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 'dehumanization'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:17:43 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338035&cid=t_105217_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fthe-power-of-suggestion%2F In the wake of the massacre in Tucson one of the debates has been over whether a toxic environment might have contributed to the assailant’s behavior.  Social psychology has demonstrated countless times the power of seemingly trivial situatonal forces to encourage hostility and violence.  One of the classics is a 1975 study of the effects of dehumanization. Here is a 1999 summary of that study by Situationist Contributor Phil Zimbardo. * * * My colleague, Albert Bandura, and his students contnued this line of research by extending the basic paradigm here to study the minimal conditions necessary to create dehumanization (Bandura, Underwood, & Fromson, 1975). What they manipulated was only the actors’ perceptioin of their victims–no authority pressures, no induced an... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338035 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:17:15 +0100 4338035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3982015&cid=t_105217_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhuman-touch-does-it-belong-in-medicine%2F2010.09.18 The New York Times asks: “Should the doctor hold a patient’s hand” during emotional times? The comments that follow the short article are the most interesting. Most readers say this question shouldn’t even be asked and that human compassion should always win out. Touch is a human gesture of comfort and understanding. But some readers disagree. One said she recoiled when the doctor reached out to touch her hand after telling her that her cancer had returned. It felt really creepy to her. Another asked: “What if the physician is also a Catholic priest or a pediatrician and a priest?” Whoa. It becomes more complex when you get into the psyche of the abused. I have often thought that one of the appeals of chiropractors is that they “lay on hands&#... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3982015 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3982015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924943&cid=t_105217_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Fthe-r-word-sticks-stones-and-rosas-law%2F “What you call people is how you treat them. What you call my sister is how you will treat her. If you believe she’s ‘retarded’ it invites taunting, stigma. It invites bullying and it also invites the slammed doors of being treated with respect and dignity.” –14-year-old Nick Marcellino, Rosa’s brother, in testimony to the Maryland General Assembly Say what you will about New Jersey. Yeah, we are called the Soprano state, and, yeah, everyone in Jersey is rumored to have an attitude. You got a problem with that? But I couldn’t be more proud of its recent legislation. The U.S. Senate passed the bill known as Rosa’s Law in August 2010, and in September it goes before the House. Terms such as “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” will... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924943 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:55:39 +0100 3924943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2272011&cid=t_105217_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F16%2Fsarah-palin-objectification-reaction-situation%2F Eric Deggans, has a nice article in the Saint Petersburg Times summarizing research by psychologists from Univesity of South Florida, Jamie L. Goldenberg and Nathan A. Heflick.  Their research examined the objectifying effects of thinking about Sarah Palin’s appearance.  Immediately below, you will find excerpts from Deggans’s article.  Below that, you’ll find some reflections from Jamie Goldenberg regarding the negative reaction of some conservative media to her research. * * * Two researchers at the University of South Florida have developed a study that suggests . . . that a random group of Republicans and independents asked to focus on Palin’s attractiveness felt less likely to vote for the GOP ticket in last November’s elections. “The idea is tha... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2272011 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:01:07 +0100 2272011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249548&cid=t_105217_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F07%2Fthe-situation-of-objectification%2F The Daily Mail’s Fiona Macrae and CNN’s Elizabeth Landau each had brief articles last week on the fascinating research by Situationist contributor Susan Fiske and her collaborators.   We’ve mashed up excerpts of the two articles below. * * * It may seem obvious that men perceive women in sexy bathing suits as objects, but now there’s science to back it up. New research shows that, in men, the brain areas associated with handling tools and the intention to perform actions light up when viewing images of women in bikinis. At the same time, the region they use to try to tune into another person’s thoughts and feelings tunes down, brain scans showed. The research was presented this week by [Situationist Contributor] Susan Fiske . . .  at the annual meeting of th... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249548 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:01:04 +0100 2249548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1087625&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D279 I’ve written about this before, although not in one place. One of the biggest problems for autistic adults is the role we are confined to when we try to “come to the table” and talk about autism. Basically, we’re allowed to come and talk, so long as we make sure we stay within our assigned role. That means that nobody should feel that their agenda is threatened by our presence, or at least the “leader” at the table shouldn’t feel their agenda is threatened. Instead, we should affirm someone else’s agenda and serve at their pleasure. Under no circumstance should we actually try to set the agenda, or to decide who else is welcome (or unwelcome) at the table. We’re just autistics, after all… There’s some roles that we are all... