Physiological Psychology and Ocd Essay Example for Free

Physiological Psychology and Ocd Essay Physiological Psychology is as described by Kalat (1998) as the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behaviour and experience. It is devoted to the study of brain functioning, how Neurons and Glia convey messages to one another and other parts of the body for it to function and work accordingly. Future studies of physiological psychology will help predict behavioural patterns in society and how brain functions can be â€Å"rewritten† through cognitive therapies .e.g. alcoholism, drug addictions. Kalat (1998) further goes onto explain that a Biological psychologist (physiological psychologist) try to answer four types of questions about any given behaviour, how it relates to the physiology of the brain (what parts of the brain are active) and other organs, how it develops within the individual, how did the capacity for this behaviour evolve and why did this behaviour evolve. Without the physiological understanding of how brain process work in relation to behaviour it is difficult to correctly diagnose a behaviour pattern and its cause. Kalat (1998) describes that â€Å"having a little anxiety can be useful†, however OCD is a condition in which there is excessive anxiety. OCD can be explained to a patient in simple physiological terms explaining the behaviour of the brain, for example: OCD patients often have a broken mechanism (being a synapse interaction) in their brain that would usually stop a thought once you have it. In an OCD patient it does not (stop the thought) – so the thought is allowed to revolve. This seems in description that it would sound more like a broken record than OCD really does, but that isn’t what really happens. OCD can be genetic but is most certainly physiological in nature. Without an understanding of brain functioning and how these neurons interact, how can psychologists work to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder? Research into the biological causes and effects of OCD has revealed a link between OCD and insufficient levels of the brain chemical, serotonin. Serotonin is one of the brains chemical messengers that transmit signals between brain cells. Serotonin plays a role in the regulation of mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain. For example persons with unregulated serotonin lead to destructive antisocial behaviour patterns, which society commonly experiences on a growing scale. All of the medicines used to treat OCD raise the levels of serotonin available to transmit messages. Without physiological psychological research into the effects that these medicines have on the brain society would lack the knowledge and understanding of how to diagnose and appropriately treat disorders such as OCD. Modern brain imaging techniques have allowed researchers to study the activity of specific areas of the brain. Such studies have shown that people with OCD have more than usual activity in three areas of the brain. These are: The caudate nucleus, specific brain cells in the basal ganglia, located deep in the centre of the brain this area of the brain acts as a filter for thoughts coming in from other areas. The caudate nucleus is also considered to be important in managing habitual and repetitive behaviours. When OCD is successfully treated with drugs or therapy, the activity in this area of the brain usually decreases. This shows that both drugs and a change in thinking can alter the physical functioning of the brain. The prefrontal orbital cortex, located in the front area of the brain the level of activity in the prefrontal orbital cortex is believed to affect appropriate social behaviour. Lowered activity or damage in this region is linked to feeling uninhibited, making bad judgments and feeling a lack of guilt. More activity may therefore cause more worry about social concerns. Such concerns include: being meticulous, neat and preoccupied with cleanliness, and being afraid of acting inappropriately. All of these concerns are symptoms of OCD. The cingulate gyrus, in the centre of the brain the cingulate gyrus is believed to contribute the emotional response to obsessive thoughts. This area of the brain tells you to perform compulsions to relieve anxiety. This region is highly interconnected to the prefrontal orbital cortex and the basal ganglia via a number of brain cell pathways. The basal ganglia, the prefrontal orbital cortex and the cingulate gyrus all have many brain cells affected by serotonin. Researchers believe that medicines that raise the levels of serotonin available to transmit messages may change the level of activity in these areas of the brain. Kalat (1998) offers the idea that drugs intended to control anxiety alter activity at amygdale synapses. â€Å"One of the amygdala’s main excitatory neuromodulators is CCK (cholecystokinin), which increases anxiety, and the main inhibitory transmitter is GABA, which inhibits anxiety.