by hai tranMood-congruency memory retrieval is a phenomenon where people are more likely to recall information that shares the same valence as their concurrent emotional state (Eysenck & Keane, 2020; Groome et al., 2014). In other words, when we are in a negative mood, we tend to remember predominantly negative memories. The reverse is applied when we feel positive. Studies on mood-congruency effect (e.g., Holland & Kensinger, 2010) are critical to the understanding of cognitive distortions in depressed individuals, who tend to ruminate on negative autobiographical episodic memories (Disner et al., 2011), which are memories of personal life events (Holland & Kensinger, 2010). This article will explore research on this phenomenon and show that mood-congruent memory in response to depressed mood is a reliable phenomenon, yet it is moderated/influenced) by several factors.
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by abby coutureAs a psychology student, I sometimes wonder whether my 6 years of learning about the intricacies of the brain and theories about human behaviour have had any negative consequences on my own mental health. One concern I sometimes hold is whether it has made me overly analytical, extra critical even, of my anxieties and mild traumas.
It seems, at times, that being a psychology student is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I do think learning about the brain and behaviour has empowered me to be more inquisitive and proactive about how I address my own cognitive distortions, biases, and personal anxieties. On the other hand, I worry that I take it too far to the point where I have now become biased toward my own maladaptive thinking. Sometimes, this lends itself to manifesting anxiety. by lea satalaDoes being an artist mean you are “dysfunctional”? David Bowie thought so. In a video with over 1 million views, he explained that expressing oneself in an artistic way is a sign of certain social dysfunctionality, as it goes beyond the basic purpose of life – survival. Many artists could be great examples of the tormented creative genius. David Lynch, the director of Mulholland Drive, seems to be one of them. He blatantly rejected psychotherapy, stating his fear that it would affect his creativity. Both Bowie and Lynch were extremely creative and successful artists. They also agreed that there is a certain abnormality or pain in being an artist, adding a more practical insight to the “tortured artist” argument. The belief that creativity and genius go in pair with psychopathology has deep roots in Western Culture. Dating back to ancient philosophy, Aristotle (who lived in the 4th Century BC) attributed extraordinary talent to melancholic temperament (Becker, 2014). This concept is widely present in our everyday culture across various media. Schlesinger (2009) proposes that this concept demystifies geniuses and makes them more accessible. If talent comes at the price of abnormality or dysfunctionality, we are less likely to be envious of it. How valid is the “tortured artist” argument from today’s perspective? Is it a myth or truth?
by gabriela zurawowiczRefuge and asylum-seeking is a global issue in dire need of attention and, more importantly, realistic political action. The problem is not with the people who seek safety but with a common controversial response to their potential arrival (Ferwerda et al., 2017; Poushter, 2016). They are often labelled as unworthy of protection (Simeon, 2018), while great efforts are made, for example by European politicians and media, to employ tactics born from dehumanisation (Kirkwood, 2017; Berry et al., 2015; Ames, 2019), such as push-back – forced removal of people over a country’s border (European Center for Consitutional and Human Rights, n.d.). This is done on top of creating a divide between ‘us’ and ‘them’, which allows leaders to escape from the moral and legal responsibility to protect refugees and asylum-seekers (Kirkwood, 2017).
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