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Hidden CSI effect? Face mapping: a cause of human mis-identification

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:31:12 GMT

Reviewed by Clara Clein Wolfe, May 1st 2022

The CSI effect refers to television shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order, and 48 Hours Mystery, and the impact they have on jurors. It is said that jurors who watch these types of shows may place a heavy emphasis on forensic science in a case. These jurors will tend to believe forensic evidence is 100% accurate and that it should be produced in every criminal case. Prosecutors have claimed jurors may be reluctant to vote to convict if the police were unable to recover any forensic evidence from the crime scene.

[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Facial identification is an enduring issue. Aspects of facial identification and misidentification have included racial biases, false positives, and questionable scientific interpretations. In a virtual pub talk hosted by the London branch of the Open University Psychological Society [LOUPS], Dr Monika McNeill delivered a brilliant lecture, 'Hidden CSI effect? Face mapping: a cause of human mis-identification'. Despite the virtual domain, this was an engaging talk with a lively chat section including comments as diverse as plastic surgery, archaeological anthropology, and Madonna. More importantly, this event was held to fundraise for vital electric generators for Ukraine and psychological support for Ukrainian refugees who are being supported in Lublin, Poland: Monika’s hometown, where Monika herself has been working tirelessly to help.

Intriguing tasks demonstrated the variability of facial recognition. We saw an array of photos used in the Jenkins et al. (2011) study and were asked how many men were in these pictures. Our answers ranged from 2 up to 10. When a person is unfamiliar with the faces, this task is more difficult. This was reiterated in the following task in which an array of numbered female faces saw us try to match up who might be the same women. Our answers similarly varied. Monika revealed it was one woman, German singer Annett Louisan, but with different styling and over the lifespan. Conversely, an array of a certain tangerine-tinted former president at different ages was nonetheless identifiable. Therefore, when we are familiar with the face, we are better able to recognise the face, than when we are confronted with unfamiliar faces. This has significant implications for eyewitness testimony.

The Innocence Project was founded in America in 1992 to fight for those wrongly convicted of crimes. Their website [https://innocenceproject.org/] has information about the people who have been exonerated, although it can be difficult reading. The misidentification of people who were incarcerated for crimes they did not commit is a factor in 63% of the cases. The Innocence Project’s success stories demonstrate the importance of good investigation and scientific rigour. Just a few hours after Monika’s lecture concluded, The Innocence Project won a prestigious digital ‘Oscar’ – a Webby Award – for their Happiest Moments campaign [https://innocenceproject.org/innocence-project-wins-first-ever-webby-for-public-service-activism/], but with the average sentence being fourteen years, misidentification is a serious phenomenon with life-changing implications for those wrongly accused. The so-called CSI effect. The CSI effect refers to television dramas with an exaggeration of forensic evidence which can lead to people, especially juries, to believe that forensic evidence is accurate and available (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/csi_effect). However, the fictionalisation of forensic processes has mostly obscured how difficult it can be for witnesses to recognise faces.

In my passport picture, my eyes are heavily blackened, and one eye is smaller than the other. It was taken in 2011 prior to the ravages of age. So, how would it be viewed by a passport control officer? Monika showed us two photos of a man which similarly demonstrated the way our faces can be significantly different to our identification documents. In the chat box, we also discussed other aspects of this kind of formal facial recognition, including superficial elements such as, cosmetic surgery, but also significant psychological and social issues, such as, racial biases. Given all of the issues with facial recognition, Monika mentioned the article by Castelvecchi (2020) https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03186-4 ] which asked, is facial recognition too biased to be let loose? It is certainly a fascinating question. Not only do humans perform poorly at facial recognition, but the software innovations also do not seem to be improving circumstances.

Your face now unlocks your phone! Well, sometimes. As anyone who has used this technology can say, it is seldom that simple… Monika spoke about numerous technologically-facilitated facial mapping facial recognition techniques and the experts and ‘experts’ who use them. Three facial mapping techniques are superimposition, photoanthropometry, and morphology. However, results indicate that there is a bias towards false positive responses, which has worrying criminal justice implications. For example, when a renowned face mapping expert, Neave, testified in Atkins vs. Emperor (2009), his unvalidated scale and his technique was not questioned. Face mapping should not be used in courts, but there is a surprising body part that could improve recognition.

Two pictures of Brad Pitt were recognisable to the group. Only one picture was the true Brad. The differences between Brad and The-Other-Brad [Thad ��] were most discernible when we looked at their ears. Thad and Brad may have similar faces, but their ears are different. Monika showed us a very interesting image of her old Polish identity card. The photo was at an unexpected angle in that Monika’s left ear was visible: ¾ face picture. This ¾ face photo was the requirement of the identity cards at that time. This distinguishing nature of ears, in addition to the consistent difficulties in facial recognition means that formal identification photos could benefit from adopting the former Polish identity card ¾ face design.

This was a fantastic lecture for a brilliant cause. Monika provided some thought-provoking research and findings, including both enduring work and recent projects, such as her in-prep research using morphing techniques. The impact of the CSI effect has outlasted the drama which provided its name. Forensics, eyewitnesses, and experts have degrees of ambiguity and nuance which Grissom et al seldom encountered in their paradoxically high-tech, low-realism contexts. Facial recognition is a contentious issue and face mapping utilising numerous technological advances still results in a trend of false positives. There are many aspects of facial recognition that were discussed, and we could easily have continued all night, such was our enthusiasm! LOUPS hosted a fabulous event and Monika gave us an insightful talk.

Thanks to Monika, MC Amada, and LOUPS!

Your Amazing Brain - Spring Conference 2024

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 12:10:28 GMT

London Open University Psychological Society Conference.

16th March 2024 London School of Economics.

The brain is many things. Arguably one of which includes being taken for granted or unfairly berated when we are feeling rough. However, we could all benefit from taking a moment to reflect on the truly amazing things our brains allow us to experience, not least because for some of us and our loved ones, we will fall prey to devastating illnesses which will steal our memories away. Although, as we were reminded of during the brilliant lectures throughout the day, hope remains in the darkest of situations.

The March 2024 London Open University Psychological Society Conference, Your Amazing Brain, saw four wonderful talks delivered to a large, captivated audience on topics including time perception, consciousness, music and memory, and emotions.

'The Psychology of Time Perception' - Claudia Hammond

The BBC’s All in the Mind presenter, Honorary Doctor of the Open University, and accomplished author [ https://claudiahammond.com ], Claudia Hammond opened the conference with The Psychology of Time Perception. Time perception demonstrates our amazing brain’s ability to warp time, how the subjective experience of time varies so significantly, and how the brain’s extrasensory experience can colour our world in more ways than one. Take twenty minutes, for example. Twenty minutes for a break feels different to waiting for a bus for the same amount of time. Claudia mentioned how temperature has been found to impact our subjective experience of time, which, as someone who is often boiling hot, I certainly notice that feeling trapped in a hot room makes time crawl. Illness can similarly warp our time perception in addition to emotional and affective impacts such as being afraid or feeling bored. Indeed, the significance of emotions was a recurrent theme throughout the day.

What colour is today? Claudia experiences days of the week as being a particular colour, for example, Sunday is white, and Monday is red. The phenomenon of having these experiences is synaesthesia. It can encompass a range of experiences. Claudia and All in the Mind sought the perspectives of people with synaesthesia and examples included time as a spiral. The orientation of how we read, for example left-to-right can impact how we perceive and conceptualise time. We can use our ability to warp time to our advantage by, for example, making new memories on our days off, just as we do on holidays. We should also be mindful of the planning fallacy in which we think we will have more time in the future only to find we run out. That hit me hard in my deadline daredevil soul…

Roving mics enabled a lively question and answer session prior to the end of Claudia’s talk. Questions included the difference between anaesthesia and sleep, screens and the passing of time, and flow. We could have asked questions all day, but alas, we were out of time. We could warp no more. Claudia’s lecture had demonstrated our amazing brain’s ability to warp time and the subjectivity of our individual experiences of consciousness.

'Consciousness and its Physical Substrate' - Christof Koch

Professor Christof Koch presented our second lecture, Consciousness and its Physical Substrate. Christof presented via Zoom from the Pacific Northwest of America where the local time was about 5am! Multi-hyphenate Christof’s roles include ‘Meritorious Investigator’ at the Allen Institute [ https://alleninstitute.org/person/christof-koch ]. Christof’s lecture demonstrated our amazing brain’s ability to have phenomenal experiences which, for two people in the same place at the same time, may not reflect the same reality. For example, remember the dress? Blue/black or white/gold?

Christof mentioned two conscious experiences: a near-death experience, and the stream of consciousness, saying that “if you want to study consciousness, you must study experience”. Reflecting upon a time we faced near death can be an emotional, multi-sensory experience, but it is the brain which is the organ of consciousness. There must be a neural correlate to consciousness which can be induced. Thus, inhibiting the neural correlate inhibits consciousness. Brain studies can demonstrate reactivity patterns, for example, through the use of functional MRI. However, it is more complicated than X=Y as there are a lot of confounds. Moreover, paying attention to something is not the same as being conscious of something, and not all brain activity is a neural correlate. There is a lot of exciting work continuing with evidence coming from, for example, studies of lesions [function loss], stimulation [function gain], and in neuroimaging/recording.

Christof’s Q&A session was diverse and interesting. There was a discussion about the heart problem and other variability in experience, emotions, and consciousness, and of bypassing the heart problem by starting in the brain. Consciousness is being, not [solely] an intellectual experience. Somebody referenced the work of another wonderful previous LOUPS presenter, Anil Seth [ https://www.loups.org.uk/loups-conference-2020technology-and-psychology ]. Christof likes some of the aspects of Anil’s eloquent work but there are some differences: as in consciousness! With much to think about and admiration for a wonderful lecture despite the early hour, we bid ciao to Christof and his amazing brain.

Click below to watch Christof's talk:

'Music, Memory, and Identity' - Catherine Loveday.

Professor of Neuropsychology and passionate musician, Professor Catherine Loveday launched the afternoon session with a lively and interactive lecture, Music, Memory, and Identity. Catherine’s lecture demonstrated our amazing brain’s ability to devastate when function declines. However, even within the saddest of circumstances, there can still be links to happier times which survive. As Catherine said, “we cling to our memories because they make us who we are” and are a social tool linking to our experiences. For example, music is an especially important facilitator of our memories. The programme, Desert Island Discs, demonstrates this phenomenon.

Desert Island Discs [DID] is the long running Radio 4 programme in which guests discuss the eight songs they would take with them to a desert island [ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr ]. In a study of eighty guests of DID, emotional response to songs was the most relevant reason underlying their choices, with the age period of 11-20 being the most significant. Indeed, this time in the developmental trajectory is significant for memory of music, memory for music, and musical preference, in addition to books. This is a consistent finding of the importance of this emotional time. The nostalgia. However, what happens should our memory fail us? Catherine showed a video clip from Dr Oliver Sacks’ work in which a depressed and non-responsive patient suffering with Alzheimer’s who, upon being played music from his past, completely transforms him to dancing along. It is an emotional clip demonstrating our amazing brain’s ability to offer glimmers of hope in the darkest of times, and the joys in the music of our youth, beyond our youth.

Catherine’s Q&A session included questions about perfect pitch, and questioning whether music helps or hinders studying. As with most things, it is not a black-and-white situation. There can be benefits to having music in the background while studying. However, if the music is distracting, then this can cause issues. Who hasn’t put on music for some inspiration only to end up performing a one-woman concert living out one’s superstar daydreams in their PJs…?! Ahem. Fundamentally, it depends on the situation and the person: some find classical music the perfect background music for studying where others enjoy the catharsis of someone externally screaming. Music, Memory and Identity was an emotional lecture which demonstrated our amazing brain by reiterating the importance of music’s inextricable links with our memory and identity. It was a reminder to us all to make the most of life and experiences. While we may lose some of our memories and identity through illness, music may offer glimpses of hope that should not be underestimated.

'The Importance of Emotions' - Dean Burnett

The final lecture of the conference was delivered by Neuroscientist, blogger, author and sometime comedian, Dr Dean Burnett. Dean’s lecture, The Importance of Emotions demonstrated our amazing brain’s complexity of expressions and feelings. Emotions are something which has a taken for granted nature in that, when writing a book about the science of emotion, Dean found that there were no concrete answers nor single definition. Emotions have an effect in the body such that tears are not only one thing: basal tears are chemically different to psycho-emotional tears. The language of emotions varies also, for example, being ‘heartbroken’ or ‘having butterflies’ is not a literal representation of what is happening yet is a shared understanding mediated by this language, although sensory factors are important also.

The sight, sounds, and smells of emotion can be overwhelming. Smell has been found to be particularly powerful with emotion, and especially memory. There is an evolutionary aspect to this relationship as, for example, a bad smell can represent a warning. Music is important for memory and Dean, like Catherine, referenced the music of our youth and its lifelong power. For example, Dean described/outed himself as a “Vengaboys apologist”. No judgement! We all like to party. Everybody’s jumping aside, other genres of music can be used to express our emotions, for example, listening to sad songs allows us to empathise with the sadness through the music thus avoiding bottling up our sadness. Dean suggested that if we did not have emotions, we would be much smarter using the example of pets, especially cats. How would you explain pet cats to aliens? Furry, demanding sociopaths, but look at their cute little face?! Our amazing brains devastate, delight, warn, thrill, confuse, and emotions play an integral role.

The roving mic’s final jaunt saw discussions around the influence of social media on our collective emotions. While there is no simple answer, Dean’s Q&A session referenced the importance of where we direct our attention, such that if we are focusing on negative emotions, the negativity is what we will see. A question capturing every talk of the day concerned the power grief has and the toll it can take. Grief can overwhelm us, colour our days grey and hopeless, make consciousness a torture, have us sobbing at certain songs and the memories tied to them. Dean stated that grief can backfire and become chronic, but we can also keep the person alive. There is no one singular experience.

Your Amazing Brain was the latest in an extensive history of incredible events organised by LOUPS. Our brains are the organs of consciousness through which the world is perceived. Claudia illuminated the multisensory nature of our experiences, the colours of our days, and our ability to warp time. Christof demonstrated the brain being the organ of consciousness and how studies of damaged brains provide insight into functionality. Catherine provided laughs amongst the sadness and the power music has on a person, such that the songs of our youth can relight our fire in later life. Finally, Dean used cats and the Vengaboys to draw on the power of emotions.

This was an awesome conference with enduring impact. For example, in the five months since this conference, I have used at least one example from each lecture in everyday life because, in addition to being intellectually stimulating, LOUPS host events which are relevant and meaningful. So, stop putting off that project, pay attention to the experiences that matter to you, make your own Desert Island Discs playlist for days when you need to reminisce, and do not try to smother your emotions.

Thank you to our spectacular presenters, Claudia, Christof, Catherine, and Dean. Thank you to Amada, David, and all at LOUPS for hosting such a legendary conference that will stay with us for a long time. Thank you for LOUPS attendees new and old.

See you at the next LOUPS event!

"Inside. Outside. Darkside. Brightside." - Criminology Seminar 2023

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:01:53 GMT

LOUPS Criminology Seminar – 11 ^th November 2023

The inevitable train disruption, Remembrance Day commemorations, and a pro-Gaza march on the streets of London could not stop us attending the London Open University Psychological Society’s Criminology Seminar! Back at The Marshall Building at the London School of Economics, we were treated to another outstanding LOUPS event. Our three lecturers were, Mary Haley , Dr Dan Rusu , and Professor David Wilson , who each presented fascinating talks concerning criminological and psychological phenomena.

There won't be recordings from this event as Dan’s book is forthcoming and David is presenting aspects elsewhere but this was a truly sensational event: invigorating, thought-provoking and such a lively, interactive day! If only we could have these wonderful and popular speakers every year. An audience of so many people wanting to learn, understand or who work in the Criminal Justice System, including Dr Liam Brolan , made this Criminology Seminar a day that any society would strive to improve on.

The wonderful lectures were delivered to a rapt audience in a full theatre who shared differing experiences and perspectives. The lectures were standalone yet interconnected with one another. In reflecting on how to report the event, the entanglements, and the primary takeaway from David Wilson about how to make a difference, the emerging themes of Inside, Outside, and Darkside felt an appropriate manner of summarising the seminar.

INSIDE.

Mary Haley opened her second LOUPS event of 2023 with her fantastic talk, "It’s an Inside Job!".

