Arhiva luna 03, 2013

viteza luminoasa a melcului

19 03 2013

Exista, in Romania, un curs de psihologie evolutionista?

Da, la Cluj! De ce nu si la Bucuresti?

Exista, in Romania, un curs de introducere in neurostiinte?

Da, la Cluj! De ce nu si la Bucuresti?

Exista, in Romania, un curs de genetica a comportamentului uman? (behavioral genetics)

Da, la Cluj! De ce nu si la Bucuresti?

Nu reusesc sa inteleg de ce aceste forme avansate de studiu si intelegere a psihologiei par a suferi de o forma de discriminare pe criterii geografice. Daca ardelenii sunt intr-adevar mai lenti, conform stereotipului, nu cumva  ar fi fost de asteptat sa afle ultimii?

PS Un membru al familiei mele locuieste in Cluj dar nu are nicio legatura cu mirarile de mai sus.

doar 9 aminoacizi (si milioane de incurcaturi amoroase)

17 03 2013

Voi raspunde amenintarilor si voi publica, iata, un alt extras din materialele de care beneficiaza doar membrii grupurilor Neurobics.  Sper sa-ti dai seama din context, este vorba de un hormon (identificat in 1909), supranumit „hormonul mangaierii”. Da, oxitocina!

Vrei sa te gandesti impreuna cu mine la o relatie intre doua persoane care, pline de bunavointa, decid sa aiba doar o relatie sexuala, lipsita de asteptari? Si sa vezi (poate chiar sa prezici) cum anume va influenta oxitocina acest angajament uimitor de matur? Iata mai jos amanunte (am eliminat emoticoanele):

Sa exemplificam: eu, X  (nu Adrian, da?) am o relatie cu o persoana de sex opus (casatorita) si nu vreau sa ne atasam emotional unul de celalalt (ar fi foarte complicat, unul din noi are si copii, intelegi tu!). Dar ne simtim foarte bine impreuna (nu mergem la hotel, am depasit acest stadiu). Exista intimitate fizica variata: mangaieri, saruturi (inclusiv French-kissing), imbratisari scurte sau prelungite, sex (normal!).

Ce produc toate aceste interactiuni tactile? Oxitocina! Si oxitocina ce face? Putin cate putin amplifica sentimentul de incredere. Si increderea ce face? Face si mai probabila atingerea. Si tot asa: se numeste cerc virtuos! Doar ca noi doi am stabilit clar, inca de la inceputul relatiei noastre (sanctionate social) ca nu vom avea o relatie serioasa ci doar ne propunem sa ne bucuram unul de celalalt, din cand in cand.

Insa oxitocina nu intelege cuvintele si angajamentele noastre. Ea face ceea ce face de milioane de ani. Creeaza legaturi. Ii face pe oameni sa se simta mai apropiati.  Ii conecteaza emotional. Incepi sa intuiesti cum se va dezvolta acest film?

Iata tot tabloul: oxitocina din belsug, testosteron la discretie (relatii sexuale satisfacatoare, cu un plus dat, eventual, de caracterul interzis), dopamina fara numar, ce poate iesi de aici? Ditamai incurcatura, fireste! Apropierea emotionala este iminenta. Apar, intr-un mod cat se poate de natural, asteptarile. Cresc mizele afective. Si de aici lucrurile o pot lua razna (si adesea o iau)

Mintea constienta (rationala) nu se poate opune mecanismelor biologice deja activate. Unul (X) se indragosteste desi a jurat ca nu va face asta. Sau amandoi se indragostesc! Pentru ca exista oxitocina. Pentru ca atingerile sunt placute si genereaza, in mod spontan, legaturi sociale (sau le amorseaza) Pentru ca nu poti nega fiorul din corpul tau (si nici partenerul sau partenera ta). Ceea ce a inceput prin a fi doar sex (terapeutic) s-a transformat acum intr-o problema serioasa („ai divorta de dragul meu?”)

Femeile sunt mai vulnerabile din acest punct de vedere deoarece estrogenul amplifica efectele oxitocinei (de aceea raspunsul unei femei la atingere este mai intens la ovulatie/fereastra de 5 zile)

De aici nu rezulta ca, daca esti femeie si beneficiezi de servicii de masaj (profesionist) te vei atasa imediat de maseurul tau (dar nu ar fi exclus ca lucrul acesta sa se intample in timp, daca mergi in mod regulat la masaj…sau vine el acasa) Cum spuneam, oamenii sunt diferiti si au capacitati diferite de producere si procesare a oxitocinei. Totusi, daca legatura dureaza, chiar si barbatii cu viteze mai mici (de crestere a oxitocinei) se pot atasa (cu atat mai mult cei care au fost rasfatati dpv tactil cand erau bebelusi…so, it’s better if you ask)

