Science of the SpiritS


Laptop

New study finds frequent social media use linked to depression

Kayleigh Lewis
The Independent
Fri, 25 Mar 2016 00:00 UTC
social media depression
© Sean Gallup/Getty Images Study highlights emotional risks associated with frequent social media use
The more time young adults spend on social media, the more likely they are to become depressed, a study has found.

Of the 19 to 32-year-olds who took part in the research, those who checked social media most frequently throughout the week were 2.7 times more likely to develop depression than those who checked least often.

The 1,787 US participants used social media for an average 61 minutes every day, visiting accounts 30 times per week. Of them a quarter were found to have high indicators of depression.

Dr Brian Primack, the director of Pitt's Centre for Research on Media, Technology and Health, led the study, and told The Independent: "It is important to explain that, because this was a cross-sectional study, directionality is not clear from these results.

"One strong possibility is that people who are already having depressive symptoms start to use social media more, perhaps because they do not feel the energy or drive to engage in as many direct social relationships."

Comment: Perhaps those frequent users of social media who become depressed are using technology as their primary way to connect with others. Researchers have found that all forms of socialisation aren't equal. Phone calls and digital communication, with friends or family members, do not have the same power as face-to-face social interactions in helping to stave off depression.

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Heart - Black

Study of thinking patterns and religious beliefs indicates non-believers report same personality traits as psychopaths

Susan Scutti
Medical Daily
Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:03 UTC
psychopathy traits empathy
© Ryan McGuireNon-believers report higher levels of self-centered impulsivity and coldheartedness than their religious peers.
The neurons in your brain work in coordinated networks, with some mental webs enabling critical thinking, others encouraging empathy. Given a science problem, then, the brain's analytical network will activate as it simultaneously suppresses the social network. A new study, presented as a series of linked experiments, explores this fundamental conflict between thinking and feeling. The more empathetic you are, the more likely you will be religious, the researchers discovered, while on the flip side, if you tend to be analytic, you are more likely to find the concept of a higher power difficult to swallow.

"Analytic thinking and moral concern represent two cognitive modes which our neural architecture causes to be in competition with each other," conclude the Case Western Reserve University and Babson College researchers.


Comment: This idea of 'competing' neural networks makes it appear as an either/or situation. It's not (as the authors point out at the very end of this article). At the level of 'statistically average people', the trends may be real, but it is very possible to be both analytical and empathic.


However, their results also suggest a darker side to our thinking brains. In terms of a general personality profile, the non-religious are aligned with the psychopaths, reporting higher levels of self-centered impulsivity and coldheartedness than their faithful peers.


Comment: The authors of the study specify: "religious and spiritual beliefs".


Comment: There's an important point left unaddressed in the above study: while psychopaths may lack any real spirituality, they are probably just as likely to be found in religious communities. In fact, they may even be over-represented in certain groups, because leadership positions in religious organizations provide easy access to prey. Their religious beliefs and piety are simply a mask of sanity; they are wolves in sheep's clothing, surrounded by sheep. Just look at the Catholic Church. As is usually the case with psychological studies like this, they oversimplify matters, use vague definitions for what are really complex phenomena, and generally don't tell much. Studies of the following might help get closer to the heart of the matter:
  • Are psychopaths over-represented in religious leadership positions?
  • Are they under-represented in non-leadership positions?
  • Do psychopaths who are members of religious groups self-report that they are believers? Or do they tend to deny "belief" in an anonymous setting?
That said, it's probably true that psychopaths tend to be less "spiritual" than non-psychopaths. From Lobaczewski's Political Ponerology:
Individuals with the psychopathy referred to herein are virtually unfamiliar with the enduring emotions of love for another person, particularly the marriage partner; it constitutes a fairytale from that "other" human world. Love, for the psychopath, is an ephemeral phenomenon aimed at sexual adventure. Many psychopathic Don Juans are able to play the lover's role well enough for their partners to accept it in good faith. After the wedding, feelings which really never existed are replaced by egoism, egotism, and hedonism. Religion, which teaches love for one's neighbor, also strikes them as a similar fairytale good only for children and those different "others".
With the following caveat, regarding those who eventually align with a pathocratic system:
They came from all social groups, including aristocratic and fervently religious families, and caused a break in our student solidarity to the order of some 6%.