Mary has extensive experience of working in prisons, including HMP Grendon, which is where she is the Clinical Training and Development Manager. Grendon has therapeutic communities in which there is a collaborative paradigm whereby the residents are engaging in psychotherapy in groups and individually. The stark power dynamics of prisons can be problematic to therapeutic interventions. However, Mary noted that while therapy inside prisons can be difficult for such reasons, there are also circumstances in which it is easier. For example, the peer dynamics foster truth because the prisoners challenge one other should someone be evasive or otherwise untruthful. The language used is especially important during therapy inside prisons in that nearly any insult is fine with the exception of to call someone a ‘victim’ or ‘vulnerable, despite the veracity of such statements.

Mary listed a number of issues which impact psychotherapy inside prisons, such as, the history of trauma among the prison population. However, she reiterated the importance of recognising that not everyone who experiences trauma commits violent crime and vice versa. Nevertheless, the prevalence is significant. Other issues include avoidance, rage, and inner conflict. Mary also referenced one of the biggest challenges of delivering therapy inside prisons: there are three people in the relationship. In therapy, there are usually the client and the therapist, who share a mutual understanding of, for example, confidentiality. However, the criminal justice system, is a third person in prison therapy because the content of treatment is recorded in session notes, which are important in parole decisions and risk assessments. Mary acknowledges the difference in quality of reports such that a good report is approximately 18-20 pages. Very brief reports could reflect potential omissions, whereas very long reports could include repetition. Mary noted that the reports can be a ‘gift’ to the prisoner in that it can allow them to better understand themselves. Mary was clear about the importance of keeping an open mind and curious stance in providing psychotherapy inside prisons, and beyond. It is both frustrating and rewarding work but it is vital to ensure that practitioners take breaks and other protective measures.

Mary’s brilliant lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session. “What makes the biggest difference?” Mary answered, “therapy”. The importance of therapy cannot be overstated. Similarly, the importance of early interventions, although Mary noted that there can be issues of accessing services, even when there were more available, such as SureStart. Trust issues and other factors can inhibit engagement. David Wilson, who has a significant working history with Mary, asked about gender. David said that Mary had had the “hardest job” at Grendon, and he questioned the relevance or helpfulness of gender. Mary explained that gender is both a help and a challenge, especially if an early abuser had been female. Other questions included queries about volunteering opportunities and wondering about interventions in young offender populations. Volunteering opportunities are complicated, and prisons are still impacted by Covid-19 among other restrictions, but Open Days and relationships with universities are important. Therefore, lateral thinking and proactivity are key, such as applying for other prison roles to gain experience of that environment. Mary is unaware of therapeutic communities in Young Offender institutes but noted that younger offenders tend to leave Grendon sooner than older ones. Finally, in response to a question about avoiding burnout, Mary emphasised the importance of separating your work from your life and having meaningful support systems.

As an opening lecture, Mary’s talk opened the LOUPS Criminology Seminar in style. She once again delivered an incredible session which provides insight into a very challenging environment while simultaneously acknowledging the difficulties but also the hope that can be found providing psychotherapy inside prisons.

Leaving prison by being released is surely the most hopeful of outcomes, but how is life on the outside after incarceration?

OUTSIDE.

Dr Dan Rusu’s "Life Beyond Murder" was our second lecture of the seminar. Using the MentiMeter website, Dan posed the question, ‘ Prisoners laugh in our faces. Prison is not harsh enough to be a true deterrent ’. We responded by selecting one of four responses. The numbers shifted as people logged in and responded but the results were approximately:

Strongly agree: 3

Agree: 18

Strongly disagree: 8

Disagree: 29

In a discussion around our responses, we heard from people with each opinion. For example, an audience member who strongly agreed with the statement spoke of their experience working in a prison in which there are inmates actively laughing at staff, as well as attacking staff unpunished. Difficult to hear and unimaginable to experience. On the other side of the responses, a "strongly-disagree" respondent likened incarceration to that of battery chickens whereby would you expect an ex-battery hen to behave in a manner of a non-battery hen? Certainly, an interesting perspective and one which arguably reflects the mortification of the soul (Goffman, 1963).

Dan’s doctoral research was a longitudinal qualitative study in which he interviewed a handful of men who had served life sentences for murder. As Dan states, ‘murder is irreparable’, and some of those in prison have the paradox of having killed a person they had loved. Dan’s interviewees came from different backgrounds and included those who had murdered a loved one, those who had murdered for financial gain, and a random homicide. Life in prison necessitates adaptation to survive, whether by primitive behaviours of denial, or maladaptive adaptations, such as self-harming. Dan’s study took a qualitative, narrative approach which included both ethical and practical concerns, but Dan and his interviewees adapted, building mutual trust with the resulting work being incredible. We eagerly await his book!

Consumer culture is something of which we often take for granted. Whether we are immune to its vulnerability-vipers or guilty of buying things to try to feel better [GUILTY! – CCW], it is something we are surrounded by in daily life. However, upon release from prison, Dan’s interviewees were exposed to a truly new world, for example, the Smartphone culture. Dan mentioned feelings of the fear of missing out [FOMO], comparison culture, and the shame of being certain age but only having X car or Y clothes. Consumerism can substitute fragile identities post-release, but economic constraints can complicate the ability to both partake and decline. There are so many conflicting aspects of the post-incarceration experience. An attendee asked Dan whether what his participants said matched. Dan thoughtfully answered that typically this is the case, however, he is not searching or interested in an objective truth, rather in how the individuals themselves understand it.

Dan’s Q&A session encompassed many of the themes within the talk. Identity was one of the greatest and was transitive such that it evolved from material things to more spiritual aspects. A question about self-flagellation in which ex-prisoners work with offenders to maintain their connection to punishment whilst simultaneously helping people was reflected upon by Dan as an interesting hypothesis, however, one cannot generalise from small sample groups. On the other hand, redemption is a theme which has emerged. The relationship between Dan and his interviewees was delicate and Dan reflected on being cautious of the importance of maintaining communication and engagement, while being afraid of being transactional. Dan stated while he does not know if the interviewees were self-reflective at all points of the interviews, he could have potentially represented a vehicle of redemption.

This was a fantastic talk and a perfect second lecture coming after Mary and before David. Dan provided insightful and powerful quotes from his interviewees, his experiences with working with this population, and the courage of one’s conviction [no pun intended!]. For example, David had wanted Dan to use a particular book in his study, but Dan declined: there is an interest in what people do not say. Dan and Liam were David’s final two PhD students, and he could not have chosen better!

DARKSIDE.

Professor David Wilson closed the conference with his talk: "In search of the Angels of Death" . David is connected to both Mary and Dan, as well as Liam, and spoken for LOUPS some years previously, and this time Amada had asked David to present given the high-profile case in the UK recently involving ‘killer nurse’ Lucy Letby. David established his extensive history working with and speaking to those who have committed violent crime, stating that everything he has learned about violent crime came from listening to those who had committed such offences. The juxtaposition of a serial killer being a healthcare worker captures attention and fear among society. David delivered a brilliant lecture to a rapt audience on a topic which cuts to the core: "being unsafe in caring contexts".

The term health care serial killers (HCSK) lacks a precise definition. For example, it has been used to capture any of those working in healthcare positions: clinical and nonclinical. Conceptions have also been highly gendered, with even ‘Angels of Death’ carrying a "[female] Angels" sub-text. David clarified that such killers are extremely rare as the vast majority of healthcare workers care about people. However, the scale of the damage in societies caused by HCSKs is so large that they have over-bearing impact on public perception. Traits have been added to a ‘checklist’ of characteristics, but caution must be exercised because correlation is not causation: innocent people have been convicted. Aside from convictions, motivation is a key topic of interest relating to HCSK, but motivation is not something that the killers David has encountered have often touched upon. Moreover, can you trust them even when they say something? Some killers have spoken at length but really said nothing or say what they think the other person wants to hear. Beware!

Not "nice Lucy Letby?!" Beige, unassuming nurse Letby is an interesting case for HCSK as she both fits with some of the ‘checklist’ factors while also being an outlier in other factors. David reflected on how there is often a stereotype of a killer being one thing, when in fact they are often contrary, or boring and unassuming, for example, Family GP, Harold Shipman and 'The ‘banality of evil’ noted by Hannah Arendt. He noted that there are aspects of the Letby case for the defence which may well yet be further explored, even though these were available throughout the trial. David reminded the audience that Lucy Letby is appealing the current judgements and that there are other investigations ongoing, and that more evidence regarding HCSK may yet emerge in this case and others.

The Q&A session following David’s talk was wide-ranging and thought-provoking, centering on the question of whether there is a link between the means of killing available in healthcare settings which are not available to others and the outcomes in terms of serial killings. Conclusions included the observation that it is important to consider 1. Access, 2. Opportunity, and 3. Motive, when looking at killers. Access and opportunity would be available to many healthcare practitioners who do not kill. There are institutional and structural considerations too, such as burnout. There are people leaving the healthcare professions torn apart. Examples were not lacking in our group alone. David spoke about the investment that is made in incarceration and punishment but not in rehabilitation. A sobering reality of mismatched priorities.

BRIGHTSIDE?

Mary, Dan, and David presented an incredible program of talks for the LOUPS Criminology Seminar 2023. Criminological insight from inside the prison system, outside the prison context, and the shocking dark side of humanity in which criminals can instil fear in wider society. However, this was not the whole day.

There is a Brightside within the darkness. Premature and needing high-level care at a time where the Letby case was everywhere, David recalled watching everything and everyone caring for his newly-born grandson when in hospital care. The doctors and nurses are the reason David beamed ear-to-ear talking about his grandson. David affirmed that his talk was not about Letby. A fellow premature baby shared their triumph after a difficult start, and we all learned that you don’t mess with Brooklyn! Finally, David made a passionate argument that there are things we can do to tackle the violent crime in society: have safe and legal sex work; challenge homophobia; challenge the assumptions of the elderly as a burden not an asset, and have honest conversations about masculinity. We can all do something.

A massive thank you to Mary, Dan, and David for a fantastic seminar. And thank you to Liam for his included work, his book stall toil, and good nature when used as a sartorial example! Thanks to Amada, David, and Sonya for organising and hosting this wonderful event.

Follow LOUPS on all platforms, follow on EventBrite, and sign up to the mailing list (event details only, no spam) for news on future events. Advice is to book early as this event sold out and then refunded tickets were snapped up too!

Tricks, Tribulations and, Toilets!

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 01:00:38 GMT

Magic, mishaps, and maybe toilets: "mindreading" to mitigate disaster.

Professor Graham Edgar. (University of Gloucester)

LOUPS Pub Social – October 2023.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! The first London and South Open University Psychological Society Pub Social was a lively affair! After the disruption of the past few years, it was fantastic to be back at the George IV Pub at LSE.

Professor Graham Edgar presented Magic, mishaps, and maybe toilets: "mindreading" to mitigate disaster. An intriguing title! Human Factors is an interesting field as it encompasses such a diverse range of topics and applications. During Graham’s lecture, there were cheers, gasps, and a warning about ‘adult themes’. It was an intellectual riot! To a full house, Graham presented an insightful lecture. Here follows a snapshot of the tricks, tribulations, and toilets of the talk.

Hollnagel (2007) stated ‘human error is best understood as a judgement made in hindsight’. Graham described human factors as two jobs in one phrase: reading minds in the past and reading minds in the future. Hindsight and foresight: mindreading.

Behold! Thompson, the Mindreading Cat! Reading your mind as you read this very screen…

Or not? Mentalism has been conceptualised as trickery and/or distraction. Graham presented a couple of tricks #NOspoilers. A particularly interesting one is a vignette of a murder scene. Some of us noticed a couple of changes, but the actual number of them is remarkable. It is easy to underestimate the limits of our perception and the power of distraction. It is a fact which has been sadly demonstrated in myriad catastrophic ways, for example in aviation accidents in which a series of human factor issues result in devastation.

Reason’s Swiss Cheese Model (1997) is an enduringly useful model in looking at human errors and human factors. A model in which the irregular holes in slices of Swiss cheese represent the stages leading to an incident: if these holes line up, they form a pathway to disaster. A recent example of this was seen in the Boeing MCAS scandal. The Boeing 737 Max aircraft saw two dramatic whole-loss crashes in quick succession which were attributed to the MCAS system. Following a spell of being grounded, the fleet is back in the sky. Lessons learned. However, there is the tension in human factors between should have known better versus having known about something but still succumbing to an accident. For example, Graham told us about inverted rollercoaster accidents. An inverted rollercoaster is a rare design in which the tracks are above the car rather than a train-on-a-track design. A man had died after being hit by such a rollercoaster when he was trying to retrieve his wife’s hat. The hat had been blown off after the couple rode the inverted rollercoaster. Similarly, workers at parks with these rollercoasters have died after colliding with in-motion cars. Knowledge is not the protection one might expect. Furthermore, the humans in human factors can be surprising: sometimes there is no predicting what people will do…

Marketing slogan, “You’ll be happier with a Hoov er” took an extraordinary meaning with the Hoover Dustette. Care to guess why from the picture below?

A fine-looking machine which led to some questionable hospital attendances for laceration injuries to the penis. Four cases were reported in a 1980 BMJ journal article (https://www.bmj.com/content/281/6232/26.2) in which the men had been injured while ‘nakedly changing a plug’, ‘bent down to pick up tools’, ‘vacuuming the staircase in a loose-fitting robe’, and ‘caused by a vacuum cleaner’ (Zufall, 1980). Perhaps we should all be wary in our naked housework endeavours going forward?! The blushes, blunders, and bewilderment were not in vain: the Dustette was redesigned thus demonstrating the application of human factors. Indeed, revisions and amendments are an important part of working in human factors.

Graham showed a picture of himself on site in the women’s toilets at a Police Station and quipped, “the places Psychology can take you!” Human factors are relevant everywhere and in every situation. For example, midnight toilet trips can include the choice of eye-melting lights in the middle of the night or cloak of darkness danger pee? How about neither if you purchase a LavNav™? The LavNav is a light under the toilet lid and the seat which, depending upon what is raised, illuminates the area. Schipol airport used nudge theory to improve passenger aim and reduce cleaning efforts by having an image of a fly on the urinals. Fun and functional target practice. Toilets are a surprisingly useful demonstration of the application of human factors. Funnily enough, the toilet closest to our bar had the terrific/terrifying habit of the light behaving of its own volition coalescing with a small layout at the top of some stairs. Watch out for the Swiss Cheese holes!

A question-and-answer session followed Graham’s fantastic lecture. The 20mph speed limit was discussed. Graham supports it as there is a higher survivability in accidents at 20mph than at 30mph or 40mph, although people have been and are killed in lower-speed accidents. An example of this opened the lecture but context is always important. Somebody queried about the speed cameras in 20mph zones as a potential distraction as people may be looking out for them more than they are concentrating on the road. Another question concerned people in general being less intelligent* than companies may be willing to accept. To this, Graham noted that the literature in human factors can be used to show to companies what has or can happen. Automation and artificial intelligence rounded up the night. Graham is fan but noted that where one issue is addressed, another may arise. We must not forget the human in human factors!

The first LOUPS Pub Social in a few years was a roaring success! Professor Graham Edgar presented an engaging lecture on human factors to a rapt full house. Using examples as diverse as aviation and urination, and incorporating the Swiss Cheese Model and nudge theory, this was an insightful yet accessible lecture including real-world examples. Practical demonstrations in the room demonstrated the ways in which even when knowing or expecting something, such as in a card trick, we can still be surprised and distracted. The tribulations of previous generations have led to improvements for us today and this continues. Human factors involves reading minds in the past in the reverse engineering of incidents, while reading minds in the future to predict behaviours. Human factors is an interesting field which Graham illuminates with passion and wit. Magic, Mishaps, and Maybe Toilets: Mindreading to Mitigate Disaster was brilliant! Thank you to everyone at LOUPS for another fantastic event and to Graham for a barnstorming lecture to recommence the LOUPS Pub Socials!

See you at the next LOUPS event!

*Or adventurous/curious/unlucky in the case of the Dustette injuries…

So, you want to be a counsellor?

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:26:56 GMT

Kris Ambler (BACP): How to become a BACP-registered Counsellor

Many students are interested in following a career in psychotherapy by becoming a Counsellor, but often seem unclear how the knowledge and skills they acquire during their studies can help with this.

"Is a Psychology or Psychology and Counselling degree everything I need, and if not, what should my next steps be?"

"How can I use what I learned while studying?"

"Do I need a degree at all?"

In this talk we were delighted to welcome Kris Ambler from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) to help clear up some of the mystery.

The BACP is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK, which promotes and facilitates research to produce trusted best practice, and provides a robust framework to ensure the profession follows and adheres to the highest possible standards that protect individuals seeking therapy.

Kris is the Workforce Lead for the BACP, and works with organisations across the sectors. He has a keen interest in occupational wellbeing, psychosocial interventions in the workplace and the future employment landscape for the Counselling and Psychotherapy professions.

