PSYCH 424 blog

I don’t think I would know how to function if my life were completely stress-free.

These days, stressed seems to be my default setting. Between work, school, family obligations, and trying to eke out a few minutes for sleep every night, I find myself being pulled in what feels like no less than 25 different directions at once. But somehow, I manage to keep all the balls in the air and not drop any (for the most part). I know I need to get the amount of stress in my life under control; the most important tasks always seem to be the hardest to accomplish. It seems like there’s just not enough hours in the day to get everything that I need to do, done.

For someone like me, that’s really not good. Even worse, there’s evidence to prove it that extends well beyond the plethora of grey hairs I’ve accumulated.

A study by Barnes et.al (1997) shows that there is a link between stress and hypertension, especially among African-Americans. The researchers suggest that that Westernized and urbanized cultures expose African Americans to environmental and psychosocial stress factors that may not impact people of other cultures as readily, and cite social disorganization, lack of resources and social support, rural/urban migration, socioeconomic status, exposure to racism, and crowded and substandard living environments as being risk factors for self-defeating behaviors and ill health (Barnes et.al, 1997).

They go on to discuss the specific psychological and behavioral factors in African Americans that may also contribute to elevated stress levels and blood pressure. They cite the phenomenon known as “John Henryism”, defined as “an active coping style of hard work and determination to succeed against all odds” (Barnes et.al, 1997) as being a psychosocial factor correlated with hypertension in African Americans, and further suggest that a positive relationship between suppressed hostility and blood pressure for African-American males up to age 60 (Barnes et.al, 1997).

Good grief! Just when I think all my hard work is paying off, I find out that it’s literally killing me!

So, what do I do?

I can’t add more hours to my day, I can’t blow off work or school or my family, and I’ve got to sleep some time. I suppose the only thing I can do is what I’ve been doing: I meditate and pray every morning and night, I’ve learned the power of saying “no” when someone asks me to do something or be somewhere and I just don’t have the time, and most importantly, I’ve learned that I don’t always have to break my metaphorical neck to be the best at everything. By no means am I accepting failure, but do I really have to get an A on every test and paper? No. The world will not end if I don’t earn a perfect score, and drive myself mad trying to earn one.

There’s good stress and there’s bad stress; without any sort of stress, there would be no motivation to get things done. The smart person learns how to respond to the good and manage the bad in order to create some semblance of a harmonious life. If you don’t, you’ll end up so flustered and overextended that nothing gets accomplished and all those precariously juggled balls will come crashing to the ground. It’s OK to take a break sometimes. It’s OK to walk away from a project and pick it up later. Take time for YOU every once in a while; the world and its expectations will still be there when you come back, and you’ll (hopefully!) be refreshed and recharged enough to handle them once you do.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a nap.

Reference:
Barnes, V., Schneider, R., Alexander, C., & Staggers, F. (1997, July). Stress, stress reduction, and hypertension in African Americans: An updated review. Journal of the National Medical Association. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2568086/

Given the numerous challenges faced in relationships overall, it’s a wonder that any relationships last very long, regardless of the sex or gender of the participants. But, what about those who enter into same-sex relationships? Do these relationships, which face their own unique set of challenges and obstacles, last longer or shorter than heterosexual relationships? What unique factors may account for their increased or decreased longevity?

A study conducted by Manning, Brown, and Stykes (2016) sought to answer these questions. Specifically, they attempted to determine whether same-sex relationships last longer than heterosexual relationships, given the influence of such factors as incomplete institutionalization, the stress of being in a “minority relationship,” the amount of investment each partner made in said relationship, and other mitigating factors that might have an impact on the longevity of these relationships. They did this by analyzing data collected in the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation, or SIPP, which provides a plethora of information about relationship demographics on a nationwide, longitudinal scale (Manning et.al, 2016).

Surprisingly, the data show that there is very little difference in relationship longevity between homo- and heterosexual couples. Of the 126 same-sex couples and 2,157 heterosexual couples identified in the Manning study, it was determined that 27% of the same-sex couples and 28% of the heterosexual couples ended their relationships within five years of their genesis, and that relationships that ended within three years of their genesis did so at a rate of 22% for same-sex couples and 20% for heterosexual couples (Manning et.al, 2016).

