The New Psychology of Leadership

Nice intro article on new findings for eadership psychology.

http://www.brainmysteries.com/research/Psychologist_reveals_the_secrets_of_leadership.asp

To get benefits from psychotherapy, get a good fit!

To get benefits from psychotherapy, get a good fit!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/health/psychology/21beha.html?ex=1345348800&en=0b4a628453309741&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Interview with Dr. Eric Kandel

An Interview with Dr. Eric Kandel from Newsweek. He won a Nobel Prize for his work on learning and memory.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11904316/site/newsweek/

Psychopath test....

If you pass this test, you may need to see a doctor.

To find out, please read the question below, and try to come up with the right answer.

This is NOT a trick question.

The question is exactly what it is; there are no games. No one I know so far has got it right . . .

--------------------------
A woman went to the funeral of her own mother. There, she met a guy whom she did not know. She thought the man was amazing. Really amazing. She fell in love with him right there, but never asked for his number and could not find him again. A week later she killed her sister.


Question:
What is her motive for killing her sister?

Give this some thought before you look at the answer.























Answer
She was hoping the guy would appear at the funeral again.

If you answered this correctly, you apparently think like a psychopath.

Several arrested serial killers were given test and answered the question correctly

Psychologists to take part in military interrogations.

Words fail me.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/07/torture200707?printable=true&currentPage=all

Associate Dean at USC and mental-health law expert is schizophrenic.

"Elyn R. Saks, an associate dean at the University of Southern California with triple appointments as a professor of law, psychology and psychiatry, is one of the nation’s leading experts on mental-health law."

She is also schizophrenic.

Read this interview with this brave woman.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20252201/site/newsweek/

People change what they think & believe in order to achieve peace of mind.

Good article from Newsweek on changing cognition in order to get peace of mind.

Will this constitute lying to oneself though?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19311349/site/newsweek/page/0

Schizophrenia may be improved by mental & physical exercise

Quiet a find if true but Researchers using a genetically altered mouse that it had schizophrenia-like behaviours found the mouse’s condition significantly improved by simply giving them enhanced mental and physical exercise such as putting running wheels in their cages, plus interesting items to smell, see and touch.

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/schizophrenia-improved-mental-and-physical-exercise-13846.html

1 in 5 Victorians (Australian State) who go missing suffers from mental illness

7,500 vanish per year.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22188263-24331,00.html

How mental maturity develops is coming to light

Bradley Schlaggar and his colleagues at Washington University in St Louis reveal findings.

http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9616794

Modern IQ ranges for various occupations

Prett self explanatory, from a study by the The University of Wisconsin-Madison

http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/Occupations.aspx

Gene for left-handedness is found.

Gene for left-handedness is found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/6923577.stm

Psychiatrist with depression “cured” with brain surgery. Also reveals poor care treatment in UK mental wards

Cathy Wield, the UK Psychiatrist with depression was “cured” with brain surgery.

More disturbingly she also reveals the shocking treatment of mental patients receive in UK mental institutions.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2006/01/23/hdep23.xml

An interview with Stephen Fry on his Bi polar disorder

An old interview with Stephen Fry on his Bipolar disorder (Bi Polar Lite).

He suffered since he was young and had a public breakdown in the late 90's.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1825678,00.html

Researchers reverse cocaine effects in mice

Christian Luscher, a swiss based Researcher has found a way to reverse the effects of cocaine on the brain.

For more, read here;

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2007-07-26T181240Z_01_L26897489_RTRUKOC_0_US-ADDICTION-BRAIN.xml

Scientists create a schizophrenic mouse.....

Would love to be a fly on the wall when they present how they know the mouse is schizophrenic, its not like they can ask it.

Another puff piece of research


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2159295.ece

LSD use in psychotherapy is to be studied again after 35 years

This is major.

Switzerland is beginning to look at using LSD in psychotherapy again.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007/July/16070702.asp

The Psychology exam results are in

and I passed it, thank god.

Comic book psychology statements from the web

More comic book psychology statements from the web.

Most 1st year Psych students will know that these statements are not without certain parameters.

Your short-term memory has a max capacity of seven.
Chartreuse is the most visible color.
Your subconscious is smarter than you are.
You have two nervous systems.
Your brain is awful at probability.
Your memory isn’t great either.
You can perceive depth with one eye.
Long-term memory shuts down during sleep.
You have an instant playback feature.

This woman can make you happy.

Dr Dorothy Rowe interviewed by the Observer newspaper in the UK.