Mental Health: working in the system

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:48:23 GMT

LOUPS Spring Conference 2023: Mental Health – Working in the System.

On Saturday the 18 ^th of March 2023, the London Open University Psychological Society [LOUPS], hosted their Spring conference, Mental Health – Working in the System. The conference was moved to virtual delivery due to rail disruption. However, as David mentioned in his introduction, the last March LOUPS conference took place right before lockdown, and prior to that, the Beast from the East showed up. LOUPS are nothing if not formidable! Today’s conference was timely and especially relevant to DD310, although much of the content is relevant to other modules, as well as in daily life.

One of the many benefits of LOUPS events is the connection and reflection the individual lectures and the program of lectures elicits. Mental Health – Working in the System, provided insights into working therapeutically in forensic settings, research into school bullying and its evolution, mindfulness in applied settings, and the healthcare experiences of autistic people. Each of the wonderful presenters gave engaging and memorable lectures with multiple aspects which one finds oneself mentioning in conversations: whether at the proverbial water cooler or elsewhere. The lectures linked to one another through recurrent themes or notions. This was another excellent conference from LOUPS with a diverse program of lectures.

Mary Haley (HMP Grendon) started the conference with a truly incredible lecture, "Can Psychotherapy In Prisons Help Both Prisoners and The Public? Or Are We Fooling Ourselves And Wasting Money?" Provocative title? Perhaps at first glance. However, for everyone who has studied DD310, read Fred and Olga’s book [link] or engaged with the myriad of true crime content, the interest in the minds of offenders is tangible. Mary’s lecture ingeniously linked to following lectures, as well as the October 2022 Criminal Minds conference [link]. The insight she provided into therapy in prisons is invaluable for everyone interested in both psychotherapy and forensic psychology. Especially, at the apex of these interests, therapeutic communities (TC), such as those at HMP Grendon, where Mary has been Head of Psychotherapy, and is the Clinical Training and Development Manager.

The therapeutic relationship is an important part of psychotherapy and can have significant influence on the outcome of therapy. In a forensic setting, the power dynamics are complicated by the necessities of the context, for example, keeping residents secure. Mary referenced how prison can be ‘infantilising’ due to the tight scheduling. However, therapeutic communities, such as those within Grendon, operate in as much a democratic manner as possible within the confines: physical and psychological. Trust, central in all relationships, is especially crucial in therapy in forensic settings, but also exceptionally fragile, with the ruptures caused by the pandemic having an enduring impact leading to more deselections, or leaving the therapeutic community, than were seen pre-pandemic. Although, things are improving.

Can Psychotherapy in Prisons Help Both Prisoners and the Public? Yes. Mary spoke about Bowlby and attachment theory as well as the work of the Robertsons looking at the impact of maternal deprivation. The prison population have more incidence of personality disorder diagnoses than the general population. While correlation does not equal causation, it is important to recognise the background of residents, which forms part of the formulation process. However, Mary shared some quotes from residents who thoughtfully and bravely reflected upon their time at Grendon. Moving quotes which demonstrate that, despite what some mainstream media outlets proliferate, genuine change can and does happen within those walls. One of the aims of therapy within prisons is to help people understand their offences were choices. Many themes weaved throughout the conference, but, for me, the notion of choice, was particularly relevant.

Mary’s excellent lecture included a Q&A session. Among the questions asked included why music-based therapeutic interventions were less offered in therapeutic communities, being found more in TC+, which cater to those with learning disabilities. Funding is the short answer, but there is a growing use of music within TC which also demonstrates the dynamic nature of these environments. A keen interest among attendees was the selection process. Mary explained that inmate behaviour is looked at, such as can they calm their emotions? Are they free from drugs? Importantly, if a person is not selected at this moment, they can reapply in the future. Conversely, someone who is deselected, is able to reapply again. Mary’s lecture was an excellent, moving, and thought-provoking start to the conference and offered more hope than one might have expected.

Click here to see Mary's talk

Professor Peter Smith , Goldsmiths and University of London presented "The School Bullying Research Program: How and Why the Program Developed and Practical Outcomes for Intervention" . Peter’s lecture included the trajectory of research into school bullying and cross-cultural aspects. The sociocultural contexts have changed with the technological advancements, but boys tend towards more physical and direct types of bullying, while girls tend to be more involved in cyberbullying. The risk factors listed in the ecological perspective linked to Mary’s talk as familial relationships and individual factors, such as temperament, are significant. Arguably significant whether bully or target. As someone with a history of the latter, Peter’s talk was interesting but difficult, but linked to choices in both how people behave and how this behaviour is experienced.

Peter presented some interesting findings from four phases of bullying studies, including dominant ideology. For example, where phase 1 considered bullying as physical, indirect aggression emerged in phase 2 research, international research programs in phase 3, and cyberbullying in phase 4. One of the first questions posed to Peter concerned the differences, if there any, between bullying in state schools and private schools. It is an area with not much research, but broadly similar trends predicted. However, Peter mentioned a sharp rise in publications of bullying research which can be linked to the intersection of knowledge, awareness and attitudes, and action. Peter provided helpful advice when conducting searches and featured some methodological discussion.

Practical Outcomes for Intervention was a tough aspect of the lecture, indeed a difficult aspect in general, as Peter referenced, there “is no single solution that will suit all”. The schools choose how to tackle bullying and some interventions can have their own problem. For example, a recognisable clothing item on peer supporters can both mark out a ‘safe’ person but can inhibit targets going to them as it is noticeable and may cause further torment. Interestingly, Mary had referenced how SureStart Centres had seen people in the most deprived areas afraid to go into them, so the notion of support being visible can have unintended consequences. However, with the high-profile tragedies which confront us weekly from targets feeling there is only one escape, it is imperative to continue the research into bullying and to find beneficial interventions to make meaningful change.

One of the dominant links between Mary and Peter’s talks was the discussion of restorative justice (RJ). Restorative justice principles move away from blame by focusing on repairing fractured relationships. In TC, psychodramas enable members to act out a situation with proxies to reflect upon and consider the choices made and their impact. In school-based RJ interventions, parties find out each other’s feelings and work towards repairing harm rather than apportioning blame. Reflective rather than reactive. However, there are issues to consider with interventions, including the school climate, family situation, and popular bullies. Peter’s lecture was a brilliant end to the morning’s lectures and provided food for thought heading into the lunch break.

No post-lunch slump with multi-hyphenate mindfulness Powerhouse, Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock presenting the third lecture, "Next Generation Mindfulness Training in Military Teams" . Jutta recommended we “open our minds to mindfulness” and discussed the value in Slowing Down to Speed Up. Paradoxical as it may sound, using the example of a biker, Jutta asked us what is good about driving fast, followed by what do we miss by driving fast? Adrenaline rush was among the first responses, while safety and risk followed. However, beyond safety concerns, one of the benefits of slowing down, in the context of the biker and beyond, is that the peripheral blur of the world around you becomes clearer. Jutta mentioned that one of the premises of mindfulness, is that it could be more strategic to slow down. The notion of choosing to slow down.

Jutta is a passionate academic organisational psychologist who teaches, researches, and does a lot of outreach work. Jutta characterises organisational psychology akin to a chef in a restaurant’s kitchen in which the diners are typically less interested in the recipes, or theories, compared to great food, or the application of theory. Jutta interspersed her presentation with exercises, such as articulating both the good and the bad of being enthusiastic about mindfulness. This particular exercise was interesting as whichever mindset one typically holds, conceptualising the opposite view offers a moment of reflection. Imagery was important in this lecture, especially starlings and their cohesive movement. Linking back to Mary’s lecture in which a crashing and swirling wave image represented the crashing and swell of emotions within therapy. The starlings represent a mindful group working effectively. The presentations across the day intertwined in meaningful, unexpected ways.

The Next Generation of Mindfulness Training in Military Teams demonstrated the widespread application of mindfulness psychology. Military contexts could appear incongruent with mindfulness practices, but Jutta reported on the significant resilience increases shown in individuals and groups. Although the group who had both individual and collective mindfulness training performed better in cognitive measures and in mindful organising as a team. Like starlings… Similar to Peter, Jutta mentioned methodological aspects of the work, for example the importance of multiple tests and the importance of knowledge sharing “as widely as possible”. Jutta revealed her first lecture was to 2.5 people and now she has presented to more than 11,000 people. An encouraging takeaway from a positive lecture which also touches upon Jutta’s question ending the lecture: so, what? What is interesting about this for you? For all three lectures and our forthcoming fourth, the takeaway for each attendee will be different. The things we remember will vary. The wisdom, the wounds, and the wonders will run the spectrum. The choices that we make.

Our fourth and final lecture of the conference, "Supporting the Wellbeing of People with Autism: Insights From Research Into Healthcare Experiences" , was presented by Dr Cheryl Venart of Glasgow Caledonian University. A scheduling issue meant Cheryl had kindly pre-recorded her presentation for us. Cheryl’s lecture included a background of autism, research into healthcare inequalities, and quotes from research which were both personally eviscerating yet, sadly, validating. One of the many fascinating aspects of LOUPS events, is how the lectures are delivered in their way, yet the words refract through the prism of our experiences. As an autistic person with medical trauma, it was an ironic death by a thousand cuts concurrent with potential foreshadowing if I make certain choices. A car crash in slow motion – look but fail to see.

Choice was an interesting dimension within Cheryl’s lecture because the most relevant aspect of choice seemed external [to me]. For example, despite a plethora of research linking autism to multiple illnesses, the barriers to healthcare were multi-dimensional: individual and systemic, such as provider attitudes. Cheryl included methodological details of her research, such as using comparison of means, correlations, and thematic analysis. Each method demonstrated its value, such as the quotes illustrating the themes which balanced succinctness with meaningful insight. Choice was reflected in the illustrative quotes, the articulation of the experiences of the participants, and the choices of the medical professionals the quotes reference. This was a fantastic lecture both standalone, and as the closing presentation of the conference.

The Spring LOUPS Conference, Mental Health – Working in the System, was a magnificent and thought-provoking day. The lectures individually covered the specific topics of psychotherapy in prisons, school bullying research and interventions, “next generation” mindfulness, and research from autistic people’s experiences in healthcare. However, they also linked with one another through topics such as restorative justice and in the practical support around methodological concerns and factors. Choice was a dimension which featured in each lecture, whether it is from owning our choices, reflecting on choices, or the real impact of choices made by and against us. Each presentation was insightful and lasts beyond the day of the conference, whether we are studying, in practice, or in the minutiae of daily life.

A massive thank you to our wonderful speakers, Mary Haley, Professor Peter Smith, Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock and Dr Cheryl Venart. Thank you for MC supremo David keeping everything flowing, Amada and all at LOUPS for hosting another amazing event. Thank you to all the attendees who asked questions and shared stories as the different perspectives add to the experience. Make sure you are signed up to the mailing list and keep an eye out for future events on EventBrite.

#ItsYourMoney

Criminal Minds

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:43:50 GMT

Criminal Minds: aspects of criminal motivation and behaviour

After a two-and-a-half year hiatus following their last day-conference on Technology and Psychology, the London branch of the Open University Psychological Society (LOUPS) made a triumphant return to hosting in-person conferences with Criminal Minds. The event was held at our traditional stomping ground, the London School of Economics (LSE) however, we were in the new and impressive, Marshall Building, which had been under construction the last time we were there. From scaffolded-afar in 2020 to climbing the spiral staircase in 2022. Carpe diem.

'Criminal Minds' was comprised of three presentations. Open University’s Emeritus Professor Frederick Toates launched the conference with a talk about the subject behind the 5-star book he released this Spring written with his magnificent wife and collaborator, Dr Olga Coschug-Toates: 'Understanding Sexual Serial Killing' . Our second presentation, 'Armed Robbers: Identity and Cultural Mythscapes in the Lucky Country' , came from City, University of London’s Professor Emmeline Taylor, who delivered a fascinating and sometimes chilling exploration of the identities of armed robbers, the challenges of studying in forensic settings, and the related importance of resilience and fortitude. Finally, Birmingham City University’s Dr Dan Rusu closed the conference with 'Life beyond murder: the reconstruction of identity amongst mandatory lifers' : a revelatory lecture on a potentially divisive and provocative group. Each lecture ended with a question-and-answer session providing further points to consider, such as pornography, music, and prejudice. The three lectures also linked to one another making an incredible conference.

Prof. Frederick Toates: 'Understanding sexual serial-killing'

“I wish I weren’t here”. Professor Frederick Toates always delivers a formidable lecture, but this was an interesting opening statement! However, the sentiment related to the topic of his presentation: Serial Sexual Homicide. This is a tough topic and Fred noted the importance of nerves of steel in conducting this research though admitted he possesses “anything but”. Sometimes the worst crimes were committed by those who appeared the most ‘normal’. Fred and Olga’s work as documented in their book takes a biopsychosocial perspective and recognises that to understand an aberration, such as sexual serial killing, it is important to understand optimal functioning, for example, motivation, inhibition, and incentive salience. Fred referenced the work of his friends Kent Berridge and Terry Robinson who drew upon and developed the Toates model by notably splitting wanting and liking. For example, Fred used the working from home (WFH) context in which, when WFH, Fred feels the lure of the siren song of the refrigerator and its camembert treasures: “I want it, but I want to not want it”.

Fantasy, whether cheese or violence, activates pathways which release dopamine and have powerful psychological and physiological effects on an individual. A common theme among subjects in Fred and Olga’s book is fantasy or urges. Fred referenced sufferers of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and killers in that both may experience a negative or anti-social thought, but they have different reactions influenced by, for example, their developmental history. While difficult developmental backgrounds border on cliché in conversations around deviant behaviour, it is an enduring aspect among serial killers. However, as every good scientist knows; correlation does not equal causation. However, Fred noted that eradicating abuse, neglect, and bullying in schools would make a meaningful difference, so, while we should exercise caution when single explanations are suggested, there are nonetheless interventions which could be of benefit. In the Q&A, someone asked about the use of porn as an outlet. Fred suggested that violent porn does more harm than good and that he would favour banning it.

This was an excellent lecture to start the Criminal Minds conference. Fred delivered a thorough but respectful talk about serial sexual killing, which included examples from his and Olga’s book demonstrating the application of psychological research. In addition, direct quotes from some of these examples further consolidated our understanding and, while difficult to hear sometimes, are an undoubtedly valuable resource in developing the knowledge base of subversive populations: their words about their worlds.

Prof. Emmeline Taylor: 'Armed Robbers: Identity and Cultural Mythscapes in the Lucky Country'

Professor Emmeline Taylor delivered Criminal Minds’ second lecture, 'Armed Robbers: Identity and Cultural Mythscapes in the Lucky Country' . The differences between the attention that societies give to the quasi-celebrities of sexual serial killers and the almost invisible, save for the most infamous, population of armed robbers are immeasurable. However, Emmeline revealed the multifaceted identities of armed robbers: a particularly interesting criminal subculture as their crime of choice is low-reward and high-risk. Lecture 2 featured a serendipitous study which was both illuminating and demonstrated how studies can evolve throughout the research process. Moreover, Emmeline provided a comprehensive account of the bureaucratic wrangling involved in gaining access to participants in forensic settings, but the revelations in her research yielded insights that could not have come from other methods. Resilience and persistence ultimately led to intriguing data.

Emmeline’s study into armed robbers was conducted in Australia at a time when workplace injuries following violent robberies were worsening and causing increasing worry among companies’ loss prevention teams. Emmeline had initially been less interested in the specificities of armed robberies, favouring the emotions and the performance. Availability of participants led to incarcerated armed robbers being the most tangible participant pool, although access was slow to be granted, required endless patience, and relied upon a great deal of trust between all parties: Emmeline, the prison officers, and the participants. The level of trust needed is particularly interesting considering the frequently combative, oppositional relationship between incarcerated individuals and prison officers. Emmeline was an outsider to both parties, for example rumours circulated among the incarcerated that she was an undercover police officer: an inaccuracy which threatened her safety. Nevertheless, she persisted.

Her persistence paid off and the resulting data is extraordinary. Memorable examples include the comprehensive revelations about the cultural identity work of armed robbers, and the juxtaposition between an armed robber who declined the invitation to participate in Emmeline’s research yet made an incredible contribution. He wrote a helpful response letter to Emmeline’s request-for-participants combining meaningful information for the study with insider knowledge about the issues he saw as inhibitory that he recognised within her request so helped her in an unexpected way. On the other hand, Emmeline shared the only two occasions in which she was afraid. The first is a chilling instance of the wrong inmate being bought into the inescapable interview room at shift change. Terrifying. The second occasion was a tale who’s opening alone suggested the oeuvre of conference namesake drama series, Criminal Minds, yet Emmeline had kept calmer than I was merely hearing this story and she ended up with a friend. A friend who had been an armed robber and who decoded the specific vernacular. Emmeline has those nerves of steel to which Fred alluded!