These data suggest that both same-sex and heterosexual relationships tend to remain stable for approximately the same amount of time; while heterosexual couples tend to dissolve their relationships at a higher rate after a longer period of time, same-sex relationships tend to end at a higher rate after a shorter period of time. Overall, the difference in the rate of dissolution is fairly negligible, as the data show that both types of relationships (when considering the big picture) tend to remain fairly stable at the three and five year benchmarks.

Another study conducted by Joyner, Manning, and Bogle (2017) proposes several theories about why same-sex relationships and heterosexual relationships tend to endure at similar rates. Chief among them is the fact that same-sex couples now have the option of marriage, which helps to strengthen the bond between the two parties, and offer a level of permanence that is much more concrete than dating or cohabitation previously allowed (Joyner et.al, 2017). The researchers also suggest that whatever gaps that are present in longevity rates between the two types of couples are a result of the challenges that arise from being in a same-sex, stigmatized relationship, but that these gaps are decreasing over time (Joyner et.al, 2017). This theory is supported by the data in the Manning study: a one-point difference after five years and a two-point difference after three years suggests that the rate of separation between same-sex and heterosexual relationships is relatively similar.

The United States of America (and the world at large) has come a long way in acceptance of same-sex relationships, leading more and more same-sex couples out of the shadows and allowing them to enjoy the same level of outward expression as their heterosexual counterparts. While it is clear that more research is needed to determine longevity rates after the five-year benchmark, the existing data are quite promising for same-sex couples, indicating that these relationships are just as stable as those enjoyed by heterosexuals. While the phrase “till death do us part” may not always apply to either type of couple, it does seem to apply to both types at a very similar rate of longevity.

References:
Joyner, K., Manning, W., & Bogle, R. (2017). Gender and the stability of same-sex and different-sex relationships among young adults. Demography, 54(6), 2351-2374.            doi:10.1007/s13524-017-0633-8

Manning, W. D., Brown, S. L., & Stykes, J. B. (2016). Same-sex and different-sex cohabiting couple relationship stability. Demography, 53(4), 937-953. doi:10.1007/s13524-016-0490-x

Twitch is an online streaming platform that is popular with gamers (video game enthusiasts), but in recent years, especially as a result of the 2020 pandemic, has attracted DJs and “variety streamers”; those who host self-help platforms, cooking shows, or a combination of activities.

However, this online community has been struggling with discrimination issues almost since its inception. Women who access the platform, along with Blacks and members of the LGBTQ+ communities have found themselves targeted in so-called “hate raids”, a phenomenon in which a streamer’s broadcast is interrupted by a sudden influx of bots posing as followers who them spam the same message in their chat box — usually something racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise toxic (Limbong, 2021). It isn’t necessarily bots, though; there have been times when the hateful messages have come from clusters of individuals who band together to disrupt a stream.

Amazon, the company which owns Twitch, is aware of these occurrences, and has advised its users about measures they can take to help stave off these attacks (Limbong, 2021). They seem to be far less frequent an occurrence than they once were, but the fact that they still happen at all is a cause of concern for both streamers and viewers alike. One African-American streamer who had been the target of one of these “hate raids” took it upon himself to create a YouTube video guide that shows other streamers how to deal with them in the moment and directs them to a third-party tool to remove the bot followers from your account (Limbong, 2021). Streamers themselves are demanding Twitch take a more proactive stance and not let the burden fall to the streamers, and they are also requesting more open communication with the company, which is especially important since these attacks disproportionately impact smaller creators and creators of color (Limbong, 2021).

I am an occasional Twitch user; one of my best friends is a variety streamer, and I tune into her streams as often as I can. This same friend has served as a moderator (stream monitor) for several other streamers, and has personally experienced the phenomenon on a stream hosted by a female DJ. From what I gather, the stream was going as it normally would; the music was pumping, and people were chatting and socializing as usual. But about five minutes before the conclusion of the stream, the group was invaded by what they initially thought was a “raid”; an instance in which a streamer who has finished their broadcast joins another person’s stream and brings their audience with them.

