatures will continue to climb and clean water will be harder to find unless we make changes. This is a Resource Dilemma. We consciously make the choice to continue to water our lawns and use up precious resources like they will always be there. (Gruman et al., 2017)

As we look to business and government to make a change in the world to value the planet over the all mighty dollar we are beginning to see leaders rise up from the crowd in a hope to make an impact in the world and their environment. A recent news article I saw out of Wyoming in the Chariton Newspaper online, told the story of an architect turned entrepreneur, Nona Yehia, who developed a business called Vertical Roots. The basic premise of the business was that it took a10th of an acre building and grows 10 acres of food in it. The building not only supplies readily available food to local residents and restaurants year round, it does it with no pesticides, zero water consumption and the owner even built the business around hiring those who are underserved in the community. This is a Social Dilemma or taking a space or building that is of little to no use for the good of mankind and turning it into something that is. (Gruman et al., 2017)

Vertical Harvest Farms in Wyoming has 42 employees. 25 of these employees are disabled in some way however, by working with Vertical Harvest Farms they are able to learn new skills and abilities.  They no longer have a job but a career. (Vertical Harvest Farms, n.d.)  Through her efforts she is changing her behavior and her communities’ behavior, which in turn, gives this out of the way place in Wyoming a sustainable resource that is helping the community thrive. This one building provides local foods for over 80 different businesses in 3 states. These businesses would normally not have this kind of access due to the location of the rural cities and towns. (Vertical Harvest Farms, n.d.)
It is thinking like that of Nona Yehia and her Co-Founders that will make the biggest impact to regain the ground we have lost in fighting the war on saving our environment.  Vertical Harvest Farms is opening another facility in Maine in 2022 and gives information on how to start a Vertical Harvest facility on their website, verticalharvestfarms.com. (Vertical Harvest Farms, n.d.). To see how Vertical Harvest started and their first 15 months, check out the video Hearts of Glass. https://www.heartsofglassfilm.com/
The Chariton Newspapers. (2020, September 13). How a Wyoming farmer grows 10 acres of      food on a tenth of an acre.

https://www.charitonleader.com/news/national/video_191f3d0c-2a4f-5830-9b5b-                        0152241921e8.html

 Vertical Harvest Farms. (n.d.). Fact sheet.

http://vertharvest.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VerticalHarvestFactSheet.pdf

Gruman, J. A.,  Schneider, F. W. , &. Coutts, L.M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems 3rd edition. SAGE Publications.


24
Sep 20

The Anchoring Effect in Assessment

 

On a cold February morning in 2018 I woke up around 5 am in a cloud of confusion. My arms and legs were tingling as if I had touched an electrical outlet and I felt insanely sick to my stomach. I look around for my husband but my eyes wouldn’t focus. What was happening? I remembered having similar symptoms when I had a few seizures in high school, but that was ten years ago.

“Mmm,” I yelled. I thought I was yelling my husband’s name but the words wouldn’t come out. Frantic I got up on wobbly legs and ascended down the stairs.

“John,” I yelled again. “Need hospital.” I couldn’t say anything more; those three words had taken all my strength.

A week later, I walked up the stairs of the parking garage of my local hospital for a neurology appointment in a complete haze. I had never felt so exhausted in my life, and I had two babies, I knew what exhaustion was. The neurologist’s office was a journey across the hospital. I remember walking in the door and feeling my heartbeat pounding in every inch of my body. I signed my name in at the front desk and before I could sit down to compose myself I was called back to a room. The nurse took my weight and put a pulse ox on my finger before taking my blood pressure. Her eyes were startled.

“Your heartrate is just a little high,” she said wide-eyed.

“Oh,” I replied breathless and fidgeting. I couldn’t calm my body and I was in a cold sweat. Was I nervous? This didn’t feel like nerves. Why wouldn’t my heart calm down?

“Um, I’ll be right back,” the nurse said before quickly exiting the room.

I remember wondering what could be wrong with me while taking four deep breathes to try and still my heart. It wouldn’t cooperate.

“How are you doing today?” the doctor said walking in the room with his eyes on me.

“Um, I’m a little nervous I guess. My heart is beating really fast and I’m exhausted.”

“Do you get those symptoms often?” the doctor began to type on his computer.

“Um, no. Not really. I mean, I guess I have anxiety but it doesn’t feel like this.”

“Okay, so tell me what brings you into my office today? I see you were at the ER last week,” the doctor replied.

I could only imagine what the notes said from the emergency room. My husband had told me I was babbling on about nightmares when I was finally able to talk that morning. I began to explain that I wondered if I had a seizure. I mentioned my prior history with seizures that had been witnessed, and began to list all of the symptoms that had occurred the week prior, but the doctor cut me off.

“This doesn’t sound like a seizure to me,” the doctor quickly replied. “Do you have trouble with anxiety?”

At first I was in shock. I knew from prior experience that the symptoms I experienced were textbook seizure symptoms. My eyes welled with tears. The combination of my high heart rate, emergency room babbles and admittance of prior anxiety had done me in. This doctor wasn’t listening to me. He then continued on about anxiety causing my high heartrate and possible fainting episodes.

“How could I faint in my sleep?” I asked, but he ignored my question.

As the doctor went on about whatever mental disorder he felt was the cause of my symptoms, I stood up with tears flowing from my eyes. I then walked out of the office. I knew I was proving his point of emotional instability by bursting out of his office in tears, but at the moment I didn’t care.

Looking back at this experience, I feel the neurologist/psychiatrist I saw that day had been taken hold by the anchoring effect. The anchoring effect is when a doctor’s judgement is clouded by their first impression of a patient’s problem and they are subsequently blinded to any other explanations (Gruman, Schneider & Coutts, 2017). Research in social psychology has shown that information gathered early on in an assessment can have a great impact on the understanding of the rest of the information obtained (Gruman et. al., 2017). In my case, the neurologist I saw had already read my emergency room notes and had talked to the nurse in the hallway before seeing me. This is when the anchor of his assessment of anxiety could have been placed. Though throughout our conversation I gave the doctor symptoms that were consistent with seizures and not anxiety (like electrical tingles everywhere and loss of speech or understanding), the doctor was unable to revise his first impression of anxiety due to the anchoring effect.

