Helms - Ohlone Psychology Blog

IMPORTANT: Information About Using Canvas for "Remote Instruction"...

Dear Students:

Please click the links below to download the instructions for YOUR CLASS. (They're all basically the same, but I want to avoid confusion where possible, so download the one for your class only.)

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING ConferZoom

Download ConferZoom Directions for Students

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Psychology 101 - M/W 9:45 AM

Download Remote Instruction - Psych 101 MW 945

Psychology 112 - M/W 1:00 PM

Download Remote Instruction - Psych 112 MW 100

Psychology 101 - T/TH 11:00 AM

Download Remote Instruction - Psych 101 TTH 1100

Psychology 101 - T/TH 1:00 PM

Download Remote Instruction - Psych 101 TTH 100

Psychology 101 - TH 6:30 PM

Download Remote Instruction - Psych 101 TH 630

Therapeutic Touch "Therapy"...

Click the video below to watch John Stossel's report on Therapeutic Touch Therapy, a technique used by millions of practitioners (including nurses!) to "detect bad energy fields, and to promote healing though focusing the Universe's good energy onto and into the body."

This technique has been shown repeatedly to have no scientific basis, and no therapeutic or medical value, yet people continue to teach and use it.  This strong belief despite evidence to the contrary follows certain well known psychological principles, such as Belief Perseverance.

Lobotomy...

Dear Psychology 101 Students:

One of the most disturbing chapters in the history of modern treatment of the mentally ill is the introduction and practice of the Prefrontal Lobotomy.  This procedure involved various surgical techniques, each designed to cut off communication between the front lobes and the emotion center of the brain. Now considered "quack" medicine, more than 35,000 of these operations were performed by the late 1950s, on people of all ages, and for a host of mental, emotional, and social adjustment issues.

CLICK HERE to watch a PBS special (separated into several parts) entitled "The Lobotomist," about the most famous proponent of the operation, Walter Freeman.

 

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CLICK HERE if you would like to learn more about Freeman and his infamous "Icepick Lobotomy" procedure.  The web site contains information, images, and most importantly an audio recording (see link at the top of the page) originally aired on National Public Radio (NPR).  It is narrated by Howard Dully, a man who underwent the procedure at the age of 12 at the behest of his step-mother.  Dully's narration and subsequent writings on the matter are as touching as they are horrifying.

Freeman is a controversial figure, and I must warn you that the PBS report above can be a bit disturbing for the more sensitive among us, so do not feel you have to visit the site or listen to the report.  For the rest of you, please know that the American Medical Association and the APA no longer endorse this procedure (or any lobotomy procedure).

The Bipolar Handbook...

Dear Students:

If you're looking for a resource with the very latest information on Bipolar Disorder, I highly recommend The Bipolar Handbook by Wes Burgess, MD, PhD. Dr Burgess is a practicing psychiatrist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Bipolar Disorder. He received his training at Stanford University Medical Center, and has taught at both Stanford and UCLA.

Phobias!...

Dear Students:

Below, please find the list of Phobias we discussed in class.  This list of approximately 500 Phobias is by no means comprehensive, but it should illustrate to you that, since they are all learned, the types of Phobias are endless. 

Download ch_13_phobia_list.doc

Dorthea Dix...

Dear Psychology Students:

As discussed, a woman named Dorthea Dix is almost single-handedly responsible for sparking a movement that resulted in revolutionizing the treatment of those with mental illness in this country.  The fact that she was a woman living in the 19th-century Southern U.S. makes her story all the more astonishing and impressive.

CLICK HERE to read more about this remarkable woman.

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If this sort of history piques your interest, please contact Heather McCarty ([email protected]) and ask about taking her new course entitled "History 119B: Bad Girls: Women in America from 1890."

CLICK HERE to read about another incredible woman, Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Jane Cochran), and her incredible ordeal spending 10 days in an asylum with the express purpose of studying it from the inside and reporting on her experiences.

The Stanford Prison Experiment...

