Category: General Psychology

2016-17, Health, Psychology

The Correlation Between Smoking and Mental Health

by Jenna Mallon (’18) Since smoking affects different neurotransmitter systems throughout the body, it has been known to cause changes in mood and sleep patterns. Numerous studies have been done to determine the relationship between smoking and sleeping, but mental illnesses and mood changes have been greatly overlooked. Dr. Takahiro Kawada and a team of researchers from the Center for Regional Collaboration at Kochi University … Continue reading The Correlation Between Smoking and Mental Health

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology, Psychology

Neurocognitive Development in Children with Epilepsy

by Lillian Pao (’18) Epilepsy affecting children is associated with neurophysiological and neurocognitive mechanisms. These children grow up with a weakened and less organized network structure in comparison to children without epilepsy. Prior studies have attempted to understand the neurocognitive functions in child epilepsy through eye movements. Unlike those that conducted previous studies, Professor Judith Lunn from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, aimed to … Continue reading Neurocognitive Development in Children with Epilepsy

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2016-17, Psychology

The Effect of Mindfulness on Adult Attachment

by Amanda Ng (’17) Much of the mental health profession, both today and in the past, has been focused on alleviating the psychological distress experienced by the everyday person, which is often anxiety or depression. An individual’s psychological well-being, or often lack thereof, can affect their cognitive and physical processes, leading to changes in their physical and mental health. The theory of attachment hypothesizes that … Continue reading The Effect of Mindfulness on Adult Attachment

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2016-17, Psychology

Adult Attachment in the Sexual Minority

by Amanda Ng (’17) The theory of attachment states that the development of a secure attachment to a primary caregiver during the first two years of life predicts aspects of one’s life, such as behavior in adult relationships and overall well-being. In infancy, a secure or insecure attachment is developed when a primary caregiver is either consistently or inconsistently responsive to the child, leading the … Continue reading Adult Attachment in the Sexual Minority

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2016-17, Psychology

Employment May Aid Schizophrenics

by Julia Newman (’19) At the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Poland, Dr. Charzynska and his team of researchers conducted a study in order to determine the effect of employment on schizophrenic patients and found some promising results. Although schizophrenia itself currently has no cure, there are both medicinal and therapeutic forms of relief for the symptoms associated with the disorder. Thus, in this … Continue reading Employment May Aid Schizophrenics

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2016-17, Psychology

Forgiveness Predicts Lasting Relationships

by Amanda Ng (’17) Many studies conducted in the field of social psychology have been dedicated to creating lasting relationships. Previous studies have shown that the presence of forgiveness in a relationship indicates successful conflict resolution and lower levels of stress. This leads to higher satisfaction in relationships, whether they continue or end. In a recent study led by Dr. Tsukasa Kato of the Department … Continue reading Forgiveness Predicts Lasting Relationships

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2016-17, Health, Medicine and Physiology, Psychology

Mindfulness: A New Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis Patients

by Jenna Mallon (’18) Along with the disabilities caused by damage to the Central Nervous System (CNS), stress, depression, and anxiety are common occurrences for patients who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In many cases, these mental illnesses will exacerbate the physical side effects of MS. In order to combat this, psychological treatments like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have been used in conjunction with traditional forms … Continue reading Mindfulness: A New Treatment For Multiple Sclerosis Patients

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2016-17, Psychology

Gender Differences in Emotional Experience and Expression

by Lillian Pao (’18) There are many differences between men and women, some of which concern their emotional experiences. Professor Yaling Deng, from the Beijing Normal University in Beijing, China, decided to investigate the emotional experience and expression difference between males and females. His study tested 31 men and 48 women on eight emotion types: sadness, anger, horror, disgust, neutrality, surprise, amusement, and pleasure. To … Continue reading Gender Differences in Emotional Experience and Expression

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2016-17, Health, Medicine and Physiology, Psychology

The Influence of Religion on the Sexuality of Women

by Lillian Pao (’18) Religion and spiritual beliefs may influence pregnant and postpartum women’s sexuality. Professor Sagrario Gomez Cantarino, from the University of Castilla la Mancha in Toledo, Spain, and his team of researchers wanted to understand a woman’s perspective on this issue as a result of her interactions with others as well as influential cultural and historical ideals. To further learn about women’s thoughts, … Continue reading The Influence of Religion on the Sexuality of Women

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2016-17, Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology

The Role of Social Stress in Cocaine Addiction

by Aaron Gochman (’18) This week, scientists from the University of Texas at Austin contributed a novel idea to addiction research. Focusing on glutamatergic synaptic transmission, the primary mode of excitatory signaling in the central nervous system, the group hypothesized that social stress would lead to increased vulnerability to cocaine addiction. Specifically, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, a prime location for dopamine … Continue reading The Role of Social Stress in Cocaine Addiction

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2016-17, Psychology, Sociology

The Strong Black Woman: How Stereotypes Can Affect Our Health

by Amanda Ng (’18) The way people are stereotyped can not only affect how others view us, but also how we view ourselves. This internalization of stereotypes and altered self-perception can lead to both mental and physical health problems for many individuals. In this study, conducted by Dr. Lindsey West of New England University, data was collected from 113 Black female college students aged 18 … Continue reading The Strong Black Woman: How Stereotypes Can Affect Our Health

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2016-17, Psychology, Sociology

How Birth Order Affects Social Relationships

by Amanda Ng (’18) Although much research has been done on birth-order and its affects on relationships, it has mostly focused on theories such as the “middle-child syndrome” and how birth order can affect siblings’ relationships. However, what has not been studied is the idea that a person’s birth order may also affect their prosociality, which is the degree to which a person acts in … Continue reading How Birth Order Affects Social Relationships

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