It soon became evident that this was not the case. Almost immediately, the chat portion of the stream was bombarded with hundreds of messages. Most of them were centered around the fact that the streamer was female, and referred to her in extremely derogatory terms. At first, the DJ didn’t notice what was going on, as she was busy with her music. But my friend whose job it was to monitor the chat noticed immediately and tried frantically to get the DJ’s attention. She didn’t have the authority to terminate the stream herself, so she was trying desperately to contact the DJ via phone and advise her of what was going on. Unfortunately, the barrage of messages lasted for several minutes before the stream could be terminated

It’s unfortunate that, in a time when face-to-face contact with others can still be limited, these online communities are having to deal with these types of racist, sexist, and bigoted attacks. They not only weaken the very fabric of what online communities are supposed to provide – a space for like-minded individuals to congregate, share ideas, and build friendships, but tarnish the image of Twitch itself.

Reference:
Limbong, A. (2021, September 1). Twitch users are boycotting over attacks targeting black, queer and disabled people. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2021/09/01/1032873942/twitch-boycott-hate-raid-attacks#:~:text=A%20hate%20raid%20occurs%20when,main%20organizers%20of%20the%20boycott.

“Black sexual minority men reported the highest levels of racial/ethnic stigma in LGBT spaces, and White sexual minority men reported the lowest levels” (McConnell and Simons-Rudolph, n.d).

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. For a community that preaches about tolerance, diversity, acceptance, and inclusion, the LGBTQ+ community is, without question, one of the most internally segregated spaces I have ever encountered.

Yet, I’ve really got no choice but to identify with it.

You see, I am a Black, gay man, an interesting paradox in a world of paradoxes. I say that because my experience with discrimination is three-fold. I have experienced discrimination at the hands of certain white people for being Black, Black people for being gay, and gay people for being Black AND gay. Talk about a losing hand. But it’s the one I’ve been dealt, and for these 40+ years, I’ve tried to play these cards as adeptly as possible.

There was a time in my early 20s that I was bitter about it. It didn’t seem fair to me that I didn’t really “fit in” anyplace, especially among the two communities in which I ought to feel the most comfortable. A lot of my Black friends treated me differently when I came out to them; I guess they were expecting the stereotypical “dancing queen”, and when they didn’t get that, they didn’t know what to do with me. So many Black gay men tend to embrace the “Black queen” stereotype, complete with finger-snapping, head swiveling, and sassy commentary. But that wasn’t me, not on a day-to-day basis, anyway. I think, in retrospect, that the fact that they couldn’t readily label me as gay made me a threat somehow, like I was a “secret agent” of some sort.

It’s almost as if they thought I was “passing” for straight.

And the gay community? Well, there were people who wanted to sleep with me; one of them was so bold as to tell me he wanted to “see if the rumors were true”. I assume he was referring to my genitalia, not my charming personality. However, when it came time to enter into an honest to goodness relationship with someone who happened to be white, I was either rejected outright, or offered a hookup as an act of charity.

Don’t misunderstand; people are certainly entitled to their preferences. But when those preferences outright exclude people for characteristics they can’t or don’t control, that’s just plain bigotry and racism. So, for a long time, I felt relegated to the realm of “fetish”. It was cool for the white kids to hook up with a Black guy, but dating one was out of the question.

The 50s called; they applaud your mentality.

I think in its push to be seen as being just as good as white, heterosexual society, both the gays and the Blacks have found people like me to be the Black sheep (pardon the pun) of the community. We’re the cousin everyone is aware of, but no one dares to talk about.

That isn’t to say there’s no use for us, though. When the sistas want their hair done or need their mugs beat (makeup applied, for the uninitiated), who do they come to? When the church needs a choir director to add a little “flavor” to a boring service, who do they appoint as choir director? When the gays need a sassy comeback, a new catchphrase, or a dance move to spice up their drag routines, who do they steal it from?