In 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted what is now one of the best known experiments in the history of psychology: The Stanford Prison Experiment. Testing the power of the situation, Zimbardo set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology laboratory at Stanford University, randomly assigning a few dozen volunteers to the roles of Prisoner or Prison Guard.  The study was scheduled to last for two weeks, but had to be called off by Day 6 because it had gotten seriously out of control. At least, according to Zimbardo...

CLICK HERE to read a short, but fiery, op-ed piece by Carlo Prescott (the ex-con who helped Zimbardo construct his mock prison), in which he accuses Zimbardo of lying about how the study was set up, the meaning behind the behaviors exhibited by the guards, and several other important points.

CLICK HERE to watch a video, describing the newest controversy about the Stanford Prison Experiment, much of which calls into question the results.

CLICK HERE to watch an introductory video about the study, and visit Dr. Zimbardo's web site for more information.

Milgram Obedience Revisited...

One of the most earth shaking studies in the history of social psychology was the 1960 study carried out by Stanley Milgram at Yale University, known as the Milgram Obedience Study.

In it, he told subjects that they would be taking part in a study on pain and memory, and set up a crisis of conscience in which they would be asked to electrocute a man in another room (whom they helped strap into a chair) for getting wrong answers on a memory test.  The machine in front of them had switches that were clearly labeled from 15 to 450 volts, and yelps, cries, and screaming could clearly be heard emanating from the other room in response to their flipping them..

In actuality, no electric shocks were being administered. The whole study was a covert method of testing the person throwing the switches to administer the "shocks." The other man (an actor) and the cries for help (a recording, to keep that variable consistent across subjects) were simply props.

Although the study's results provided an excellent source of information and debate, its methods (along with a few other well known, but controversial studies) were soon called into question, leading to much stricter guidelines for carrying out psychological investigation in a more ethical manner. Under those guidelines, psychologists have understandably been reluctant to replicate Milgram's study. However, news magazine shows are not under the auspices of the APA, and Dateline NBC recently replicated the study, with psychologist Michael Shermer at the helm.  CLICK HERE to see a panel interview during which Shermer discusses the results of that show, and HERE to read his write up of the results.

Bystander Apathy...

As many of you know, the story of Kitty Genovese is almost synonymous with the term "Bystander Apathy." Since her death in the 1960s, hundreds of scientific articles have been published on why some people freeze during emergencies, and attempting to explain why no assistance is given by crowds of people when others need help.

A recent article has brought to light many details that call into question whether Bystander Apathy played a role at all in the Genovese murder. One thing that is certain, however, is that the phenomenon is quite real, and that it plays out every day somewhere in the world.

 

Recently, Kitty's younger brother, Bill Genovese, created a moving documentary called "The Witness" in which he investigates his sister's murder, the aftermath, and the creation and spreading of the myth about the bystanders who were said to have done nothing to help. Watch the trailer below, then go watch it.

 

 

Beauty is in the BRAIN of the beholder...

Although the old saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," implying that our assessment of attractiveness is learned and subjective, much research in the field of Psychology suggests quite the opposite.  Research has shown that we prefer faces that conform to certain measurements; the further away from those measurements, the less attractive the face is considered (beginning as early as 6 months of age, we are able to make these judgments). 

CLICK HERE to visit Stephen Marquardt's excellent interactive web site where he shares the research on beauty, discusses what factors make up "the perfect face," and shows how the basic beauty factors (symmetry, the Golden Proportion, etc.) are not only universal, but are also evolutionary, giving us physical cues as to the genetic health of the individual.

Leon Festinger & Cognitive Dissonance...

Back in the 1950s, psychologist Leon Festinger conducted a series of experiments that showed how people's beliefs are affected by Cognitive Dissonance, a psychological and emotional reaction in which people experience negative emotions because they have performed a behavior that is in conflict with their beliefs. Festinger set out to demonstrate that we unconsciously alter our beliefs so that they match with behaviors in order to avoid Cognitive Dissonance.  He did this by showing that people's beliefs about a boring task could be altered by getting them to tell others that the task was actually fun. CLICK HERE to see a short educational clip about this landmark study.