The most insightful interview into her personal life I have seen. Never mind making you happy, she can alter your life forever.

If you do nothing else today, read this interview.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/woman/story/0,,2118187,00.html

Interview with a Psychopath....

Interview with a Psychopath

A round table expert panel discuss psychopaths, possible cures and the disorders representation by Hollywood.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2002/511461.htm

A Level Psychology website, pretty good

An A Level Psychology website

A pretty good resource.

http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

10 politically incorrect truths about human nature

Not sure if they are true but you can see the full list and a supporting description here.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-20070622-000002&print=1

Men like blond bombshells
Humans are naturally polygamous
Most suicide bombers are Muslim
Having sons reduces the likelihood of divorce
Beautiful people have more daughters
The midlife crisis is a myth—sort of
It's natural for politicians to risk everything for an affair

How humans get addicted to things

Apparently someone has has gotten to the bottom of addicition.

However as always, no one has specifically named the gene that casues addiction.

Probably because there is not one.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640436,00.html

Key to marital happiness? Let the wife have her way

Key to marital happiness? Let the wife have her way...........well duh

Well I could have told you that. I call it the "path of Least resistance theory"

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN0621276520070707

Case notes - Obsessional Jealousy

Obsessional Jealousy: A brief review and case series from India

http://www.priory.com/psychiatry/Morbid_Jealousy.htm

The Psychology of Fatherhood

A topic I am getting ever more interested in.

This is an article is from Time.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1630551,00.html

Disordered better at self diagnosis

A good article on the paradox of those with 'disorders' are better at self diagnosis.

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=864

Brain scans of Buddhist monks' show meditation alters structure.

and also the functioning on the brain asw well.

An old article but quite interesting.

http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/News/Meditation_Alters_Brain_WSJ_11-04.htm

Just sat my Psychology exam..........

and it was very hard...so fingers crossed.

The Myth of Mental Illness by Thomas Szasz

Thanks to York University, Toronto, Ontario.

First published in American Psychologist, 15, 113-118.

The Myth of Mental Illness added fuel to the Anti Psychiatry movements claim that Mental Illness is just a label.

http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Szasz/myth.htm

Mulitple Personality tests

Personality Tests: Test yourself silly with this "all in one place" website.

http://similarminds.com/personality_tests.html

Tech entrepreneurs suffer from hypomania

A brave Psychologist says Technology entrepreneurs frequently experience hypomania. i.e. They are mental (?!)

http://wistechnology.com/article.php?id=2018

How to get good nights sleep.....

Good sleep = Do less work !

http://www.psychologytoday.com/rss/pto-20031028-000007.html

How to Detect Lies, become a Lie detector

A small article on detecting lies, could be pretty useful !

http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php

The Keys to Happiness

Psychologists handed the keys to happiness to the public, but many people cling to gloomy ways . Surveys show Americans are no happier today than they were 50 years ago despite significant increases in prosperity, decreases in crime, cleaner air, larger living quarters and a better overall quality of life. Happiness is 50 percent genetic, says a University of Minnesota researcher.

More here.

http://www.livescience.com/health/060227_happiness_keys.html

The ultimate "Archive of Psychology"....

Where else but at the Archives of the History of American Psychology can visitors see the uniforms and billy clubs used in the Stanford Prison Experiment, in which students ended up acting the role of guards all too realistically; watch a home movie of Freud batting fruit out of a tree with his cane; or have the bumps on their heads measured to calculate their personalities and career prospects with a 1933 psychograph?

The University of Arkon thats where !

New Zealand outlaws smacking of children

Thanks to Sydney Morning Herald.

This is a major and positive step, however there was some late dilution to the bill.

The sad irony is that some Church groups opposed this bill.

----------
New Zealand effectively outlawed smacking children on Wednesday by removing a statutory defence for parents. A private bill sponsored by a Green Party lawmaker which removed an existing legal defence of "reasonable force" to correct a child was passed by an overwhelming majority. "It is about our children and what I believe is their God-given right to grow up secure in the love of their family, valued as equal citizens to the rest of us and without the constant threat of legalised violence being used against them," the law's sponsor, Sue Bradford of the Green Party, said in parliament.

The law change, first proposed in 2005, had been strongly opposed by conservative family and church groups, who said it would make criminals of parents. Opponents held public marches and rallies outside parliament. Mainstream church groups and child welfare organisations had strongly supported the change. A late compromise adopted by lawmakers gave police the discretion not to prosecute parents if a smacking incident is considered minor. Under the previous law, smacking children was classified as an assault, but parents could claim a statutory defence of using reasonable force to correct bad behaviour or remove the child from danger.

