Friday, May 22, 2009 by Dima |
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Psychology Tags:
Brain,
Drinking,
Health problems
The danger is found in drugs’ effect on GABA receptors.
Drugs like alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines all seems to affect the same target – the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Neurons containing GABA
receptors are very common in the nervous system and their function is to inhibit other neurons. One such receptor that is affected by GABA is the GABAa receptor that contains chloride channels. When the receptor is excited, an influx of Cl ions takes place, increasing the negative charge on the inside – hyperpolarization – making initiation, or propagation of an action potential much more difficult. However, this GABAa receptor has not only a binding site for GABA, but two other binding sites as well. One is the sedative-hypnotic site, the other is the anxiety site. That’s why it is possible that both sedative-hypnotic drugs (alcohol and barbiturates) and antianxiety drugs (benzodiazepines) can bind to the same receptor, amplifying their effects. Sedative-hypnotic drugs (alcohol or barbiturates) have precisely this effect -making it hard for action potential to take place and, therefore, sedating the body and affecting bodily functions. Antianxiety drugs (benzodiazepines) enhance binding effects of GABA and so alcohol, or barbiturates will have an even stronger sedative effect, possibly leading to coma, or even death.
The threat of mixing drugs and alcohol is not just a myth, it is a deadly cocktail that you don’t want to be experimenting with.
Thursday, Apr 30, 2009 by Dima |
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Psychology
Until recently, the study of deafness has been viewed within a deficit model, with focus on the “almost invariably negative effects of a sensory impairment or deficit” (Gregory, Hartley, Constructing Deafness). In my opinion, this has been a largely distorted view of professionals who have had no experience within the deaf community and have only viewed deaf people as a group who is deviating from the norm. In a primarily male-dominated society, many events and medical conditions have not been properly studied and documented, simply because they have concerned and affected only women. Similar is the ignorance, misunderstanding and disregard for issues concerning deaf individuals in a primarily hearing world. In fact, the first attempts, at least in the field of Cognitive Psychology, to study deaf people have been done in effort to understand the functioning of the hearing. Throughout human history, there is a myriad of examples when minorities, or underprivileged people have been labeled as ‘different‘ and, therefore, not worth too much effort to be understood, or helped. Sadly, this appears to be a challenge even for scientists and researchers who, above all, should be dispassionate and objective observers and analyzers of phenomena and human behavior. Following the evolutionary perspective in Psychology, we can allude there is an inborn instinct in species to avoid something that is new, foreign and unfamiliar, as it might hurt us. Even if this is the case, humanity has walked a long way in this process of evolution and if we are to take pride in being highly civilized and humane, we are to try to understand the unfamiliar better before putting any sort of label. The population of the United States includes more than 1 million deaf people, most of whom chose to identify themselves as part of the Deaf culture. People within this culture really do share unique values and norms, and use American Sign Language as a primary way of communication (Stebnicki, Coeling, 1999). These are not people who want to be victimized, ignored or viewed as impaired and in many situations the only difference between a hearing and a deaf individual can be the different treatment that we have.
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Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 by Dima |
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The world around us
The eighteenth century, following the age of Reason, gave birth to a new philosophical, intellectual and cultural movement that transformed the mentality of people not only in the Old Continent, but in the New World alike. This era, known as the Age of Enlightenment, promoted human intellect, reasoning, liberty and virtue. The symbolism behind Enlightenment is found in the elaborate metaphor of light being cast upon the world to reveal the truth in science, social and political order, education and all other human affairs. Probably the best way to describe the spirit of this historically significant period is to view it from the eyes of its most pronounced thinkers. In his work, Immanuel Kant explains: “Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one’s own understanding without another’s guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one’s own mind without another’s guidance. Dare to know! (Sapere aude) ‘Have the courage to use your own understanding’ is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment.”
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Saturday, Apr 11, 2009 by Dima |
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motivation
The Achievement Motivation Inventory AMI (Schuler, Thornton, Frintrup & Mueller Hanson, 2004) is based on a new trait-oriented concept of Achievement Motivation that assumes it is build up of multiple interrelated components. Specifically, the Inventory employs 17 scales of measurement, 170 items total (each scale has ten items). The inventory is intended for use in work and employment context.
