5. Munchausen’s-by-proxy syndrome.

The paper I have chosen talks about the Munchausen’s-by-proxy syndrome. The syndrome is used by the Juridical psychology (in forensic and criminal psychology, by example) in differential diagnosis of legal cases, to determine more accurately the perpetrator of a crime, as well as their motives or circumstances related to it. The paper explains what the basis of the syndrome is: it is when either parent simulates the sickness of child, carrying them to a lot of doctors, doing examinations to them, and in severe cases, causing the death of them. The perpetrator is usually the mother, and even though it gives the impression that she cares about her child, she is more centered on the generated sickness than the child itself. The father usually adopts a distant relationship and is not involved with the treatment of his child.

The doctors knowing nothing of that are troubled with the lack of information about the disease, which leaves them with a closed judgment, and leaving the child with more pressure in the medic ambit. The medical case exposed in the paper refers to a mother who, in her life, had five children, and four of them died of weird circumstances, being related with the separation of her partners. The last daughter, Ester, was going to have the same end, but the medical and psychological team found about the existence of the syndrome, and they could protect her from her mother.

Finally, it ends with a discussion about the risk of the medical team on the moment to attend this type of cases. I think this topic (and in especial, all differential diagnosis in Juridical psychology) is very important given the consequences of the syndrome. Leave your child to die thinking you are doing a good thing (protecting them) is something you couldn’t even think of, labeling as crazy at least, but unfortunately, this kind of things happens. The knowledge of this cases and the opportune reaction could save lives, so I think it is essential to study them, give them reflection, and if you want to be a forensic psychologist, have them in mind every time you do an analysis of a case.

I you want to read the paper, you can dowload it from there: http://www.mediafire.com/download/9eko9vms5vm2maj/munchausen-por-poder.docx

Thanks for reading!

4. Body language

First of all, I thought it was a great talk. She went from the basics of the theme she was exposing, gradually inserting examples like the ones with the Politian’s or the doctors, social and biological studies that corroborated her posture like the one about testosterone and cortisol, and even connected emotionally with the audience with her personal experience (I really empathized with her in that part). 

Regarding the topic, I knew about it, and I think is one of the first thing you, at least, hear studying psychology, and it is studied by people in areas regarding behavior and cognitive process. The effects of nonverbal behavior are known, and even if you do not know the exact postures, you can have an idea about what are, simply by experience. It was interesting the information about the difference between gender in power/powerless expression, and how participating in something and the feedback of it can affect us. I agree with all she said about the topic, and the quote she remarked “fake it until you become it” express very well the motive of the talk. 

In my personal experience I, for different reasons, I have been felt powerless and “not supposed to be here”, and I usually do some poses that go accord that way, but I try to change my posture and body language when I realize it, and improve myself in that area, but, like she said, it is something you do step by step.

Thanks for reading!

3. "The surprising science of hapiness"

The “The surprising science of happiness” by Dan Gilbert talks about the term synthetic happiness and some studies that avail it. First, it mentions the importance of the brain, that It has evolved since the prehistoric times, being bigger than before and how it had developed more structures and cognitive process that made us adapt better (like the formation of the pre-frontal cortex). In that context the synthetic happiness was created. Later, he explained the importance of the situations and general context that we experience in our lives, giving some examples about it, like the one with the pictures of the winning lottery/paraplegic, the photography study in Harvard, or the study done with amnesiac people. The important part of the talk was the realization that the synthetic happiness is equally real than the natural happiness, with the difference that the synthetic happiness is developed when we don’t have a choice, and the natural when we have freedom of our choice and achieve what we want.

In my opinion, even though it has some serious studies that avail the synthetic happiness and I don’t deny its value, I think the approach that he does is very misleading for people who don’t understand it well. Basically, at the end of the speech he tells people to don’t pursue natural happiness because it’s more risky, and the “safe way” is to pursue the synthetic happiness. That’s a terrifying thought because people who become conformist are more easily controlled, and even they could lose the will to pursue goals, because “they will be happy either way”. I would explain it more profoundly, but I will do it another time, because the time is up. Thanks for reading!   

2. My guilty pleasure? Videogames D:

Well, I can’t say that it is a guilty pleasure, because I don’t feel guilty at all haha, but is the thing that’s approaches more to that term. Why I consider it a guilty pleasure? Basically, because it takes a lot of my free time in my daily life, and even affects me in my studies and grades at some times, because I dedicate more time to have fun with a new game than to study for a test or a work. I usually play more than one game at the same time, and I can play them for hours without boring. There are some days that I have played literally all day, non-stop! Games like de Ace attorney saga (A law game with investigations of cases) or Fire emblem saga (An RPG which is settled in a fantasy world) can entertain me for weeks, and I play them with passion until I finish them, so I might have a problem with that… but I don’t worry a lot, haha. Well, the game that entertains me the most is Pokemon, since I grew up with that game (and the anime that was broadcasted in Chilevision). I like the exciting wait for the new game, the spoilers that come before the game official release, the new modes of combat in the new generation of Pokemon, and many others things like that. They make me happy, but I must admit that it’s a little embarrassing when there is no one to share my joy, so it’s kind a guilty pleasure. Well, thanks for reading and see you next week! 

A tribute of many Nintendo games by Luis Carrasquillo