Emmeline’s Q&A included questions about the adrenaline, demographics, and music of armed robbers. The rush invoked by a participant, “euphoric … surge of adrenaline”, starkly contrasts to the realities of incarceration, so it was questioned how the armed robbers therefore experience prison. Emmeline referenced a lack of data to address this incongruence but noted the presence of drugs and violence and posited the outcome of skydiving on the prisoners. Demographically, armed robbers are typically male, although women may play a peripheral role, and the socioeconomic background tended towards working class with clusters of ages, but there are outliers, and it is again necessary to refer to the data. My question conflated media depictions and one of the interesting performative aspects of armed robber identity culture: music. The film Baby Driver (2017) used music in a specific way, for example the ‘killer track’. Music was an important factor in the performative and transformative identities of armed robbers. A group of armed robbers nicknamed the Yugo Bandits were captured due to their penchant for Bulgarian thrash metal when neglected surviving music found in torched getaway cars allowed connecting of crimes. HipHop is a popular genre among armed robbers and Emmeline recounted a transcript from an interview including a notation where she and a participant had begun to sing/rap together. This was an excellent lecture combining the practical application of psychology in complex contexts, including multiple issues of safety, and the importance of keeping research diaries ["Hello there #DE200 #DE300 et al. students!"].

Dr. Dan Rusu: 'Life beyond murder: the reconstruction of identity amongst mandatory lifers'

Dr Dan Rusu presented the final session of the conference, ' Life beyond murder: the reconstruction of identity amongst mandatory lifers' . Early in the session, Dan used a mentimeter poll to gauge opinions on the statement, "Criminals laugh in our face: prison is not harsh enough to be a true deterrent", with the answer options, "agree/slightly agree/disagree/strongly disagree". Percentages shifted slightly but ~56% chose "Disagree"; perhaps unsurprising among a population with an interest in psychology and related disciplines? Opinions shared aloud included prisons being constructed as a ‘university’ or ‘finishing school of crime’, as well as inmates having access to some luxury goods, such as gaming consoles. However, to survive incarceration and adapt to the prison environment, individuals experience, for example, mortification of the self (Goffman, 1963) and prisonisation (Clemmer, 1940) so, there is a tension between the broader understanding of modern prisons with the minutiae of the lived experience. Great insight came from Dan’s interviews and the words of the ex-offenders. Although Dan’s study had five participants, the depth of the data which emerged from the interviews demonstrates the significance of qualitative and longitudinal research for scientific knowledge.

Dan's talk reflected on an aspect of the England and Wales Criminal Justice System: a life sentence is not a whole life sentence. A whole life order means that despite exceptional compassionate circumstances, an offender will never be released. Some of those serving these such terms had unsurprisingly been mentioned in Fred’s lecture. Therefore, a life sentence is not as it sounds and for those imprisoned on such terms, there will come a life after ‘life’ and all that entails. For example, the societal changes that have occurred during their incarceration are an alienating aspect of life after life because culturally normalised phenomena, such as technologically mediated communication and conspicuous consumption are less present in prison. However, one participant made an interesting point about competition not being a worthy concern to them, which demonstrated a departure from the significance of performative identities in prison. For example, Dan recalled being a young psychologist in a Romanian prison meeting room with an inmate crying about his circumstances, yet the following day the same inmate participated in the hypermasculinity and oppositional behaviour towards the psychologists: perhaps performative identity is more important during incarceration as a survival mechanism.

The fascinating aspects of Lecture 3 inevitably led to a lively Q&A session. An early point addressed the notion of identity in which individuals portray a version of themselves as being a common phenomenon, so how can it be avoided? Dan emphasised the importance of humanising within prison settings and discouraging the exaggerated masculinity identity. For example, HMP Grendon, familiar from DD310, is an interesting facility which challenges traditional punitive containment paradigms as inmates are ‘residents’ living in a therapeutic community involving votes and responsibilities. However, Dan’s answer to a question about abolishing prisons noted that there are some people who “should be locked up forever”. A question considering an evolutionary explanation for the prejudice that people display when they know of an individual’s past crimes, initiated a cross-room discussion touching upon cognitive misers, the construct of a ‘snap’ preceding a murder, hypervigilance, and reintegration. It would have been interesting to retake the mentimeter poll at the end of Lecture 3 to explore whether the percentages would have altered. However, my last scrawled note is about Grendon and how individuals apply to be residents and need to demonstrate they want to change, which arguably captures a core factor of Life beyond murder seen within the quotes from Dan’s research: the desire to change and forge a life after their life sentence.

Conclusion

Fred, Emmeline, and Dan made Criminal Minds a barnstorming return to LOUPS’ face to face conferences. Their lectures linked to one another in myriad ways, such as dramaturgical identity, the value of phenomenology, and humanising those often constructed as inhuman. The dramaturgy of identity refers to Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) in which identity is a performance. Identity was woven throughout Criminal Minds especially its performance, whether obscuring the aberrance within, playing music to fuel a role, or eradicating the former identity to survive the current. Phenomenology focuses on the subjective experiences of people. Each lecture included the contexts depicted through individuals’ quotes and conceptualisations, for example, violent compulsions, the hidden rules within sub-cultures, and the juxtapositions of time frozen while the world accelerated. Constructions of humanity, especially concerning media representations of criminals, have often been dehumanising. Criminal Minds featured sexual serial killers, armed robbers, and murderers. While it would be disingenuous to swerve the severity of these crimes, it would be duplicitous to fail to acknowledge the humanity within the research presented. Perhaps, the most fear-inducing, chilling, or provocative aspect of the conference was that the minds of criminals may not necessarily be so different to our minds.

Thank you to Fred, Emmeline, and Dan for their magnificent presentations. Thank you to Amada, David, and Sonia at LOUPS for arranging such an incredible conference to restart the London events. Amada, the “woman in orange”, introduced the conference and was our port-of call. David was king of troubleshooting and North Star should the fire alarm sound. Sonia was the LOUPS volunteer helping wherever needed. Thank you to all the attendees too! Many were new to LOUPS events and had heard of Criminal Minds through Eventbrite. There are many more events forthcoming so ensure you sign up to the LOUPS mailing list and follow LOUPS on Eventbrite through the links at the top of each LOUPS website page .

Books

Frederick Toates and Olga Coschug-Toates.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/understanding-sexual-serial-killing/frederick-toates/olga-coschug-toates/9781316517598 .

Emmeline Taylor.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/armed-robbers/emmeline-taylor/9780198855132 .

Dan Rusu.

In production. Be ready.

Understanding Sexual Serial Killing (Frederick Toates and Olga Coschug-Toates)

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 18:07:41 GMT

The collective appetite for true crime shows no sign of abating. The adage ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ spans media reporting, television tropes, and documentaries. The deviance of humanity is an enduring topic of investigation. This Summer, Frederick Toates and Olga Coschug-Toates released their book, Understanding Sexual Serial Killing. It is a brilliant read which delves into the myriad aspects of sexual serial killing, such as underlying factors, childhood experiences, and the biological, psychological, and social features. The book is divided into three parts: the factors that underlie lust killing, biographical sketches, and a final word.

The factors which underlie lust killing, also known as sexual serial killing, span everything from the brain, motivations, and context. The brain is a source of interest in considering human differences and deviations. For example, Fred and Olga demonstrates the value of studying ‘normal’ brains and those which have been stretched beyond normal/adaptive functioning. However, these [predominantly] men need motivation to commit these crimes and the associated activities such as stalking. There is also the relevance of the context, for example whether the ‘right’ target is available and an absence of obstructions. However, rather than distinct factors, they are entangled, such that a maladapted brain, motivation for sexual domination, and a situation providing an opportunity for sexual killing can be reverse engineered back from murder(s). An excellent aspect of the book is that factors are explained individually as well as linked together thus increasing the depth of understanding, including using biographical sketches.

The biographical sketches of eighty sexual serial killers seemed an overwhelming prospect to me, but it was truly invaluable. For any Open University students who have studied DE310 and/or read Mad or Bad? A Critical Approach to Counselling and Forensic Psychology (2017), there are elements which link between the two. For example, the snapshot of ‘Omar’ (p.210) and ‘Mr Bradford’ (pp.221-222), in Mad or Bad… (2017) can be seen in Understanding… in that these sketches involve contradictions and incongruent characteristics if comparing them, yet they are the same person. This is a critical aspect for understanding this population because so often, especially in the media, serial killers can be portrayed as non-human or otherwise an exception to ‘normal’ others. The biographical sketches are illuminating. They do contain difficult themes and experiences, but the book maintains a respectful tone in that it neither dismisses the crimes nor uses previous trauma as justification for them. No black-and-white conceptualisations of the grey. This respect for the lives stolen across the divide of killer and victim is further testament to the quality of the writing and expertise of Fred and Olga by including the nuances and making you reflect upon assumptions or opinions.

The final word is the last section of the book. It closes the book and draws together the previous sections. The aim of building and reinforcing on the existing work by using psychological and neuroscientific theories and literature is well achieved. Understanding Sexual Serial Killing is excellent. It is a difficult subject and there are details which cause a visceral response. There are heart-breaking details among the facts. Fred and Olga acknowledge the tragedy and missed opportunities in which interventions could have led to different outcomes. There are biographies of names we recognise from the saturation of true crime media but stories we may not. There are unmistakably some difficult themes and experiences, but it is an accessible book which includes footnotes for additional information or references to the extensive research.

Understanding Sexual Serial Killing is an immersive reading experience. The veracity of the information can deliver shocks and distress. I decided to not read at home. Reading the book in public, such as the park, was an interesting experience as details could hit differently. For example, when feeling afraid and hypervigilant one evening, I wondered if I might need to use the sizable book to defend myself. It can be tough to learn the depravity of some parents and the sequence of events behind murders: the split-second decisions or actions which ended in tragedy. Despite the formidable nature of the book, its accessibility allows for readers to put it down if needed to take a break, but it is so compelling you will be right back to it!

Whether binge reading or snack reading, you can follow the science, themes, and narrative. This is vital. People from multiple backgrounds can benefit from reading the Understanding Sexual Serial Killing because the lessons and knowledge within the text can help in settings of educational, forensic, health, mental health, and beyond. For example, in the Preface, there is a line which stuck with me during and since reading the book: “in almost all cases, if not every case, the killers feel a deep resentment about things that happened to them, usually in childhood or adolescence” (p.xviii). Therefore, the more people who read this book, the more hope there may be to prevent future sexual serial killing. This is not a Pollyanna fantasy. The number of missed opportunities for alternative outcomes suggest that; far from being a deterministic, linear relationship between maladapted brains, motivations of dominance, and contexts of coalescing opportunity, the pattern can be broken but lessons must be learned.

Understanding Sexual Serial Killing, by Frederick Toates and Olga Coschug-Toates is a must-read.

Moves Like Jagger-bot: "We Can Make A Robot Dance, But Can We Really Make It Dance?"

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 17:10:15 GMT

Social Robots with Professor Emily Cross: From Social Cognition To Social Robots.

Considering the apocalyptic madness of 2020, one could be forgiven for being surprised that neither the aliens dropped by, nor the robots, led by their self-checkout overlords, began their inevitable uprising. A fear of the unknown and apprehension about the march of technological innovation can elicit a sense of, THEY'RE COMING THEY'RE COMING! However, what is the reality? Is the uprising truly inevitable? Is the robot fear justified?

Following the brilliant March conference, Technology and Psychology, London OUPS hosted Professor Emily S. Cross. Emily is a cognitive neuroscientist jointly based at the University of Glasgow and Macquarie University in Australia, with an interest in how different experiences shape human brains and behaviours. Emily is the principal investigator on the European Research Council Starting Grant, and director of the Social Brain in Action Laboratory at Macquarie University.

In a lively lecture delivered over the internet from Australia, Emily talked about a range of interesting topics including; social cognition, working with artificial agents, the implications of how we perceive artificial agents, and finally, she shared a thought-provoking quote before a brief question and answer session.

Social cognition refers to how people understand the actions and behaviours of others in a social world. Emily referenced how significant social cognition has become owing to the ongoing pandemic and how it has changed societies, such as the increase of screen-mediated communication. The human brain has evolved to make sense of the gap between a person's actions and the perception of those actions in a bidirectional loop. Emily's research investigates how different types of experiences shape perception, for example, dancer Emily is particularly interested in motor learning and expertise. Other research areas include observational learning, the rapidly evolving field of neuroaesthetics, plus work with artificial agents, or robots.

It is remarkable how much working with artificial agents can reveal about human social cognition. A core element of social perception is the theory of 'like me', which refers to the importance placed on similarity, or, "me as a template to understand you" (Meltzoff & Prinz, 2003, Meltzoff, 2007). Emily mentioned evidence which supported this assertion [Meltzoff & Prinz, 2003], and those which suggest greater flexibility in social information processing [Cross et al., 2009, Ramsey & Hamilton, 2010]. This influenced Study 1 [Cross et al., 2012] which looked at perceiving human versus robot form and motion. The results were surprising as they were in contravention to the "like me" hypothesis because the participants showed more reaction to robotic dancing than human dancing. Emily suggested two explanations for this surprising finding: low-level action features or, greater engagement of compensatory top-down modulation. It inspired further research.

People's perception of artificial agents influences their reaction and behaviour, which Emily demonstrated in the lecture using, for example, Fembots. A Fembot, for the uninitiated (or young!) is an ostensibly attractive blonde woman from the 1997 Austin Powers film. Looking at the film still, you either have the stimulus cue of what you see or the knowledge cue of having seen the film and knowing that the negligee-wearing femmes were especially fatale as they are in fact, robots with a pair of guns in their chests: the name is a portmanteau. To manipulate cues, participants in Study 2 [Cross et al., 2016], watched a professional video explaining the history and industry use of motion capture and computer animation technology. In the study, they were then told that the video they were watching was made using either motion capture or computer animation thus manipulating their beliefs. When rating the videos for smoothness and extent to having liked them, the knowledge cues had greater impact than stimulus cues. Emily identified the potential for these findings to influence the design of artificial agents and to manage expectations.

Research suggests that social mimicry, or, automatic imitation, can help develop social bonds [Chartrand & van Baaren, 2009, Heyes, 2011]. Does this social mimicry extend to nonhuman agents and what is the effect of stimulus and knowledge cues to automatic imitation? Study 3 [Klapper, Ramsey, Wigboldus & Cross, 2014] investigated interacting with artificial agents and the social mimicry phenomena. Once again, participants watched the video from Study 2 to manipulate cues. Results indicated that if there are cues to human-ness, participants are more likely to show social mimicry. Emily summarised the robot study findings as indicating that a social cognitive neuroscience-based approach to investigating and improving the human elements of human-nonhuman agent interaction.

Emily introduced us to the 'robotic empire' who are being built and developed to tackle ever more complicated questions. The robots included, Pepper, who is the size of a small human and has humanistic facial features, particularly big eyes. Cosmo, on the other hand, fits in your palm. Nao is a toddler-sized 'workhorse in social robotics', who similarly has a human appearance. Miro is a robot who looks like a dog and who many of us encountered at the Technology and Psychology conference in Professor Tony Prescott's lecture. Emily mentioned that she is currently working with Miro in Australia. Indeed, there is a lot of exciting work with robots being conducted, which Emily referenced, for example, further work on automatic imitation, collaboration, hared representations, empathy for pain after longer-term social interactions, and, synchrony and social reward. It is an exciting and evolving field of study and one that is worth following for the developments.

Emily spoke about several additional studies including interesting research about empathy for pain and neural overlaps [Cross, Riddoch, Pratts, Titone, Chaudhury & Hortensius, 2019]. Does spending time interacting with social robots lead to participants developing more overlap in neural mechanisms when observing a human or robot in pain or pleasure and then vice versa? The hypothesis was that there would be more repetition suppression [reduced neural response observed when stimuli are presented more than once], for agents not emotions, after the socialising intervention. The socialising intervention was a schedule of tasks participants carried out at home with a Cosmo robot. Cosmo can learn things, can recognise faces as well as being programmed to be receptive to cats and dogs. One participant had shared a spectacular picture of Cosmo sat on the dinner table while their pet cat stealthily stared at the unfamiliar (relatively speaking as the at-home element was five days) interloper to their home. Emily gave a brief summary of the complicated results from this study, which included a null result, thus suggesting that social cognition is not so easily challenged by an arguably brief amount of time socialising with a robot. The result may have been disappointing, but it nevertheless contributes to the body of knowledge.