Accepting that achievement motivation is a personality construct, the authors of the AMI attempt to measure its different aspects that, expectedly, manifest themselves across situations. However, I am not convinced that achievement motivation is a rigid personality construct. Read the rest of this entry »
Saturday, Apr 11, 2009 by Dima |
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Psychology
In studying Intelligence, researchers noticed that two correlated factors emerge: Crystallized and Fluid Intelligence. Charles Spearman, in particular, was the first to develop the concept of Fluid g (fg) and Crystallized g (cg). These two, in combination, appeared to explain one’s Intelligence.
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Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 by Dima |
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Personality
The Five Factor Theory was first introduced by McCrae and Costa (1984) and is based on the assumption that personality is relatively stable in adulthood. Generally, the traits that we show at the age of 30 would remain essentially unchanged into old age. (McCrae & Costa, Personality in Adulthood) Therefore, assessing personality based on the core traits what will not change through adult life seemed like a reliable method. There have been a lot of multi-cultural, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies throughout the past two decades. All of this research has confirmed the reliability and validity in the NEO Personality Inventory, or NEO-PI (Costa & McCrae, 1985, 1989a) and has postulated there are indeed universal personality traits that characterize people all over the world.
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Thursday, Apr 2, 2009 by Dima |
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Psychology

Antisocial Personality Disorder
All humans have traits that help describe our personality and predict behavior. Traits are consistent patterns of behavior that remain largely the same in changing situations. These are “well-ingrained ways in which individuals experience, interact with, and think about everything that goes on around them” (James Morrison, DSM-IV Made Easy). Personality disorders are manifested when a collection of traits has become rigid, works to the disadvantage of the individual, causes distress, or otherwise impairs functioning. There are 10 Personality disorders identified in the DSM-IV within 3 different cluster: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive. The generic criteria for personality disorders consists of a lasting pattern or behavior and inner experience that deviates significantly from the norm of the culture. The pattern is most often manifested in affect/emotional experiences (Inappropriateness, intensity, lability and largely inappropriate range of emotions), cognition, impulse control and interpersonal functioning.
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Monday, Mar 16, 2009 by Dima |
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Personality
Axis II in DSM-IV versus the Five Factor Model
While it is true that both Axis II in DSM-IV and the Five Factor Model measure similar constructs, the main focus being one’s personality, they tend to investigate different aspects of personality. The use of DSM-IV and Axis II implicates the diagnosis of a particular personality disorder. Axis II has no interest in studying healthy individuals. Its main focus is identifying the real rigid traits that do not allow ‘normal’ functioning in life. DSM-IV, as a whole, provides the tools and the perspective required to diagnose psychological disorders, but it is not adapted to describing the wide spectrum of traits and qualities of a ‘healthy personality’.
The Five Factor Model, on the other hand, attempts to recognize and analyze all of the major traits that build up a person. This model is equally interested in studying healthy individuals as well as personality disorders (which is by no means the case with DSM-IV).
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Monday, Mar 16, 2009 by Dima |
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Education,
Happiness,
Health problems
Why is early adulthood often considered “the prime of life”?
Early adulthood is the developmental stage from about age 20 to age 35. It is generally considered the ‘prime of life’ as the young individual is emerging from adolescence with a well-established sense of Identity and can approach life with determination and self-esteem. Also, during this period, young adults are physically stronger and healthier that any of the other stages to follow. It is the time of pursuing one’s dreams and enjoying the comfort of cozy, meaningful and loving relationships.
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Monday, Mar 16, 2009 by Dima |
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Global Troubles,
Polls Tags:
Environment,
Pollution
The movie “The Impact of Global Warming” was a convincing portrayal of the numerous effects that Global warming can have on our planet. Even more, the movie demonstrates that some of the issues are already unfolding, ready to claim their victims. After investigating threatening phenomena from different corners of the world and raising the flags in Africa, Alaska, USA, Ethiopia and Bangladesh, the documentary grasps immediate attention and asks for solutions and alternatives.
Fishing is a central part not only of Alaska’s cultural background, but also of its economy. However, the movie reports that “the times of plenty seems to be over”, especially as far as salmon is concerned. A local fisherman shares with disappointment: “Big fat salmon is gone.” The temperature of the water has risen with 0,6oC and while this may not seem a lot to us, it is significant for fish in certain regions. This causes the tradition to gradually fade and stands for the economic difficulties as there is reported decline in salmon catch by one tenth.
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