† Without physiological research into the how and why of brain function, people with disorders such as OCD would not be able to function â€Å"normally† within society. However this type of research and study is not limited just too diagnosing disorders in those with suspected behavioural problems but also allows insight into society as a whole and its interaction socially, emotionally and habitually. New and innovative studies through physiological research have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy can change activity in certain areas of the brain. The discovery could have important clinical implications on how talk therapies improve brain function and advance mental health. Researchers discovered significant changes in activity in certain regions of the brain can be produced with as little as four weeks of daily therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder as published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. â€Å"The study is exciting because it tells us more about how cognitive-behavioural therapy works for OCD and shows that both robust clinical improvements and changes in brain activity occur after only four weeks of intensive treatment,† said Saxena. Past studies using functional brain imaging studies of patients with OCD have demonstrated that elevated activity along the frontal-sub cortical circuits of the brain decreases in response to treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) medications or cognitive-behavioural therapy. However, clinical improvement of OCD symptoms was expected to require up to 12 weeks of behavioural therapy or medication treatment, the standard treatments for OCD. Only a handful of studies have looked at how therapy affects brain function, and all previous studies had examined changes over several months of treatment. Continual studies into physiological psychology will enhance clinical practises and provide a platform for more effective treatment of the symptoms related to this disorder. Saxena and colleagues at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA made two novel discoveries in their study of 10 OCD patients and 12 control subjects. â€Å"First of all, we discovered significant changes in brain activity solely as the result of four weeks of intensive cognitive-behavioural therapy,† said Saxena. â€Å"Secondly, these changes were different than those seen in past studies after a standard 12-week therapeutic approach using SRI medications or weekly behavioural therapy.† The researchers obtained positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the ten OCD patients both before and after they received four weeks of a therapy known as â€Å"exposure and response prevention,† which gradually desensitizes patients to things that provoke obsession fears or worries. However, the PET scans in this study also showed a significant increase in activity in an area of the brain called the right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in reappraisal and suppression of negative emotions. Increasing activity in this region corresponded to the OCD patients’ improvement in clinical symptoms after the four-week course of intensive therapy. It is possible to see the huge amount of information that physiological research has bought forth to society through just these examples alone. Physiological psychology is the study of the physiological basis of how we think, connecting the physical operation of the brain with what we actually say and do. It is thus concerned with brain cells, brain structures and components, brain chemistry, and how all this leads to speech and action. Further research as to how growing debilitating disorders such as OCD could be eliminated or drastically reduced in severity has weight in its importance. The research however does not stop with OCD diagnosis but has relevant importance to understand how we take in information in general from our five senses. Future studies based on OCD research could be more relevant than we think to other major issues facing society such as depression, drug addiction and mental health. It is imperative for governing bodies to fund education and research into the study of physiological psychology for this very reason. References: Kalat 1998 Biological Psychology Molecular Psychiatry Molecular Psychiatry 14, 197-205 (February 2009) | doi:10.1038/sj.mp.400213

The Important Message in Romero :: Movie Film Essays

The Important Message in Romero [1] Can film as a medium make any sense of History? Most of the time that seems not even to be the issue. So-called â€Å"historical† movies such as Pocahontas and Glory have been attacked for straying from the recorded facts of the events they portray in an attempt to tell a more attractive story. This practice has its roots in the movie-making process. Hollywood exists to make money, do not be fooled. Movies cost millions of dollars to film, print, release, and promote. Therefore, producers have little choice but to create movies that will appeal to as many moviegoers as possible in an effort to earn back the investment. To this end, moviemakers feel the need to take liberties with plot, characterizations, and historical accuracy to create a product that will sell. Hollywood favors drama and conflict, so when an historical story lacks one of these elements, it is often simply added for the sake of appeal. This practice falls under great scrutiny by those with a serious interest in the events that these movies portray. Because the better part of American viewers expect and demand stories told with the Hollywood spin, those films that attempt to stick doggedly to the facts generally do poorly in the box-office. [2] Many historical films, however, have found success while staying true to the facts. These films oftentimes come from producers, directors, and actors with a genuine concern for the events they deal with. Spike Lee certainly had a pointed interest in the making of Malcolm X, as did Tom Hanks in making Saving Private Ryan. Hanks’ emotional tie to the movie surfaced in his speech at the podium of the Oscars this past year when he urged Americans to support our veterans and reminded us of the gift they have given to our country. Passion such as Hanks’ from within the making of the movie can provide an energy and vibrance that appeals even more than cheap Hollywood tricks. Either way, the same dangers apply, because passion usually fosters strong opinions that create biases in recounting the facts. Biographies tend to radiate greatness; war movies tend to take sides; racial movies tend to invoke sympathy. The same passion that motivates these people to make hi storical movies can also lead to a perversion of the story’s historical facts.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Essay