Festinger later became fascinated by a doomsday cult known as The Seekers. He knew that their leader, a Chicago housewife named Dorothy Martin.  Ms. Martin had amassed a large following of people convinced that she was communicating with beings in outer space through automatic writing. These beings supposedly told her of a great and terrible flood that would wipe out all of humanity, later revealing that she and her followers would be spared. The date for this end-of-the-world prophecy had come and gone without incident several times, but the core of her followers remained dedicated to her teachings and stayed with her.

Festinger took the unprecedented step of joining the cult (under false pretenses) in order to better witness and record their reactions during the next scheduled date.  He later wrote about his experiences in a book titled "When Prophecy Fails," and introduced the scientific community to the term Cognitive Dissonance. As Festinger predicted, members of The Seekers unconsciously altered their beliefs in a manner that allowed them to resolve this internal conflict, and giving themselves "permission" to stay in the cult even though the failed predictions should have (logically) proved Ms. Martin a fraud.

Project Implicit Exercise...

Dear Psychology Students:

CLICK HERE to be taken to the web page for "Project Implicit" at Harvard University.

Once there, you will need to complete the Registration process.  Although it is anonymous, please use correct information since their data will be affected by your results.  I strongly suggest using a "junk" email account (one that you do not plan to use for daily emails from friends/colleagues).

Once registered and logged in, please follow the instructions given.  It takes a bit of reading, but the results will be worth the small degree of effort involved.  After all, this measure is about your favorite topic: YOU!

 

Contradicting the wild popularity and public acceptance of Implicit Bias, many in the field of psychology have begun to question whether such tests are actually valid measurements of bias and bigotry. READ THIS article to see the questions psychologists and others are beginning to ask, and consider whether these tests could be measuring something completely different. If so, consider why people seemed so quick to accept that we all have hidden bigotry inside of us. Could it be that we take pleasure in the "confession," and enjoy virtue signaling to others about our "woke" natures?

Personality - Keirsey Temperament Sorter...

Dear Students:

If you would like to experience a modern-day "Personality Test," click the links below and download the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Keirsey uses a few dozen self-report questions to categorize you into one of 16 different personality types.

After answering the questions, use the KEY to add up the numbers and determine your 4-letter category. Then, look up your "type" on the list of all 16 personalities.

Clicking the hyperlink above will allow you to critically analyze the orignal MBTI and its creators, and to decide for yourself whether these types of tests have any validity.

Download keirsey_temp_sorter.doc

Download color_calculation_sheet.doc

Download keirsey_types.doc

"A Dangerous Method" - A film about Freud and Jung...

Keep an eye out for a film entitled "A Dangerous Method," starring Michael Fassbender as Sigmund Freud, and Viggo Moretenson as Carl Jung.  The film takes place just before WWI, a time that would test the complex and increasingly strained relationship between Freud and his young protégé.  I'm sure it's available on DVD by now.

Reviewers are hailing it as a masterpiece of historical drama, and it seems destined to win many more awards than it already has, as well as to re-introduce the world to the achievements of these two men.  Although the work of Freud and Jung has been largely discredited, they should be credited for getting the conversation started about the field of psychology, psychotherapy, etc.

Click below to watch the trailer.

The Only Known Recording of Sigmund Freud...

Dear Students,

During the Nazi takeover of Europe, Freud and his family were in trouble like all Jews in the affected regions. They were able to escape due to connections (including Princess Marie Bonaparte of France, who put up the necessary funds to buy his freedom and allow him an exit visa). CLICK HERE to read the details.

Below is a very interesting artifact from the history of psychology -- a recording of Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychology.

"Freud: The Making of an Illusion" by Fred Crews...

Berkeley professor Dr. Fred Crews has written what some consider to be the ultimate biography on the most famous (and infamous) figure in the history of psychology, Sigmund Freud.