Members of parliament were free to vote on the issue according to their conscience, but there was near unanimous support for the change, which passed 113 to 7 in the 121 seat parliament. Loud applause broke out from the public galleries after the vote. The leader of the centre-right New Zealand First Party, Winston Peters, voted against the law change. "The problem with the bill is that while it will allow light smacking, it will do so under circumstances almost impossible to interpret," Peters said. The bill only needs the official assent of the Governor General, the representative of the head of state, to become law.

Behaviourist B F Skinner on YouTube

B F SKINNER - ABA

B F Skinner giving a lecture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jtgkqB3DIA

Got my "Is Cannabis dangerous" essay back - 84%

Whoa kitty !!!

This is amazing....

20th-century artist, Louis Wain, who was fascinated by cats, painted these pictures over a period of time in which he developed schizophrenia. The pictures on this page mark progressive stages in the illness and exemplify what it does to the victim's perception.

http://www.schizophrenia.org/artist.html

Workplace and depression

Employers are less likely to employ people with mental illnesses compared to those with physical conditions. Smacks of a corporate sponsored puff piece to me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6035409.stm

Horse tranquiliser used to treat Human depression ?

Quite frankly, bizarre.

Ketamine, an anesthetic and also club drug Special K, has the "power" (my quotes) to lift depression within hours, instead of the weeks it typically takes prescription antidepressants to kick in, a new US federal study suggested yesterday.

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/mental/articles/2006/08/08/drug_may_quickly_lift_depression_study_says/

The Black communities psychological experience of the UK is not good.

There is an epidemic of psychotic illness in those of African and Caribbean origin and needs to be addressed.

This issue has been around for a long time but no real results have been delivered.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2048115,00.html

Mental health link to diet change

Changes to diets over the last 50 years may play a role in the rise of mental illness.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4610070.stm

Iraq vets left in physical and mental agony

This article is in keeping with the theme of returning servicemen and mental trauma they suffer. (Thanks to Aaron Glantz)

http://quitanoblog.tripod.com/iraq-vets-left-in-physical-and-mental-agony.html

Misdiagnosis & dual diagnoses of gifted children & adults

Existential Depression in Gifted Individuals
James T. Webb, Ph.D.

r. Webb is co-author of the book Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger’s, Depression, and Other Disorders.

Existential depression is a depression that arises when an individual confronts certain basic issues of existence.

http://www.giftedbooks.com/authorarticles.asp?id=7

Happiness

Article on Happiness. By Dorothy Rowe for Psychologies Magazine February 2007

http://www.dorothyrowe.com.au/index.php?u=Happiness_(February_2007).htm

Real Game Theory....

Mathematics no longer rules the game theory roost, try a psychology tinted view.

http://www.msri.org/people/members/sara/articles/expecon.pdf

Psychologist Frederick Payne Watts aged 103, dies.

Frederick Payne Watts, 103, a founding faculty member of Howard University's Counseling Service, died of congestive heart failure April 7 at Howard University Hospital. He lived in Washington. In 1948, Dr. Watts established the university's liberal arts counseling service, which later became the University Counseling Service. He worked there until 1970, conducting a number of institutional studies of Howard students.

He was born in Staunton, Va., was educated in District public schools and graduated in 1922 from Dunbar High School. He entered Howard with the intention of becoming an ophthalmologist, but his intense interest in "why people misbehave" led him to psychology courses. He graduated in 1926 and took a teaching fellowship in psychology that allowed him to complete a master's degree soon after.

He taught for a year at Kittrell College in North Carolina and returned to Howard in 1928 as a faculty member. He received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1941, the first African American to earn a doctorate from the university, Penn officials said, and the nation's fourth African American to obtain a doctorate in psychology.

Drafted into the Army in 1942, Dr. Watts was a pre-induction classification officer and personnel consultant, setting up psychological testing facilities and supervising counseling of enlisted personnel. Discharged as a captain in the adjutant general's office, Dr. Watts was appointed assistant chief clinical psychologist for the Veterans Administration regional office in Philadelphia. He returned to Howard in 1948 and worked there for the rest of his career.