Now, it simultaneously amuses and saddens me. We’re acceptable when you need us, but castigated to the shadows (or worse, Hell) when you don’t. It shows me that, even in the face of discrimination, some people will still seek to find someone to discriminate against. Maybe it makes them feel better about themselves. Or maybe it really is the result of the push to be “equal”; if that’s what they do, maybe we should do it, too. All I know is that whatever the cause, I’d like to think that younger generations will smarter than my peers were, and to a degree, still are.

They’d better – if they truly want to be equal.

Reference

McConnell, E. A., & Simons-Rudolph, A. (n.d.). People of color experience discrimination within LGBT spaces. Community Psychology: Social Justice Through Collaborative Research and Action. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.communitypsychology.com/people-of-color-experience-discrimination-within-lgbt-spaces/

Human Sexuality Focusing on Attraction Research 

Human sexuality is one of the main reasons we experience different feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. Sexuality is often associated with habits and preferences that conform to sexual behavior, and each person associates it differently. Researchers still fully understand human sexuality as it entails more than just sexual activity between two or more persons (Johns et al., 2012). However, for most people, sexual behavior is usually due to attraction from the individual they form a relationship.

Sexual attraction has been cited as the most effective approach to measuring an individual’s sexual orientation. There are different forms of attraction by humans resulting in their sexual identity. For instance, pansexual is termed as a gender-blind attraction experienced by all persons. On the other hand, Gynosexual refers to all individuals who have their attractions focused on females (Johns et al., 2012). In this case, gender is not specified and reflects fairly on both males and females.

There is a lot of controversy regarding how sexual orientation can differ between men and women. It is said men’s sexual orientations are linked to patterns of sexual arousal, while women have to have sexual stimulation/stimuli. (Bailey et al., 2016)  I did have a hard time believing this as I am curious about how this information was obtained. It is said that in most Western surveys only 5% or fewer identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I do feel this comes from how society still views non-heterosexual people as the majority.

While heterosexual, gay, and lesbianism are considered the main attractions exhibited by humans in the aspect of their sexuality, other attractions are indirectly associated with sexuality. When it comes to sexual orientation and sexual attraction there are so many factors that can influence the other. As well as everyone is different and things are fluid so just because research says one thing does not mean it applies to all.

Reference:

Bailey, J. M., Vasey, P. L., Diamond, L. M., Breedlove, S. M., Vilain, E., & Epprecht, M. (2016). Sexual orientation, controversy, and science. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(2), 45–101. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100616637616

Johns, M. M., Zimmerman, M., & Bauermeister, J. A. (2012). Sexual Attraction, Sexual Identity, and Psychosocial Wellbeing in a National Sample of Young Women During Emerging Adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(1), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9795-2

Importance Of the Use of The Caregiver/Child Relationship

Caregivers have a crucial responsibility in child growth and development procedure. Their main focus is based on the safety of the kids, ensuring they have good health, and teaching them proper skills that assist the children in growing and succeeding in being an adult. They also incline cultural norms to the babies that enable them to find individual personalities. The relationship present between the caregiver and the child offers an intimacy that enables them to create an appropriate context that can nurture and protect the youngster as they develop and acquire personal characteristics and behaviors. They have the role of equipping children with acceptance, encouragement, appreciation, love, and guidance, making them grow without developing mental health problems; this also allows the young ones to mature cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically.  Caregivers and parents also ensure that the children are given basic needs like food, shelter, soothe, and clothing since this assist in developing attachment with them. A healthy child and parent relationship are formed through affection between the kid and the caregiver.

The proper relationship between the child and the caregiver is achieved when they interact, explore and trust their surroundings. Clinicians can properly utilize this in diagnosing and assessing the development of youngsters. Children who receive attentive childcare, or relationships in which providers respond appropriately to a child’s cues, have better psychosocial, cognitive, and physical results than those who do not receive such care. Still, excess knowledge exists on how responsive parenting influences child development across various cultural and socioeconomic environments. Specifically, this study aims to identify determinants of mother-responsive caregiving and investigate the relationship between these interactions and the development of young infants. Children and teenagers who have kind, honest, and expressive, who include appropriate limits, and who explain behavior norms have higher self-esteem, better school performance, and fewer bad consequences such as anxiety or substance abuse. Cross-cultural disparities in parenting are also closely tied to the behaviors, attitudes, customs, and beliefs of the ethnic person’s culture group to which the family belongs, in addition to the values and traditions of the family. As previously stated, these parenting styles are also shaped by the cultural and economic circumstances where these families find themselves.