A further study Emily talked about concerned synchrony and social reward. Synchrony refers to simultaneous action, for example, dancing. Synchrony is important in social cognition because when people synchronise, it can lead to increased bonding and engage significant regions in the brain. Participants were in an experiment with Pepper involving them both tracing shapes. Participants also could ask Pepper questions, with the idea that if participants were synchronising with the robot, that they would ask more questions. Results indicated that synchronising with Pepper did not seem to change people's social motivation towards Pepper. An additional null result can seem similarly disappointing however, Emily highlighted that when scientists are conducting studies, the literature search reveals results upon which they [we!] draw upon and so, despite this study having a null result, the next researcher investigating this topic will be able to draw upon both results: the scientific cycle of inquiry.

At the end of the lecture, Emily shared a quote from Erik Sofge: "we're only barely scratching the surface of the brain's social algorithms, which become even more complicated and unpredictable when we interface with technology". This was an interesting quote to end this fascinating lecture because it encapsulated two of the biggest themes of the lecture and concerns of contemporary society. The complexity of the brain is such that there is so much which is yet to be discovered, plus things that we thought could be predicted have ended up not being represented when tested. Alongside this, there is the advancement of technology and the interaction of these factors. Answering one of the last questions, Emily described making increasingly humanoid robots as a 'fool's errand' and said that there are more important considerations than how the robot looks or moves. However, Emily pointed out that the idea of making our robot double is 'too seductive'.

Returning to the self-checkout robot uprising, despite my personal knowledge of the evil within those infuriating hell devices, there is nothing to suggest the Machiavellian machines are mobilising. On the contrary, the social robots covered by Emily's lecture and the Technology and Psychology conference prior, are lovers not fighters. Arguably, the null results from Miro and Pepper studies show humans in a questionable light. Moreover, the social robots are being used with vulnerable groups, such as the elderly [Laban et al., 2020, Paladyn, Riddoch & Cross, under review], and to investigate the development of theory of mind toward a variety of machines [Jastrzab et al. in prep; ongoing]. The fear and apprehension about robots may be a Hollywood-mediated effect. There is also the elephant in the room that behind every increasingly intelligent robot, are the humans who created it. Ultimately, OUPS' David posed the question to leave us all with something to think about: 'we can make a robot dance, but can we really make it dance?'.

A massive thank you to Emily for her wonderful lecture, and to all at LOUPS for ending this year with another fantastic event. 2020 has been bewildering, challenging and, of course, unprecedented. Despite the drastic changes we have all experienced, LOUPS have still hosted fab events and got inspirational and motivational speakers. Roll on 2021!

LOUPS Conference: Social Psychology Today

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 16:24:39 GMT

Covid-19 (C19) continues to dominate 2020. Fluctuating rates of infection, devastating loss of life, widespread uncertainty, March lockdown, and more recent, local lockdowns, demonstrate the scale of the pandemic's impact upon societies. Psychological research has adapted to the constraints of the 'new normal' and remains studying the thoughts, feelings and behaviour that people exhibit.

On 22nd August 2020, the London branch of the Open University Psychological Society held an online conference entitled, Social Psychology Today. Dr Emma O'Dwyer, Professor John Drury and Professor Elizabeth Stokoe presented lectures about C19 Mutual Aid Groups, the role of social psychology in C19 responses, and the science of coronavirus.

Dr Emma O'Dwyer, Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology at Kingston University, London started the conference with a brilliant lecture, Solidarity not charity? A political psychological perspective on UK Covid-19 mutual aid groups. A mutual aid group refers to a group of people voluntarily and reciprocally providing support, for example, the Alcoholics Anonymous paradigm. These groups reflect solidarity principles because there is an equal or, horizontal, structure rather than a helper/helped vertical structure; hence, solidarity not charity. Covid-19 mutual aid groups (CMAGs) have been founded across the UK to provide support for vulnerable people during lockdown. CMAGs have provided various support to people, such as grocery provision and dog walking, but also financial aid and social support. These groups evoke feelings of neighbourly cooperation however, Emma quoted from Tiratelli and Kaye (2020), that they were not merely 'nice to have' but that they provided essential support and mitigated negative outcomes of the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown. Emma is an organiser for the CMAG in her community in addition to researching them, which gave her lecture great insight, plus some of the conference attendees are members of their community groups making for an interesting question and answer session at the end.

Emma included some research findings related to understanding the psychological, social and political impacts of participating in CMAGs. The research is longitudinal but preliminary findings are discussed in this article . Covid-19 is a novel coronavirus being experienced and studied in real time however, there are existing theories and research into the impacts of participation which can be applied. Particularly interesting is the social cure/social curse psychological impact which refers to the phenomenon that the content of social identities attached to members can have positive or negative outcomes. For example, in work with earthquake survivors, post-traumatic outcomes [stress disorder or growth] were mediated by community identification. Social and political impacts of participation in CMAGs include how different ideas of what being a citizen means to people are experienced; plus the position of mutual aid reflecting activism. Emma included a quote from an interview in which a participant had spoken to the council about creating a foodbank and had encountered bureaucracy but reconciled it by ostensibly agreeing to the council's terms. Indeed, a significant dimension of CMAGs is that they operate a parallel social welfare system free from the means-tested and bureaucratically-dominant structure of formal social welfare.

The question and answer session at the end of the lecture included a comparison of the government response in Romania in contrast to the UK. Local government in the UK had to wait for official central guidance whereas communities themselves could react in a quicker manner. The political identities of CMAGs was discussed briefly too, especially as many would consider them as apolitical spaces focusing on the community as a whole however, participation itself is a political statement and so politics is a deeply complex phenomenon within CMAGs. Emma's lecture was a fantastic start to the conference.

Social Psychologist, Professor John Drury from the University of Sussex presented the second session, The role of social psychology in responses to the pandemic: don't blame the public. John highlighted the dual objections regarding psychology's involvement in C19 interventions: objections from outside and from inside psychology. Outside objections include that, as C19 is a pandemic, epidemiologists and other related specialists are the experts. However, in the absence of a vaccine and with the need for behavioural interventions, psychology has valuable insight. The inside objections include questions regarding psychological evidence itself and its application and dissemination, as raised in the article "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response" " (Nature Human Behaviour, 2020). This is an interesting objection to come from within psychology and taking a critical, reflective approach throughout studies [and life!] can tie oneself in knots reflecting upon the value placed upon evidence. However, as John referenced, policy makers draw upon 'folk' psychology in making decisions and it is therefore imperative to have input from psychologists.

The lecture addressed three questions. First, when do we perceive a threat? Talk of 'panic buying' dominated the beginning of C19, but contextually, over-buying made sense, plus, people can be slow to respond to threats so perception can be nuanced and depend upon historical context, self-relevance, and the source of communication about the threat.

The second question was, when do we adhere to the public health behaviour rules? Adherence is a complex topic as myths and 'common sense' ideas abound, for example, coercive measures may be theorised to result in compliance but the opposite is true. John drew upon brilliant work regarding chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incidents to illustrate (Carter et al, 2014). Decontamination protocols are a vital component of dealing with CBRN incidents and there is a critical timeframe in which to ensure positive outcomes, however, it is an emotionally charged event and can be met with resistance, such as modesty issues. Respectful/honest communication, a sense of shared identity, and perceived legitimacy foster adherence more than the threat of fines. This is a key consideration in the C19 battle as communication has included mixed messages: from 'stay home' to 'stay alert', plus shared identities ['we're all in this together!'] have been challenged by, for example, Cummings-gate, which similarly resulted in implications regarding legitimacy.

The third question was, when do communities provide support? This linked to Emma's lecture and also referenced the different ways 'communities' are defined in policy: geographical, interest-based, supporters, and, of particular interest in C19, communities of circumstance. A community of circumstance is created by an incident, such as Grenfell, and can be temporary or endure. In relation to CMAGs, John presented a number of factors which can help to sustain them, including the importance of the group identity and support - but not co-option - from local authorities.

There was a question and answer session at the end which included additional things about which to think. There was a question about the non-compliance of some elderly people. There is no one answer and it requires further study [shout out to incoming DE300 students!], but maybe the declining C19 fatality rate has impacted decision making? This was a great question, especially as so much media attention has focused on the non-adherence of young people. The seemingly rapid change from an individualistic I to a group we identity was pondered. John spoke about self-categorisation and how quickly identities can shift, plus that we can reflect upon this shift after the fact. The potential of a 'victim' identity in communities of circumstance was discussed but it depends upon the group, for example, Grenfell survivors have experienced a significant and enduring trauma however, the group is using their pain to fuel campaigns and empower themselves to fight for change, thus their identity may invoke their victim experience, but it is not self-defeating. An interesting question posed to John regarding psychologists informing government manipulation drew upon nudge theory [see the Human Factors OUPS lecture] in that it agreed with the principle of an easily manipulated population but questioned the morality of using psychological science in such a way. John also spoke about masks, information and communication because if, for example, failure to wear a mask is made a fineable offence, that represents a failure of communication of relevant information. It was a stimulating end to an insightful lecture and gave us a lot to ponder!

The final lecture of the day, Talking in the time of coronavirus: The science of conversation, came from Loughborough University's Professor of Social Interaction and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Elizabeth (Liz) Stokoe. Liz addressed five topics: the science of conversation; how are you?; how are you now?; communication challenges in the time of coronavirus, and, can we communicate online?

Beginning with the science of conversation, Liz spoke about her work in conversation analysis, which involves studying conversation in minute detail: not just the words, but intonation, pauses, inflection et cetera. Scientifically studying real conversations, such as first dates and telephone calls has demonstrated that, despite people being idiosyncratic, there are systematic patterns. This lead to the second topic, how are you? This question is used almost as a greeting, but despite its banality, it does a lot of things because, as Liz explained, every time it is asked, it does something so the answer is revealing. Moving to How are you now? , Liz discussed how C19 has changed societies, exacerbated divisions [Cummings-gate], increased engagement [CMAGs], and led to talk of 'the new normal'. Lockdown destabilised the status quo of life in myriad ways and so asking how someone is, evolved from fairly innocuous to a crucial interaction.

Talking about communication challenges in the time of coronavirus, Liz spoke about people who swerve versus people who do not: the collaborative versus the oblivious. Liz, as a runner, has vast experience of this, including positive/pleasant interactions with fellow swervers, alongside aggressive/unpleasant encounters with non-swervers. Blog post, Walking in the Time of Coronavirus , contains swerver/non-swerver interactions taken from CCTV and is worth reading.

Communication is a taken-for-granted phenomenon. The fifth topic Liz addressed was, 'can we communicate online?' This is of particular interest to Open University Psychological Society members who have studied or are studying at the Open University and so need to be effective communicators, especially online. Interactions are more than what is said: there is body language. Owing to its taken-for-granted nature, there are communication myths, for example, there was a popular myth that '93% of communication is non-verbal'. Liz emphasised that if this were true, then people would not be able to communicate over the phone, plus, this specific myth has been debunked by the author of the study from which it was misrepresented (Mehrabian, 1967), and from later psychologists (Atkinson, 2004) Online communication is often contrasted with 'face-to-face' however, 'in person' is a more appropriate term as, with Zoom and other platforms, online communication increasingly involves seeing people's faces. Liz referenced that modalities of communication are often judged using myths and that fundamentally, an effective communicator is effective across modalities and vice versa. For example, on Twitter, Liz [@LizStokoe], has a thread about 'the 'quality' of F2F vs online interaction' which, despite being constrained by Twitter paradigms, is detailed yet succinct; intellectual yet accessible. Can we communicate online? Yes, but, as with all communication, some people are just better at it than others.

The question and answer session at the end included conversations around perception of online communication. One question asked whether people mistake effective communication for that which they are accustomed to or prefer, in particular concerning generational differences in communication in the workplace. Liz talked about her research in workplaces involving guidelines for communication and outlined two common problems. First, is when employees adhere to the guidance but the guidance is wrong. Second, when employees do not follow the guidelines because they use their own, more effective ways of communicating. The question of technological innovation in communication was broached but, assumption exceeds performance currently. Communicating between speakers of different languages led to the extolling of Google Translate, especially for those of us who use it to wish friends, happy birthday!, in their native tongue. Liz stated that despite the various manners of interaction, there are core features, such as greetings, and people communicate using different resources but are nonetheless communicating. An excellent lecture to end the conference!

Social Psychology Today was a fascinating insight into how the Covid-19 coronavirus has impacted society and the involvement of social psychology. The three lectures were brilliant individually but simultaneously linked to each other. Dr Emma O'Dwyer's lecture about Covid-19 Mutual Aid Groups provided a wealth of information about the work being undertaken in communities to lessen the devastation of the pandemic and lockdown difficulties. Emma drew upon the political factors implicating these groups and the tensions they can imbue. Professor John Drury outlined objections coming from outside and within psychology concerning its involvement in C19. Decontamination research was used to demonstrate the power of communication in adherence to public health behaviour, plus the importance of shared identities and communities, which linked to Emma's lecture. Finally, Professor Liz Stokoe addressed the science of communication, including the changing relevance to asking, how are you? Communication myths were discussed, as well as the possibility of communicating online. Social psychology in 2020 is more important than ever and despite the impact of Covid-19, psychologists continue to produce research of a high calibre.

Thank you to OUPS for another magnificent event, especially to Amada who made her debut as solo MC in an event utilising two different presentation platforms!

LOUPS Pub Social: Mindfulness stress management, Dr Jutta Tobias-Mortlock

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:38:07 GMT

"In mindfulness, you cannot lose".

Mindful Stress Management: Coming To Our 5 Senses.

Mindfulness has evolved from something of a zeitgeist topic, to one which appears in a myriad of contexts. Dr Jutta Tobias Mortlock is a social psychologist with extensive, international experience in organisational development. Jutta co-directs the City, University of London's Centre for Excellence in Mindfulness Research, and had delivered an excellent closing session to the LOUPS Mental Health Seminar last September about mindfulness. She made a very welcome return to LOUPS with her brilliant session, Mindfulness stress management: coming to our (5) senses.

Although this session was held in the virtual LOUPS pub owing to Covid-19 (C19) restrictions, Jutta delivered an innovative session which managed to foster a genuine sense of connection-through-sharing among participants while concurrently allowing private reflections and some moments of insight. She covered; what mindfulness is, two different stress antidotes, resilience defined, and questioned our personal takeaway from the session. This report covers these points. However the nature of the lecture, indeed the topic itself, is that people may have different experiences and embrace different key elements, so the presentation is strongly recommended to watch or even re-watch.

What is mindfulness? Its prevalence affords it a taken-for-granted dimension. While meditation can be conflated with mindfulness, it is just one element. Jutta drew upon Kudesia's metacognitive definition, stating that mindfulness is being present, open and flexible. It may seem straightforward, but Jutta posed many questions throughout the session which afforded moments of reflection possibly missing from daily life, such as, how routinely am I fully present? On a diagram of two horizontal arrows facing each other with the left representing STIMULUS and the right (RE)ACTION, Jutta drew our attention to the area where the arrow points meet. The meeting point and the space at this point was met with a third, vertical lightning bolt-esque arrow: NOTICING. Referring back to being present, open and flexible; mindfulness is about cultivating the ability to widen the gap between the horizontal arrows to create more space between a stimulus event and one's reaction to it.

Using an example with a dog demonstrates this principle: A dog is in the garden, when their human goes out. It begins to rain and the human realises their dog is outside in the rain unable to get inside. Jutta asked how the dog would react to when the human opens the back door? Most of the replies were along the lines of "happy to see their human". The dog is in the present; not bitter about being cold or wet. This example is as ingenious as it is simple: no grudge, no ruminating, the dog would just be happy to be reunited.

Another animal was used to further aid in understanding mindfulness. If a fish is hooked it is unable to move as it wants or needs. The first exercise we did was a personal, reflective one where we wrote about when we felt 'hooked by an unhelpful thought'. Then we wrote down what were the facts of the situation and how it made us feel. For an illustrating example, I am hooked by a 'nothing works out/perpetual disaster' thought from multiple calamities. The facts include the 'rona rampage that 2020 has become meaning nearly everything is cancelled or drastically changed. Feelings include, despondent and despicable. Jutta stated that this exercise can be anticlimactic because simply writing down these components can be sufficient to facilitate a shift in thinking, however, she also encouraged us to look over our reflections and decide what the 'best version' of us could do next. Returning to the example of "disaster, C19 impact, and despondence", the best version of me could decide - choose - to be a less dramatic Doomsdayer and better adapt to unpredictability. Jutta referred to Pannebaker's finding that expressive writing increases wellbeing and decreases stress. This activity is an example of making space and Jutta implored us that, should we only take one thing away from the lecture, it is the importance of reflecting and making space for oneself: increasing the gap between the arrows.