Dr. Watts published a number of professional papers and was a diplomate in clinical psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. He leaves nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.!!
(Thanks to Patricia Sullivan Washington Post)

Army Psychologist using new ways to treat stress.

thanks to MArk Hare at http://www.democratandchronicle.com

"As bad as it is, I find it miraculous that "only" 15 percent to 30 percent of returning Iraq war veterans are dealing with post traumatic stress disorder or some related mental health problems. This war has no front line, the enemy is impossible to identify, the dangers are everywhere. There is no safe place.
"Nobody comes back unaffected," says Army Lt. Col. Kathy Platoni, a clinical psychologist from Centerville, Ohio, and a reservist who spent 11 months in Iraq living with the troops and leading combat stress programs.
But the degree to which soldiers are affected by combat depends on two factors, Platoni says. "The first is a person's pre-existing psychological pre-disposition," she says, "and the second is how much trauma you've been exposed to." In other words, multiple tours of duty in combat, as is common in Iraq, significantly elevate the risk of PTSD, which may not appear until months or years after exposure.

Platoni, who will speak at the University of Rochester Medical Center on Thursday, says her 11 months in Iraq (the last four months in Anbar Province, where so much of the sectarian violence originates) was "a life- changing experience" that gave her a real sense of what it's like to be "exposed to the rigors of combat, to be working with people you may not see the next day." "We had some pretty heavy casualties," says Sgt. Ryan Vallery, who met Platoni in Iraq in 2005. Vallery, 23, of Buffalo, says his unit averaged 1.3 mortar attacks a day. "You never left your room" except to leave for patrols. The stress was constant. Platoni, he says, "was someone you could talk to about it, who could help us process our feelings." That was essential, he says.

Decades ago, there was no treatment for what we now call PTSD — except to suck it up and get back to work. Today, the Army recognizes that the psychological effects of war are real, and by sending clinicians to combat zones to assess and begin treating soldiers, it's sending an important message — it's OK, if you need help, it's here. There are two types of mental health teams in Iraq. "The fitness/restoration teams work with soldiers who have been overcome by psychological symptoms," Platoni says. "The soldiers are transported to Baghdad or the nearby Balad Air Base, which serves as a trauma and medical evacuation center. They are allowed to rest and afforded a range of services, from occupational and group therapy to medication evaluation, and anger and stress management.

Prevention teams are mobile, visiting with units to assess factors that could play a role in PTSD —everything from the availability of supplies to commanders' willingness to listen. They also teach coping skills.
"The idea," she says, "is to help soldiers deal with the impact of loss and suffering on the spot, and to help form even stronger relationships.""It's impossible to go into combat and not be afraid," she says. "But you have to learn to compartmentalize your fear, to find meaning and purpose" even in the most ordinary and, conversely, trying of events. "You have to learn to entertain yourself with what's available, often stupid, juvenile behavior." It's part of learning to survive.

Going to Iraq was important to her understanding of what soldiers are dealing with and to earning their trust — a key factor in treatment.It is high time that PTSD be recognized and dealt with for what it is. The enormous toll it exacts on veterans and their families ought to give our leaders pause. It is another reason to send young men and women to war only as an absolute last resort — and to get them home as quickly as possible, not to send them back again and again.

Psychologist backs Mourinho outbursts.....

Jose Mourinho has successfully taken the pressure off his Chelsea players by putting the spotlight on himself again, according to top sports psychologist Andy Barton.

Chelsea are chasing the quadruple (not anymore they ain't!!) but the focus is on boss Mourinho rather than his players.

The brave little lamb.

I'm a Gooner btw.

My wife the Psychologist; and I didn't even know it...

I know I am British but I found this article about American families.

If the typical stay-at-home mother in the United States were paid for her work as housekeeper, cook and psychologist among other roles, she would would earn $138,095 a year, according to research released Wednesday.

This reflected a 3 percent raise from last year's $134,121, according to Salary.com Inc , Waltham, Massachusetts-based compensation experts. The 10 jobs listed as comprising a mother's work were housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist, it said.

Respect, I still wouldn't swap with the wife to look after the children on my own!

Psychology of Poker

The Ultimate Guide To Poker Psychology by David Fisher

Will reading this book make you money ?! Lets hope so !!

http://www.playfearlesspoker.com

David Fisher, who holds a PhD in psychology, shows you exactly why people do what they do at the poker tables which is costing them money. "Whether you are aware of them or not.The Ultimate Guide To Poker Psychology is NOT a book about poker strategies, identifying tells or picking up clues or identifying personality traits, poker principles, playing styles etc.In this no-nonsense practical guide, you will learn everything you need to know to help you neutralize and eliminate your fears and anxieties, even if you are aware of them or not.