Faptul de a oferi afectiune (prin intermediul atingerii) te face mai receptiv(a) la a primi afectiune. Primind afectiune te simti recompensat(a) si (vezi si teoria echitatii) simti nevoia sa oferi la randul tau. Si tot asa…pana la divort (sau scene penibile-atentie, pe parcursul acestui document m-am referit la persoane care nu vor sa intre intr-o relatie responsabila ci vor doar sa experimenteze satisfactia sexuala fara alte angajamente)

Ce solutii exista? Daca esti femeie sa te intalnesti cu „el” (amantul?) doar cand esti in faza PMS) (de fapt nu glumesc 100%, in timpul PMS creierul blocheaza receptorii de oxitocina si riscul dezvoltarii atasamentului emotional este mai mic) Si daca esti barbat? Daca ai deja unele probleme cu intimitatea esti in siguranta) (nu te vei atasa)

Poate ar fi mai bine sa nu ajungi intr-o astfel de situatie de la bun inceput? Sa alegi partenerul/partenera astfel incat sa ai cu el/ea o relatie intreaga? (sa nu fie nevoie de compensatii extraconjugale) Si, daca efectiv nu poti rezista (testosteron sus, sus de tot), sa te rezumi la one night-stand? Sau sa mergi periodic la muntele Athos, impreuna cu Gigi Becali?

Predictia stiintei psihologice pentru cuplurile care vor sa experimenteze doar satisfactia sexuala fara a se angaja mai profund in relatia lor este sumbra (din perspectiva celor implicati): cel putin unul dintre ei, cu o probabilitate mai mare femeia, va ajunge sa isi doreasca mai mult (el: „nu asa ne-a fost intelegerea, de ce pui presiune pe mine?” Ea: „pentru ca acum te iubesc!”)

De ce? Deoarece exista oxitocina (si receptori pentru ea) Deoarece oamenii (normali) se ataseaza in mod natural unii de alti cand sunt recompensati tactil, in mod regulat. Deoarece Natura „vrea” ca genele sa faca saltul pe generatia urmatoare (de aceea a fost „inventata” oxitocina…si nu doar ea).

Asa ca, daca te tenteaza some pure, no-strings-attached weekend relationship, reflecteaza in mod serios la consecintele previzibile. Eu mi-am facut datoria si ti-am spus. Pe ce ureche ti-a intrat?

PS Sensibil la nevoile dar mai ales dorintele semenilor mei am hotarat ca la grupul din toamna (Apps, pe numele lui) sa acord mai mult spatiu elementelor de psihologie a cuplului, atractiei si sexualitatii. Nu, sexul in grup nu este o optiune!

Mi-am propus, probabil intr-un mod destul de curajos (sau naiv), sa-i ajut pe membrii grupului (barbati si femei) sa devina persoane mai sexy ( chiar mai sexy ca mine, hi hi!). De aceea grupul (acum Neurobics) se va numi SEXY APPS. Deoarece si neurostiintele pot fi sexy.

Regret nespus, nu se mai fac inscrieri.

 

psihologie dar mai intai integrale de gradul 1

05 03 2013

Am publicat, in articolul anterior, programa unui curs de la University of Virginia (al carei Departament de Psihologie este evaluat in mod constant drept unul din cele mai bune din Statele Unite)

Poate ar merita, inainte de a te deprima, sa mai stii cateva lucruri:

  • Pentru a deveni licentiat(a) in psihologie la UVA (the major in psychology) este necesar sa fi absolvit, cu cel putin C- sau mai mult, un curs de matematica (Applied Calculus, Applied Calculus with Algebra, Single Variable Calculus etc.)
  • O multime de studenti care s-au transferat la UVA si au urmat unul din cursurile mentionate mai sus nu au reusit sa-l promoveze si, implicit, nu au putut obtine licenta
  • Studiile dureaza 4 ani (nu au auzit de sistemul Bologna, hi hi!) iar numarul absolventilor este in jur de 250
  • Daca esti din statul Virginia taxa anuala  este in jur de 12.000 de dolari iar daca esti din Romania (sau oricare alt stat, inclusiv un stat american) si ai un apartament de doua camere in valoare de 38.000 de dolari trebuie sa-l vinzi pentru a te putea inscrie (totalul cheltuielilor este undeva in jur de 50.000 de dolari pe an)

Prin urmare, daca ai studiat, aproape plangand, programa din articolul precedent, realizand ca tu, la facultatea pe care o urmezi, nu beneficiezi de asa ceva (si nici nu vei beneficia in urmatorii 50 de ani, in Romania), aminteste-ti, te rog, si cat anume platesti (nu tu, parintii tai!). Abia dupa ce ai facut acest calcul (cat platesc vs cat primesc) poti spune ca ai o perspectiva mai echilibrata asupra realitatii.

