Biomedical therapy & Social Psychology

Exam and Assignment Updates

  • Exam One and Subsequent Grading

    • The instructor curved Exam One to align grades with the other two exams.
    • A drop in grades for some students may indicate a missed first writing assignment, which was due a month ago.
    • A zero was assigned for the missing assignment to prompt student awareness.
    • Students can still submit the assignment for half credit despite the grade penalty.
    • Late assignments beyond thirty days would typically incur a 10% penalty per day.

  • Final Paper Extension

    • The due date for the final paper has been postponed from this Sunday to next Sunday to accommodate coverage of additional material.
    • The instructor plans to complete the final chapter before giving students the chance to integrate the material into their papers.
    • Students should submit a paper of two pages, although longer submissions are acceptable if necessary.

  • Grading and Attendance Updates

    • Grades for writing assignments and attendance records will be updated next week, ensuring all students have a clear understanding of their scores going into the final exam.
    • The final exam is scheduled for Monday, as stated in Canvas.

Upcoming Lessons and Topics

  • Therapy Types Covered

    • Talk Therapy: Approaches such as psychoanalysis, behavior modification, and humanistic therapy are part of the curriculum.
    • Biomedical Therapies: Discusses interventions beyond talk therapy, such as pharmacological treatments and surgeries.
    • Emphasis on understanding the distinction between fixing problems with medication and therapy, where medications may alleviate symptoms without addressing underlying issues.

  • Psychopharmacology Introduction

    • Defined as the study of how drugs affect the brain and behavior.
    • Biomedical therapies do not cure problems but manage symptoms. Example: medications effectively take the edge off symptoms while issues may still persist.
    • Clarification that not all psychiatric issues stem from 'malfunctioning' brain mechanisms, but can be managed through medication.

Types of Drugs in Psychopharmacology

  • Antipsychotics

    • Used predominantly for treating schizophrenia.
    • Effective at reducing positive symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations) but not negative symptoms (e.g., flat affect, lack of motivation).

  • Antidepressants

    • Acting on neurotransmitters in the brain, they alleviate feelings of depression.
    • Includes categories such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclics, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
    • Some antidepressants also work to reduce anxiety.

  • Anti-Anxiety Medications

    • Provide relief for various anxiety disorders, typically effective in managing symptoms but not addressing root causes.

  • Anti-Manic Drugs

    • Used to treat manic episodes in bipolar disorder.

Side Effects and Interactions

  • Importance of consulting physicians about drug interactions, as combinations can lead to worsening symptoms or dangerous side effects (e.g., hypertension).
    • Example provided of medications conflicting with birth control, affecting contraceptive efficacy.

Other Therapies Discussed

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

    • Often referred to as shock therapy, it induces seizures to reset brain activity.
    • Generally effective for severe depression and can provide long-term relief, although effects may last around six months.
    • Potential side effects include temporary memory loss and need for careful consideration due to potential brain cell damage.

  • Psychosurgery

    • Discussed as a last resort for severe mental health issues.
    • Historical perspective given on lobotomies, particularly the damaging legacy of prefrontal lobotomies that aimed to treat severe mental illness but led to irreversible changes in personality.
    • Mention of current practices like anterior cingulotomy, where targeted brain tissue is destroyed to manage serious conditions.
    • Overview of modern methods using magnetic stimulation to interact with brain function non-invasively.

Social Psychology Introduction

  • Transition to social psychology, exploring how societal influences dictate individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

    • Definition of social psychology contrasted with sociology, emphasizing the individual’s experience rather than broader societal analysis.

  • Social Influence

    • Understanding that social influence involves real or implied pressures that affect behavior.
    • Examples discussed include societal expectations such as makeup use for women and traditional height dynamics in relationships.

  • Conformity

    • Defined as a change in behavior to align with group norms or identities, illustrated through examples of social pressure at red lights or in classroom settings.
    • Discussion of studies, including classic experiments by Solomon Asch that demonstrated conformity in group settings under peer pressure.

  • Learned Helplessness

    • Related to how individuals may give in to social pressures simply out of acceptance of group norms.

Conclusion of Class

  • The chapter concluded with an encouragement to engage with social influences and explore students' experiences of conformity within their own lives.