An early caregiver plays an important role in developing the child’s brain, and failure to relate properly with them can result in mental health problems. The importance of relationship-based techniques can be attributed to the fact that young infants “are designed to study from the care providers. The child’s relationship with the caregiver must become strong and good to promote healthy brain development. Through the child’s relationships and the environment of those interactions, the quickly developing brain begins to organize itself, laying the groundwork for future learning. When it comes to providing high-quality care to children, the brief policy places relations-trained practitioners at the forefront of various characteristics such as reduced pupil rates, select group sizes, and staff with specialized training that influence a center’s ability. They set the environment for caring and supportive caring that strengthens strong attachments and provides a safe basis for a child’s exploration, which leads to the development of intellectual, verbal, and communication skills.

A caretaker who has some experience and recognizes each child’s temperament and individual workings can quickly and accurately identify and understand signals from toddlers quickly and accurately in the most intimate settings,” says the National Child Care Association. The emotional attachment between an infant and the caregiver is critical to the infant’s healthy development and well-being. When an infant has a secure, warm, responsive, and predictable interaction with at minimum one caregiver, the development of neuronal brain structures that promote brain development can influence the infant’s positive well-being. The secure attachment also has a good effect on the growth of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, responsible for stress regulation. According to research, even under stressful settings, solid attachment bonds can assist in protecting neurological development from suffering substantial damage. A strong social and emotional foundation serves as a staging point for all other development, including the physical, motor, and intellectual growth that equips youngsters and, ultimately, success in adulthood.

The formation of neural circuits more sensitive to reaction occurs when those early connections are severely stressful, whether due to absence, poverty, unpredictability, or violence. In turn, this increases the likelihood of children experiencing issues in life, such as poor academic and social difficulties. The combination of genes and environment results in realizing each child’s full genetic potential. Neither nature nor nurture is to blame, but rather a combination of the two. The genes are patient and attentive to their surroundings, whether in the house or at child care. Each child’s surroundings and encounters determine the reality and, as a result, ‘customize’ their brains to suit their needs. When assessing and diagnosing children, a clinician has to recognize the parents’ or caregivers’ challenges for them to be solved effectively. Children require proper care and good relationships to develop a good brain, and this must be considered by parents when selecting caretakers for their children.

References:

English, C. (2022). Importance Of the Use of The Caregiver/Child Relationship as A Framework in Assessing and Diagnosing Young Children. Psychology ,The Pennsylvania State University

Alvarez, J. (2016). Battelle energy alliance, LLC (BEA) 2016 self-assessment report for Idaho national laboratory (INL). https://doi.org/10.2172/1364500

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22(6), 723-742. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.22.6.723

Gibson, K. (2021). A youth informed approach to mental health. What Young People Want from Mental Health Services, 133-144? https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429322457-9

Multiple dimensions of caregiving and disability. (2012). Caregiving: Research • Practice • Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3384-2

Sharon Ringwalt. (2008). Developmental Screening and Assessment Instruments with an Emphasis on Social and Emotional Development for Young Children Ages Birth through Five.

Urie Bronfenbrenner, Bioecological model of mental health. (n.d.). PsycEXTRA Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/e502242012-001

Weinberg, M. K., Beeghly, M., Olson, K. L., & Tronick, E. (2008). Effects of maternal depression and panic disorder on mother-infant interactive behavior in the face-to-face still-face paradigm. Infant Mental Health Journal, 29(5), 472-491. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20193

Establishing a Sense of Community Online for Students

Pilcher (2016) states that creating a community in online classrooms indicates academic success. Over the past decade, the number of online students undertaking different courses has increased considerably. In research performed in 2016, the average growth is 2.39% annually, with one out of every three students deciding to take online courses. The efficiency institutions of higher learning have displayed in offering online courses to their students indicates that more learners will enroll in distance learning.