Da, acum poti plange.

 

cand profesorul vorbeste doar 10 minute (la curs)

05 03 2013

Pentru studentii facultatilor de psihologie (mai ales cei care platesc) dornici sa faca unele comparatii cu omologii lor din universitatile americane, intelegand in ce fel ultimii ar putea fi avantajati (in sensul de a detine o cunoastere superioara), iata programa unui curs tinut de unul din psihologii mei preferati.

 

Se poate vedea cu usurinta cum studentii sunt obligati sa citeasca anumite studii stiintifice iar facultatea le permite accesul gratuit la ele prin intermediul unei pagini web (deci nu trebuie sa plateasca, asa cum se intampla in general)  De asemenea, pentru fiecare seminar au de citit capitole bine precizate din carti si exista si o bibliografie obligatorie care trebuie cumparata.

 

Celui care i se da mult i se va cere mult, nu?

 

Flourishing

Psychology 403, Professor Jon Haidt

Fall 2004, University of Virginia

Wed. 9:15-11:45, Gilmer B001

Course description: People are like plants: if you get the conditions just right, they will usually flourish. So what are those conditions? We will try to answer this question from two perspectives. We will look primarily at the latest research in social and positive psychology on happiness, virtue, and personal growth. We will also look at some of the Agreat truths,@ the insights into mind and heart that poets and philosophers have bequeathed to us. At each meeting I will lecture for 10-20 minutes, and the remaining time will be discussion.

 

Contact Info: The best way to reach me is by email (haidt@virginia.edu), or by coming to my office hours, Tues 5-6, Wed. 4:00-6:00, in Gilmer 304.

 

Course Requirements: About 40% of the grade will be based on your level of involvement with and contribution to class. In addition, you will be asked to write a number of papers, none of them ordinary research papers. These will include: 1) Several short papers after doing positive psych activities. 2) A midterm paper on Finding Great Truths. 3) A substantial final paper: Improving yourself, and proving it. In addition, everyone will participate in some sort of class research project.

 

Readings: Articles will be made available on our class webpage: toolkit.virginia.edu/PSYC403‑1   In addition, you should buy the following books at Amazon.com, or wherever you buy books on the web:

1) Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press.

2) Keyes, C. L. M., & Haidt, J. (Eds.). (2003). Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well lived. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

3) Franklin, B. (1962). Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. (Any edition is acceptable)

4) Buddha (1993). Dhammapada. Thomas Byrom (trans.) Boston: Shambhala (Other editions acceptable, but not as beautiful)

5) Burns, David (1999). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. Avon Books.

6) Maslow: religions, values, peak experiences

 

 

 

9/1) C1: Introduction: Flourishing and the great truths

Sage: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Bk II. (Analyze his psych. claims).

Do Before Class: Take Strengths Self-Test, print out your 24 strengths

 

9/8) C2: Positive Psychology and Self-Improvement

Sage: Ben Franklin, Autobiography [skim 1st half, but read 3rd quarter carefully, on virtues and moral perfection]

Scientists: Seligman: AH (Authentic Happiness) Preface, and Ch:1‑4

BK&H (Keyes & Haidt): Introduction

BHaidt: AThe Sage and the Scientist@, Introduction and Ch. 1

–Burns: Read introduction and ch. 1-3 (you can skim ch. 1&2, which are very elementary)

Do Before: Imagine your ideal self. Write your own self-improvement plan (a la Franklin)

Optional reading: Aarts, H., & Dijksterhuis (2000). Habits as knowledge structures: Automaticity in goal directed behavior. JPSP, 78, 53-63.

 

9/15) C3: Getting the right appraisals

Sage: Epictetus, Manual for living [print it from web, link provided]

Scientists: Seligman: AH Ch.5 & 6

–Haidt, Sage and Scientist, Ch. 2 (life itself is but what you deem it)

–Burns, most of the book, Chapters 4-16 (ch. 9 & 15 are optional)

Do: 1) Cognitive Therapy Exercises on yourself. Catch and analyze 10 automatic thoughts. (Use the DTR record on our web page).  2) Sign up on www.authentichappiness.com. Take at least the scales from Seligman Ch. 5&6

Optional reading:

 

9/22) C4: Happiness: what is it, what causes it?

Sage: Nozick, “Happiness” Ch. 9 of: The examined life.