Instead of listening, the doctor took my high heartrate and fidgety symptoms as confirmation of his original assessment of anxiety by way of the confirmation bias. The confirmation bias is a part of the anchoring effect’s process. A confirmation bias is when physicians or clinicians look for symptoms that confirm their original assessment (Gruman et. al., 2017).

In the last two years since seeing that first neurologist/psychiatrist, I have been diagnosed with epilepsy by two neurologists and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome by a cardiologist (which is a disorder that causes high heartrate while standing). Though anxiety has been a part of my life throughout this process, as it is very scary to experience neurological symptoms at random, it was not the cause of my progressive neurological decline. This experience has made me very aware of the confirmation bias and anchoring effect that can occur in health care, and how imperative it is to advocate for myself. If I had listened to that physician that day, my diagnosis could have been prolonged further or even indefinitely.

 

References

Gruman, J.A.,Schneider, F.W., & Coutts, L.A. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 


24
Sep 20

Mental Health, Are We Treating the Whole?

It is no secret that mental health conditions are on the rise, impacting 1 in 5 adults according to the American Psychiatric Association. Since COVID 19 the situation has gotten worse. According to a report published in August 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.” But what can we do to help those dealing with these issues?

 

In the past, when it came to mental health conditions, medical professionals were solely focused on understanding and treating the biological functions thought to be causing the illness. This approach called the biomedical model approach, viewed mental health conditions as being diseases of the brain, and sought to treat them solely by the use of medications. However, as suggested in Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems this might not necessarily be the best approach.

 

It is believed that mental health conditions are affected by more than just biological factors. Psychological traits and social circumstances are also contributing factors and thus why the biopsychosocial model approach is now often implemented by medical professionals today. The biopsychosocial model approach, as its name suggests, believes that the best way to determine and treat illness is by a combination of not only biological factors but also psychological and social factors as well. When addressing issues of mental health, we need to look at the whole picture and treat not only the biochemical imbalances in the brain but also the psychological traits and social circumstances contributing to the mental health condition(s). Some of those psychological and social influences can include, childhood psychological trauma such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, suffering a loss at a young age such as the loss of a parent or sibling, gender identity, social class, and race and ethnicity.

 

Rather than taking a biomedical model approach that focuses solely on biological functioning to explain and treat an illness, we should take a biopsychosocial model approach a treat the whole person.

 

References

Mental Health 2020: A Presidential Initiative for Mental Health. (2019). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Advocacy/Federal/Mental-Health-2020-A-Presidential-Initiative-for-Mental-Health.pdf

Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic – United States, June 24–30, 2020. (2020, August 13). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm

BJ, D. (2013). The biomedical model of mental disorder: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23664634/

Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.

Bhandari, S. (2020, June 30). Causes of Mental Illness. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness

Mechanic, D., & McAlpine, D. (2002, April 30). The Influence of Social Factors on Mental Health. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/0470846410.ch17


24
Sep 20

The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

Coronavirus Disease has spread rapidly and widely nationwide. The disease infected more than 30 thousand people and resulted in seven hundredths deaths (Xie, L., 2020). Human to human transmissions were identified and the number of confirmed cases kept increasing. The impact of COVID-19, lead to a psychological impact that resulted in immediate mental health problems. People suffered from the life-threatening infections, as they witnesses other patients suffering as well.

Let’s face it 2020, hit us with a curve ball when COVID-19 impacted the world. With the number of infected cases rapidly increasing, we watched people suffer from the virus. However, not only was the virus affecting health. The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in people experiencing high levels of stress that potentially lead to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic disorder(article). The epidemic affected people, mentally and physically, leaving us with only high levels of stress and anxiety.

With the cases of covid-19, increasing, COVID-19 affected work environments. Especially those that were front line with the virus such as hospital. Medical students judged the outbreak more serious than non-medical students. However, researcher shows that medical students experienced fewer mental health problems than non-medical students (Xie, L., 2020). Medical professionals were trained on psychological mechanism during epidemics that constructed an effective psychological support system (Xie, L., 2020). Although medical health professional were more prone to the virus since they were working front line. However, since they had psychological trainings, this led to fewer impacts on their mental health. Therefore, it is proven that  psychological mechanisms lead to effective coping during a pandemic.

The field of psychology, has many benefits that help people cope with mental health disorders. When COVID-19 took a nationwide hit, people were experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety that lead to an arises in mental health disorders. However, research shows that if people are educated on psychological mechanisms this led to fewer cases of mental health.  Therefore, it is important to educate people on psychological mechanisms because it leads to positive impacts on their mentally.

References

Xie, L., Luo, H., Li, M., Ge, W., Xing, B., & Miao, Q. (2020). The immediate psychological effects of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical and non-medical students in china. International Journal of Public Health, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1007/s00038-020-01475-3


24
Sep 20

The Perception of Failure

Within The Hopelessness Theory of Depression (HTD; Abraham, Metalsky, and Alloy, 1989) there are two important factors that may increase the chances of depression development in an individual. The first, is a vulnerable person. The second, is negative environmental circumstances (Gruman, Shneider, and Coutts, 2017, p. 109). 

What then, makes a person vulnerable? 

The way one interprets information is important. The individual negatively interprets situations in their life. This is deemed the “pessimistic explanatory style”, this negative interpretation style may be explained by the learned helplessness model of depression which basically states people give up after a while of attempting to better the situation if they perceive to repeatedly fail (Gruman, et al., 2017, p. 108).

The Hopelessness Theory of Depression can give us insight into the why, but also can guide us in the development of future interventions. If an individual can challenge and prove these thoughts wrong, it may empower them to make additional challenges to other thoughts they had held to be true but are in fact not.

Socially, learned helplessness could be discussed with regards to climate change, recycling, environmental issues and the like as well. People may believe that their actions to recycle or reduce energy consumption are futile which may lead to a reduction in the beneficial actions around the environment.

References:

Abramson, L. Y., Metalsky, G. I., & Alloy, L. B. (1989). Hopelessness depression: A theory-based subtype of depression. Psychological Review, 96(2), 358–372. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.96.2.358

Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE.