The Federal Bureau of Prisons was established in 1930. Its main goal is to provide humane care for Federal inmates. There are 11 Federal prisons in operation. The Bureau consists of 115 institutions, 6 regional offices, a Central Office (headquarters), 2 staff training centers, and 22 community corrections offices. The Bureau of Prisons career opportunities web page is the place where you can learn about BOP careers, the employment process and current vacancies. The BOP career opportunities web page has quick links to: application steps, attorney recruitment, career FAQs, health care careers, job descriptions and job vacancies. The Bureau has approximately 37,700 employees within 115 correctional institutions. The BOP is currently accepting applications for: Chaplain, Clinical Psychologist, Dental Officer, Medical Officer, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant and Registered Nurse. The jobs are accessible through USAJOBS. The bureau has approximately 37, 700 highly motivated individuals working in 115 correctional institutions across the country and a wide range of occupations. Job opportunities within the correctional facilities: automobile, painting, plumbing, carpentry, and electricity. They are always accepting applications for dental officer, medical officer, and registered nurse. Salaries are based on the position and location of the job you are selected to fill. The Law Enforcement Special Salary Rate and Locality pay scale may vary from the General Schedule and Locality pay scale. Salaries for positions such as Electrician, Mechanic, and Plumber, are found on the Federal Wage System pay scale. A variety of health insurance plans are available to Federal employees, with the Government paying about 60 to 72 percent of the cost and the employee paying 28 to 40 percent, depending on the health plan. Basic life insurance is automatic and effective on the first workday the employee is in pay and duty status, unless the employee chooses to waive life insurance coverage. Every employee is guaranteed a life insurance policy. The Government pays one-third of the cost for Basic life insurance. Basic life insurance is the employee’s salary rounded up. After 20 years of service in a position covered by â€Å"hazardous duty† law enforcement retirement provisions is eligible to retire at age 50. BOP has four different work life programs which makes it easier to balance work and family. These programs consist of teleworking, compressed, flexible, and part time work schedules. Under special, limited circumstances, inmates who meet strict requirements may be allowed temporary releases from the institution through furloughs and staff-escorted trips. A furlough allows inmates to be in the community without a staff escort. There are several purposes for furloughs: for example these enable inmates to be present during a family crisis, facilitate re-establishing family and community ties, and allow an inmate to participate in certain activities to help his/her release transition. The Bureau may authorize staff-escorted trips for purposes such as visiting a critically ill family member; attending a funeral; receiving medical treatment; or participating in educational, religious, or work-related functions. The Bureau’s philosophy is to release preparation begins the first day of incarceration, focus on release preparation intensifies at least 18 months prior to release. The Release Preparation Program includes classes in areas such as resume writing, job search, and job retention. The program also includes presentations by community-based organizations that help ex-inmates find jobs and training opportunities after release. The Bureau places appropriate inmates in halfway houses prior to release to help them adjust to life in the community and find employment. Some inmates will be eligible for a release gratuity, clothing, or money for transportation to their release destination. The Inmate Transition Branch provides additional pre-release employment assistance. Many institutions hold mock job fairs to provide inmates an opportunity to practice job interview skills and to expose community recruiters to the skills available among releasing inmates. Qualified inmates may apply for jobs with companies that have posted job openings. This Branch also helps inmates prepare release folders that include a resume; education certificates, diplomas, and transcripts; and other significant documents needed for a successful job interview. Medical, dental, and mental health services are provided to Federal inmates n Bureau facilities. Most Facilities provide one or more primary Physicians who specialize in family practice. Medical officer provide direct service to inmates in Federal prisons (e. g. performance of diagnostic and preventive). Nurses play an important role on patient health, patient safety and patient education. (e. g. observation and evaluation of patients, perform case histories, conduct physical examinations, and order laboratory tests). De ntal officers are responsible for the full range of