More psychology wisdom

Older wealthy/satisfied person and a earnest but green young person talking about success....

"Hi, what is the secret of your success?"
"Two words"
"And, what are they?"
"Right decisions."
"And how do you make right decisions?"
"One word."
"And, what is that?"
"Experience."
"And how do you get experience?"
"Two words"
"And, what are they?"
"Wrong decisions."

Spinning the term Psychopathy....

Psychopaths are misunderstood.

Apparently psychopathy is a type of learning disability......

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060724003925.htm

Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD via podcast

Found this, its CPD training via podcast on the website of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)

http://www.psychiatrycpd.co.uk/learningmodules/podcasts.aspx

Makes some interesting listening.

Psychologists now know what makes people happy

An old article but relevant none the less....

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/happiness/

Is Psychology a Science?

A good article on the position of Psychology as a science

http://www.arachnoid.com/psychology/index.html

Harvard Psychologist finds future feelings difficult to predict

Gotta say it is a brave topic to broach....

Affective forecasting is the forecasting of your feelings in the future.

Immune neglect: A source of durability bias in affective forecasting by Daniel Gilbert.

http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~dtg/Gilbert%20et%20al%20(IMMUNE%20NEGLECT).pdf

Stanford Prison Experiment: It's the fault of the 4 walls

The psychologist who created the Stanford Prison Experiment says that it's not a few bad apples that spoil the barrel, it's a bad barrel that spoils good apples.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12717

Errors in visual perception

Having just finished studying the Perception chapter of my course I saw this photo and was thrown by it... Can you tell what it is? It isn't doctored (hint: you need to look upside down)

Psychologists in 'Money Changes Everything' SHOCK !!

Psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis have published a paper to support that claim.

Blimey, who would have though it, gosh I wonder if they got a grant for actually doing this work or was it pro bono?

Click below to read about this amazing finding.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070210173047.htm

Be a Psych Lab rat at Harvard University

http://vacognition.wjh.harvard.edu/

Psychologist examines human history for solutions to depression

The evolution of depression

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/apr/16/the-evolution-of-depression/

Psychologist makes patient wear dog collar

Quite awful....

Wonder what he thought he was trying to cure ?

An Australian psychologist charged with indecently assaulting a patient, Psychologist Bruce Beaton pleaded not guilty 4 charges of indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman in 2005.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-01-30T142612Z_01_L3027866_RTRUKOC_0_US-AUSTRALIA-PSYCHOLOGIST.xml&src=rss

Psychologists are better at Stock investing than Economists

A bit of fun I know, but on average the psychologists earned three times as much as economists and physicists in the stock exchange game. Psychologists, particularly, mistrusted those shares which they regarded as overvalued.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=35953

Pavlov Part 2

Couldn't beleive this when I heard about it.....Canine Classical conditioning 21st Century style.

Strap it on the dog and watch. Every time s/he barks they get a mouth/noseful of lemon spray for their trouble.
Just heard a family friend got one and the dog actually has stopped, in fact you can see the cogs ticking over while she considers barking.

Anti-Bark Dog Collar

http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Gentle-Spray-Anti-Bark-Collar/dp/B0002D31QU

Anti-bark dog-collar system for eliminating nuisance barking
Delivers citronella spray that interrupts the pet's behavior
For any breed of dog at least 6 months old and weighing 6+ pounds
24-inch adjustable nylon collar; attachable spray device
Incl. citronella spray, 6-volt battery, and instructions

Psychology humour....

A Stanford Medical research group advertised for participants in a study of obsessive-compulsive disorder. They were looking for therapy clients who had been diagnosed with this disorder.

The response was gratifying; they got 3,000 responses about three days after the ad came out.

All from the same person.

Boom Boom !

Hmmmm....pretty colours make me buy things...

Interesting article on the use of colour in logo's and the impact on us mortals....

Thanks to http://www.logoblog.org/ for this article.

Colour is an important part of visual arts. It represents the nature and mood of an entity. That’s why colors are an important aspect of visual representation of a company too. Though colors have different meanings in various cultures and countries, they are generally used in logos to convey a specific message/s.

RED:
Red is an extreme and emotionally intense color. It evokes aggressiveness, passion, strength and vitality. It also grabs attention of the viewers because of which, it is widely seen in many different logos.

PINK:
The color pink induces femininity, innocence, softness and health. Due to its tranquilizing nature, pink is extensively used in logos related to spa, health care and cosmetic products.