Mac Giollabhui, N., Hamilton, J. L., Nielsen, J., Connolly, S. L., Stange, J. P., Varga, S., Burdette, E., Olino, T. M., Abramson, L. Y., & Alloy, L. B. (2018). Negative cognitive style interacts with negative life events to predict first onset of a major depressive episode in adolescence via hopelessness. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 127(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000301


24
Sep 20

Escaping the Pandemic

Have you ever wanted to just escape everyday responsibilities and seek refuge in a fantasy world? Ever find yourself daydreaming fueled by nostalgic memories? Ever listen to a song, play a videogame, binge watch a show, go on a long vacation, appreciating the beauty of nature, or find yourself immersed in a movie and question where did the time go? Sometimes you can feel overloaded by reality. Everyone feels the need to occasionally escape reality. We all utilize various escape strategies to help cope with the harsh realities life has to offer. Sometimes this can happen out of sheer boredom or when coping with stress. Emotional letdowns are inseparable from human existence. There is no question life is stressful, making coping strategies essential when getting through the day to day. The world has become more and more fast-paced leaving less time for leisure activities. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic many people finding themselves out of work. As a result, more and more Americans are finding themselves engaging in activities to escape from the stress of seeking employment. Others find themselves with much more leisure time, leading to more methods of escape. Unfortunately, the reality of living during COVID-19 gave all a taste of what it is like to be home more often.  The question is, are all escape methods bad for the human psyche, or can they be beneficial?

Escapism, as defined by the American Psychological Association, “the tendency to escape from the real world to the delight or security of a fantasy world”. The word “Escapism” has a stigma associated with it, that it is unhealthy or causes someone to spend too much time unproductively. Some methods of escape are unquestionable unhealthy such as drugs and alcohol which involve a detachment from reality. Unhealthy coping strategies can lead to addictions and have detrimental psychological and physiological effects. Many activities when done in access can lead to addiction. That old saying, “too much of anything is bad”, rings a bell.

So, what about some healthier methods of escape? Hobbies that are often seen as healthy are reading, listening to music, and traveling. What about gaming (playing videogames)? It is an ongoing debate if gaming is more harmful than beneficial. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 160 million+ Americans play online videogames and researchers have found between 0.3 and 1.0 percent of those would qualify for an internet gaming disorder. An important distinction to point out is those who are passionately engaged in gaming and those who are playing as an unhealthy coping resource. Obviously, playing video games for 20+ hours a day is bad, but in moderation, it is a fun, social, and engaging leisure activity.

Videogames, gaming culture, merchandise, and Esports (electronic sports) has seen a surge of popularity, especially during the pandemic. As people find themselves at home more often due to COVID-19 they find themselves more engaged online. Gaming has become its own social network where millions of people login online and engage with one another. Most games have some form of online component these days. “It’s proven that social interaction, now readily available through online connectivity in video games, leads to better health outcomes”. (Miller H) Videogames have been tremendously helpful for those with disabilities that prevent them from carrying out daily functions. Ablegaming, a charity whose mission is to “improve the quality of life of those with disabilities through the power of gaming” has helped modify controllers, adapting to a range of different physical disabilities that prevent people from being able to use a controller. (ablegamers.org) Videogames are a way for those with disabilities to forget what they cannot do. Loneliness is an epidemic on itself and Ablegamers helps those stay connected who cannot. Everyone has the responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and escaping online is a method where you can stay connected, stay social, but not spread the virus.

 

I believe we all will benefit from turning off the news from time to time and engaging in some healthy forms of escapism.

 

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://dictionary.apa.org/escapism

(n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming

About AbleGamers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://ablegamers.org/about-ablegamers/

Miller, H. (2019, December 10). ‘It’s my escape.’ How video games help people cope with disabilities. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2019/10/14/its-my-escape-how-video-games-help-people-cope-with-disabilities/

 


24
Sep 20

COVID and Stress

At this point, I think all of us can agree that 2020 has been one of the most painfully stressful years in recent memory. This has been mainly due to COVID-19 and its after effects. Not just the virus—though that can certainly be devastating in many cases. No, the distress COVID is causing in our personal and social lives around the globe is almost as bad as the illness itself. In fact, some are calling this widespread distress “COVID Stress Syndrome.”

Five main types of distress related to COVID have been found: fear about catching COVID, stress over the potential financial and economic consequences related to the illness and shutdowns, xenophobia and fear that outsiders are purposefully spreading COVID, traumatic stress from being exposed to COVID (either directly or through nightmares, news articles, etc), and compulsive behaviors related to the sickness (washing hands, checking temperature, etc) (Taylor et al., 2020). Although it has been found that you don’t have to already have pre-existing mental health issues to be susceptible to COVID Stress Syndrome, you are likely to be more susceptible if you do. Although more studies have to be done, preliminary results suggest that those who were previously diagnosed with an anxiety disorder before 2020 tend to be more vulnerable and less able to cope with “CSS” than those with only mood disorders or no previously existing mental health issues (Asmundson et al., 2020).

As many know, PTSD already exists as its own diagnosis. It was first formally recognized as a disorder in 1980, after decades of near-constant war, violence, and disasters afflicted people across the world and psychologists strove to help them. However, while PTSD can certainly be a shared experience, it’s usually not a global experience, and the focus is mainly on the individual’s trauma. The shared global crisis of COVID has shown us that we still don’t understand mass trauma as well as we’d like to. Most people’s stress and fear are also about the future, rather than focused on the past as is typically the case with PTSD. Combined with the fact that COVID is an illness that affects the body (many survivors have permanent scarring in their lungs and hearts), we’re looking at a large and truly unprecedented new form of trauma (Horesh & Brown, 2020).

When we look back on this time in years to come, I don’t think it will be for the most pleasant of reasons. So many stressful events have happened this year in large part due to COVID that it’s already hard to keep track of all of them—and the year isn’t even over yet! However, I do hope that it’s a turning point in the field of psychology. If we’re able to take the shared experience of 2020, learn from it, and apply what we learn to benefit the mental and physical health of all of all of society, I believe we can better prepare ourselves for any future events that may be similar to the shared stress of COVID—like the impending effects of climate change. But that’s a topic for a different time.

 

References:

Asmundson, G. J., Paluszek, M. M., Landry, C. A., Rachor, G. S., McKay, D., & Taylor, S. (2020). Do pre-existing anxiety-related and mood disorders differentially impact COVID-19 stress responses and coping?. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 74, 102271.

Horesh, D., & Brown, A. D. (2020). Traumatic stress in the age of COVID-19: A call to close critical gaps and adapt to new realities. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(4), 331.

