by sophia eliopoulosPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2017). In fact, one in thirteen adults will develop PTSD symptoms at some point in their lifetime (The Recovery Village, 2019). Intrusive symptoms may include re-experiencing the traumatic event through vivid nightmares, flashbacks or random thoughts (Van der Kolk, 2015). Since the classification of PTSD as a psychiatric disorder in 1980, research on the brain’s response to trauma has increased tremendously. This article will briefly outline the changes in brain functioning after a traumatic event, and discuss an interesting case study provided by Bessel van der Kolk in his book ‘The Body Keeps the Score’.
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by ilse alfonsiDo you believe in horoscopes? The Barnum effect (sometimes referred to as the Forer effect) is a psychological phenomenon that suggests people tend to accept generic personality descriptions, such as horoscopes, as highly accurate and specifically relevant to their unique personalities (Fichten & Sunerton, 1983). This phenomenon was first noted by psychologist Bertram Forer (1949) when he gave psychology students a test and told them they would be given a personalised personality profile based on their results. In reality, they were given the same generalised Barnum profile, which included thirteen general statements such as “you are often critical of yourself,” “you have a lot of unused potential,” and “at times you are extroverted and sociable, while at other times you are introverted and reserved” (Rogers & Soule, 2009). Students considered their personality descriptions as very accurate even though they were all given the same exact profile. Horoscope writers, tarot card readers, and psychics employ similar tactics to convince others that they can predict their future (Ivtzan, 2007; Fichten, & Sunerton, 1983).
by ryan whalleyWe as humans pride ourselves on the belief that we are cunning, and that if needed to, we can tell a white lie and get away with it. Whether it be testifying that you didn’t eat that cookie or looking your teacher dead in the eye while proclaiming your math homework is complete when it’s actually at home, you could get away with it, right? The average person lies around 1.65 times per day (Saad, 2011). This behaviour may be fruitless labour, as there seem to be many indicators that we are not aware of when lying that might give the act away. In this article, I wish to highlight a number of these actions and the research behind them as well as the applications of having this knowledge, besides it being an entertaining party trick.
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