How do people protect themselves from themselves? What is projection? Do you do it? Is it normal to be normal? Is mental illness a myth? Is this a sick society? What do you call a male Ladybug?

The study of behavioral "madness" is a fascinating subject to most people. Indeed, novels such as Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Hanna Green's I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, and Flora Schreiber's Sybil are partial proof. And many people who read such books or take a course in Psychology wonder secretly if they are normal themselves. While there are no absolute answers, we will look at such a possibility as it pertains to you and I. In this section we will be concerned with the kinds of adjustments all of us make to frustration, stress, anxiety and conflict. Additionally, we will deal with the hoary question of neurotic/psychotic, adjusted/maladjusted, etc.

After participating in the Learning Activities for this section you should be able to:

1. identify elements of the immune system.
2. define the term psychoneuroimmunology.
3. contrast three approaches to studying stress vulnerability.
4. evaluate the major sources of stress.
5. judge the relationship between negative emotions and illness.
6. recognize and define the concept "locus of control."
7. assess the methods of coping with stress.
8. recognize the name "Selye.
9. identify the three phases of stress as proposed by Selye.
10. be more successful in the management of stress in your life.

VIDEO PROGRAMS: #22. "Health, Stress and Coping"

TEXT: (Wade & Tavris) Read Chapter 11 (again), "Emotion, Stress, and Health"

EXPERIENCE: Perspective on Neurosis

INTERNET SITES:

http://www.well.com/user/woa/
Things Drug Related

http://www.mentalhealth.com/
Internet Mental Health

http://www.shrinktank.com/
A self-help website, all sorts of psych related stuff.

Is "insanity" a form of adjustment? Can suicide be a rational act? What are the symptoms of anxiety reactions? Of psychosis? Why is EVIAN water spelled backwards NAIVE?  Can you prove you are sane?

"It's been a hard day; you breathe a sigh of relief as you slip into the protection of the darkness. You'd gotten up this morning and cleaned the house, paying special attention to wankanuts. Then a warm bath to scrub the poison dust from your body. A person as important as you just can't take chances with his health. they'll no doubt get you anyway, the stranger was proof of that. Imagine, walking through the door straight into your head! And the message he left: 'You must prepare and be ever on the watch for wankanuts who kill the highest left from the devil who be it is after the sex of your spirit once again.' That's important! Yes, it was a hard day, but it sure will be good when the world is safe again." This person is psychotic. In this section we will study and discuss the nature of the common psychoses and "neuroses."
 

After participating in the Learning Activities for this section you should be able to:

1. recognize the different ways of defining abnormal behavior.
2. assess the criticisms of the DSM.
3. identify the major characteristics of anxiety disorders.
4. distinguish among major depression and bipolar disorder.
5. begin to identify three personality disorders.
6. recognize the characteristics of the three types of dissociative disorders.
7. evaluate the controversy about the validity and nature of multiple personality disorder (MPD).
8. compare and contrast the disease and learning models of addiction.
9. recognize the symptoms of schizophrenia.
10. begin to develop a personal consciousness of and about matters of "mental health."

VIDEO PROGRAMS: #23. Understanding ...#1"  and #24 "Understanding...#2"

TEXT: (Wade & Tavris) Read Chapter 15 "Psychological Disorders"

EXPERIENCE: Thomas Eagleton

INTERNET SITES:

http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/depressd.htm
Depression and Suicide Resources

http://familydoctor.org/013.xmll
Panic and Anxiety Page

http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4TRclassification.htm
APA Diagnostic Classification for the DSM-IV

Who needs treatment? Could you affront it? How is psychotherapy like going to Acapulco? Why does it seem that psychiatrists believe in "better living through chemistry"? Can you heal thyself? Do we need mental hospitals? Does hypnosis work?  Why do I shed a tear when upon seeing a tear in the painting?