Taylor, S., Landry, C. A., Paluszek, M. M., Fergus, T. A., McKay, D., & Asmundson, G. J. (2020). COVID stress syndrome: Concept, structure, and correlates. Depression and anxiety, 37(8), 706-714.


23
Sep 20

Ending the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health – An NFL Story

If you’re like me, then Sunday afternoons in the fall hold a special place in your heart. For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about, the NFL is back in full swing after what I think we can all agree was an otherwise forgettable year. Week 2 of the regular season saw some incredible plays, improbable comebacks, and one very moving display on the topic of mental health.

Those that watched last week’s Atlanta Falcons-Dallas Cowboys matchup might remember a touching moment that came shortly after the game ended. During the post-game celebration, Falcons tight-end, Hayden Hurst, ran over to Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott, to congratulate and thank the latter’s recent discussion and stance on the subject of mental health and seeking help. Earlier this month, Prescott held a presser in which he opened up about the death of his brother and his own personal bouts with depression. He revealed that his brother Jace, who died of suicide in March of this year, had been struggling with depression ever since their mother passed away from cancer in 2013, and it was something Prescott says they never talked about. He ended his discussion by encouraging everyone to open up to their loved ones about mental health.

Prescott isn’t the only NFL player to use their platform to promote change. Earlier this year, Hurst admitted he had his own struggles with anxiety and depression, which led to a suicide attempt in 2016. When the two found each other after the game, Hurst, clearly touched by Prescott’s message, told him “I’ve got a lot of respect for what you did, came out and talked about (mental health). Me and my mom have a foundation about suicide prevention. Respect the hell out of you for talking about it.” This small but powerful moment really showed that some things are bigger than sports. If you are curious about the article I read and want to learn more, you can find that here.

During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and global quarantine and stay-at-home orders, there has never been a more crucial and important time to open up and be honest about your mental health. In an article from The New England Journal of Medicine, it was found that the effects of public health emergencies, like COVID-19, “may translate into a range of emotional reactions (such as distress or psychiatric conditions), unhealthy behaviors (such as excessive substance use), and noncompliance with public health directives (such as home confinement and vaccination)” (Pfefferbaum, 2020). As the health care sector becomes increasingly more vigilant in determining the biological factors impacting the current pandemic, it is equally important to consider the social and psychological factors affecting each of us as well. The author argues that “most Covid-19 cases will be identified and treated in health care settings by workers with little to no mental health training, it is imperative that assessment and intervention for psychosocial concerns be administered in those settings” (Pfefferbaum, 2020). In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, we need not lose sight of the importance and influence of mental health in our lives.

I applaud both Prescott and Hurst for the strides they took opening up on the topic of mental health and using their platform to deliver such an important message. Even the most casual of football fans can appreciate their bravery and passion for change. All it takes is one honest, judgement free conversation with someone you love to create long lasting change. Next time you turn on the game, I hope you remember this story and take a minute to think about mental health and have a discussion with the person sitting next to you. Just like Prescott and Hurst, I too encourage those struggling with mental health problems to seek help and advocate for ending the stigma around the subject.

References:

Pfefferbaum, B. (2020, September 8). Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic: NEJM. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2008017.


21
Sep 20

Social Media and Mental Health

Just the other day my boyfriend was watching the new social media documentary on Netflix. To be honest, I am not even sure what it is titled, but for your sake, I’ll do the google search. It’s called “The Social Dilemma” and if you’re curious (or maybe you will be after reading this) here’s the trailer on for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0. I missed most of the documentary as I was completing the reading for this very class while he was watching it. However, I did walk in on an interesting part during my study break. One of the designers or creators or whoever’s of Facebook was explaining how “Likes” were supposed to be something to spread positivity and make people feel good and involved, but as social media has developed (Facebook included) the “Like” button has in turn done quite the opposite for many.

Social media was created with all of the right intentions. Between the various platforms MySpace, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, you name it, social media was designed for communication, connecting over long distances, sharing about your life, or your friends or your family. In recent years it has become similar to an online, competitive, sport. Who can get the most likes? Who has the most followers? Or friends? Who has the most extravagant lifestyle or the most money? With all of the personal information, specific location, addresses, age, private info, etc., being shared on the internet there are risks that accompany such vulnerability, but this is not about that. This is about what social media does to the minds of kids, young adults, and even “old” adults. We all fall victim to it because chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you have a phone in your hands you withing feet from you, full of social media and ways to stay in contact.

Since social media is still rather new, at least in the manner and frequency it is currently being used, there are no long term studies to demonstrate the effects it has on our well-being. However, recent studies have shown that extensive use of social media correlates to signs and symptoms of depression. The symptoms most commonly manifest in children and young adults, rearing its ugly head as low self-esteem (Pantic, 2014). Does this truly come to anyone as a surprise? How many kids do you know (or remember from high school) that suffered from self-esteem? If you’ve been out of school awhile, reflect on how bad bullying was, and consider how much easier it would’ve been for the bullies with a phone, screen, and keyboard to hide behind.

As time marches forward more and more people, of all ages, find themselves spending increasing amounts of time behind a screen. Especially given the current circumstances of COVID-19. Research has indicated that as time online increases, communication with family members and friends decreases (Pantic, 2014). This too easily can lead to stronger feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and loneliness. Further research has also found evidence to support the theory that computer use negatively impacts children’s social development (Pantic, 2014). This isn’t to say all computer use is bad. Imagine schooling during this pandemic without electronics for communication and lesson distribution. However, I think we should be more mindful of the time we spend on social media, and our kids, or future kids.

Aside from the natural urge to compare ourselves to our friends, people we know, or people we don’t, there are other reasons social media impacts us so heavily. Social media is wonderful for staying in touch and communicating, but it is also perfect for miscommunication. This miscommunication can result in incorrect conclusions, misinterpretations, and wrong impressions. No wonder it’s so easy to feel lousy after scrolling for too long or partaking in an online “debate” (argument).

I’m sure there are many other factors that play a role in the depressive symptoms associated with social media, but this is a blog post, not a research paper. I’ll leave you with this: when you hop on social media, are you looking to give something to it, or take something from it?