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1087625 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:42:34 +0100 1087625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041575&cid=t_105217_140_f&fid=35438&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwrithesafely.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F21%2Fbugs-animals-and-literally-like-rats%2F Excerpted, via CBS4: A controversial practice regarding the treatment of the mentally ill in Florida’s maximum security prisons has some attorneys and mental health experts raising concerns over its use. “Here they are just gassing him. You can see they are just spraying him in the face,” said Miami attorney Leon Fresco. “I would describe it as [...] (Source: Writhe Safely) Writhe Safely blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041575 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:27:59 +0100 1041575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=949935&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D260 There are pretty much only three things I find offensive enough to really get a reaction out of me. 1. Abusing or making fun of others while claiming you are doing right. It’s very easy in certain situations for people to commit abuse (such as becoming staff), as the systems we have in place for “helping” disabled people seem to encourage abuse, not discourage it. I understand that. So that alone doesn’t truly offend me - what truly offends me is that, when told that the action is abusive, it continues. Related to this, making fun of disability is similar. It’s not a joke that is the problem (we’ve all made jokes about things we shouldn’t have). It’s the attitude that some have that they don’t need to apologize, because it was, after al... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=949935 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:45:01 +0100 949935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=918034&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D252 A man who is suspected of being a guard at a Nazi concentration camp has been found by US officials in Atlanta, GA. Despite the fact that the things he is accused of doing occurred 65 years ago, it’s still very important - vital in fact - that human rights abusers face justice. It’s not a matter of revenge or preventing them from harming others, neither of which is likely to be served by picking up senior citizen Nazis. Instead, it’s about justice - and respect for the millions who died because men like this man refused to stand up to a system, and, in fact, joined that system. It is for the victims, both living and dead, that we must seek justice. We must never forget. The consequences of forgetting this history, failing to seek justice…it’s something that mu... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=918034 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:08:53 +0100 918034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=852564&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D233 People who aren’t institutional survivors (including group home residents) or close to someone who was simply don’t understand the reasons for the abuse in those places. I don’t claim to understand fully, but I do know many reasons. And, they aren’t what people think - it isn’t that bad people work there who get thrills out of abusing people, although that’s certainly true. But most abusers aren’t people who set out to abuse people - it just sort of happens, from good people, with good hearts, and good intentions. Does that mean these people are not responsible for there actions? Of course not. But it does mean that solving the problem is a bit more complex than finding and getting rid of “bad apples.” We need to find and get rid of the... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=852564 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:29:48 +0100 852564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=840650&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D231 Jerry Lewis apologized for his use of the word “fag”, less than a day after the apology was requested by a gay rights organization. That’s good. It’s too bad though that he hasn’t apologized for over 40 years of abusive language and mistreatment towards those his organization is supposed to be helping. But some people are worth apologizing to, and others aren’t…apparently. (this is related to my previous entry, Who will get an apology first?) (Source: NTs Are Weird) NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=840650 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:02:11 +0100 840650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=840651&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D230 Jerry Lewis recently (last weekend) offended many with his usage of the word “fag”. He’s also offended (for years) many of the people the Muscular Dystrophy Association claims to want to help: Actual people with Muscular Dystrophy. Any bets which group will get the first apology? Will it be (A), a minority that deserves to be respected but which is not the primary group the organization claims to help (homosexuals)? Or, will it be (B), the group the MDA claims to want to help (people with Muscular Dystrophy)? For some reason I suspect (A) will get their (deserved) apology well before (B) will. It would also be nice if the gay rights group involved asked for an apology on the behalf of all those who Jerry Lewis has insulted and harmed, not just gay people. But I do underst... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=840651 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:01:38 +0100 840651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=836452&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D228 One of the complaints people have when I say something like I say in my previous entry is that “Well, Joel, you say institutions are abusive. That’s great, but you can’t expect them all to just close. So what can we do now? You don’t come up with any ideas, so that (bad) idea is the best we have.” Oftentimes this comes with an idea that institutions are necessary, which simply isn’t the case. Even the “most” disabled person can live, with support (yes, extensive ones) in a community. I know that some readers won’t believe this, sadly, no matter what I say in support of it, or what evidence I present - it seems that many people think “Parents, or institution. There is no other option.” And it seems that they are so fixed on t... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=836452 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:30:34 +0100 836452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=806575&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35098&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclub166.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fshocking-american-export.html photo credit- J.StarWhy is it that it seems that only the worst of American culture is exported from its shores? It's no wonder to me that America and Americans are villified around the world, when it seems the best we can export are the likes of Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.But it seems that we have sunken to a new low. I've touched before on the abominable treatment that goes on at the Judge Rotenberg center (JRC)in Massachusetts, where electric shocks and other tortures are used on autistics in order to "train" them not to misbehave.Now it seems that it's not enough to have this shameful treatment here in the states. We have to try to drag the rest of the world down with us. An article that appeared this week on NineMSN out of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia looks at the electr... Club 166 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=806575 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 09:33:00 +0100 806575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=520615&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D150 Rick Rollens is at it again. In a recent speech, he said such amazing things as there is a “tsunami of people” who will “flood” the developmental disability systems, 97% of people with autism are “cared for” in their homes, that as we grow into adults we become a threat to our families, that most of us need one-on-one care, the cost is tremendous, only people “on life support” are more expensive, and, best of all, that we are the country’s “number one health emergency.” He also talked about how the increase isn’t due to increased diagnosis. First, I’ll say I don’t deny that autism involves good and bad things. But that doesn’t change anything I’m about to say. Nearly everything he stated that wa... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=520615 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:26:39 +0100 520615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=519538&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D150 Rick Rollens is at it again. In a recent speech, he said such amazing things as there is a “tsunami of people” who will “flood” the developmental disability systems, 97% of people with autism are “cared for” in their homes, that as we grow into adults we become a threat to our families, that most of us need one-on-one care, the cost is tremendous, only people “on life support” are more expensive, and, best of all, that we are the country’s “number one health emergency.” He also talked about how the increase isn’t due to increased diagnosis. First, I’ll say I don’t deny that autism involves good and bad things. But that doesn’t change anything I’m about to say. Nearly everything he stated that wa... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=519538 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 04:13:19 +0100 519538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=501857&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D144 Apparently, if you are responsible for the basic needs of someone else, it’s more okay to murder than it would be if they are a stranger. Especially if you love them, although that’s not a requirement for leniency. Every time an autistic person is murdered by a family member who cares for them, I brace myself. First, I’m sad that another autistic person has been murdered. But, secondly, I fear the public reaction, as it reminds me exactly of how society views people like me. When an autistic person is murdered by their caregiver, we typically hear, as a very first response, about how difficult caring for an autistic person is, as it is felt this is actually relevant. Well, I’ve worked for difficult bosses before, but just being difficult I doubt would have got me mu... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=501857 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:33:28 +0100 501857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487202&cid=t_105217_133_f&fid=35098&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclub166.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fevil-within.html Like many, I have been saddened and sickened to read of case after case of abuse of disabled individuals. Most recently, Kristina Chew wrote once again about the aversive "therapy" used at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) in Massachusetts. I linked from that site and also read what Kevin Leitch wrote on his site here.Dr. Israel, who heads the JRC, studied at Boston's Harvard University around 1960, with B.F. Skinner, the behavioral psychologist. His "treatments" at the JRC are loosely based on Skinner's operant conditioning theories. The list of aversives used at the JRC include such things as electric shock therapy, hitting, pinching, and withdrawal of food privileges).I wrote recently about how eugenics has been with us since the 19th century. One would think that after WWII the world, a... Club 166 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487202 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:54:00 +0100 487202