ORANGE:
Orange represents energy, enthusiasm, flamboyance and demand of attention. This particular vivid color is common among the logos that offer sense of openness and friendliness to their viewers. Its attractive, bright and cheery nature captures the attention of the spectators and gives the logo a contemporary look.

YELLOW:
While it is considered as an optimistic color, yellow is the most difficult color for the eye to take in. On the other hand, yellow color symbolizes positivity and buoyancy. But its use should be minimal as it can be overpowering if overused.

GREEN:
Green is a calming, refreshing and conservative color. It signifies tranquility, nature, health, and freshness. It is widely used in healthcare, construction, golf and real estate logos due to its relevance with the mentioned businesses.

BLUE:
Blue evokes authority, dignity, security and faithfulness. It is one of the most popular colors among logos and can be seen extensively in education, medical and government logos.

PURPLE:
The color of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, spirituality and sophistication. It also symbolizes rank and authority. However, because it is rare in nature, purple is rarely used in logos.

BROWN:
Brown suggests utility, earthiness, woodiness and subtle richness. As it is the color of earth and is abundant in nature, brown is used in logos related to construction and development. It is also widely used in legal logos due to it simplicity and character.

WHITE:
White is the universal color of peace. It represents purity, simplicity, sterility and refinement. Its frequent use in logos is due to its simplistic nature and radiant character. The color white in logos is often used as text because it illuminates on other bright colors.

GRAY:
Solid, intelligence, modesty, practicality, conservative and maturity are some of the attributes of the color gray. However, it can seldom be seen on logos as it also represents old age, sadness and dullness.

BLACK:
Black is a powerful color that evokes authority, boldness, elegance and style. It is broadly used in almost all types of logos for its boldness and sophistication.

These colors, though not necessarily, but are generally used in logos to communicate a specific point. So the next time you are looking or designing logos, be sure to understand the message behind the colors used in them.

Good starter for Forensic psychology

This is also a good place to have a nose around....

All About Forensic Psychology

Dorothy Rowe makes sense....

http://www.dorothyrowe.com.au/

Pavlov and classical conditioning

My 1st post, so thought I lob up an extract from a recent assignment on drug addiction and conditioning.....

Pavlov was a Russian physiologist whose salivation studies in dogs led to what it is now known as classical conditioning. Subkov & Zilov (1937) extended Pavlovs' research by developing what is now termed pharmacological conditioning. Their experiment involved injecting dogs with adrenaline which speeds up the heart rate. The animals exhibited bradycardia (slowing heart rate) but also exhibited bradycardia on presentation of CS cues The dogs also showed bradycardia upon the injection of an inert substance, this also is a CR to a CS.

What researchers have subsequently discovered is the human body develops a drug compensatory response when a drug is administered, and that humans can develop a learned response called conditional compensatory responses (CCR). A CCR is the human body's homeostatic response, i.e. counterbalance, to the effects of a drug, and the strength of the drug's effects will reduce over repeated administration.

It has also been found that a CCR in absence of a UCS is in fact what people recognise as a craving and that if a drug user is presented with a CS but no UCS a craving (or CCR) will start. Drug users can have multiple CS or environmental cues which elicit a CCR. These cues might be a combination of the following: the drug paraphernalia, the physical environment/room, habits/rituals and the self administration cues (SAC).

Narcotic overdoses do not necessarily occur when an individual takes what generally constitutes too much of a drug. It has been established that overdoses are commonplace when users take the drug in a novel environment or there is a distortion in some of the CS though the drug amount or strength is the same as usual. When this occurs, the reduced CCR cannot counteract the UCS and the person can suffer an overdose.

Pavlov found that when he presented the tone several times on its own without the meat powder to the dogs, there was less and less salivation from the animals. This is known as extinction. Drug users could employ extinction techniques and extinguish learned drug using behaviours by repeated exposure to a CS but not seeing/using/feeling the UCS. The user will eventually experience a weakening of the CCR the longer the extinction process used employed.

Unfortunately extinction does not mean that a drug CR is erased and spontaneous recovery (SR) will occur if a user is readmitted to a CS environment. SR is the reappearance of a CR when a CS is presented after extinction but without reconditioning being present.

Therefore, crack users can manage to abstain from the drug when they are taken away from their normal CS cues, environment and the UCS and were able to abstain from crack. However as the crack users returned to their locality, the sight of their local neighbourhood, the environmental cues elicit a re-emergence of cravings (CCR). Similarly, the more they were exposed to the CS cues the greater the potential for strengthening the CCR and a greater chance for the crack user to relapse into drug usage.