dental care provided to inmates. Pharmacist provide pharmaceutical care, they are responsible for medication. (e. g. same as nurse). Over 3,000 health care positions are offered. The food service operation within each institution represents a major program area within the Federal Criminal Justice system. The Bureau offers a food service career for correctional cook supervisors in a fast pace and challenging environment. Cook supervisor receive full training and are responsible for serving nutritious meals and provides guidance/direction to inmate cooks, bakers, butchers as well as in sanitation. Meals are served to a population of several hundred to 2,000 per meal depending on size and type of facility. Completion of a 2 to 4 year culinary degree is desirable but qualifying experience in quantity production from the military or food hospital industry is acceptable. Even though cook supervisors are at the entry level position, ambitious and interested individuals can apply for higher positions to Assistant Food Service Manager to the top Food Service Administrator. Each federal prison has its own education department that provides educational and recreational activities to inmates. Inmates are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness, health education and leisure programs. Inmates who participate in industries or vocational training programs are more likely to find and keep a job upon release and less likely to return to prison. The Bureau offers a variety of programs for inmates to acquire literacy and marketable skills to help them obtain employment after release. All institutions offer literacy classes, English as a Second Language, parenting classes, wellness education, adult continuing education, library services, and instruction in leisure-time ctivities. In most cases, inmates who do not have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate must participate in the literacy program for a minimum of 240 hours or until they obtain the GED. Occupational and vocational training programs are based on the needs of the inmates, general labor market conditions, and institution labor force needs. An important com ponent is on-the-job training, which inmates receive through institution job assignments and work in Federal Prison Industries. Parenting classes help inmates develop appropriate skills during incarceration. Recreation and wellness activities encourage healthy life styles and habits. Institution libraries carry a variety of fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, newspapers, and reference materials. Inmates also have access to legal materials to conduct legal research and prepare legal documents. The Bureau of Prisons has various job opportunities ranging from Automotive to electric and is always looking for professionals in the medical field. There are over 3,000 health care positions available ranging from Dental to nursing. While a job with the bureau of prisons maybe stressful it does offer benefits, such as retirement, paid holidays, flexibility room for growth and retirement options. Each federal prison has its own education department and inmates are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It is often found that inmates who participate in industries or vocational training programs are more likely to find and keep a job upon release and less likely to return to prison.

The Crucible By Arthur Miller - 1061 Words

Lie To Live, Live To Lie In Arthur Miller’s historical fiction play The Crucible (1953), witchcraft surfaces in the town of Salem leaving everyone to fend for themselves. Generally, people will do whatever they can to save their lives. In The Crucible, a group of girls are found dancing in the woods and are caught by Reverend Parris, minister of the Salem church and uncle to Abigail Williams. One of the girls, Betty, faints and draws many to visit and try to find the source of her illness. Reverend Parris has Reverend Hale, a minister well versed in affairs of the devil, to come and cure Betty. Many people accuse Betty’s symptoms of witchcraft, including Hale. This witchcraft conviction starts the â€Å"witch trials†. Abigail and the girls are†¦show more content†¦Abigail’s young insecurities cause her to make drastic decisions to save her life. Her decisions are made accordingly based on her young age of 17. Even at this young, innocent age, she has already had an affair with John Proctor when she was the house help to the Proctors. Ever since the affair, Abigail generally bases her decisions off of her desire for John. Even though, she didn’t show it, Abigail was very afraid. She was afraid she would lose John, so she has to continue to keep the lie of witchcraft hidden in order for Parris to believe her. Because of her fear of losing John, her intentions from the start were to kill his wife Elizabeth. Killing Elizabeth gave hope to Abigail that she and John could get married. Once John was convicted because of Abigail, she knew she had made a huge mistake with the witch trials. From her poor decisions, John eventually is accused and convicted of witchcraft. She knew this mistake couldn’t be undone without it costing her own life. Abigail then decides to leave Salem offering to take John. The night before John’s hanging, Abigail visits him in jail to free him so they can run off together. Unfortunately , Abigail’s plan didn’t work and John rejects the offer and is left to hang. Later that morning, Abigail was pronounced missing. She decides to take up her own offer and sail off on a ship to Barbados. Abigail left because she didn’t want to see John be hanged.