a while ago, i wrote a blog entry about what sorts of keywords people like to google in connection with anorexia. i was surprised to see that the vast majority of keyword demands were not for how to recover from anorexia but for things like “anorexic nudes”, “anorexic porn”, etc. and wouldn’t you know it,… Continue reading anorexia and sex
Category: psychological research and other things academic
the 10 paradoxes of creative people
pre-eminent psychologist mihaly cziszentmihalyi about the ten paradoxes of creative people. here’s an abbreviated version: 1. Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they’re also often quiet and at rest. … One manifestation of energy is sexuality. Creative people are paradoxical in this respect also. They seem to have quite a strong… Continue reading the 10 paradoxes of creative people
music, brain and emotions
in line with the theme of art and creativity this month, i thought i’d dish up something about music psychology. this fabulous site on the topic brought me to an interesting article on the neurobiology of the emotional effects of music. music profoundly affects our moods. but how
… and for some more irrelevant research on eating disorders
i never cease to be amazed at the naivety (or – it wouldn’t be arrogance?) of some researchers in the social sciences. do they really never talk to the people who they research? why am i telling you this? well, the good people at the national institute of health have amazing news for us! apparently… Continue reading … and for some more irrelevant research on eating disorders
hair test for eating disorders: scientific triumph or an orwellian nightmare?
according to new research, a hair test can now show whether someone has anorexia or bulimia. another scientific triumph! supposedly, this is useful because “diagnosing eating disorders is often hampered because of patient resistance”. whenever i hear the phrase “patient resistance”, my, um, hair
creative writing: waking up from our routines
“creative writing increases physician observation skills and connection to patients” this is the heading of a study at the yale school of medicine, which showed that creative writing had a positive impact on how doctors saw themselves, their patients and their peers. resident physicians often deal with quite a bit of negativity
more on depression and self reflection
reading over the contents of my last blog entry on depression and self-reflection, a few thoughts came to mind. the article was not written by someone who had done systematic research and observation of people dealing with depression. rather, the writer seems to have a certain view, and in order to support it, he cites… Continue reading more on depression and self reflection
depression and self-reflection
(this is another reprint from my old blog, from the beginning of the year) timothy wilson, an editor at the new york times, has this to say about self reflection and depression: Research by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, a clinical psychologist at Yale University, shows that when people are depressed, ruminating on their problems makes things worse.… Continue reading depression and self-reflection
understanding self-harm
“Study Shows Nearly Half Of Eating Disorder Patients Self-Harm” this is the title of an article in medicalnews. it made me stop and think because it shows a certain line of thinking about
speed, mania and depression
fast, even “manic” thinking makes us happy, according to emily pronin and daniel wegner of harvard and princeton universities. they conducted a study where they had people read neutral, positive and negative statements at varying speeds. the researchers found that no matter whether these statements were positive, neutral or negative, after reading at a faster… Continue reading speed, mania and depression