The goal of mindfulness is to notice stress and, 'recalibrating our thoughts and actions to be more appropriate'. Distance and compassion are key, as seen in the reflective writing exercise as well as in the lecture's stress antidote #1.

Stress antidote #1 is regular mental exercise. Regular mental exercise represents a classical mindfulness exercise and can appear deceptively simple or 'not rocket science' however, as is the case with physical exercise, it needs the work to be done in order to be of benefit. Consistency is key. Jutta led attendees in a mental exercise of coming to our senses, by focusing on a sense at a time: feeling, hearing and seeing. Briefly, we shut our eyes and concentrated on breathing and how it feels within our body, for example, the rising and falling of the chest. Following on from the focus on feeling, Jutta guided us to focus on hearing and the sounds around us. Rather wonderfully, Jutta's beautiful dog called out a greeting or two to us all during this section! The final sense we came down to was sight, in which we opened our eyes to look at our space and see what we noticed; a pattern, a view, anything we tend to overlook. After this exercise, Jutta asked us how we were feeling and reflected that she was thinking about her dog's interruption. Responders had loved the dog's siren call and spoke of struggling with relaxation. This reiterated the importance of practise. Asked if there was a particularly good time to practise coming down to our senses, Jutta said that there is no one perfect time, it is the practise that is the most important thing so even if circumstances mean there is only a couple of minutes available, fine. Do it! Regular practise of mental exercises reinforces the skill which then leads to being more able to shift oneself out of being hooked on a thought: it builds resilience.

Jutta defined resilience as the ability to 'adapt successfully in the presence of risk and adversity'. Resilient people make space and sense in the present rather than drawing upon past experiences. In the evolutionary beginnings of humans, risks were physical, for example, the need to avoid the risk of being eating. In contemporary life however, risks are more intellectually-based, such as feeling attacked by how someone has spoken, which results in a person becoming hooked by their negative thoughts. Drawing upon Kahneman, Jutta talked about being versus doing. A person doing may be multitasking, problem-solving, and worrying. The doing state is characterised as 'anticipating remembering'. In contrast, the person being is noticing, embodied, and connected with others. The being state is the mindful, present state and neuroimaging studies have found it to reflect better brain activity than the doing state in which a person is more prone to a fight or flight response. Regular practise of mindfulness exercises leads to improved brain function thus reinforcing the importance of consistent practise and the power of neuroplasticity. There is a significant evidence base of replication for this finding, including research conducted with military personnel, who, after following a mental training programme, were found to go into fight or flight mode less than before the programme. Stress management involves balancing the doing and experiencing modes. To reiterate, by practising coming to the five senses, whether over a number of minutes or, in shorter bursts, the skill of intentionally shifting into an experiencing mode from a doing mode becomes easier thus creating more of the space so important in managing stress response. The ability to make space and notice is a skill that necessitates practice and facilitates resilience.

Jutta then asked, "what's your default operating mode?" and offered five topics to consider:

disconnecting from technology,
being fully present,
re-energising interests,
having frequent meaningful connections, and
getting enough sleep.

Participants were asked to award themselves a tick for each affirmative answer. Perhaps unsurprisingly in these bewildering times, there were a number of no-tick or few-tick attendees. Jutta mentioned the aeroplane oxygen mask instruction in which people are advised to secure their own mask before tending to others. In life, as in plane crises, it is not possible to function well without looking after oneself.

Stress antidote #2 is taking regular mental breaks. These breaks are offline and are for self-replenishment. Jutta asked, what it would take for us to believe in the good science that those who manage stress well, regularly make time for themselves? An interesting question but an important one. Referring back to a lack of ticks, Jutta stated that noticing gives us choice; she said that, 'in mindfulness, you cannot lose' because whether you jump into it feet first, or cautiously reflect upon the underlying science, you have the choice to change. The exercises we did in the lecture will remain with us. Far from being a Pollyanna, Jutta is a scientist: a psychologist separating the robust evidence from the snake oil of commercialised McMindfulness. In a brief lecture on a balmy Friday, Jutta has enabled us to make genuine change to improve our wellbeing, plus, her generously allowing the session to be recorded and uploaded to the OUPS website, means we can re-watch ad infinitum and share with loved ones.

At the end of the lecture, Jutta asked us about our one highlight and one takeaway. Personally, my highlight was the science. My takeaway was and continues to be the way in which so much of the lecture remains. The coming to the five senses practise is personally harrowing due to chronic pain and related issues, but the science of it is nonetheless intriguing and I shall recommend it to people I think it would benefit. The regular breaks is similarly difficult to face but also is something to pass on to others. Jutta's generosity with her time and her recommendations is a further highlight. She provided a slew of free resources. Her recommendation to not focus on the intellectual side of mindfulness in favour of committing to practise is important in a room of people potentially prone to academic self-flagellation or with endless to do lists. Jutta presented mindful stress management in an accessible and enjoyable lecture, expertly framing the science in ways we can apply to daily life by reiterating the importance of any practise rather than the setting of an arbitrary amount. After all, in mindfulness you cannot lose.

Thank you to Jutta and her beautiful dog with spectacular comic timing! Thank you to OUPS for another wonderful event keeping us connected despite being apart.

Becoming a Clinical or Counselling psychologist

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 18:49:42 GMT

A talk by Prof. Neil Frude

Professor Neil Frude has had a diverse career in psychology including being a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Research Director for Wales.

Neil gave an informative lecture to OUPS about becoming a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist. He stated that psychology is a respected and valuable degree which affords graduates excellent literacy and numeracy skills beneficial to future careers as academics or practitioners. Practitioners are registered with a professional body to provide a service. The Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) is the professional body in the UK who set and maintain standards for those registered. The HCPC accredits training courses, enforces ethical practices and appropriate conduct, and if a registered practitioner is found to be guilty of a serious transgression, the HCPC rescinds their registration. Neil presented an excellent lecture providing insight, advice and actionable tips for becoming a clinical or counselling psychologist.

Clinical Psychology.

Clinical psychologists work with clients experiencing mental and physical distress and seeks to reduce this distress and increase wellbeing. Clinical psychologists work in multidisciplinary teams comprised of, for example, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and social workers. Typical work activities include; assessment, formulation, devising and implementing treatment, consultation to other professions, training, and applied research. Research is an important element of clinical psychology because the interventions reflect evidence-based practice. Neil identified four orientations of clinical psychology; the biopsychosocial model, systemic principles, being a scientist practitioner, and being a reflective practitioner. The dominant therapeutic orientation is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT has been further developed and Neil mentioned mindfulness-based CBT, dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Every clinical psychology training course provides training in CBT and must also include another evidence-based therapy, for example, systemic therapy.

Neil presented the pathway to becoming a clinical psychologist in three main stages. First is gaining an undergraduate degree classification of 2:1 or a First, in a British Psychological Society-accredited course. The second stage is to gain experience, for example, through working as an assistant psychologist, an IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) practitioner, or though postgraduate research. Neil stated 'no experience, no chance'. Finally, stage three is to undertake a three year, full-time clinical psychology doctorate, all of which are accredited by the BPS and HCPC. The doctorate is a mix of training and practice, and is a salaried position, trainee clinical psychologist. The training is 'generic' because there is a placement in each of the client groups: adult mental health, child and family, learning disabilities, and older adults. At qualification, trainee becomes Doctor, and specialising in a group can be chosen; or Neil spoke of Doctors of Clinical Psychology occupying split posts in which they work with different client groups. The attrition rate is approximately 0.75% however, Neil stressed that this should not be misconstrued as the doctorate being easy, but there is support available if a trainee is struggling, although, if a placement is failed, the placement must be repeated. Other methods of assessment include essays, case studies, a small service evaluation project, and a large scale doctoral project and thesis.

Neil's lecture included sections about the good and the bad of becoming a clinical psychologist. The good, are the interesting people, the persistent need for clinical psychologists and the flexibility of work patterns. The bad is the fierce competition for places on doctorate programmes. The application process includes an extensive online procedure, with some universities having tests which act as an initial sift of the large numbers. There are interviews with a four person-panel, such as; course staff, trainee clinical psychologists and, service users and carers. Referees are mandatory and form a significant dimension of the application because the references can make a candidate stand out. Client-facing experience is key and if a candidate has worked for or alongside a qualified clinical psychologist and receives a glowing reference from them, that is the gold standard of references. Neil emphasised that, owing to the competition, there is the need for a Plan B. On the other hand, do not be discouraged because there may yet be more opportunities on the horizon.

Neil talked about the future of clinical psychology. Covid-19's enduring impact will inevitably lead to rising psychological issues placing greater demands on the psychological workforce. Health Education England (HEE) has increased the number of places for the clinical doctorate 2020 intake and have announced that they are considering an expansion of psychologically-informed roles. Neil highlighted the importance of keeping updated and recommended BPS membership. In terms of increasing the chance of being accepted onto a clinical psychology doctorate programme, Neil reiterated the importance of gaining clinical experience, showing enthusiasm and commitment in support work, and working towards excellent references.

Counselling Psychology.

Counselling psychology is informed by the scientific approach and draws on established psychological research, in addition to humanistic perspectives. There is an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and reflective practice. Counselling psychologists do have some overlaps with clinical psychologists but it is important to not conflate the two or to confuse counselling with counselling psychology:

Counselling: a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues ( https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/counselling/ ).
Counselling Psychology: integration of psychological theory and research with therapeutic practice. The practice of counselling psychology requires a high level of self-awareness and competence in relating the skills and knowledge of personal and interpersonal dynamics to the therapeutic context ( https://careers.bps.org.uk/area/counselling ).

Neil covered two pathways to becoming a counselling psychologist: university doctorates and an independent pursuit through the BPS. There are fourteen university doctorates available in the UK and there are some part-time study options. The independent route is a flexible training option to develop the necessary competencies to become a counselling psychologist. Each pathway is expensive because there are costs in addition to the training fees, such as, supervision fees and the cost of personal therapy, which is a mandatory requirement for the courses. Neil referenced the BPS website as it is a great resource which details relevant information and links to institutions offering the accredited counselling psychology doctorates, as well as the information for those wanting to complete the BPS counselling psychology qualification.

There was a brief question and answer session at the end of the lecture (see below). To summarise the key advice from the Q&A; client-facing experience is imperative; a Masters degree can 'wipe out' an undergraduate 2:2 classification; MScs in research methods are useful; Google 'clearing psychology Leeds' for information about the clinical programmes; despite the predominance of young candidates in the clinical doctoral programmes, there is no rule that prohibits any age group from applying, and the BPS website is a valuable source of information for anyone interested in becoming a clinical or counselling psychologist.

At the end of July 2020 the website below goes live. Neil had worked on an intervention to be delivered in the community however, Covid-19 has rendered that impossible, so Neil has redesigned it for an online platform. ACTivate Your Life is an online course providing four psychoeducational films forty-five minutes in length, as well as downloadable material. It is online therapy/training based on mindfulness but with additional influences. It would be beneficial for a wide number of people to access it, and it is particularly relevant in these Covid-19 times because not only does it demonstrate clinical psychological interventions, it also demonstrates the adaptability of psychology to societal changes. ACTivate Your Life launches a few months after the OUPS conference, Technology and Psychology, and offers bitesize experience of psychological interventions. Technology has become ever more prevalent in daily life and technologically-mediated therapeutic interventions will only increase, so ACTivate Your Life provides a valuable early example.
https://phw.nhs.wales/activateyourlife

Thank you, Neil for a very informative lecture about becoming a clinical or counselling psychology. Thank you to OUPS for another brilliant lecture.

CAREERS IN CLINICAL AND COUNSLLING PSYCHOLOGY

NEIL FRUDE JULY 2020

RESPONSES TO STUDENT QUESTIONS POST-PRESENTATION

Experience

Can I get experience whilst on my undergraduate and then apply immediately after graduating? Or does that not help with chances?

It would help, certainly, but only a little. It's VERY unlikely that someone would be accepted immediately on graduating

How can you get experience without a degree?

You can volunteer - but you do need a psychology degree to be eligible for training

Experience-wise, surely mental health support is just as valuable as an assistant psychologist ?

Maybe, but that's not how it would be regarded. Working with a clinical psychologist gives you extra insight into professional psychological work

Do you think it is helpful to work as a counsellor while training to become a clinical psychologist?
I'm in my 4th year with OU (probably too early for this conference) but where should I be aiming to work/volunteer to help with my degree?
Would volunteering as a crisis counsellor online whilst doing my undergrad degree be enough as experience ?

(Above 3) Any experience helps - but the nearer it gets to the 'ideal' the better - the ideal would be working with clients for 2-3 years, in a variety of settings and with different clients (e.g. adults, people with dementia, people with eating disorders, post-stroke patients, etc.) and under the direct supervision of a clinical psychologist.

Is there a version of the PWP trainee role in Scotland ?

No - the PWP role is specifically linked to IAPT (and therefore only in England). But there will be 'assistant' roles in Scotland.

Have there been applicants with transferable e.g. support work that have managed to gain a place without the clinical experience ?

I doubt it - this is some way from the 'ideal' experience as described above

Would volunteering as a Samaritan/Crisis counsellor and completed psych degree be enough as experience for a doctorate ?
Forensic experience any good ? NHS with offenders
Aside from AP roles and PWP are there any other 'good' experience roles to look into ?
What about support worker experience ?

(2 above) again, all of these are some way away from the 'ideal' experience as described above. They will all count for 'something' but won't compete with the many people who apply with PWP or assistant experience, I'm afraid.

In South Wales, what are the best places to gain experience ?

You could try to get in touch with a local psychology service and ask for advice - not sure if you're looking for an assistant job or to volunteer. Hopefully you'll be put in contact with someone who can advise. This advice applies to all areas - not just South Wales.

Degree requirements

If you have a BPS accredited degree does the MSc need to be accredited ? OU run a MSc Mental Health Science that sounds very interesting but would this be less helpful than a 'traditional' psychology MSc when looking at the DClinPsy?

The MSc doesn't need BPS accreditation. Not sure what you mean by a 'traditional' psychology MSc - the best MSc's are Clinical Psychology (these are NOT of course clinical qualifications) or Health Psychology or Research Methods. The relative value of the OU MSc would depend on how 'psychological' it is - for example, is it run and delivered by the Psychology department within the OU?

So even with a 1st I'm better doing a masters (and gaining experience) ?

A 1st is not sufficient - you need 'extras' - most important is experience, but a relevant Masters would also give you extra brownie points.

Do you need an MSc? or is experience just as good?

See immediately above

Are you able to apply for the doctorate straight from an undergraduate degree or is it better to do an MSc first.

You can apply at any time- but the chances would be slim indeed. See my other responses.

Can someone with a first class psychology degree practice counselling without actually doing a doctorate?

You mentioned counselling - this is not Counselling Psychology. Anyone one can practise counselling - it isn't covered by the HCPC and isn't a 'protected title' in law. You'll have to look for information on counselling careers - this is outside the scope of my talk.

If a masters came out as a 2.2 is it better to do another masters and my undergrad is a 2.2 but I have medical evidence as to why, would this be overlooked in this case ?

You can apply with a 2:2, but courses are expecting academic excellence and relevant experience. To stand a good chance you will need to demonstrate academic excellence, and a 2:2 is not regarded in this way. Beware that some courses now won't take anyone who has a undergraduate 2:2 even if they follow this with an excellent MSc or even a PhD! See the Clearing House to identify which courses have this policy.

I'm on the OU BSc Psychology with Counselling degree and plan to train and work as a counsellor. Would I be best to do a Masters as training for the Counselling job as a better chance of gaining a doctorate place for Counselling Psychology later on ?

To become a counsellor, apply (immediately on graduating, if you like) for a counselling course. You won't need a Masters to get on such a course (indeed, it may well be a Masters). If you later wish to apply for a Counselling Doctorate then your counselling qualification and counselling experience will all count. Best to show, however, that you have also been "keeping up your psychology"

I'm a bit concerned about the MSc as there's only one Forensic Psych course in Scotland but it's not HCPC accredited. Would it make sense to do that Masters anyway and then a HCPC accredited doctorate?

Not sure where you want to end up. To become a Forensic Psychologist (practitioner) you will (eventually) need to do an HCPC accredited course. To get to the point of applying, the Forensic Psych course you mention might be the best - but a MSc in clinical could be better. You need to try to get local advice - first point of call could be the BPS - or maybe look up the qualified Forensic practitioner psychologists based in Scotland - using the HCPC register - and contact one of those.