Crews' book, "Freud: The Making of an Illusion," sheds light on little-known backstories and historical truths about Freud as a man, the etiology of his ideas about psychology and the human mind, and his surprisingly non-scientific methods in both.

CLICK HERE to read an NY Times review of Crews' book which I think you'll find interesting.

The REAL statistics on 2018 school shootings...

If you've been reading the news lately, you've probably come across numerous stories about the horrific school shooting in Parkland, FL that left 17 young people dead, and dozens more wounded. The lone assailant, Nikolas Cruz, had a long history of behavioral problems and violent outbursts, eventually resulting in his being expelled from the school. Local law enforcement reported that they were well acquainted with his family, having been called to his home no fewer than 23 times since 2008 for a variety of complaints about Cruz and/or his brother.

As the debate over the role of mental illness, firearm laws, and law enforcement reaction continues, one number is being bandied about by people on both sides of this debate; that number is 17. Many news reports include a phrase such as, "17 school shootings this year alone."

The source of this number is often attributed to a group called Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit advocacy group that tracks firearm incidents in the U.S. and reports them on their website and/or to news media. Their use of the number 17 provides a good lesson about the importance of using statistics honestly and clearly.

Type A / Type B Personality Test...

Dear Students:

CLICK HERE to take an online version of the Jenkins Activity Survey, an introspective measure that will allow you to test whether you fit into the category of Type A or Type B personality.  This measure is based on research by Jenkins, Ayzanski, & Rosenman (1971), and consists of just 30 items. 

More information on Type A and Type B personalities can be found HERE.

Enjoy!

-- Sheldon

Measuring Your Stress Levels...

Dear Students:

Please click the links below to download either the Stress Scale for Youth, or the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (for adults).  Both are designed to provide you with insight into your level of stress, and help you decide whether it's time to take steps to cope better.  Keep in mind that we can be under great stress and not even notice it, so don't assume that you'll know when you're at risk.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Test...

Dear Students:

CLICK HERE to be whisked away to Discovery Health's web site to take an Emotional Intelligence test.  As discussed in class, such tests purport to measure your ability to:

1. know your emotions

2. manage your emotions

3. motivate yourself

4. recognize emotions in others, and

5. handle relationships.

For more information Emotional Intelligence (including the criticisms), CLICK HERE.

"An Honest Liar" Now On Netflix!...

Dear Students,

James Randi is not only one of the greatest magicians and entertainers of all time, he's also a wonderful critical thinker and a decent human being. He has devoted most of his adult life to protecting the public from those he sees as charlatans and swindlers, while also teaching us some important lessons about the power of rationality and the scientific method.

In Spring of 2015, I hosted a screening of the documentary film about Randi's life, called "An Honest Liar." At the time, it was only being shown in theaters and our screening was the only one approved for release on a college campus. I'm happy to say that the film has now been released on DVD and Blu-Ray, and is available to watch online via Netflix.

I strongly encourage you to watch it. You'll not only be entertained, but also informed and better prepared to protect yourself against the many scam artists and con criminals you'll encounter in life.

 

 

Nonhuman Primate Communication...

Dear Students:

Click the link below to read an interesting article from Skeptic about research on nonhuman primate communication.  For decades we've heard conflicting reports about efforts to teach chimps and gorillas (and sometimes orangutans) to "talk" using sign language, message boards, and other means.  In the early 1970s, the answer seemed to be that it was possible that they might actually have the capacity to express themselves on something approaching a human level of communication.  Since that time, the research has been criticized in terms of its methods, research design, conclusions and, in some cases, even its very authenticity!.

Spring Syllabi...

Dear Students:

Please click the appropriate link below to download your syllabus.  I teach a lot of classes, and multiple sections of some, so make sure that you download and save only the syllabus for the class that you have registered for.  Each syllabus has information (room numbers, test dates, etc.) that is specific to YOUR class.  These syllabi will remain on my blog for the entire semester.