Scientists: Buss, David M. (2000). The Evolution of Happiness. American Psychologist, 55, 15-23.

–Diener, Ed (2000).  Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and a Proposal for a National Index. American Psychologist, 55, 34-43.

–Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.

Do: Hand in your tentative plan for your final project.

Optional reading: Myers, David G. (2000).  The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People. American Psychologist. 55, 56-67.

–Ryff & Singer on Well-being

–Economists: chapters from Robert Frank; Richard Layard

 

9/29) C5: Calming the mind, meditation and prozac [Hand in your self-improvement plan]

Sage: Buddha, Dhammapada [whole book]

Scientists: Shapiro, S., Schwartz, G. E. R., & Santerre, C. (2002). Meditation and positive psychology. In Handbook of Positive Psychology.

–Nolen‑Hoeksema on Rumination, TBA

–Kramer, P. (1993) Listening to Prozac, Ch. 1.

Do: Spend at least 40 minutes on websites about meditation, e.g.,: www.shinzen.com. Or www.mkzc.org/beginzen.html  or www.how-to-meditate.org.  Read about meditation techniques. Meditate for at least 15 minutes, three days in a row.

Optional reading: Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J. et al. (2003). Alternations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570

–Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 84, 822-848.

–Turkington, C. & Kaplan, E., “All About Prozac”, downloaded from Webmd.com

 

10/6) C6: Hedonics and the Setpoint

Sage: Gibran: Pleasure

Scientists: Kahneman, D. (1999). Objective happiness. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 3-25). New York: Russell Sage.

–Wrzesniewski, Rozin, & Bennett: Working, Playing, and Eating [Flourishing, Ch.8]

–Sheldon, K. M., Lyubomirsky, S. (in press). Achieving Sustainable New Happiness: Prospects, Practices, and Prescriptions.

–Kubovy, M. (1999). On the pleasures of the mind. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 134-154). New York: Russell Sage.

Do: Continue meditation; Give it a serious try, every day for the whole week. Or design a perfect day?

Optional reading: Lykken & Tellegen (1996). Happiness is a stochastic phenomenon. Psych Science 7

 

10/13) C7: Being Nice

Sage: Bible, Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the mount)

Scientists:

–Carnegie, D. (1936). Excerpts from : How to win friends and influence people. [Carnegie is an excellent social psychologist]

–Emmons, R. A. (2004) Gratitude. (Chapter from Character strengths and virtues).

–McCullough, M. (2004) Forgiveness (Chapter from Character strengths and virtues).

–Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56, 218-226.

DO: TBA… watch amelie? [link ahead to love, and to awe/beauty] Or: do a good deed

Optional reading: Trivers on reciprocal altruism? [read later parts, on moral emotions]

 

10/20) C8: Love and social support: Why we need others to flourish

Sage: Gibran, sections on Love and Friendship

Scientists: Seligman, AH ch.11 (love)

–Reis & Gable, Toward a positive psychology of relationships. [Flourishing Ch. 6]

–Taylor, S. E., Klein, L. C., Lewis, B. P., Gruenewald, T. L., Gurung, R. A., & Updegraff, J. A. (2000). Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight. Psychological Review, 107(3), 411-429.

–Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529. [This is a long paper, only the first 7 pages are assigned (p.497-503)]

Do: ??

Optional reading:  -Handbook of positive psychology, ch. 39, Ryff & Singer: From social structure to biology

–Sternberg, R. J. (1988). A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review, 93. 119-135.

 

10/27) C9: Work and engagement [Hand in: short paper, your great truths];

Sage: Gibran: Work

Scientists: Auth. Happ: : AH: Ch.7 (incl. Savoring and flow) Ch.14 (meaning and purpose)

–Nakamura and Czikszentmihalyi. Vital Engagement. [Flourishing ch.4]

–Emmons, Personal goals. [Flourishing Ch.5]

–R. Ryan & J. Bernstein (2004) “Vitality”, Ch. 12 of Character Strengths and Virtues. (Peterson & Seligman, eds.)

Do: Watch movie: Fast, cheap, and out of control

Optional reading:

 

11/3) C10: Growth by adversity

Sage: go to www.greatfailure.com, look around, and read the “commencement speech”

Scientists: Ryff & Singer: Flourishing under fire. [Flourishing, Ch.1]

–Wethington: Turning points. [Flourishing, Ch.2]

–Updegraff, J. A., & Taylor, S. E. (2000). From vulnerability to growth: Positive and negative effects of stressful life events. In J. Harvey and E. Miller.(eds.) Loss and trauma: General and close relationship perspectives. Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge. 3-28.[ONLY PRINT OUT 1ST 5 PAGES, (pgs 3-11 of the article)]

–Pennebaker, J. (2003). Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions. New York: Guilford. Read Chapter 3.