 

 

 

References:

Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(10), 652-657. Retrieved from 10.1089/cyber.2014.0070

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Journals Search Alerts

17
Sep 20

The Impact of Climate Changes on Mental Health

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Global warming has been a present issue nationwide for years.(Cianconi, Betrò, & Janiri, 2020). Global warming is likely to cause widespread emergencies in the future. These events lead to extreme heat, change in water, coastal storms and extreme droughts. However, global warming presents a bigger threat to humans. Climate change has an impact on a large part of the population, in different geographical that presents threats to public health. The effects of climate change can affect some mental disorders.

There are common effects of climate change that affect those that are more vulnerable. Researches have studied the associated between psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, mood disorder and depression, suicide, aggressive behaviors in compared to climate change and extreme weather (Cianconi, Betrò, & Janiri, 2020).  Acute events act as a mechanism similar to that of traumatic stress leading too psychopathological patterns. This consequences into extreme exposure of stress and anxiety when there are prolonged weather-related changes. There are cases of mental health that outcomes of climate change range from minimal stress too distress symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression, post-traumatic stress and suicidal thoughts(Cianconi, Betrò, & Janiri, 2020). Therefore, it can be concluded that climate changes affects certain individual that have a  mental health condition.

We may ask ourselves, who is responsible for these climate changes? Ultimately, we are the ones responsible for the changes that occur. Human activities have altered the atmospheric composition, that produces a greenhouse effect which leads to global warming(Cianconi, Betrò, & Janiri, 2020). Let’s think about how much pollution is produced in the environment for production for our daily needs. Although our activities may simplify our daily life, we are destroying the environment with these harsh toxics. In addition, we are harming ourselves in the long run. We are the ones living in this environment. We breathe the same air that we are polluting. Our ecosystem will face plant and animal extinction if we continue to harsh our environment.

Let’s face it, our human activities are harming our environment. Not only is it harming, the environment but it brings harms to our health, plants and animals. Research has proved that climate changes impacts those who are vulnerable and have a present mental health condition. Climate changes leads to anxiety, depression, stress and sleep disturbances in humans. There is an interconnect between physical health, mental health and over all well-being associated to extreme climate changes. Let’s think about the last time you were extremely hot. You probably got irritated, until you were able to cool off. Now image, someone with a present mental health disorder that cannot associate both factors together. These individuals are more vulnerable and experience higher levels of stress when a change occurs in their environment. However, we should look at the bigger picture, our plants and animals are also suffering from these climate changes. Human must make changes in order to better our environment.

Reference:

Cianconi, P., Betrò, S., & Janiri, L. (2020, March 01). Directory of Open Access Journals. Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://doaj.org/article/1e95243cd72f43bcbf7a714bdb53671f

 


17
Sep 20

Coffee and Social Design

I’ll never forget the day that my journalism professor humiliated me in front of the class. I was 19 years old, worry free, and attending my local community college. My friend Julia had bought me a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee that morning, so my body had a particular buzz to it. I felt so privileged sitting there sipping on my coffee waiting for class to start; it felt like a step into adulthood. Leaning against the cinder block walls of the classroom, I wondered if it was the intention of the designer to make us feel like we were in a prison. It was an adult prison though, with coffee, so I couldn’t complain much. My teacher began talking about the complexities of words and how important clarity with “no fluff” was in journalism. She said she had selected quotes from our last paper that contained useless information, aka, fluff. She mentioned that the writers of the quotes would remain anonymous. I remember thinking that there was no way anything from my paper would be up there, I was a genius writer after all. I’m pretty sure that was just the coffee talking.

“I read this and realized I needed a glass of wine. I drank the wine, I read it again, and it still made absolutely no sense to me,” my professor chuckled. “This is the exact kind of thing you don’t want to do.” Her judgement was palpable.

There on the projector was a quote from my paper. I can’t remember what it said, but I know it was poetic and flowery and apparently it was fluffy too. My face turned beat red and I remember feeling like I had absolutely no talent. My next break could not come soon enough.

After class I burst into the cold fall air scanning the crowd of smokers for my friend Julia. All of the buildings in the college were old and they had a way of making you feel like you were in a basement. The courtyard was no different. The cold benches of the outdoor lounge were blocked in by all of the brick buildings. The concrete seemed to swallow the sun. I remember sitting there and shivering in the sea of gray, day after day, staring into the small rectangular prison-like windows.

Delaware County Community College (DCCC) is not the campus it once was. I was there a few years ago to pick up transcripts and I was shocked by the changes of the campus. The newest building on the main campus is called the STEM center. It is a building that was so obviously built by social design. Social design is when a building, or school in this case, is created with the people who will use it in mind (Gruman, Schneider & Coutts, 2017). Social design has six main goals: matching the needs of the user, satisfying the user, changing the behavior of the user, enhancing the user’s personal control, facilitating social support for the user, and employing easy use and navigation for all users (Gruman et. al., 2017). Essentially, social designers take into account a building’s use first, rather than its architectural beauty (Gruman et. al., 2017).

The STEM center was built in 2010, with the goal to provide an engaging learning environment that encourages interactions between students and teachers (Delaware County Community College [DCCC], 2020). There are amenities including: fitness centers, lecture halls, learning pods and a first floor café, with coffee might I add, in order to satisfy its occupants (DCCC, 2020). The building’s design of smaller classrooms and over sized lounges call for a change in independent behavior by increasing collaboration among teachers and students. The STEM center also takes the environment into account, with its use of energy efficient systems and recycled materials (DCCC, 2020).  This allows the college’s students to have a sense of respect and control over their physical environment as a part of the social design. The buildings large interior signs and multiple access points (including stairwells and elevators at every corner), allow for easy navigation. Basically, the STEM center is a stimulating and comfortable glass prism of social education. I wish it had been there when I was a student.

Now, I’m not saying that this gorgeous building based on social design would have eased the blow of my very first reality check in college, but, a little comfort never hurt anyone.

 

References

Delaware County Community College. (2020) Our Facilities and Technology. Retrieved from https://www.dccc.edu/academics/academic-divisions/stem/stem-complex#:~:text=The%20new%20STEM%20Center%20opened,pursuit%20of%20science%20and%20enlightenment.

Gruman, J.A.,Schneider, F.W., & Coutts, L.A. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.


17
Sep 20

Art and Vandalism: Are They So Different?