Moreover, if I mention a schedule change in class (they're rare, but they are sometimes unavoidable), or if I happen to miss a class due to illness, it is your responsibility to check back here to see if a revised version of your syllabus has been posted.

 

APA Tips for Avoiding Cabin Fever...

Since everyone and his brother is playing amateur scientist or psychologist these days, I've hesitated to chime in. But I've also received a good number of messages from people who've asked me to advise them about how to cope with the Shelter-In-Place order, and all the other craziness that we're currently faced with. To that end, here's my advice for dealing with Cabin Fever.
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Mate Traits Questionnaire...

Dear Social Psychology Students:

Below are links from which you can download a Mate Traits survey created by the evolutionary psychologist, David M. Buss. His research on various aspects of human psychology show that behavior genes are alive and well in our minds, and many of them are universal and long-lived.

To take the survey accurately, download and fill out Part 01. After you have rated each of the items from 1 to 13, download Part 02 and see how your answers match up to the people Buss has surveyed in over three dozen countries around the world. Your results may surprise you.

Download Ch 08 - Mate Traits part 01

Download Ch 08 - Mate Traits part 02

Secondary Source Citation (citing a study within a study)...

Dear Students:

Some of you have written to inquire about how to cite a study that is mentioned within a study that you are reading.  This is referred to as a Secondary Source Citation, and it is generally frowned upon.

The general rule is that you wouldn't want to cite something that you haven't actually read. Relying upon someone else's interpretation and reporting of a study is fraught with complications (e.g., misquoting, misinterpretation, deception, etc.). At the University level, your professors will simply require you to go find the research and read it for yourself.  My rules are slightly different.

What I ask you to do is to make a good-faith effort to find that information in another source (a journal article that provides the same information, but which you are actually able to read yourself). If that is not possible, you may use the attached format to cite a Secondary Source.

Do not abuse the privilege, though, or your paper will be weakened by the fact that you haven't done much primary research, and your grade could suffer.

Download Rules for Secondary Source Citation

Remember The Lessons of Elizabeth Loftus...

As we will discuss, one of the world's leading researchers in Memory is a psychologist named Elizabeth Loftus.  Professor Loftus has published hundreds of articles, reporting the results of work with tens of thousands of subjects' memories. The big lesson from this research is that memory production is "constructive" and maleable. It is not a perfect reproduction of the experience, as many people assume.

Dr. Loftus has been a consultant, or testified, in hundreds of criminal cases that involve memory-based testimony, leading to a great interest in her work, but also a good deal of backlash and hate because she stands up for the truth, even with unpopular defendants (e.g., Harvey Weinstein).

CLICK HERE to listen to my ShelShocked Podcast episode on memory, which includes an interview with Elizabeth Loftus!

 

The Woman Who Can't Forget...

Have you ever wished for a better memory? I think it's a very common (perhaps ubiquitous) human desire. Many might even go so far as to envy those who have "perfect recall," the ability to store and retrieve nearly every experience, fact, thought, etc.

As with many such cases, however, the reality of perfect recall, often a result of Hyperthymesia, is far from the rosy picture many of us imagine. The case of Jill Price (The Woman Who Can't Forget) illustrates this quite well. Studied by researchers for years, always under a pseudonym, Price has marveled memory specialists with her ability to recite dates and facts down to the smallest detail, with little or no error. She even corrects entries in encyclopedias and other authoritative sources.

CLICK HERE to read a report about this fascinating woman, and watch the embedded video for additional details about how this "gift" can also carry a "curse."

Click the video below to watch a short documentary about Jill and her life history.

 

Life Without Pain...

Dear Students:

CLICK HERE to be taken to a story about a young boy with the rare disorder "Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhydrosis" (CIPA) a condition that leaves him unable to feel pain, or to regulate his body heat.

The Johari Window...

Dear Social Psychology Students,

Click the link below to download and take a simple version of the Johari Window.  It's probably best to take the test before reading about what it's meant to measure.