People grow and develop through interaction with their parents, friends, lovers and sometimes psychotherapists. Psychotherapy can take place individually or in groups, or with drugs or psychosurgery, and the forms it takes vary from psychoanalysis to nude marathons.

After participating in the Learning Activities for this section you should be able to:

VIDEO PROGRAMS: #22.  "Therapies

TEXT: (Wade & Tavris) Read Chapter 16, "Approaches to Treatment and Therapy"

EXPERIENCE: Survey

INTERNET SITE:

http://www.emofree.com/
Emotional Freedom Techniques

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/performanceenhancingdrugs/
Psychoactive Drugs and Sports 

How many roles do you play? Are we just actors/actresses on the stage of life? Are we just pawns in the grand scheme-of-things? Why doesn't  "buick" rhyme with "quick?"  Are you altruistic? Do you have culture?

In this Section we will consider an overview of the main topics in the field of social psychology, which studies the individual in a social and cultural context. Each person fills many social roles that are governed by norms about how we should behave in given circumstances. Indeed, these social roles can override our individual and personal beliefs and values. Studying individuals in a social context helps to identify the social influences that contribute to behavior that we think often originate from personality traits. Lastly, we will examine some of the rules that govern culture. Do we speak the same cultural language?

After participating in the Learning Activities for this Section you should be able to:

1. define the terms norms and roles.
2. apply the influences of norms and roles on behavior and cognitions.
3. identify the principles and components of attribution theory.
4. define the term attitude and identify important influences on such.
5. recognize persuasive techniques of attitude change.
6. identify at least two reasons for conformity to social pressure.
7. apply the terms "deindividuation" and  "group think."
8. identify the factors that lead to dissent and nonconformity.
9. define the factors that lead to homogeneous culture.
10. be more aware of your "personal" culture.

VIDEO PROGRAMS: #19. "Social Cognition"   #20 Attitudes" and #21 "Group Influences"

TEXT:(Wade & Tavris) Now Read Chapter 8, "Behavior in Social and Cultural Context"

EXPERIENCES: The Babe Ruth Candy Bar

INTERNET SITE:

http://www.units.muohio.edu/psybersite/cults/cco.shtml
Cults and Conformity and more...

http://www.census.gov/
The Government Census Bureau.

Below are 10 test items that can be used for a preview and review of the material in this section.

1. Regarding to the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body mobilizes to meet a threat during which stage?

1. alarm

2. Activation

3. Endurance

4. Exhaustion

1. examines psychological as well as somatic origins of diseases and disorders

2. is based on the theories of Freud

3. is tied to white blood cells

4. incorporates all of the above

1. intensity

2. hostility

3. achievement orientation

4. a fast work pace

1. impaired judgment

2. violation of cultural standards

3. maladaptive behavioral

4. emotional distress

1. It confounds serious mental disorders with normal problems in living

2. Its heavy emphasis on theory.

3. It implies that subjective diagnosis can be made objective.

4. It fosters over diagnosis and self fulfilling prophecies.

1. obsessive-compulsive episodes.

2. panic attacks

3. periods of elation

4. episodes of depression

1. brain abnormalities

2. genes

3. extra dopamine receptors

4. all the above

1. restore normal thought patterns

2. reduce dramatic symptoms

3. lessen hallucinations

4. have side effects

1. is commonly fatal

2. produces memory loss and other cognitive impairments

3. only helps people with minor psychological problems

4. creates a chemical dependency

1. changing beliefs

2. behavioral change

3. insight

4. symptom reduction

1. behavioral

2. psychodynamic

3. humanistic

4. cognitive

1. cultural psychology

2. social psychology

3. occupational psychology

4. power psychology

1. more cautions

2. more moderate

3. more extreme

4. less similar

1. it is very difficult to define

2. it is difficult to get subjects

3. the problem us interpreting results

4. the differences in language

1. accentuating differences between groups

2. producing selective perceptions

3. underestimating differences within other groups

4. all of the above

 Comments? Please contact Mark McKinley
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