The question of what constitutes art versus vandalism is still a popular topic of debate today. While talking about environments that serve as a defensible space, Gruman, 2017 makes an interesting assertion about the nature of public, visual art and how it is very different from vandalism. For public, visual art, he gives an example of “painting a mural that reflects a social concern” (Gruman, 2017). For vandalism, he creates the picture of people who “scrawl their own names on a subway hall.” While I do not argue with these examples, they are based on a very narrow idea that insinuates little overlap between the two concepts. In his view, “The artist’s goal is to beautify an ugly environment” (Gruman, 2017), and “vandals are destructive and egocentric…” (Gruman, 2017). These statements are flawed because they are based on the belief that art and vandalism are inherently antithetical concepts that never share similar aesthetics or motivations. He also assumes that art has an inherently positive impact, while vandalism has an inherently negative one. 

Rather than attempting to define the subjective concept of what makes something beautiful, it is easier to asset that objective beauty does not exist. Like most other concepts, something that is thought to be beautiful is commonly thought to be so because that label reflects the majority of opinions. Simply, art in general is not always beautiful to most people. Goya’s black paintings, especially “Saturn” (often known as “Saturn Devouring His Son”), were never intended to be viewed as beautiful and have rarely been defined as pleasant to look upon by the general public (Goya, 1820-1823). However, few in the art critics would disagree with the notion that they are important and influential works of art. Even though it is not considered beautiful, it may still be valued and have a positive impact on its environment. Even in instances where the artist was attempting to create beauty, they may not prevail in the majority or even a single viewer’s opinion. Likewise, vandalism is not always aesthetically displeasing, and can even be what most people consider to be beautiful. Some can be humorous, inspire social change or even both (The Meta Picture, 2020). This can have a positive impact on the environment.       

Without asking the artist directly, it may be impossible to known with certainty what the motivation is behind a particular visual piece. Art may not always be a self-less, anonymous offering meant to bring attention to a “social concern” (Gruman, 2017). Many benign murals of landscapes offer no message and proudly display the initials or full names or the artists somewhere in the picture. Likewise, many vandals are completely anonymous and socially conscious. It is important to remember that what many people would consider vandalism is not always created for egocentric reasons and can be intended to evoke awareness about specific social issues. When these messages are in conflict with the prevailing view of the public, anonymity may be necessary to protect the vandal from lawful or unlawful repercussions. For example, Black Lives Matter is a large social justice organization that seeks to conduct peaceful protests of police brutality. However, there are supporters of the group that will use various media to paint the name of the group on public or private buildings. Supporters  have been the victims of harassment just for displaying the words “Black Lives Matter” on their own personal property (Ciechalski, 2020). So, it is logical as to why someone might want to remain anonymous while publicly displaying the phrase, even if it is meant to evoke thought about the social issue of police brutality. I would argue that if vandalism contributes to social reform, it improves the environment.    

Attempting to define art and vandalism as mutually exclusive concepts is folly. Because the experience of beauty is so subjective, it may well be impossible to separate the two ideas in a way where one is beautiful and the other is not. Different people may view the same visual in a multitude of ways that are all influenced by their own experiences, feelings, opinions, motivations, etc. This can have an impact on how they interpret a visual image or message. A viewer may also decide this regardless of the author’s intent. Therefore, whether an image is art of vandalism is different for different people based upon how they receive the message. Whether a visual has a positive or negative impact on the environment is also subjective and influenced by many personal and societal factors.  

Ciechalski, Suzanne, Li, David K., and Abdelkader, Rima. (2020, June 16). Couple Apologizes After Confronting Man Over ‘Black Lives Matter’ Chalk in Front of His Own Home. Retrieved from:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/couple-apologizes-after-confronting-man-over-black-lives-matter-chalk-n1231063

Goya, F. (1820-1823). Saturn. [Mixed method]. Museo Del Prado, Madrid, Spain. museodelprado.es. n.d. Retrieved from: 

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/saturn/18110a75-b0e7-430c-bc73-2a4d55893bd6.

Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., and Coutts, L. M. (Eds.) (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (3rd ed.), 108-113. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

The Meta Picture. Middle-Class Vandalism. Pinterest. Retrieved September 17, 2020. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/52987733093297116/


17
Sep 20

Cleaner environment

Have you ever seen an animal eat the trash on the sidewalk? Some people might think littering is no big deal, but because of human carelessness and laziness littering is damaging the environment we all share. As a result, people are commonly seen actively throwing cigarette butts, food wrappers, cans, etc.… in public areas.  This waste is a breeding ground for bacteria. A heavily polluted environment encourages the spread of diseases having a direct impact on public health. The simple act of tossing a piece of trash on the ground such as a cigarette or other toxic material eventually gets washed away into the storm drains and contaminates our waterways. This pollutes our groundwater and especially affects those who depend on wells for clean drinking water.

Sometimes trash is commonly mistaken for food by both sea and land animals, resulting in these animals becoming sick, and eventually killing them. According to national geographic, “There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea”. Pollution in the oceans has a direct negative impact on ecosystems.

Many actions can be taken to change awareness of this shared problem. Each member of society has a responsibility to keep the environment clean. I believe most people are aware that littering is wrong, but I think most do not take it seriously. It is true however, if only a few people litter it does not affect the environment drastically, it is when it happens on a large scale. A common assumption is that people think it is someone else’s job to clean up the mess. But this puts stress on cleanup efforts and an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers as many of these programs are taxpayer funded. 11.5 billion dollars is spent on cleaning up litter in the U.S. (Kab.org) Education and awareness are a vital step to take to help remedy the problem.

To change behavior in people, a conversation needs to take place either by someone in the community or taught through education. Promoting education of littering in schools can help address the attitudes and behaviors associated with littering that created the problem in the first place. A small behavioral change such as not overfilling the garbage bin, as trash can easily be blown away by the wind, is a small but effective change if practiced on a large scale. If everyone tried their best to dispose of trash properly this would have a positive impact on the environment and reduce pollution. Many community waste disposal programs do exist and are immensely helpful for the problem. Participating or even witnessing a community cleanup can change the way people view littering. These community efforts help people serve as role models for the community which in turn changes public attitude. Unfortunately, for those who will not listen, stricter fines can be placed upon individuals caught littering. In the state of Pennsylvania, a person who is caught littering will be fined between 100 to 300 dollars if the offense did not injure someone or damage property, and between 300 and 1000 if it did. ( PA Crimes Code, Title 18, Chapter 65, § 6501) Offering a reward for litter clean up can help motivate people to make it feel worthwhile. We all share this planet together and it pains me to see unnecessary damage to it. It can be a simple reward, such as a gift card or coupon. I believe littering can be reduced with both proper awareness and community effort.