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Better Earth

Why women need a tribe, sisterhood is a powerful force

Tanja Taljaard
Uplift
Wed, 23 Mar 2016 00:00 UTC
Women tribe
Is Sisterhood the most powerful force for Women's Health?
"Female friendships are just a hop to our sisterhood, and sisterhood can be a very powerful force" - Jane Fonda
In ancient times women shared a lot more than they do today. They shared care of their babies, gathered food and cooked together. The women and the children shared their lives intimately, and were a source of strength and comfort to each other on a daily basis. Traditions like the Red Tent, where women came together during menstruation to be together, often with synchronized cycles, were a beautiful time for nurturing, sharing women's business and keeping each other resilient and happy.

Today, women are a lot more isolated in their own homes and lives and more separate from each other. The opportunities for coming together are much more limited and the time spent together in this way greatly reduced. Because of this women miss the beautiful healing and nourishment that comes from being with other.

Comment: See also: How your psychological outlook affects your immune system

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Magic Wand

The depression cure: Counteracting the health impact of a civilized lifestyle

Sara Burrows
Upliftconnect.com
Mon, 14 Mar 2016 22:34 UTC
cure depression
Depression is a global epidemic. It is the main driver behind suicide, which now claims more than a million lives per year worldwide. One in four Americans will suffer from clinical depression within their lifetimes, and the rate is increasing with every generation.

It robs people of sleep, energy, focus, memory, sex drive and their basic ability to experience the pleasures of life, says author of The Depression Cure Stephen Ildari. It can destroy people's desire to love, work, play and even their will to live. If left unchecked it can cause permanent brain damage.

Comment: Why your ancestors didn't have anxiety or depression and you do

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Nebula

What curiosity can do for your brain

Alexa Erickson
Collective Evolution
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 19:19 UTC
curiosity
Do you ever scour the Internet, scanning articles for information, then find yourself suddenly asking yourself questions about the topic being proposed? Your curiosity to dive further into a subject might send you into a tailspin of clicks as you search for answers. According to a new study from the University of California, Davis, when our curiosity is stimulated, our brain responds by preparing to learn about the topic we are interested in, along with incidental information.
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Hearts

Empathy: How do children learn it?

Justin H G Williams
The Conversation
Tue, 22 Mar 2016 19:38 UTC
children empathy
© Zurijeta/ShutterstockIt takes a while, but most children develop empathy easily.
Empathy, the ability to understand others and feel compassion for them, is arguably the most defining human quality - setting us apart from smart machines and even other animals. Without it, we couldn't function in social areas such as the schools, court rooms and office workplaces that are the cornerstones of our society.

But babies and toddlers are generally poor at showing sensitivity to other people's feelings. So how do they develop this crucial skill - do they learn it gradually or is it just an innate ability that kicks in at a certain age?

Empathy involves being sensitive to the emotions of others, understanding those emotions and responding in an appropriate way. Studies on how empathy develops need to look at how children understand and respond to emotions rather than their ability to recognise them. This is because children who have difficulties with empathy generally have little or no difficulty in identifying emotional reactions in others, but rather in understanding the purpose or cause of it.

For most children empathy seems to come naturally. Others may be perfectly capable of understanding the emotions of others but choose to respond in an inappropriate way, such as being aggressive. On the other hand, children with autism spectrum disorder may be very sensitive to the emotions of others but at the same time have difficulty in understanding those emotions and knowing how to respond. That difficulty can result in negative social experiences, leading to poor social confidence and social withdrawal.

This shows just how important the development of empathy is: poor social skills in childhood have been linked to a number of issues in adulthood - ranging from relationship and mental health problems to low income and substance abuse.

Comment: Further reading.