Do: [movies about overcoming adversity? Admiration project?] One door opens? Write out how you have grown from setbacks? Write your uva narrative, make sense of your time here?

Optional reading:

 

11/10) C11: Growth by awe and beauty

Sage: Bhagavad Gita, Bk. 11

Scientists: Haidt: Elevation [Flourishing Ch.12]

–Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 17, 297-314.

–Maslow: Main text (p.3-58), and appendix A. Other appendices are optional

Do: Watch Amelie, after reading at least the Elevation article. [Or if you have seen Amelie already, you may watch Patch Adams, Life is Beautiful, Pleasantville, or Harold and Maude]. Note the ways that awe and responsiveness to beauty affect characters in these movies, and also the ways they affect you as a viewer. Or beauty movies, koyaanisquatsi?

Optional reading: Responses to Music: Braud (2001), or Panzarella (1980) in Brunk

 

11/17) C12: growth by virtue: What is morality, and how does it develop? Can we become better people by doing good deeds?

Sage: Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics Book II

Scientists:

–Damon, W. (1999). The moral development of children. Scientific American, August.

–Haidt, J., & Joseph, C. (in press). Intuitive Ethics. Daedalus.

–Piliavin: Doing well by doing good [Flourishing, Ch. 10]

Do: Seligman philanthropy vs.  pleasure exercise

 

12/1) C13: Strengths, Choice, Wisdom

Sage: tba

Scientists:

1) Strengths: Seligman, AH Ch. 8-10, 13 (Strengths and virtues, finishing up the book)

2) Choice: Schwartz, B. et al. (2002). Maximizing Versus Satisficing: Happiness Is a Matter of Choice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 1178-1197

3) Wisdom: Sternberg, R. J. (1998). A balance theory of wisdom. Review of General Psychology.

Do: take the long VIA signature strengths test, at www.authentichappiness.com

 

12/8) C14: Class presentations.  How have you changed?  [Final paper due on 12/9]

No Reading; Student reports on final projects.

 

 

Chelsea (aproape de Vatra Luminoasa)

04 03 2013

Saptamana aceasta, joi, intre orele 20.00 si 22.00, cu un buget minim, poti realiza o super-cercetare. Mai precis, poti afla, in sfarsit, care sunt barbatii cu un nivel ridicat (sau cel putin mediu) de testosteron. Nu stiu la ce ti-ar putea folosi aceasta descoperire (daca exclud comportamentele sanctionate religios).

E simplu! Ii poti identifica in felul urmator pe barbatii din categoria mentionata: vor sta, nemiscati (nu chiar, vor exista mici convulsii), in fata televizorului (in jur de 40.000 de norocosi vor fi pe stadion) De ce? Deoarece detinatoarea Ligii Campionilor, o echipa dintr-un sofisticat cartier londonez vine la Bucuresti pentru a da piept cu Nila & Co. Cum ar putea un purtator bogat de testosteron sa rateze asa ceva?

Sper din tot sufletul meu imaterial ca nemuritorul Gigi, membru al Comisiei Juridice din Camera Deputatilor, avand o condamnare la activ (Romania, mereu fascinanta!), a luat deja legatura cu domnul Iisus Hristos si a reusit sa-l convinga, poate si cu ajutorul unui miel, sa sustina, joi, echipa Steaua Bucuresti, de exemplu modificand, din cand in cand, traiectoriile balonului rotund pe care il vor cauta, cu disperare, cei 22 de fini intelectuali.

Nu am nicio indoiala (natura mea sceptica este, temporar, suspendata) ca, daca nu va umbla aiurea, ca de obicei, salvand suflete chinuite de demoni, domnul Iisus ne va aduce o noua bucurie (Ecstasy?), dupa evenimentul deja uitat cu consumatorii de etnobotanice din Amsterdam (din 21 februarie). Munca, daruirea, disciplina tactica si abilitatile protagonistilor vor conta mai putin. Poate nu vor conta deloc, daca domnul Iisus nu va fi intr-unul din momentele lui depresive sau nu va rumina obsesiv pe tema cuielor.

Din solidaritate, genul opus (si mult mai frumos), ar putea suferi alaturi de purtatorii de XY, consolandu-i, eventual, daca mataniile lui Gigi nu produc efectul dorit. Iar la final, in cazul unei catastrofe, ar putea chiar sa propuna o partida de sex terapeutic. Si sacrificial.

Asa sa ne-ajute Dumnezeu!