Staff, N. (2017, November 29). Ocean Trash: 5.25 Trillion Pieces and Counting, but Big Questions Remain. Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/1/150109-oceans-plastic-sea-trash-science-marine-debris/

Pennsylvania Littering and Illegal Dumping Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://illegaldumpfreepa.org/pennsylvania-littering-and-illegal-dumping-laws/

Keep America Beautiful. (2020, August 25). Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://kab.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LitterinAmerica_FactSheet_CostsofLittering.pdf

 

 


16
Sep 20

Pro-Environment Behaviors

There are so many daily activities and actions that people do that affect our environment. Let’s face it, not many people think about how their actions are really affecting the environment. Taking a longer shower, driving a car, watching tv with all the lights on, letting the water run, these are just a few simple examples. Out of all the examples I just listed I’m sure that people reading this are thinking wow I do at least 2 of those daily. When I was younger I didn’t even think about half of those things I was doing that actually were slowly affecting the environment. I used to leave so many things plugged in, so many lights on, left the tv on, left the water running while brushing my teeth and I didn’t even think about it at all. I believe that the first step in changing these behaviors starts with education.

Growing up I was never taught about all these different things slowly affecting the environment. It was until my junior year in high school that we lightly touched on this topic. In order to avoid these behaviors it will start with teaching people how these behaviors are gradually affecting our environment and what can happen in the future if nothing changes. Teaching kids about this at a younger age such as middle school might even help avoid some of these behaviors to begin with. “The value of educational campaigns lies in their priming ability; that is, they get people ready to make a change rather than actually get them to change. (Gruman, 362). It starts with educating people but actually getting them to make the changes is the tough part. People are most likely willing to make changes if they know that it will improve their everyday life. Saving money is a good incentive to get people to make the changes. I know I was very ignorant to the fact that these little behaviors and actions were affecting the environment. I also thought to myself this little action isn’t going to change much but as I’m growing up I’m realizing that I was wrong.

There are so many different ways we can start to improve on these behaviors. There can be incentives, reward programs, monthly newsletters, advertisements. A big start to all of this can be advertisements. I don’t see a lot of commercials, ads, or billboards about pro environmental behaviors. These ads can list ways to help the environment and encourage others. Another way to improve is companies sending our monthly newsletters through email or mail about how their customers are participating in pro environment behaviors. There can be reward programs with water companies, electric companies, gas companies, fuel companies, and trash/recycle companies. The reward programs can inform customers on how they are doing towards their goals and build rewards to save money in the future. A huge impactful environmental behavior that I wanted to touch on is transportation. In March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic started which affected many businesses. A lot of companies are letting their employees work from home which is affecting transportation for the good! I believe that a huge step in helping our environment can start with these big companies. A lot of companies are realizing that their employees are doing very well working at home. If people can work from home I think this is the perfect opportunity for companies to start permanent work from home positions. Working from home saves a lot of people transportation which saves gas which helps the environment. This solution also benefits a lot of people because they probably prefer to work from home.

There are so many different things that people can do to help the environment but it starts with informing them and getting them to make the changes.

Gruman, Jamie A., et al. Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. 3rd ed., SAGE, 2017.

 


16
Sep 20

Tragedy of the Commons, or is it?

The majority of you who are reading this have heard the term “tragedy of the commons” before. It might’ve been in your gen-ed economics class (that’s where I first heard it), this psychology course, or maybe you’ve always been woke. Regardless of how you became familiar with the topic, the tragedy of the commons situation is real and here to stay. Garret Hardin explained this is what occurs when “each person is locked into a system that compels him to increase his harvesting without limit. Ruin is the destination toward which we all rush, each pursuing his own best interest” (Hardin 1989, p. 1244). Basically what Hardin is saying here is, we are all in the same pattern of taking as much as we want for our own gain, ultimately it will end in a self-created disaster.

So what makes this a dilemma? Well, people have two options. They can either A: get ahead and live the way they want to at the expense of the commons (resources) or B: restrain themselves and use the commons in a slower and more selfless manner (Gifford 2016, 450). This is where the psychology aspect comes in, obviously it is more pleasurable to do what we want, how we want when we want, but to what gain if it ends in our own demise? Another facet of psych in this scenario are the individuals who say are very eco-friendly and take exceptional care of mother earth, yet act quite differently. Such behavior results in cognitive dissonance. From their dissonance they are cornered into making a change, will they change their walk or their talk?

Over time our excessive use of the commons has resulted in a downward spiral of our quality of life and the quality of the earth. This is better known as, climate change. About a year ago an article was published in Psychology Today by Ronald E. Riggio, Ph. D., asking the million-dollar question, “If we are facing a crisis, why aren’t more people concerned?” Dr. Riggio explains that several things play into our lack of action-taking, but ultimately it boils down to psychological processes. In laymen’s terms, people are resistant to change, climate change is a big change that will take even bigger change to slow, stop, and/or reverse the damage that has been done.

Now we know psychological processes are why we aren’t doing anything, but what processes are key here? I’m glad you asked. Dr. Riggio elaborated on four factors. The first of these is denial, many people deny climate change, believe it is a conspiracy etc. Therefore, these individuals see no reason to take action. The second reason is rationalization. People decide that since there are so many mixed opinions or since their government isn’t doing much, then they don’t have to either. The third process is a classic example of the diffusion of responsibility. Mentally these individuals are thinking along the lines of, “there are enough other people aware, that they will be taking action, so I don’t have to.” Lastly, egocentrism. Many people are too stubborn or unwilling to sacrifice their own comforts for the well-being of the whole.

To me, it comes as no surprise that our quality of life is declining. Many want the opposite to happen but are not willing to be consistent in the actions required to do so. This is not to say [those] people are bad, they are just as human as the rest of us. Personally, I am guilty of the same. Hopefully increasing the awareness of the situation, as well as our reasons for the lack of change, can allow us to be more intentional in combatting our own habits in order to combat the change of the climate.

 

References

Gifford, R. (2016). Applied Social Psychology : Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Retrieved from: ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/pensu/detail.action?docID=5945490.

Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162, 1243– 1248.
Applied Social Psychology : Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Retrieved from: ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/pensu/detail.action?docID=5945490.

