Monday, April 30, 2012
Future of Psychology and Technology
Technology is always advancing so what are some recent advancements in psychology with technology?
Monday, April 23, 2012
Student Survey
Student Survey for 8th graders up to 12th grade. Please answer
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtNNTRuYzZzeHhUcExwY29ubnphVVE6MQ
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtNNTRuYzZzeHhUcExwY29ubnphVVE6MQ
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson’s disease has been grouped with conditions called motor system disorders and result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS], 2010). Parkinson’s disease has four primary symptoms which are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face. Parkinson’s primary symptoms become more vivid reducing the quality of life like walking, talking, or other miscellaneous tasks (NINDS, 2010). Research shows no known causes for Parkinson’s disease but aging may have a factor in some individuals. When we think of disease and other medical issues we tend to wonder if this can be something passed down through our dna from one family member to another and research shows that certain families who share a gene that can lead to Parkinson’s disease (NINDS, 2010). Scientists suspect that for most people Parkinson’s is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. According to NINDS, of the million individuals in the US who live with Parkinson’s, only five percent have an inherited form of the disease. Research has identified 13 genes that are associated with Parkinson’s which can cause the disease in a small number of families like stated previously. Epidemiological research has identified rural living, well water, herbicide use and exposure to pesticides, as environmental factors linked to the Parkinson’s disease (NINDS, 2010).
Deep in the brain is called the basal ganglia which nerve cells are responsible for smooth movements and coordinating changes in posture, when the brain initiates a movement, the basal ganglia sends signals and transmits messages using chemical neurotransmitters (Penn State, August 5,2010). The main neurotransmitter is dopamine and with Parkinson’s disease the reason unknown for the nerve cells in the basal ganglia begin to die, which results in lower production of dopamine resulting in the loss of control or movement (Penn State, August 5,2010). Selegiline is used for many of other diagnosis but in the case of Parkinson’s disease it may be a neuroprotective agent by slowing dopamine metabolism (Devinsky & D’esposito). I feel since there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease the use of Selegiline with some risk of mortality still offers a way to slow the progression of PD down. Selegiline also improves memory and motor functions along with helps with depression and ADHD.
References
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2010). NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Information Page. Retrieved from www.ninds.gov: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm
Penn State. (August 5,2010). Health And Disease Information. Retrieved from http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/pq/parkinsons.htm
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Working Families
Looking back in time when life was different for families living in the 50’s like where the father was the bread winner and the mother could stay home and raise the kids. Times have changed and so has the workforce. The recession and the U.S. economic crisis have made it almost impossible to have one parent stay home to raise the kids and does the entire house work. Today we see both parents working and the kids placed in daycare or one parent will work part-time while the kids are at school. What happens to the kids when they have a dual working parent household? The lack of time parents have with their kids while working so much the quality of childcare is the most important variable. Children whose parents work in the evening are more likely to do poorly in mathematics and 2.72 times more likely to be suspended from school (Global Working Families, n.d.). Certain parents have the ability to juggle work and school activities but this can create a fast driven and stressful life for the children.
There is a big debate with a mother working and the effects it may have on the children. According to Harvey, there was hardly any significant difference seen among children with working mothers versus mothers staying at home. Harvey also stated that this was during the first three years of the child’s lives (Devinsky & D’esposito). A mother working is starting to be the norm with today’s society and it’s not abnormal to see stay at home fathers. Fathers play a big role in child development and the impact of how the father treats their mother can have an indirect influence on the children. The behavior modeled between father and mother will help the children grow and teach boys how to treat women when they become adults. According to Rosenberg, when the father has involvement with the children they have better educational outcomes, better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievements (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010). DHS, also states that the impact of fathers are more likely to be emotionally secure, confident to explore their surroundings, and have better social connections with peers (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010).
Divorce if not handled correctly can lead children to believe they have caused the conflict between parents and this can lead to physical and mental illness due to the loss of one or both parents through the divorce (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008). Parents that are going through a divorce need to watch for signs of distress in their children which can lead to more aggressive and uncooperative behavior or become withdrawn (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008). NIH states that children that spend more time in day care from birth to four are less likely to get along with others, as more assertive, as disobedient, and as aggressive (National Institutes of Health, July 16, 2003).
