MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'applied psychology'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:54:27 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911573&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fhow-forensic-psychology-began-and-flourished%2F There are many subsets of psychology. No doubt one of the most fascinating is forensic psychology. Forensic psychology is basically the intersection of psychology and the legal system. It’s quite a broad field. Psychologists work in a variety of settings, including police departments, prisons, courts and juvenile detention centers. And they do everything from assessing whether an incarcerated individual is ready for parole to advising attorneys on jury selection to serving as experts on the stand to counseling cops and their spouses to creating treatment programs for offenders. Most are trained as clinical or counseling psychologists. So how did this interesting specialty emerge and expand? Here’s a brief look at the history of forensic psychology. The Birth of Forensic Psychology The... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911573 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:09:18 +0100 4911573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186941&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FfHj2BX2mD_M%2Fstress-and-education-967.html Guy Brandon is a counsellor, author and the founder of www.StressingOut.org, a website dedicated to resources for stress, depression, anxiety and related conditions. Stress is a very normal and natural occurrence which happens in response to a wide variety of circumstances. It is an evolutionary response that it triggered by feelings of a lack of control, priming our bodies to react to a challenging situation. Stress has numerous effects on the body, but essentially prepares us for immediate action: fight or flight. The processes involved also affect the mind, altering decision- making processes and enabling us to take swift and decisive action. Reasons for stress Although stress evolved to keep us safe from physical threats, it is most commonly experienced for social reasons nowadays – ... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186941 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 10:30:36 +0100 4186941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366164&cid=t_206261_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fyou-awake-yet%2F photo: Thinkstock If you managed to sync up to Daylight Saving Time this morning, you probably lost an hour’s sleep. And, according to a study published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, that means you’re more likely to get injured on the job today. Not surprisingly, lack of sleep seems to make some worker bees less alert, heightening their risk of injury on the Monday after Daylight Saving Time. At Blisstree, we’re drinking extra coffee and keeping our mugs far away from our keyboards. (from Scientific American) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366164 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:20 +0100 3366164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3124577&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F28%2Fthe-power-of-the-will-to-live%2F Last year, we delved into the psychology of New Year’s resolutions, describing what little research has been done on why and how people make New Year’s resolutions. So here’s the good news from this year’s research tidbit — if you’re getting old and thinking that death is on your door, the week is yours to live and enjoy. Chances are good that you’ll make it to New Year’s day. Shimizu & Pelham (2008) looked at death records for millions of people using Social Security Death Index (SSDI) records. This database contains more than 70 million records of people who died in the U.S. in the past 65 years, according to the researchers. They wanted to determine whether people died more often before a major holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3124577 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:03:53 +0100 3124577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441590&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F04oz160933E%2Feyewitness-testimony-can-you-really-trust-your-own-eyes-851.html We all like to think that we have good memories for events and that if we were to be witness to a crime or incident that we would be able to recall in detail the events of the day. However our memories are not that reliable at all.  This has implications on many levels, but especially in the courtroom and with the police. For example: “Some researchers in Bologna demonstrate the spectacular hopelessness of memory. One morning in 1980, a bomb exploded in Bologna station: 85 people died, and the clock stopped ominously showing 10.25, the time of the explosion. This image became a famous symbol for the event, but the clock was repaired soon after, and worked perfectly for the next 16 years. When it broke again in 1996, it was decided to leave the clock showing 10.25 permanently, as a memor... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441590 Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:58 +0100 2441590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405346&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2Fdrxdw5HjkWk%2Fwho-is-it-that-really-suffers-when-a-prison-sentence-is-given-815.html At this very moment in time there are 82,813 people in prisons in the UK (weekly updates of prison UK populations) whereas in February 2004 there were only 69,122. We are punishing more-and-more people every year with prison but is it effective (a topic for another post) and does it only punish those who were at fault? In the first known study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers found that people with a family member or friend in prison or jail suffer worse physical and mental health and more stress and depressive symptoms than those without a loved one behind bars. Moreover, these symptoms worsen the closer the relationship to the person who was locked up According to the study, those who knew someone in prison had 40 percent more days where poor physical health interfered wit... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405346 Wed, 13 May 2009 09:05:28 +0100 2405346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398788&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FImI5Gq1RntI%2Fis-a-home-smoking-ban-enough-to-stop-teen-smoking-808.html We all know the power of role models and I have written about the effect of role modes on behaviour many times before: from the moving ‘Children See, Children Do‘ campaign to talking about the effectiveness of the pictures of death and destruction that now adorn our fag packets. All these ideas are supported by the Behaviourist Bandura and his Social Learning Theory which proposes that children especially learn their behaviours through the observation and imitation of role models.  Bandura demonstrated this in his 1961 research where he exposed children to aggressive role models who acted violently (both physical and verbal violence) towards an inflatable bobo-doll. He found that children who were passive witnesses to this violent act were more likely to imitate this behaviour... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398788 Sun, 10 May 2009 10:22:01 +0100 2398788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116893&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2FG5b_koKDkrw%2Fthe-pressures-of-being-a-role-model-768.html If you’ve ever seen the Channel 4 comedy Teachers then you might understand why the GTCE is considering implimenting a ‘role model’ code.  But is this really needed or necessary?  Yes, role models are influential, especially in the earlier years of childrens’ development, but shouldn’t they be allowed a private life? Teachers are  set to get a ‘role model’ code outlining what behaviour is seen as ‘acceptable’ both in and out of school.  We could face losing our status if we get drunk and into arguments while out socialising, or do not get help for drink or drug problems if a draft GTCE code it approved.  Obviously, as we know from Behaviourist theories like Social Learning Theory (SLT) that children are impressionable and will, if... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116893 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:05 +0100 2116893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116894&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F9dR9UfH_w9g%2Fare-we-over-interpreting-fmri-results-762.html Recently we have looked at the impressive progression in the ability of fMRI scanners to record brain activity in ‘real time’ but are we over interpreting these results?  Over the last decade-or-two more-and-more researchers have been turning to fMRI scanners to open the ‘black box’ which is the brain. These scanners measure brain activity by measuring the amount of oxygen in the different parts of specific cortical or sub-cortical areas (this is a very simplistic view of the technology). However, there is a storm brewing about the validity of these scanners and questions being raised about the short-sightedness of using fMRI scanners to ‘pin-point’ specific areas within the brain when localising functions; asking the question are we oversimplifying t... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116894 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:53 +0100 2116894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511016&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F0co0Dhb0OKM%2Flooking-inside-the-brain-in-real-time.-possible-726.html Could it soon really be possible to look inside the brain in ‘real time’. Over the last three decades we have made leaps-and-bounds in developing non-invasive processes to scan brains; PET, MRI, fMRI etc. These scanning techniques have allowed psychologists an insight into the processes of the brain during specific tasks or just to investigate the size, location and use of particular brain structures, but the time needed to process the vast amount of information that is collected has meant that there’s no ‘real time’ option of seeing exactly what is happening, there-and then. However, neuroscientist and inventor Christopher deCharms demonstrates a new way to use fMRI to show brain activity – thoughts, emotions, pain – while it is happening. In othe... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511016 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:43 +0100 2511016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1871398&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fpsychclips%2Fstress.avi.ff.avi.flv As we’ve evolved, the human stress response has saved our lives. Today, we turn on the same life-saving physical reaction to cope with intense, ongoing stressors - and we can’t seem to turn it off. “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” reveals just how dangerous prolonged exposure to stress can be. Is stress a saviour, tyrant or plague? This, along with many other questions are raised in a recent KPBS television programmme called ‘Stress: Portrait of a Killer’. The video starts by looking at how it may be possible to make comparisons between wild baboons and humans and their stress responses. In the video it is argued that humans have a specific problem with stress: we don’t know how to turn it off. In the wild the stress response is designed to help in times of crisis ... PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1871398 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:55 +0100 1871398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511020&cid=t_206261_109_f&fid=37784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpsychblog%2F%7E3%2F2-2ykFkoVPc%2Fgreys-anatomy-as-health-promotion-really-662.html This study shows the enormous potential for entertainment television to serve as a health educator.” This obviously raises many questions as far as health promotion goes.  Firstly, that the medium of television, and more importantly entertainment programmes can be very powerful in getting positive messages and health awareness out to the viewers. However, this power has to be used carfully – if viewers believe that the information they are ‘absorbing’ from medical entertainment programmes are accurate (as almost 60% of viewers do) we need to ensure that there’s no false or misleading information in these programmes.  A real double-edged sword. Tags: A2, adverts, health, health promotion, prevention, Research (Source: PsychBLOG.co.uk) PsychBLOG.co.uk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511020 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:50 +0100 2511020