Is it better to do an MSc in Mental Health or to gain levels NVQ (1, 2, 3 etc) in counselling skills ?

For a future career as a Clinical Psychologist (I'm guessing that that is what you want) it would be better to do the MSc - to demonstrate academic excellence.

Should I take a masters with a placement ?

Better with a placement - because that will give supervised client contact - and this is very valuable (especially if the supervisor is a psychologist)

What are your thoughts on Lancaster university, my understanding is the process for entry is different from the other universities?

They were one of the first to adopt an online 'first sift' of applicants. Other than this, I don't know anything about their specific entry procedure. Look it up on the Clearing House Leeds site, or the Lancaster course website.

Age

Is age an issue? I'm 40 but obviously have a lot of life experience? Lol
Is 48 too old to be in year 2 of a psych degree
At 55 is there any point in me going to MSc would I stand a chance of getting on a doctorate?
In reality, are available positions for clinical psychologists biased towards younger people on the basis that as funding is provided they will want to get more working years out of their investment?
Are the acceptance rates regarding age the same for counselling psych as for clinical ?

The age factor. First, there is no age barrier for applying to clinical or counselling psychology courses. You can apply at any age. Most people who apply are in their 20s or 30s, but people are accepted after this age. The number is small but that may well just reflect the age of those applying. I can't imagine that there will be a difference in the 'acceptability' of older age candidates between Counselling P and Clinical P, although the fact that Couns Ps pay for themselves might be relevant here. I don't know whether any 'unconscious bias' reflecting the "number of years of expected professional life" might be operating. Good luck everyone!!

Miscellaneous

What are the other costs (for Counselling Psychology) other than the course itself ? Roughly how much are they ?

Couns. P. is through either one of 14 University based doctorates (D.Cop.) or the BPS Q.Cop route, which is at Doctoral level but not a doctorate. University courses have fees of around Â£20-24K for the course and then clinical supervision (probably Â£3-4K) and therapy (Â£2-3K) plus any travel for placements, etc. So maybe Â£30K in all. The BPS route is a one-off payment of roughly Â£7K but then payments for the various University courses that constitute the material, plus supervision, plus therapy. Really difficult to calculate - and will be different for everyone. Most of those I've met who are on this route say that, overall, it's at least as expensive as the Uni route.

Are there many occupations that could be acquired with just a psychology degree initially ?

There's no way to work as a 'psychologist' with just a first degree, but psychology is a well recognised quality degree - so you could step into a job that requires "a graduate" or use a psychology degree as a step into some other training - such as for accountancy, civil service, retail management, etc. Or counselling!

Besides CBT is Gestalt also accepted ? Is a counsellor similar to a psychotherapist ?

Gestalt is not generally well-regarded or prominent these days, at least in British Clinical Psychology and is not - as far as I know - covered in any training course. The terms "counsellor" and "psychotherapist" are used to label many different types of person, and are sometimes used interchangeably. Neither is a 'protected term' in law - like "clinical psychologist" or "psychiatrist".

Is there a guide that outlines the type of questions we would face during a DClinPsy interview ?

No guide as such. Questions relate to past experience, including clinical experience and research experience, personal orientation and values, knowledge of the profession, maybe future ambitions within the profession, and ideas about controversial issues such as the pros and cons of diagnosis. The interviewing panels will be interested in your 'style' and 'tone' as well as in the content of your answers. They will be interested in whether you are reflective, lively, and of a friendly disposition, as well as whether you know your way around statistics and relevant psychological theory.

Do you have to do a basic skills counselling course if you want to become a counselling psychologist ?

No, this wouldn't be essential. But that's not to say that it wouldn't help to have a counselling qualification and experience of client counselling.

If travelling long distance regularly is difficult due to disability is clinical psychologist not the best route to pursue ?

There is an increasing emphasis on diversity. I think courses would make 'reasonable adjustments' and could ensure that all placements were commutable.

What about salaries for Scotland? And threat of bursaries?

Salaries are currently the same across the UK. The recently announced changes for England will almost certainly be matched in the other three countries. Very unlikely that Scotland would bring in bursaries, I think. I'm pretty sure that the 'bursary threat' has receded for a while at least.

My passion is perinatal psychology - would clinical psychology be best for that or a different type of psychology career (eg health psych, counselling)?

Perinatal psychology is clearly a small part of any of those professions, and all are generic in their training. So you might be frustrated by the fact that 98% of what you're learning and doing during training will not by perinatal focused. I think that Clinical would be best, but it's also the most difficult to get into. Health P next best, I think - I don't know of counselling psychologists working in perinatal - but maybe there are.

Good luck everyone!!!!

Superheroes, Swiss Cheese and Sheepish Men: Where Did It All Go Wrong? A Career In Human Factors.

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:16:09 GMT

A talk by Professor Graham Edgar

Witty T-shirt aficionado, Professor Graham Edgar delivered an ingenious lecture about human factors. Human factors seeks to understand human behaviour in order to stop it causing too much damage. Graham talked about his diverse career including his, 'career in toilets'! The lecture touched upon the comedy and catastrophe that is inherent in the human experience, and how each relates to the study of human factors. Human factors encompasses ergonomics, or, the relationship between people and their environment, and cognition. Superheroes, Swiss cheese and a few sheepish men demonstrated different elements of working with human factors, as well as the use of nudge theory to create positive outcomes.

Superheroes often have endless access to an abundance of novel, sometimes ridiculous devices to help them, such as 1960s Batman's shark repellent spray and noughties Iron Man's extensive visor display. Batman's spray was part of a set to repel different oceanic animals however, the canisters were identical but for the animal name. Iron Man is a technological marvel [*winks], who has allowed himself access to reams of data to inform his active decision making. The link to human factors of these two different devices is the risk of errors as represented by an overload of information. Batman could potentially select the wrong spray as they all look the same and Iron Man could miss something important or, suffer from a cognitive overload when trying to assimilate the information from the visor, the demands of the task and the stresses of the environment. Poor design and too many distractions can impair decision making, especially if there are a lack of barriers to protect against errors.

Reason's Swiss cheese model is a useful way of conceptualising weaknesses leading to failure. If a system is characterised as a small stack of Swiss cheese slices, the irregularly spaced holes represent vulnerabilities within the system. If the holes line up in the stack, then the protective barrier is compromised thus allowing errors to propagate through the system. Graham used the examples of Colombini and Flight ET302. Colombini was killed in a freak accident during an MRI. A chain of events, or holes in the slices, such as, an unchanged oxygen canister, lack of microphone in the MRI suite, proximal steel canisters and open access led to the death. The active error was the nurse taking a steel oxygen canister into the MRI suite but the other human factors contributed to the incident and ultimately led to changes being implemented. Flight ET302 was the second fatal crash involving the then-new Boeing 737 Max aircraft, both of which have been attributed to a flaw in the MCAS computer system. Graham stated that researching human factors involves analysing incidents without hindsight, but also providing hindsight in advance. For example, the circumstances of the Colombini accident seem extraordinary to new eyes, but it later emerged that there were steel fire extinguishers in the MRI suite prior to the incident, so it can be difficult to recognise issues. The pilots of ET302 have been blamed by some, but as Graham explained, the circumstances of the disaster were that they simply did not have enough time before catastrophe. Hindsight is always 20/20. Graham referenced that it is the human aspect in human factors which makes it so challenging. After all, humans can do bewildering things.

Penile injuries from vacuum cleaners is a headline from a short article in a 1980 British Medical Journal demonstrating the challenges represented in the field of human factors. The tagline from the advertising campaign, "you'll be happier with a Hoover", takes an interesting turn. The reasons given for the aforementioned injuries include nakedly changing a plug and vacuuming in a loose robe. In hindsight, perhaps there should be a warning about nakedly performing vacuum maintenance, semi-naked vacuuming, or placing body parts near the vacuum whilst it is operating. However, as Graham mentioned, any system where there is human interaction will have human factors: so working in human factors is a job for life and a job for life, in the avoidance of accidents. Sometimes people need explicit warnings. Other times, a nudge will suffice.

Graham talked about the application of nudge theory with human factors. Nudge theory generates positive behaviour change by reducing the effort needed to meet the desired task. The Schipol toilet fly is an etching in urinals which provides a target to aim for, thus increasing accuracy. Similarly, Graham mentioned the LavNav, which prevents the need for the bathroom light overnight as lifting the toilet lid triggers a light sufficient enough to see, as well as projecting a target should the seat be lifted. These nudges have been found to be effective but potentially for limited time only. Graham suggested an advancement of the fly/LavNav devices through the use of an app to project a detested thing which the user can alter as the mood strikes: a different target each time instead of the fly or target which loses potency and therefore impact, [remember this was Graham's idea, app developers, although I submit the name, Piss Off!]. These examples demonstrate the practical applications of human factors and one of the myriad uses of a psychology degree.

A career in human factors can be incredibly diverse. The lecture concluded with a question and answer session where Graham gave honest answers to the various questions asked, such as degree subjects. The human of human factors means that a psychology degree is valuable as it is necessary to have an understanding of human behaviour. Engineering backgrounds are also useful. In the UK, more information can be found out about a career in human factors on the website https://www.ergonomics.org.uk// , including information on specific sectors such as defence, healthcare and energy. There were questions about earning potential, T-shirts and whether Graham has lost faith in humanity. Salaries will vary, such is life. Graham was wearing a 'pandamonium' shirt: apt. As for humanity? Graham has not lost his optimism or curiosity and said that he finds human factors fascinating.

Human factors is a diverse field in psychology which captures a range of human experiences: from the catastrophic to the comedic. Drawing upon superhero gadgetry, Graham talked about design issues which can increase the likelihood of errors, such as identical packaging and an overwhelming amount of information. The Swiss cheese model of how errors can spread through a system was applied to two very different catastrophes: a medical death and fatal aircraft disasters. These catastrophes demonstrated the issue of hindsight in human factors whereby it is necessary to look at incidents without hindsight but simultaneously be able to provide hindsight before an event. Sheepish men having to awkwardly account for their vacuum related penile injury illuminated the job for life and job for life aspect of human factors. The Schipol fly and LavNav were used as examples of nudge theory in human factors whereby people can be nudged toward positive behaviour change by altering the parameters of the target activity, such as, aiming at a fly to increase accuracy. Finally, Graham talked about the diversity of his career and addressed questions about a career in human factors, including the value of a psychology degree. Where did it all go wrong? A career in human factors, was an excellent lecture which encompassed the tragedy and absurdity of life and provided insight into one of the many fields to which a psychology degree can lead.

Thank you to Graham for a thrilling lecture and to all at OUPS for another brilliant event.

OUPS Graham Mitchell Memorial Lecture 2020 - 'What is a human?'

Fri, 29 May 2020 14:09:27 GMT

Talk by Professor Frederick Toates

Each year at our OUPS May weekend we present an evening talk in memory of Graham Mitchell, a very popular OU and OUPS tutor and an academic at the University of Northampton, whose life was tragically cut short following a fall at his home. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we held the 2020 talk as a free virtual event, and were delighted to have over 120 attendees. The title of the talk was "What is a human being?", presented by Professor Frederick Toates (The Open University), and the talk was followed by a lively and entertaining Q&A session (not on the recording), which lasted almost as long as the talk itself !

We would like to thank OUSA and the OU for enabling us to hold this event by providing access to the online facilities, and to thank Clara for contributing this review of the event, which is followed by a recording of the talk .

The Graham Mitchell Memorial Lecture takes place on the Saturday night of the Warwick May Weekend. 2020's weekend was inevitably cancelled owing to the Covid-19 pandemic however, OUPS is nothing if not adaptive. Adobe Connect enabled Professor Fred Toates to deliver the lecture from home to a rapt audience. The chat box allowed attendees to share memories of Graham Mitchell, their choice of lecture tipple and the strategic playing of loud music to modify noisy neighbour behaviour. As dynamic as us being in the room together! The topic of the lecture was, What Makes a Human? Such a profound, existential question could be spoken about ad infinitum and every attendee will experience the lecture in personal ways. Memorable elements I took away that contribute to the making of a human are love, chaos and despair, the enduring significance of Skinner, and, hope.

Humans have a fundamental need to belong represented by the formation of interpersonal attachments. Love and bonding of a person to others serves an evolutionary purpose as survival depended on being among others. The contemporary environment is considerably different causing an evolutionary mismatch. Fred referenced the work of VeissiÄ“re and Stendel, who studied the hypernatural monitoring of smartphone addiction and social media. These phenomena may be modern however, the motivation reflects a desire to be 'seen, heard and thought about', or, as Fred said, not being talked about is worse than being gossiped about. Empathy is a dimension of belonging with a neural basis because seeing someone in pain triggers the pain region in the brain of the observer, although the extent of this is conditional. What makes a human? Love, belonging, attachment and empathy go some way to answering that question and are demonstrated by the consequences of not belonging.

Aside from being a gifted orator, Fred has a talent for selecting quotes, such as, the chaos and despair quote by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi about the choices facing Americans at the turn of the millennium. In their article introducing positive psychology, Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi stated that if Americans were to ignore the needs of people, there would be an increase in alienation between the affluent and the less so that would lead 'eventually to chaos and despair'. Chaos and despair is certainly an element of being a human [particularly given the current unrest at the time of writing: June 2020]. Fred touched upon mass murders in America that demonstrate the potential impact of alienation. Mass killers tend to be males who are ostracised from social groups; stereotypical loners, such as the Columbine shooters. Robert Ressler was an agent in the FBI Behavioural Sciences Unit who interviewed dozens of serial killers in order to understand the psychology behind them to aid in the apprehension of future serial killers. Ressler told Fred a chilling story about having been in an interview room alone with Edmund Kemper who said "I could snap your neck as if you are an old chicken and throw you on the ground". Despite killers being portrayed in the media as inhuman, studying them gives insight into what makes a human; chaos and despair included.

Once described as the most dangerous man in America following the publication of his book, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Skinner has an enduring relevance in psychology despite being much maligned. Fred shared an eerily prophetic idea of Skinner's in which he had alluded to a violent and chaotic environment where people were unable to face themselves if they did not change their behaviour. Skinnerian ideas of reinforcement are also seen in Biglan's nurture effect theory which believes prosocial behaviours can provide a solution to many of the problems in society, but it requires such behaviours to be taught, promoted and, crucially, reinforced. Religious practices involve the resisting of temptation but succumbing is immediately reinforced whereas the consequences are delayed: people can self-license their sin through comparative justification, plus rules are typically ineffective. Fred gave an example of the Ten Commandments, of which eight are what not to do representing a Skinnerian concern because they are context-specific. Rules, cultural values and prosocial behaviour are all part of being a human if they are reinforced meaningfully. Skinner was ahead of his time and relevant long after his passing.

The lecture had covered some difficult elements of what makes a human but ended with hope; specifically Hope, Arkansas. Bill Clinton infamously spoke of his humble beginnings in Hope in a rousing speech which cleverly appealed to the emotions of the American people by vowing to 'bring hope back to the American dream'. Feeling hope also links to love and despair because the former suggests possession while the latter indicates its absence. Experiencing hope is part of the mix that makes a human and, in these Covid-19 times of unpredictability and fear, is needed more than ever.

So, "What makes a human?" Fred drew upon a diverse range of examples from religious texts to interviews with serial killers. The importance of love and attachment resonated throughout the lecture, such as in the evolutionary need for social bonds. A lack of interpersonal relationships has been found in the personal histories of murderers, with the ensuing alienation leading to chaos and despair. Chaos was prophesised by both Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, and Skinner as a potential outcome depending on how society behaves. Skinner's work is useful in considering what makes a human, especially in terms of reinforcement. Finally, there is hope. Hope can be politicised, but it is nonetheless a powerful component that makes a human.

Fred's lecture was insightful and thought-provoking. The recording is available below and is well worth watching if you missed it because, not only was it brilliant, it will resonate differently for everyone.

Thanks to Fred and OUPS for another wonderful lecture.

LOUPS Conference 2020: Technology and Psychology

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:02:01 GMT

The Open University Psychological Society 2020 Day Conference managed to sneak in prior to the implementation of social distancing protocols in the United Kingdom. The conference was held at the New Academic Building of the London School of Economics on the 14th March; our typical stomping ground in London but an unusually quiet experience at the typically bustling venue. The topic of the conference, Technology and Psychology, was eerily prophetic because the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed daily life and technology has become an even greater influence.