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Bullseye

Psychologists explain Trump: He's literally a narcissistic psychopath

M. David
Counter Current News
Sat, 27 Feb 2016 13:34 UTC
Donald Trump
© WonketteThe horrifying Donald Trump
As his presidential campaign marches on, with seemingly no scandal or gaff harming him in the least, millions of sane Americans have been asking, in the words of Henry Alford of Vanity Fair: "What exactly is wrong with this strange individual?"

Now, science has finally answered that question...

While there is no official clinical diagnosis of psychopathy, the textbook traits of it and related Anti Social Personality disorders like Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Sociopathy, are somewhat easy to spot once you know the signs.

The failure for there to be an official way to diagnose these disorders is due more to the fact that the individuals who have these traits are adept at masking them, or giving the answers to questions that psychologists "want" to hear.

Donald Trump is "remarkably narcissistic," according developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

"Textbook narcissistic personality disorder," clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis explained.

The Mayo Clinic explains "Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism." They add that "a narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life." The sufferer "may be generally unhappy and disappointed when you're not given the special favors or admiration you believe you deserve."

Clinical psychologist George Simon said that Trump is "so classic that I'm archiving video clips of him to use in workshops because there's no better example of his characteristics." He conducts lectures and seminars on manipulative behavior exhibited by narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths - all related Anti Social Personality Disorders. "Otherwise, I would have had to hire actors and write vignettes. He's like a dream come true."
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Chalkboard

Surprising find: Smart people tend to be loners


PsyBlog
Tue, 22 Mar 2016 20:43 UTC
intelligent people loners
© Shutterstock
People with high intelligence proved to be a fascinating exception to the usual rule.

The more that intelligent people socialise with their friends, the less satisfied they are with life, new research finds.The finding challenges the accepted idea that socialising generally makes people happier. It may be that for some people — especially those with high intelligence — socialising does not increase life satisfaction.

The possible reason why is intriguing...

The long-term study followed adults aged between 18 and 28-years-old. It looked at the density of the population and people's satisfaction with life. The results showed that, in general, people who lived in less densely populated areas were more satisfied with life.
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Dominoes

Behavioral contagion: Influence of others affects our decisions to engage in risky behaviors

Mindy Weisberger
LiveScience
Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:12 UTC
risk, risky behavior
© Jane0606People are more prone to take risks that align with the level of risk-taking that they observe in others, a new study finds.
Countless parents have asked their kids, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it, too?"

And although it's unclear exactly when in human history the first child might have rolled her eyes in response to this query, it does turn out that moms and dads are right to worry: The influence of those around us can affect decisions we make about risk-taking, according to a new study.

In the study, researchers analyzed the behavior of people who risked money (not personal safety) and found that after observing risky behavior in others, people were more likely to take risks themselves.

Social scientists use the term "behavioral contagion" to explain the phenomenon of people shifting their beliefs, opinions, or emotional states to conform with those expressed by others around them, said Shinsuke Suzuki, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar in neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology.

Comment: According to Robert Hare, psychopaths are known for their impulsivity and stimulation seeking behavior. As they gain power and thus expand their influence they can shape the mores and decisions of an entire society toward engaging in highly questionable activities. It is imperative for the well-being of society that we understand the phenomenon in order to inoculate ourselves against their pernicious influence.

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Heart

Kindness can make you happier, healthier and smarter

Christina Sarich
Waking Times
Sun, 20 Mar 2016 00:00 UTC
kindness, happiness
What if the cure for your cold was opening a door for a complete stranger? Or watering your neighbor's roses while they are away on vacation when you notice them wilting? How about stopping your headache by putting some spare change in someone's parking meter when it is about to expire? Or, reversing inflammatory joint pain by letting someone cut in front of you in traffic without getting miffed? These are not just Pollyanna wishes for curing mental and physical ailments. Science abounds with proof that kindness cures, an even makes us smarter.

Though there are opponents to the 'smile-or-die' phenomenon, but many studies actually provide sound evidence that kindness, and thereby, happiness, make you healthier.

Comment:

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