Download CH 07 - Johari Window Handouts

 

After you receive your results, CLICK HERE to read more about the Johari Window and what it means.

As with any such tool, you should use critical thinking when evaluating its validity, both in general, as well as specifically as it applies to you.  I also invite you to learn more about the creators of this measure (Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham), as well as its history and development.

Have fun,

-- Sheldon

B.F. Skinner and his Kamikaze Pigeons...

Perhaps no better example of the success of B.F. Skinner, the training of kamikaze pigeons in Project Orcon in the 1940s and 1950s showed how Operant Conditioning could be used in some of the most extreme conditions imaginable.  In it, Skinner shaped the behavior of the birds so well that they could actually guide missiles toward their target (ultimately killing the birds, of course, but they didn't know that).

CLICK HERE to be taken to a website that covers the project in detail, including strategic blueprints, as well as a short video clip that explains its history and problems.

Mosquito: The Sound of Silence?...

Dear Psychology Students: 

Click here to read an article on the creation of the "Mosquito Noise," a 17 kilohertz sound file that was created to discourage young "troublemakers" from hanging out in front of stores, in construction zones, or in other places that they are creating trouble or putting themselves in danger.

Its genius lies in the fact that, generally speaking, only those under the age of about 25 can hear the noise (which I understand is quite shrill and annoying).  Presumably, those over 25 years of age are less likely to make trouble, and can go about their business in a mature fashion.  It may seem a bit "age-ist" and discriminatory, but initial reports are that it seems to work better than constantly calling the police.

In an interesting side note, clever youth have begun to download this file as a "silent" ring tone for their cell phones, allowing them to receive calls without the "old folks" knowing it.  In the game between Youth and Age, I'd say the score is a 1:1 tie, then.

To download file, click below.

Download 17KHz.wav

Sensation and Perception...

CLICK HERE to be taken to a wonderful web site full of illusions that will test your perceptive abilities and make you better aware of just how the brain's perceptive abilities work (and don't work) to give us a sense of the world around us.  For a preview of such wonders, click the image to the right and stare at it for a moment.  Although your brain may tell you otherwise, I promise it's not actually moving.

Sensation, Perception, and the Backmasking Craze...

They say the devil's in the details, but they never warned us that he may also be lurking in your I-Pod.

At least, that's what the proponents of BackMasking would have you believe.  This phenomenon is not only predicated upon the belief that we can be affected by subliminal input, but even more outlandishly, that we can be affected by BACKWARD subliminal input. 

CLICK HERE to be taken to a web site where you can hear excerpts from songs of the accused, played forward and backward.  Numerous music artists throughout the years have been accused of "corrupting America's youth" with messages of death, destruction, suicide, and evil supposedly hidden within their music. 

The best defense against the nonsense of BackMasking lies in how difficult it is to determine what the message is before reading the "reverse lyrics."  An area of the brain responsible for language comprehension (the Wernicke's Area) creates this auditory phenomenon.  Ever on the lookout for input, the Wernicke's Area only needs the slightest suggestion to give us the perception of language.  With an almost endless supply of recordings to search, it is almost certain that a combination of sounds will present themselves that are close enough to actual words to be perceived as language, especially once we are prompted to listen for them.

Research on Sexual Orientation...

Sadly, most of our education lacks a thorough review the contributions of gay men and women in our curriculum (the way such is, thankfully, done for Chicano and African American History).

Until this is done, I offer the following information for my students.

Psych 112 - Coded Gradebook...

Dear Social Psychology Students:

Using the "color code" provided in class, you may review your grades in the Excel spreadsheet below.

 

Download Grades Psych 112 - MW 3420

Social Psychology: The Rumspringa Project...

Dear Social Psychology Students:

Please join in The Rumspringa Project, a BOYCOTT FOR PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT, by ceasing the use of all forms of electronic communication and entertainment for ONE WEEK. Can you do it? Do you think it will have any effect on you? What problems might arise, and how could you learn to deal with them WITHOUT the use of modern communication devices?