The most effective way of fostering a sense of community for online students is through the instructor. Compared to physical attendees, online students are very sensitive to the presence of their online instructor in their forums. Over the years, the role of instructors has grown as they are not only teachers but also facilitators of friendships within the classrooms. For instructors to successfully establish a sense of community, they can develop activities that foster socialization and interaction (Pilcher, 2016). According to Bandura’s social cognitive theory, human functioning involves human cognition, behavior, and motivation, which the instructor can facilitate.

Course content and interaction are another effective way of establishing a sense of community. How the course content has been designed should allow students to learn and give ample room for interactions. Interactions enable students to share experiences that most are unaware of (Pilcher, 2016). Through this sharing session, those with common experiences will likely form social attachments with each other promoting the establishment of an online community.

This goes back to our conversation back in lesson 6 as we discussed diversity. In that blog post, I stressed the importance of representing the workforce. This establishes a sense of connectedness between staff and the population you are servicing. As we are now in a digital technology age this is more important than ever as this is such a large scale where individuals look to feel connected.

Reference:

Pilcher, A. (2016). Establishing Community in Online Courses: A Literature Review. College Student Affair Leadership, 3(1).

Importance of Social and Emotional Learning in School

Educators in the 21^st Century have been challenged to raise socially and emotionally competent children instead of just being knowledgeable (Cristóvão et al., 2017). Both social and emotional learning has grown into a movement that is gradually being accepted worldwide. Society is coming to terms that for learners to be a service to others, they need to be in touch with their emotions, come up with solutions to problems being faced and establish positive, meaningful relationships with others.

According to Cristóvão et al. (2017), social and emotional learning in schools is the first step to academic achievement. Positive social and emotional behaviors are considered conduits toward grasping other aspects of learning, such as counting, reading, and writing. Therefore, as students are accorded basic knowledge outlined in the syllabus, social and emotional learning will ensure that they apply it in their later years.

Social and emotional learning also allows students to gain skills they will implement in the workplace. While this form of education gives room for academic achievement, it also shapes the attitude and behaviors of students as they grow into adults. It is a common idea that today’s learners make up for the leaders of tomorrow and, therefore, the type of person they will end up in the future, depending on how they learn now.

Social and emotional learning can be sent as a positive intervention and often times implemented by using evidence-based programming. This has been proven to be a significant contribution as these evidence-based programs can be facilitated during a school day in the classroom. As we are still currently in the pandemic I do think a push to have more social and emotional learning as students have had no interaction with other children and adults in person. From my experience implementing the evidence-based program has been the most successful at reducing risky behaviors and promoting healthy decision-making.

Reference:

Cristóvão, A. M., Candeias, A. A., & Verdasca, J. (2017). Social and Emotional Learning and Academic Achievement in Portuguese Schools: A Bibliometric Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01913

Importance of Diversity in the Workplace

Diversity refers to the state of having a variety of options that includes but are not limited to ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, social class, gender, age, etc. Regarding a company or an organization, being diverse involves considering various options to ensure the proper working of the company in achieving its goals (Saxena, 2014). Several factors gauge whether a company is diverse, mainly its employees.

There are several advantages of having a diverse workforce in an organization. For instance, a diverse workforce increases the organization’s productivity level. Diversity encourages friendly interpersonal relationships that lead to the smooth functioning of the organization (Saxena, 2014). Diversity is also an ingredient of innovation and creativity in the workplace.

As  I do work in the social services field I know how imperative it is to have a diverse staff.  This allows the kids and families we work with feel represented and heard. As a gay black man I know how imperative to have a sense of connectedness in my work environment and in the community. Within the past two years because families and youth started to see themselves represented I was able to diversify programs by 30% in Centre County, PA.

However, despite having a diverse workforce, it is not uncommon for stereotyping and biases to exist in the organization. Stereotyping refers to the different assumptions about a specific group of people in the organization. In most cases, stereotyping within the organization leads to unconscious biases. Bias, on the other hand, is a prejudice that is formed against either an individual or a group (Saxena, 2014).

Reference:

Saxena, A. (2014). Workforce Diversity: A Key to Improve Productivity. Procedia Economics and Finance, 11, 76–85.https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00178-