References
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2008). Children And Divorce. Retrieved from http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+and+Divorce§ion=Facts+for+Families
Devinsky, O., & D’esposito, M. (). Neurology of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders . [http://books.google.com/books?id=eCXgtVIsUYkC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false]. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=eCXgtVIsUYkC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Global Working Families. (n.d.). Work, Family and Child Development. Retrieved August 8,2010, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/globalworkingfamilies/ChildDev.htm
National Institutes of Health. (July 16,2003). Child Care Linked To Assertive, Noncompliant, and Aggressive BehaviorsVast Majority of Children Within Normal Range. Retrieved August 10,2010, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/child_care.cfm
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2010). The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children . Retrieved August 9,2010, from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Gender Behavior
Homosexuality, at the age of five years old would be very hard for any parent to predict any sexual orientation due to the cognitive level of development and denial of the parent. A five year old is still going through developmental milestones, such as gender identification which usually occurs between ages of three and five (Hock, 2008/2009). Gender identification is where a child perceives themselves to be a boy or girl depending on their sex, which possesses varying amounts of masculinity and femininity (Hock, 2008/2009, p. 368). Understanding that you are a boy or girl is a big milestone in development which opens up stereotypes and traditions based on gender. According to Hock, men and women have their differences of masculinity and femininity, which some men who fit extreme masculinity and women that are more feminine but not always, because the two genders can fall on different scale between the two traits (Hock, 2008/2009, p. 368). Gender-role behavior of children seems to be strongly influenced by their identification with the males or females in their lives (Schor, 1999). According to Healthy Children, research suggests that boys that have unusually close relationships with their mothers and especially distant relationships with their fathers show more effeminate behavior and is encouraged and support the “female” activities (Schor, 1999). I feel that five years old, is a hard time to label any kid to be homosexual because they are exploring their bodies and gender roles with the impact of environmental situations that can allow this exploration to play against the normalization of what a boy and girl are supposed to do. According to Dr. Hatterer, you may supply your sons with footballs and your daughters with dolls, “the researchers pointed out, “but no one can guaranteed that they will enjoy them” (Brody, 1981).
According to Zucker, over the past
30 years he has treated about 500 preadolescence gender-variant children in
which 80 percent grow out of the behavior (Brown, 2006). Kids that are not in
the 80 percent of phasing out with gender identity problems will show signs of
being unhappy, lonely, and isolated which can also lead to separation anxiety,
depression, and behavior problems (Fitzgibbons, 2001). For parents that are
dealing with their kid’s behavior towards gender association is usually laughed
off and not thought about until children stay constant with these behaviors or
start showing behaviors defensively.
Positive outcomes would be associated with role-playing that can be
associated with duplicating the actions of others, including their parents.
Role playing like a boy using a mother’s makeup can be motivation to play and
use critical thinking skills that can lead into education of the kid’s gender
and normal traditions.
I feel that children that are
diagnosed with a gender identity disorder which is a diagnosis that doesn’t
usually phase out not to be exhibiting a paraphilia because they are not
associated with arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors with nonhuman
objects, and suffering or humiliation of oneself or ones partners or the
children of other non-consenting person (Argosy, 2011). The diagnostic criteria
for gender identity disorder in children, 302.6 in the DSM-IV-TR states, the
disturbance is manifested by four or more of the following behaviors such as
repeatedly stated desire to be, or insistence that he or she is, the other sex,
cross-dressing or simulating female attire in boys and wearing masculine
clothing for girls (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders, 1994, p. 537). That difference between
a paraphilia and gender identity disorder is how the behavior is relayed. I
feel that some kids that explore other genders style of dress and play is just
a normal behavior that is considered exploration and the amount of exploration
can depend on how masculine or feminine the kid is. Unless the kid show
behaviors and makes comments that they really do not want to be their natural
born sex then a therapist should be visited. Catching gender identity disorder
at an early age can help the kid and family get educated so there won’t be any
form of denial and gives the kid a chance to work with a therapist until they
are truly old enough to realize what the impact of a sex change and hormone
therapy would be.
I feel that the best intervention would be to
allow all the kids to play and explore so they can get a true understanding of
what the differences of being a boy or girl really are. I would never reinforce
negative criticism towards a child that displays a little more than different
behavior because in theory it’s a way of learning and the child is constantly
critical thinking. If I was to create an
intervention at such a young age that could only create physiological issues
later down the road but I would always be aware of my child’s behavior so that
if I do see something that is constant or very repetitive then I can seek
professional counseling. The only intervention that I would supply, would be
the sympathy and devotion that I lavish on my children anyway and nothing would
change the way I feel and love my kids.
American Psychiatric Association.