The first presentation was by Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, Anil Seth. The presentation was delivered virtually, but it in no way lessened its impact. Consciousness was a key focus of the talk: the mind/brain, the subjective/objective and the inner/outer. Anil referenced the hard problem and the easy problem of consciousness. The hard problem is the how and the why of consciousness; whereas the easy problem of consciousness refers to the question of how the brain works as a machine. Anil posited that the real problem of consciousness is to explain its properties and talked about three aspects of consciousness.

First is the level, or, how conscious are you? Second is the content of consciousness, and third is the self, or perceptions of consciousness.

The presentation was scientifically fascinating, and during a question and answer portion at the end, Anil and an attendee had a discussion about experiences of pain. Anil provided us with an excellent start to the conference and a lot to consider regarding the psychology of consciousness, our personal experiences and the man-machine paradigms.

Dr David Leslie delivered his lecture in person, practicing the social distancing measures which were to become perfunctory just days later. David's lecture, Changing Shapes of Psychic Life in the Prediction Society, was a barnstorming presentation covering a range of issues pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI).

Arguably one of the most significant issues is ethics and David is well-placed to talk about it as he is the Ethics Theme Lead within the public policy programme at The Alan Turing Institute. AI and ethics is a complex topic because it can be conceptualised as a battle however, AI can be used to improve human welfare, for example, improving innovation, disease detection and, particularly relevant in these Covid-19 times, education provision.

AI and technological advances can offer 'unprecedented social benefits' as well as harm, such as, 'digital despotism' and the 'brain drain' represented by the financial incentives large corporations can offer. David characterised our present times as a 'civilizational tipping point', represented by the notion that humanity is 'uniquely equipped to create opportunities for its destruction'. A sombre thought.

During the question and answer session at the end, Dr David and OUPS' very own David Byrne, had a fascinating exchange about the responsibilities of AI innovation and innovators in which David referenced 'wide scale what-aboutism?'.

A thought-provoking session.

Turing Fellow and Professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at the University of Manchester, Angelo Cangelosi was the third speaker at the conference. Angelo presented the Gavagai problem, which, in brief, refers to the fact that language learning is culturally situated and embodied [video explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YY4qxkqm3o ].

Computers and robots can be pre-programmed with a dictionary but they cannot understand the language in the same way as humans. Cognitive developmental robotics is a multidisciplinary field including computer science, robotics, linguistics, cognitive psychology, ethology and child psychology.

Angelo explained that children's development is slow yet efficient and that their theory of mind develops for social interactions. It was a compelling lecture which posed some interesting questions about robots, language and cognition, such as, how can we design robots that are capable of using language to communicate with humans and other robots? Angelo presented a great session to a captive audience and included aspects that I personally would not think to connect. A wonderful session about technology and psychology.

The fourth and final lecture of the conference was from Professor Tony Prescott. Tony is Professor of Cognitive Robotics at the University of Sheffield and the Director of Sheffield Robotics.

Tony spoke about synthetic psychology, or psychology which seeks to synthesise human-like behaviour. Interestingly, it was not a human-based robot which stole the show; it was SCRATCHbot! Tony played some videos of SCRATCHbot (Spatial Cognition and Representation through Active TouCH bot), which is a robot inspired by the manner rats use their whiskers to explore their environment.

Moving onto the study of the self, Tony offered examples of where robotics could be useful to investigate questions, such as, what is the functional architecture underlying the experience of being a self? Multiple senses of self were discussed, including, the ecological, agential, temporal, interpersonal, conceptual and private; in addition to a diversity of selves, including multiple personality disorder and amnesia. Tony's presentation was thoroughly enjoyable and a fabulous way to end the conference.

The 2020 London & South OUPS Day Conference was a stimulating event held in unprecedented times. Our four speakers presented engaging lectures that were incredibly diverse yet formed a coherent conference of Technology and Psychology. Consciousness was a genius way to begin the day and Anil had us thinking about our conceptions of consciousness. David's talk was absorbing and succinctly covered a lot of material, plus the question and answer portion at the end provided some fascinating exchanges. Angelo's lecture connected technology and psychology in unexpected but intriguing ways. Finally, Tony closed the sessions with a presentation linking the themes of the conference in a thrilling way.

Another wonderful event held by LOUPS, and only two weeks after the brilliant mini conference. The events and lectures held by LOUPS are far more interesting than a brief write-up such as this captures. There are a number of recordings and related resources available on the OUPS website to enjoy at leisure.

Thank you to our four wonderful speakers; Anil, David, Angelo and, Tony. Thank you also to David and Amada, as well as everyone at LOUPS, for arranging such an interesting event.

The Agony and the Ecstasy - an afternoon with Kent Berridge and Frederick Toates

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:43:25 GMT

Leap day 2020 was celebrated with a mini conference hosted by the London branch of the Open University Psychological Society [LOUPS]. The title of the conference was "The Agony and the Ecstasy" and looked at motivation, pleasure and pain. Two excellent lectures were presented by psychology behemoths and long-time friends, Professors Frederick Toates and Kent Berridge.

Frederick presented the first talk, looking at the basics of motivation, pleasure and pain. These basics include Maslow's hierarchy of needs, familiar to many of us from our studies, and Dr Babak Fozooni's pub social talk from October 2019. The infamous pyramid diagram depicts needs ranging from the physiological on the bottom, to self-actualisation at the peak. The hierarchy is an example of drive theory.

Frederick outlined issues of drive theory, such as shoplifters who are doing so for the thrill, not the specific items stolen. Incentive motivation theory, explained as, "Incentives and internal representations of them excite motivation, e.g. drugs, sex, food", provides a more nuanced view of behaviour: wanting and liking. Work by Kent Berridge and Terry Robinson both drew upon and expanded Frederick's earlier research.

Kent's lecture was wonderful. High-level cognitive psychology was presented in an accessible way cognisant of the varied backgrounds represented in the room. The wanting and liking dimensions of, for example, addiction, had been conceptualised together - wanting and liking - by the Bindra-Toates model. The Berridge-Robinson model split the two. This separation captures these two important elements of an addiction but the significance of them in their own right. For example, someone may have a subjective craving for a substance yet may not derive pleasure from indulging in it, thus demonstrating the separation of wanting and liking. Kent's conclusions provided at the end of the lecture included that 'reward is a configuration' of liking, wanting and learning which, while often presented together, have individual identities.

The afternoon concluded with Frederick and Kent answering questions together. Their shared history, mutual respect and passion for psychology meant this was a lively Q&A session. The conference may have been half the day but it was in no way minor. Once again LOUPS hosted a magnificent event which was enjoyable in the moment, but which makes you look at the world through a different lens afterwards.

Thanks to everyone at LOUPS and Frederick and Kent.

Part 1: Professor Frederick Toates

Part 2: Professor Kent Berridge

LOUPS Autumn Pub Social 2019: Maslow, the 'happiness industry' and post-psychology

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:37:13 GMT

On the 22nd October in the George IV Pub [Aldwych], Dr Babak Fozooni gave a lively and thought-provoking talk encompassing everything from; hidden politics, class, and one man's quest for a Jacuzzi!

The presentation included the life and work of Abraham Maslow, which gave insight into the man as well as the psychologist, such as, the contradictions represented by his courage yet insecurity. The issue of class was important and this was considered in relation to Maslow as well as psychology as a science. Dr Fozooni explained the notion of hidden politics in psychology, as demonstrated by the dominance of upper and middle class influences in research. Hidden politics is an interesting point, particularly in these troubled times of sharp divisions. Many of us are aware of WEIRD research participants in psychology, namely those from; Western, Educated and from Industrialised, Rich and Democratic countries*; however, by highlighting hidden politics, Dr Fozooni widened our critical lens to the underlying issues behind the proliferation of these participant pools. Despite these being some heavy and/or controversial themes, the talk was thrilling and ideas were shared across the room.

Many of us have encountered the 'hierarchy of needs' pyramid model throughout both study and working life. In fact, Maslow did not present his work in a pyramid model, which demonstrates how enduring incorrect information can be. Nonetheless, the elements of the pyramid, such as self-actualisation, represent Maslow's work, although, as Dr Fozooni noted, they reflect bourgeois values which further indicate the significance of class, in addition to secular values. Religious elements are represented by self-transcendence. Politics and religion; how fortuitous we were not at dinner! The hierarchy moves from basic physical needs, such as safety, to the higher-level self-actualisation and self-transcendence values however, not all people would have the means to reach the highest levels. 'Peak experiences', or, high points in life where one feels alive and self-sufficient while also feeling a belonging to the world, are experienced more by those who have self-actualised. Peak experiences link to religion as well as class and Maslow changed from an atheist to an embracer of mystical ideologies over the course of his lifetime, indeed, he spoke of his desire for 'a system of thought - you might even call it a religion - that can bind humans together'. A complex man, we await the forthcoming book eagerly.

The 'happiness industry'. Whether it makes you feel warm and fuzzy or hot and nauseated, it is certainly something increasing in dominance in contemporary society. Maslow's ideas have been diluted in a way such as they can be applied to a number of ideologies using vague slogans - popular on social media sites - all of which ignore the social and structural forces which act upon individuals, such as poverty or racism. Dr Fozooni countered the happiness industry by stating that he knows what would make him happy, for example, a Jacuzzi, thus he does not need an industry stating what is happiness. Furthermore, the rise of positive psychology, or, psychology which moves beyond focusing on 'illness', has led to a factory system of happiness. For example, when dealing with breast cancer, Ehrenreich was met with assurances that positive thinking and affirmations could facilitate her overcoming the illness. Ehrenreich has argued that happiness research using self-report questionnaires is being marketed in ways which do not reflect that which can be legitimately claimed by the science. A dark side to the happiness industry and something for us to note.

One of the many magnificent aspects of the events held by the Open University Psychological Society is the informal atmosphere. Dr Fozooni gave a formidable presentation which included arguably complex themes in an accessible manner to reflect the range of backgrounds present, however, it was not a broadcast-type lecture. Throughout and after the talk, people could ask questions and raise points. There was agreement and respectful disagreement, and personal experiences shared with the room. A question was posed right at the end: what is post-psychology? The answer, in brief, is to go beyond psychology. Go beyond what you know, go beyond the classics, go beyond.

Above all, don't worry: be happy! #Blessed #Happy #LivingMyBestLife

* https://slate.com/technology/2013/05/weird-psychology-social-science-researchers-rely-too-much-on-western-college-students.html

Presentation

Babak has kindly made the slides from his lecture available, and these can be accessed by clicking Abraham Maslow, the 'happiness industry' and post-psychology.pdf

Who was Abraham Maslow? What were his politics? Are his ideas about 'motivation', 'hierarchy of needs' and 'peak experience' still relevant today? Would it be fair to describe him as the originator of the 'happiness industry' that is being promoted by the likes of Professor Seligman today? This OUPS talk is based on a chapter on Maslow and part of an upcoming book about 'social class and psychology'.

In this book I will try to show how the crisis of psychology (and yes, it is in crisis! yet again!) is primarily due to class conflict. Capitalism is disintegrating and the symptoms are becoming more apparent in disciplines such as psychology, that have traditionally been responsible for the smooth functioning of the system. By focusing on pioneering individuals such as Freud, R. D. Laing, Carl Rogers, Otto Gross, Watson, Frankl, Billig (and many others), I will argue that both 'mainstream' and 'critical' forms of psychology have come to the end of the road. At their best both developed ideas worthy of attention, but today no amount of technological sophistry can hide their deterioration . What we need is something better than psychology. For want of a better word, I have called this something better, post-psychology !

(Babak Fozooni, September 2019)

"Share something real with someone you trust" - LOUPS Mental Health Seminar 2019

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:32:59 GMT

On an autumn day in late September, the London branch of the Open University Psychological Society held their Mental Health Seminar. The beautiful venue, the Academic Building of the London School of Economics, was a vibrant setting for the lively and thought-provoking talks that comprised the seminar. We were fortunate to have wonderful speakers providing a diverse programme which synthesised masterfully.

The day began with Victoria Zamperoni , from the Mental Health Foundation (MHF). The MHF is a long-established charitable organisation which seeks 'good mental health for all', by conducting research, consulting on government policy, and hosting the Mental Health Awareness Week. Victoria covered numerous topics, such as minority stress, workplace and university stress. In an interactive activity, we generated a word cloud of the myriad topics contributing to stress, demonstrating the universality of the phenomenon. Discussion at the end of the session touched upon risk and protective factors, such as isolation and a mental health first aider in the workplace. Victoria signposted the resources and support available from the MHF and the NHS websites, in addition to highlighting the importance of action. Awareness of the aforementioned issues is important, but it must be met with action: the MHF is leading the way. This was a brilliant session: informative, insightful and inspiring.

The second session was a veritable tour de force, which was appropriate as the subject matter, sophrology, is popular in France. Dr Gini Harrison presented an introduction to sophrology, as well as a guided practice session. Sophrology was developed by neuropsychiatrist, Professor Alfonso Caycedo, and combines mental and physical exercises, including meditation, relaxation, gentle movement and visualisation. Sophrology has been applied to numerous issues, such as stress, burnout and event preparation, for example, childbirth. Gini guided a taster session utilising breathing and tense-and-release techniques, plus she offered OUPS members a beginner's course. In a relatively short session, Gini delivered a truly accomplished presentation which combined; anecdotal benefits, references to further information about sophrology and a critical evaluation of the existing evidence. There is currently a lack of randomly controlled trials providing robust evidence however, there exists an evidential basis to the benefits of the individual elements of sophrology. Ultimately further research is needed, and our Investigating Psychology methods maestro gave a nod to future DE300 students! Perhaps a student on the beginner's course will go on to study this fascinating practice?

OUPS President, Professor Fred Toates presented the third session of the seminar, Stress, addictions and obsessions. In a characteristically brilliant lecture, Fred traversed a range of examples of addictions and obsessions, including the chemical, social and ritual. The notions of; wanting versus liking, incentive sensitisation, and complexities related to the titular phenomena, afforded a rich study of humanity. Mental health issues can be isolating and shrouded in shame: addictions and obsessions can insidiously pull us into the darkness. However, this thought-provoking presentation offered a personally unexpected lifeline represented by the mechanisms highlighted, as well as, the sheer range of examples capturing obsessions seldom covered, such as trichotillomania. The many threads of this session can perhaps be best summed up by Fred himself, who stated that we are "all walking contradictions". Something we should endeavour to remember.

The penultimate session of the seminar was presented by Dr Gillian Ragsdale of the OU. Gillian got us thinking when she said that there is only one stress response, regardless of whether the stressor is a hungry lion or an impending TMA, and that "stress only exists in us". Part lightbulb moment-part sucker-punch, this certainly cut through any post-lunch slump! The influence of stress in early life can change an individual's biology and have enduring consequences. Epigenetics looks at how to build resilience and how to repair damage that has already been done. Rats who had attentive mothers went on to be less anxious than their counterparts, and also went on to be attentive mothers to their own pups. Gillian talked about the similar links in humans between poor parenting and later outcomes, however, it is possible to break this pattern so do not despair! Gillian delivered a great session and an informative look at the enduring impact of stress but also gave us pause to reconsider our perceptions of stress.

Dr Jutta Tobias-Mortlock of City, University of London, closed out the LOUPS seminar with a dynamic session about mindfulness. Jutta defined mindfulness as a metacognitive practice which makes space using three components; noticing, opening up beyond the intellectual, and connecting. The whole room participated in the 'one word check-in' task and gave answers as varied as, Netherlands, podiatrist and pub; all rather demonstrating Jutta's point that attention is fickle. The one word check-in was "a way of bringing mindfulness into social situations", and it is a practice some would be taking back home. Another crowd-pleasing activity was the 'snow globe inside', in which we shook out our bodies as if we were a snow globe. Jutta demonstrated that there is more to mindfulness than silent meditation, and stated that "the mind and body are intrinsically connected". Jutta, citing Louis Cozolino, said that "we are not survival of the fittest. We are survival of the nurtured". This synthesised the content of the seminar as; Victoria had emphasised the need for action and the physical implications of stress, Gini had introduced the anecdotal benefits of sophrology, Fred had delivered a diverse lecture on the "walking contradictions" we all represent, Gillian had made us reconsider our perceptions of stress and, Jutta had held a dynamic session of participation and reflection. The different sessions arguably each had elements of nurturing within them which converged.

As the end of the day drew closer, and with the siren call of the pub wailing for some, Jutta implored us to "share something real with someone you trust". Advice which is terrifying, rousing and critical in a world so fractured, but advice which could potentially pull someone experiencing a mental health issue back from the brink. Finally Jutta asked, what will you remember about today? I will remember many things, some I would rather not remember, some that I'm still laughing at now, but above all, I will remember that people gave up their time to arrange and speak at this wonderful event, and I will remember that I am grateful.