Check out my Facebook page for the details, and then get ready to join the Rumspringa Project for ONE WEEK, between Friday, March 13th and Friday, March 20th. The following will be off limits:

1. Instagram
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. Linkedin
5. Internet
6. Streaming Services (e.g., Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.)
7. Video games
8. Cell phones (only landlines are okay)
9. Email

Click the link below to read details about the written assignment.

Psych 101 - Sleep Debt...

Dear General Psychology Students:

Please click the links below to download the Sleep Debt Measure and the KEY which will allow you to determine how much sleep you "owe" yourself.

More information on the importance of sleep can be accessed by clicking HERE.

-- Sheldon

Download ch_06_sleep_debt_measure.doc

Download ch_06_sleep_debt_key.doc

William C. Dement - World's Leading Sleep Researcher...

Dear Students:

In 2010, I was honored to receive an invitation to become part of a collaborative effort to educate the public about the importance of sleep. This group, now called the Stanford Sleepwell Society, operates under the auspices of one of the biggest names in sleep research, Stanford University professor/researcher William C. Dement, MD, PhD.

In a previous semester, several members of the Ohlone Psychology Club and some of my other students attended a talk by Dr Dement.

In addition to being an icon within the field of psychology, Dr Dement is a pioneer in Sleep Research, having co-discovered the REM stage of sleep, and worked with none other than Nathaniel Kleitman and Eugene Aserinsky!

Each of us got a copy of Dement's latest book,  and both he and I got a little tired as the night wore on.    : )   

According to Dement, sleep research is the most important field of medicine ever, and lack of sleep affects our lives in countless ways (some of them deadly).  I strongly urge you all to look into his and others' work in this field.  It's not only fascinating, but also enlightening and educational! 

Be sure and check out his book, The Promise of Sleep, which compiles over 50 years of his scientific research into one easy-to-read work.

 

Use the link below to download a Sleep Debt test to see if you're getting enough sleep. Then get a copy of Dr. Dement's book and find out what to do about it.

Download Ch 06 Sleep Debt Measure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing Oliver Sacks...

One of my favorite topics in the field of psychology is the true story of an attempt by neurologist Oliver Sacks to help people suffering from a never-before-seen disease called Encephalitis Lethargica (Sleepy Sickness). 

Recording of my lectures is prohibited...

Hi, Everyone!

As I mention in each of my classes, I do not allow video or audio recording of my lectures.  This has apparently been confusing for some, so I wanted to be very clear about it.

The lectures that I give are extemporaneous and, although they may seem to be "off the top of my head" at times, I can assure you that that is an illusion.  Each of my lectures contains a great deal of carefully planned information and is "performed" as much as recited.  Therefore, my lectures and those performances constitute my Intellectual Property.  Without ownership of this property, a faculty member can become somewhat obsolete, as well as having her/his property disseminated without consent.

I hope this clarifies my policy; let me know if you have any questions.

-- Sheldon

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California Education Code 78907 prohibits students taping a class, and violation is a misdemeanor:

78907. The use by any person, including a student, of any
electronic listening or recording device in any classroom without the
prior consent of the instructor is prohibited, except as necessary
to provide reasonable auxiliary aids and academic adjustments to
disabled students. Any person, other than a student, who willfully
violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
  Any student violating this section shall be subject to appropriate
disciplinary action.

Psych 112 - APA / Course Paper Documents...

Dear Social Psychology Students:

Below are the documents you will need to write your Course Paper.  These documents will remain on the blog for the entire semester, so if you lose them, you'll always have a back-up.

Download Social Psychology Course Paper Assignment

Download Apa-cover-page

Download 101-sample-reference-page

Dear Social Psychology Students:

Below are the documents you will need to write your Course Paper.  These documents will remain on the blog for the entire semester, so if you lose them, you'll always have a back-up.

Download Social Psychology Course Paper Assignment

Download Apa-cover-page

Download 101-sample-reference-page

Ohlone Psychology Club...