(1994). 306.2. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(6th). doi:
Brody, J. E. (1981, August 23,
1981). KINSEY STUDY FINDS HOMOSEXUALS SHOW EARLY PREDISPOSITION [Newspaper]. The
New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/23/us/kinsey-study-finds-homosexuals-show-early-predisposition.html
Brown, P. L. (2006, December 2,
2006). Supporting Boys or Girls [Newspaper]. The New York Times.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/us/02child.html
Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2001). Gender
Identity Disorder in Children. Retrieved from
http://www.narth.com/docs/fitz.html
Hock, R. (2009). Human Sexuality
(Second Edition ed.). Retrieved from
http://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/0558220258 (Original work published
2008)
Schor, E. L. (1999). American
Academy of Pediatrics [Supplemental material]. Healthy Children. doi:
CB00003-P
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Learning Disability and ADHD
Understanding the differences with a
learning disability and ADHD would be the first step for a parent to gain a
grasp on. Parents and educators should
utilize information on learning disabilities, which diagnosed as a neurological
disorder that change the way information in the brain interprets information
causing a deficit in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Learning disabilities have no cure therefore
considered a lifelong issue but with the right support and intervention,
children can be successful in their education (LD Online, 2010). According to Santrock, the United States
government defines a learning disability as having a difficulty in learning
that involves understanding or using spoken or written language and the
difficulty can appear in listening, thinking, reading, writing, and spelling
(Santrock, 2009). A student with a learning disability may perform below
average in certain subjects while performing at or above standards in other
subjects.
Learning
disabilities can be diagnosed within a school system and can vary from school
to school whereas ADHD has to be diagnosed by a medical professional. ADHD affects learning overall cognitive
functions not just one area or two. ADHD is a disability that affects learning
because children can have one or more of the three major characteristics of
ADHD, which are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (Santrock, 2009).
Children diagnosed with ADHD can have poor attention spans which causes them to
get bored fairly fast also children can be always in motion or very impulsive.
Learning disabilities have no medication available, which will help children
succeed with their decencies, but a child diagnosed with ADHD has the potential
of medication to help with the symptoms of ADHD.
According
to Santrock, individualized education plans (IEP) are specific programs
designed for the student with a disability.
Students with a learning disability in writing can have specific plans
and tutoring classes to help the child succeed, but the education has to be
consistent and progressing. A child with
ADHD can have a successful educational environment but may require multiply
aspects like parent training, behavioral intervention, appropriate educational
program, and medication (CHADD, 2010).
Medication has been a successful treatment for children to help them
gain adequate learning from their education and having the educator
understanding that a student does have ADHD can help prepare for the success of
the student.
Teachers already have a full plate
when teaching children but to teach children with learning disabilities or ADHD
must have patience. I feel that the
teacher should make goals for the children and develop strategies in a creative
way to help the children stay focused and on task so they can learn at full
capacity. Major concerns for teaching
children with learning disabilities would be how to make accommodations for the
child as well as keeping the parents informed on progress with homework and
behavior. A teach needs to adapt
teaching methods to better meet the needs of learning impaired children. I feel the toughest aspect of teaching
children with learning disabilities would be the way to handle behavior that
may disrupt the other student’s concentration.
Help
guide offers many of tips on making accommodations for students with ADHD such
as seating the student away from windows and the door, put the student right in
front of the teachers desk, seat the students in rows with a greater focus on
the teacher, and use visuals while giving instructions (HelpGuide, n.d.).
CHADD. (2010). Understanding AD/HD.
Retrieved July 19, 2010, from
http://www.chadd.org/Content/CHADD/Understanding/Treatment/default.htm
HelpGuide. (n.d.). Teaching
students with ADD/ADHD. Retrieved July 20, 2010, from
http://helpguide.org/mental/pdf/Teaching_tips_ADHD_PDF-1.pdf
Santrock, J. W. (2009). Life-Span
Development (12th ed.). : McGraw-Hill.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Development Throughout the Lifespan
Trends in Psychosocial Development
Trending
results during this author’s observation had a foundation of life-span
development associated with Erikson’s development stages. This author observed
traits that would be consistent with development and social activity or
environmental learning. Observing a two year old, during early childhood
development and socioemotional development and comparing to Erikson’s stages of
development are truly coincided. Early childhood plays a large role in the
developing of “The self”, and emotional maturity as well as moral understanding
and gender awareness (Santrock,
2009). Observing this author’s toddler, which is twenty-two months old, the
development process has grown tremendously in a matter of months. According to
Erikson’s psychosocial stage that is associated with early childhood is
initiative versus guilt (Santrock,
2009) and this applies to a toddler when learning their own personality
through trial and error. This author often observes that the toddler will
struggle with power and looks at the parents as unreasonable or disagreeable.
Trends during development tend to stick with categories such as
self-understanding, understanding others, and emotions. Progression through age
groups and stages has added trends and influences such as self-esteem,
self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-regulation (Santrock, 2009). Biological as
a person grows they change by getting taller, eyes changing color, and physical
functioning. Psychological a person grows from environment or social influences
as well as nurturing from parents. The psychosocial adapts the psychological
and social interactions to help develop a personality. Starting at birth
Erikson’s development involves trust versus mistrust and the basic strength of
drive and hope (Harder, 2009).