Riggio, R. (2019). Why aren’t we doing something about global warming? Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201908/why-aren-t-we-doing-something-about-global-warming


14
Sep 20

Resource Dilemmas and Personal Choice

According to Spock, from the Star Trek T.V. series and movies, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”. While this is a beautiful sentiment, we should consider what is behind it. In Chapter 12 of The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy: The Search for Socrates, edited by Decker and Eberl, discuss the idea in more depth. The needs of the many are what we need to consider when we are thinking of the greater good and the allocation of resources among people. Many people do consider it, but our respective personalities and experiences can change how we view things and what choices we make. According to Chapter 12, the utilitarianistic thinking of the aforementioned quote is the basis of what tells us whether man’s actions are morally right or wrong when considered from a perspective of balance between benefits and harm. (Decker and Eberl, 2016). How a person chooses to cooperate, share resources, supports his or her community, and more, are all swayed by his personality, his environment, experiences, and other situational influences. We all like to think we will choose what is for the greater good, but no one knows how they will react until they are faced with a situation of hard choices, like those involved in resource dilemmas.

In the current climate with the effects of COVID-19 on travel, shipping, employment, groceries, education, agriculture, and more we are seeing more and more examples of people facing resource dilemmas. From toilet paper shortages to grocery store shelves standing bear people must make the hard choices. These are common-pool resource dilemmas as well as social dilemmas, affecting whether or not there is enough of a resource to provide the community’s needs and also affecting how people take care of turn their back on the needs of others. In these cases, we see people reaching for the extra pack of toilet paper or an extra bottle of hand sanitizer which often leads to supplies running out and other people having to do without. According to the study by Kortenkamp and Moore, this is because “Individuals who choose to overconsume may do so to maximize personal gain as opposed to social welfare or because they prefer the immediate gain (and delayed loss) as opposed to the delayed gain (and immediate loss).” (2006, p. 603). Maximum personal gain does not focus on the greater good or the needs of the many instead it focuses solely on the wishes and needs of the one.

According to Koole, Jager, van den Berg, Vlek, and Hofstee, “The capacity for cooperation is probably present within every human being. Nonetheless, the strength of that capacity may vary across situations and persons” (2010, p. 289). A person’s personality, whether they are extraverted, agreeable, and narcissistic can influence what they choose. It also affects what they think is important, for instance, cooperation, the greater good, personal gain, or that ever ambiguous correct or moral choice. In addition, it depends on whether the person is fixated on the present conditions or the future needs and desires. “The extent to which a person cares about future outcomes, in general, is another individual characteristic that could predict cooperation rates in resource dilemmas given the temporal conflict embedded within these dilemmas.” (Kortenkamp and Moore, 2006, p. 605).

The aspect that makes such situations so hard and yet so revealing, is that “to reap the rewards of individual cooperation, individual group members frequently have to make personal sacrifices.” (Koole, Jager, van den Berg, Vlek and Hofstee, 2010, p. 289). We must not only give but give up something in order to reap the benefits. According to the study, Koole and associates found that certain aspects of the personality impacted people’s ability and willingness to cooperate. “Extraversion was generally negatively related to cooperation” (Koole et al., 2010, p. 289), meaning that people with this type of personality were less likely to cooperate. On the other hand, the same study revealed that “Agreeableness was generally positively related to cooperation” and that further, that those with agreeableness as a personality trait “exercised more self-restraint when the common resource was severely threatened.” ((Koole et al., 2010, p. 289). It is not a surprise that those people who have an agreeable nature are more cooperative in general, but it may be a bit surprising to find that these people also show greater restraint in service of the common good in matters of resource consumption.

The present pandemic has been a good field in which to study resource usage, resource management, and the personal choices that create or contribute to resource dilemmas. In the study The Impact of Personal Metering in the Management of a Natural Resource Crisis: A Social Dilemma Analysis executed by Van Vugt and Samuelson, it was reported that “The conflict between self-interest and collective interest is perhaps most salient when society is threatened by an immediate resource crisis because this situation stresses the need for widespread conservation but, at the same time, motivates people to consume as much of the resource while they still can.” (1999, p. 736). Current events connected to the pandemic, like quarantine orders and rationing at grocery stores and the halting of migrant workers in the produce fields have created a plethora of shortages, from toilet paper to tomatoes. As a result, society is facing shortages of key resources. Some of these shortages are because workers are not producing or did not produce or deliver items during the shutdowns, but a good many of the shortages were caused by panic buying by the masses. These individuals were largely trying to make sure they had enough resources for their own homes and families. However, still others bought up large amounts of things only to turn around and sell them to needy people at exorbitant prices causing false inflation of the market.

In the study by Van Vugt and Samuelson, they studied the effect that metering usage of endangered resources would have on their consumption and what that could mean for helping to control shortages and ensure better handling of such crises. Consistent with expectations of the study the results showed that conservation efforts were greater among metered individuals vs. unmetered participants when they perceived a shortage was severe. (1999, p.735). Revealing that even more than personality, the knowledge that we are being monitored affects an individual’s behavior and choices.

People can and do cooperate for the greater good, but not everyone does. People have the potential to work together and make sacrifices for the greater good, but how much an individual does is a matter of personal choice influenced by the situation, the person’s history, and their personality. It is sad to think that even in the case of a situation like we have seen in 2020, with a pandemic, employment shutdowns, and unsteady food supplies, people still need to be monitored. People need to know that someone is watching out for them in order to live up to their best intentions and take care of their fellow man. Let us learn to put down the toilet paper and pick up our humanity without big brother watching over our shoulder.

References

Decker, T. and Eberl, J. (2016). The Ultimate Star Trek and Philosophy: The Search for Socrates. John Wiley & Sons.

Koole, S. L., Jager, W., van den Berg, A. E., Vlek, C. A., & Hofstee, W. K. (2001). On the social nature of personality: Effects of extraversion, agreeableness, and feedback about collective resource use on cooperation in a resource dilemma. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(3), 289-301.

Kortenkamp, K. V., & Moore, C. F. (2006). Time, uncertainty, and individual differences in decisions to cooperate in resource dilemmas. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(5), 603-615.

Van Vugt, M., & Samuelson, C. D. (1999). The impact of personal metering in the management of a natural resource crisis: A social dilemma analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25(6), 735-750.


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