Dear Students:

As many of you may know, we have a thriving Psychology Club here at Ohlone College.  One of the most visible and active clubs on campus, the Psychology Club regularly hosts guest speakers, organizes off-campus field trips, has regular fund raisers, and engages in regular discussions related to the field of psychology.

 

Our meetings are held every Thursdays, from 3:00 - 4:00 pm.

ROOM 3316

 

Correlation vs. Causation...

One of the most important factors in becoming a good critical thinker (and, often, a good consumer of science education) is the ability to understand that correlates are not always causally linked. In other words, just because two things happen together in a predictable manner, that doesn't necessarily mean that one is causing the other.

THIS WEBSITE contains numerous examples of very strong correlations between variables that are highly unlikely to have any causal link (e.g., how could the number of people who drown in pools over a decade be caused by the number of films that star Nicolas Cage?).

The news media is often to blame for reporting stories that are only correlationally linked as if they have a causal connection. Being aware of this, as well as having a good understanding of the fallacy, can make us better able to understand the science we read or hear about, and better informed overall.

Psych 101 (General Psychology) Course Paper Documents...

Use the links below to download the instructions for the Course Paper assignment for your class. In it, you will find a general description of the assignment, as well as guidelines for writing in APA style.

It may benefit you to print these out and bring them to class for the lecture on the Course Paper. That way, you can take notes as we discuss the assignment and APA style.

Download Psych-101-apa-course-paper-instructions

Download Apa-cover-page

Download 101-sample-reference-page

Psych 101 Course Paper Films...

Dear General Psychology Students:

Below, you will find trailers for the 6 films that you can choose from for the basis of your Course Paper. Please note that you should select one that interests you, and also do a bit of research on the disorder it claims to portray BEFORE the deadline in the syllabus indicated as "Paper Topic Due."  On that date, you will turn in a full sheet of paper with your name, the specific class you are enrolled in, and the paper topic you have chosen from the list. Once you have turned that in, you may NOT change your topic.

Accessing Ebscohost Database for Course Paper Research...

Dear Students:

As you already know, your Course Paper is to be constructed using peer-reviewed journal articles only as your scientific source material. To that end, please use the Ohlone Library's databases to find these. Click the link below to open this blog post and follow the instructions:

Correlation and Causation...

One of the most common logical mistakes people make when interpreting research findings they read online is to assume a causal relationship based on correlational information. In other words, they read that two things happened at the same time, and they assume that one must be CAUSING the other. That's not always true.

New Academic Core Buildings!...

Dear Students,

Our new, $500 million project is complete! The new Academic Core Buildings (ACB) are open and (mostly) functional! You won't believe how beautiful they are!

Just so you know, your classes will mostly be held in Buildings 1, 2, and 3 of the new ACB.  The first number of your classroom tells you the building you're in. The second tells you the floor you're on. And the rest refer to the room number.  For example, room 3316 is Building 3, Floor 3, and the 16th room in that hallway.

If you get lost, there are maps, and you can always ask an employee or fellow student.

See you soon!

- Sheldon

Spring Text Books...

Spring Semester text books for my classes are shown below. If you use the ISBN displayed here, you can be certain that you're purchasing the exact book I am teaching from. 

This information is also available in the Ohlone College Bookstore on campus, with classes organized in the store by department, instructor, and course.  Just ask any of the floor staff to help you find the section marked "Psychology," and find the book(s) with my name on the tag.

 

Student Data Sheet...

Dear Students:

Please download and complete the Student Data Sheet below, then bring it to class next time we meet.

IT REQUIRES A CLEAR FACE PICTURE OF YOU.  You can insert a picture of yourself and then print it out on the sheet, or just staple a picture to the sheet if that's easier.  Please make sure it's one that allows me to recognize you (no big sun glasses, artistic turns of the head, etc.).  I'm using these to get to know my students by name and face, in the hope that the information will help me adjust my teaching to students' needs and backgrounds.

Thanks!

-- Sheldon

Download Student-data-sheet 2019