During infancy, a child will learn trust where everything is okay or they may end
up with mistrust because needs are not met. Early childhood the stage is
associated with autonomy versus shame with basic strengths of self-control,
courage, and will (Harder, 2009).
A child during this stage will build self-esteem and gain more control over
their bodies while acquire new skills. Children during this stage start to
learn right from wrong and have the most significant relationship with parents (Harder, 2009). Personality
developed through the first four stages starts with trust leads to self-control
then to find a purpose, and method and competence. Stage 5 is the most crucial stage,
which entails identity versus role confusion so what has been developed prior
can change at this stage from family or social interactions. Adolescence
changes from what has been done to what is done and this stage can be
associated with as limbo because a person is neither a child nor adult.
Erikson versus Freud
Freud thought that as children grow
they focus on pleasure and sexual impulses, which a child will go through five
stages of psychosexual development such as oral, anal, phallic, latency, and
genital (Santrock, 2009, p. 22).
Erikson believed that we developed in psychosocial stages compared to Freud’s
psychosexual stages. Freud thought of the primary motivation for behavior is
sexual and Erikson thought of the social aspect and the desire to affiliate
with other people (Santrock,
2009). Freud’s first stage is the oral phase and it is associated for
infants to obtain life-sustaining nourishment and show love toward their mother
(Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 40).
The anal phase is where children receive satisfaction from destroying or losing
objects and want to avoid toilet training (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 41).
In the later part of the anal phase children take a friendly interest toward
toilet training and get pleasure from defecating resulting in presenting feces
to the parents as a prize. If the gift is accepted then they will grow generous
but if the gift is rejected, they will find another source of pleasure such as
withholding feces. The phallic phase of psychosexual development has identity
recognition from male to female due to anatomical difference. The parents
suppress masturbation and a male identifies with the father and wants to be his
father until he develops a sexual desire for his mother (Feist & Feist, 2009). The
latency period is around 4-5 years old and children repress sexual drive and
direct the energy toward school, friendship’s, hobbies, and non-sexual
activities. Genital Period is during puberty the sexual drive comes back to
play, but pointed toward another person instead of himself or herself.
Erikson looked at infancy paralleling
it to Freud’s oral phase but adding a broader focus away from just the mouth.
Erikson thought that infants take in not only through the mouth but also
through other various sense organs (Feist & Feist, 2009, p. 251).
Erikson used trust and mistrust on the relationship of the infant with the
caregiver or parents. Erikson once again paralleled Freud’s anal stage with
early childhood but took a broader view by not only mastering the sphincter
muscle but other body functions such as urinating, walking, throwing, and
holding (Feist & Feist,
2009). Erikson brought doubt and shame when having unsuccessful attempts at
autonomy. Erikson’s third stage is considered the play stage covering the same
time as Freud’s phallic phase. Erikson believed that a child would identify
with their parents, language, curiosity, imagination and the ability to set
goals (Feist & Feist, 2009,
p. 255). The last comparative stage is the latency stage where Erikson
believed that the world of the child has been expanded beyond the family to
include peers, teachers, and other adult models (Feist & Feist, 2009). During the latency phase children learn to do
things well and to accomplish goals as well as remain busy.
This author feels that Freud made
amazing strides in psychology but his placement of theories appeared off.
Erikson’s theory is more adaptive and fulfilled by including social interactions
instead of just focusing on sexual tendencies. Erikson thought of social
interaction and fulfillment as a way to grow and develop personality within the
family and outside interactions. Erikson stages of development cover a wider
range of ages as we are always growing and some stages may take longer to move
on to the next stage.
Understanding Human Sexuality and Mental Illness
Understanding Human Sexuality and Mental Illness
Comparing Human Sexuality and mental
illness has contributed my interest in understanding why cognitive decompensation
resorts into escalation of behavior towards sexuality or religion. My research
question, what causes cognitive decompensation behavior and towards sexuality
or religion? Human sexuality includes topics as sexual anatomy, sexual identity
and desire, sexual health, and the way to express individual sexual selves
(Hock, 2010). I feel this topic would be important to study for the reason
behind mental health and behavior associated with sexuality. Understanding why
a person is emotionally attached to sexuality and only displays this in a time
of cognitive relapse that is farthest from the normal baseline behavior. To
understand the relationship of sexuality and how someone associates sexuality
with a mental illness can possibly help on a treatment plan and counseling
sessions. According to Hock, “Sex is Emotional”, which feelings may include
general discomfort, confusion, anxiety, embarrassment, anger, arousal,
surprise, nervousness, and even fear (Hock, 2010).
Hock, R. R. (2010). Studying Human
Sexuality. In L. Jewell, & J. Mosher (Eds.), Human Sexuality (Second
Edition ed., pp. 2-31). [Vital Source Bookshelf]. Retrieved from
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