Welcome to the Nut House

Psychology of Superheroes

2011-07-26T20:35:00.001-07:00

I think there is a really good analysis underneath my constant musings about superheroes - but I'm too tired from having to manage sociopath's all day to think of it right now. Maybe tomorrow?

Captain America

2011-07-25T19:29:00.001-07:00

"What's so special about you?"

"Nothing. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn."

Crime Victims United of California: A powerful voice in state politics

2011-07-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

Crime Victims United of California: A powerful voice in state politics

An insightful glimpse inside the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional Officers Union, and Victims Rights Groups.

Summer Blockbusters

2011-06-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Another hot summer, filled with trips to the air conditioned movie theatre, to see another Marvel super hero action hit. I am routinely dragged to these kinds of movies - and as a child of the 80's, I will agree with all those who love the Bangles, Punky Brewster, the Goonies, and Indiana Jones, that they just don't make them like they used to.

I run through the list of options in my head: I could fall asleep during this movie, but this has resulted in loud snores which draw horrified looks from members of my immediate family; I could pretend like this is a really good movie; I could cram popcorn and M&M's in my face to occupy the time; or I could try and find some inherent meaning to this movie so I can sound really profound on my blog.

I usually choose the latter. Green lantern is about a test pilot who is reckless, irresponsible, and fearless, though internally he is filled with fear. He must conquer his fear to save the world from a octopus looking demon. Though it is not clear in the movie how he moves from fearful to fearless, it appears that his determination of "will" and intense focus on his task moves him from fearful to fearless. Green lantern, prior to his green suit, engaged in reckless behavior in what appears to be a reenactment of the fear/grief surrounding his father's untimely death as a pilot himself. I'm not sure there is any great metephor or life lesson to be gained from the Green Lantern, but it was worth a shot.

The anthrax killings: A troubled mind

2011-05-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

The anthrax killings: A troubled mind

Trauma, rejection, and humiliation are often at the heart of most sexual assault's (rape), as well as explosive and violent behavior aimed at finding retaliation for harm caused. Intelligence is no exception to this rule.

Amazing Grace

2011-05-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness (Wikipedia) is typically defined as the process of foregoing resentment, indignation, or anger as the result of a perceived offense. Forgiveness and restoration with hurt others as a healing process is typically something outside the realm of therapeutic treatment, and something that a clinician cannot offer themselves. Forgiveness and reconciliation can only come when an individual acknowledges their own brokenness and is able to recognize the brokenness in another.

Correctional psychology rarely offers the opportunity to experience rehabilitation or reconciliation with victims - but today - in a small room - twenty years after the murder of her husband and rape of her daughter - a victim shared her pain with her offender, and offered her forgiveness.

2011-05-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

The Reality of Our Profession

2011-05-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZaLipDgFZQ

I'm back....

2011-05-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

After a prolonged absence, I am happy to announce that I am back. I apologize for the disturbing picture, but I felt that it was synonymous to the nature of my interest in subscribing to an anonymous blog dedicated to the art of my profession.

2009-05-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I love Batman so much. But alas, here is one of my favorites - dissociation at its finest. "Dr. Crane isn't here right now."

Paradoxical Intention

2009-02-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

Even though I am regularly forced to watch all six episodes of the Star Wars movies, including recent Clone Wars episodes, I always find Master Yoda to be incredibly profound. I've been fortunate to have my own Jedi Masters, and consider myself to be a Jedi in training. In this clip, Anakin receives counsel from Master Yoda, and it's the last thing he wants to hear. He is fearful and does not want Padme to die. In our own greed, insecurity and fear, we become captives to the very thing we fear the most. Cognitive behavioral therapists refer to this as paradoxical intention, or asking the client to do or wish for the very thing they fear most.

I Just Thought This Was Funny

2009-02-27T21:55:00.000-08:00

Sexual Deviancy at it's Finest

2009-02-27T13:50:00.000-08:00

The nerds of the anime world, living in the Akihabara province of Tokyo, Japan, are able to enjoy cross-dressing (transvestism, aka "crossdressing for the purpose of sexual arousal) maids who serve them cake and tea at local cafe's. There are even private rooms where your "maid" will rub your hands or legs, or other parts. These nerds spend so much time on the computer, they are reported to be unable to sustain normal relationships with other people. These reported repressed, schizotypical and socially impaired individuals also enjoy something called "ani mate" or a computer program which simulates an actual romantic relationship, conflicts and all. I'm trying to find a link for it, but have so far been unsuccessful. BTW, transvestism should not be confused with transexualism, or someone who identifies and wants to become someone of the opposite sex through reassignment surgery (thank you EPPP).

Yes, Tokyo as I'm discovering, is an interesting place. They also sport something called cat cafe's, where individuals can pay 8 to 12 dollars an hour to stroke a cat. Akihabara residents (yes, the same anime nerds) report that limited living spaces, long hours at work, and stressful jobs make the cat cafe a relaxing place to come during their lunch hour. It's good to know, however; that there are no private rooms in the cat cafe's.

The Animal Odd Couple

2009-02-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most touching displays of love and companionship.

Another Senseless Tragedy

2009-02-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

Two days ago, a 48 year old man walked into the Crystal Cathedral, knelt down at the altar and shot himself in the head. Reports are now that he was homeless and mentally ill. Of course, both Orange County Adult Mental Health Services and Los Angeles County Mental Health Services both are refusing to release or acknowledge that he received mental health services, citing privacy issues. The real truth...it is very likely that he received numerous services, and that he contributed to the revolving door of mental health in the state of California. He likely never received the type or quality of assistance to give him a chance.

"I Lobe You"

2009-02-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

So, the other day I received a valentine from a super cute pre-school aged boy, and inside the valentine read, "I Lobe You." Mispelling? Did he mishear the teacher - well, he hasn't gotten to the letter "V" yet, so maybe he heard "B." Though most of our experience of love is centered in the pleasure center and the limbic system, along with the assistance from dopamine, seratonin and neuropeptides, I'd like to believe that some of my "lobes" are involved in the decision making process of love. I lobe you too.

Medical Paternalism in House M.D.

2009-02-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Article by: Mark R Wicclair, Center for Bioethics and Health Law, University of Pittsburgh, 3708 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; wicclair@pitt.edu

Abstract: The popular television series House M.D. is drawn upon to provide a critical examination of medical paternalism and how it is presented in the show. Dr Gregory House, the character named in the title of the series, is a paradigm of a paternalistic physician. He believes that he knows what is best for his patients, and he repeatedly disregards their wishes in order to diagnose and treat their illnesses. This paper examines several examples of medical paternalism and the means used to portray it favourably in the series. It is argued that the positive depiction of medical paternalism in the fictional world of the series does not apply in the real world. The paper also considers why a show that features a paternalistic physician who so blatantly flouts mainstream medical ethics might appeal to health professionals and members of the general public.

Alas, I am unable to review this article for you, because I am poor and cannot afford to buy it. I think the implications for medical paternalism, as portrayed in the television show House, are particularly relevant for the issue of involuntary commitment, hospitalization and mandated treatment. At what point, do we as professionals, have the right to impose treatment, and deny basic civil liberties (even when it is in their very best interest for recovery)?

Good Ol' Social Psychology

2009-02-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

Funny Elevator Psychology
An old video from the TV show Candid Camera. They show us what happens if everyone on an elevator stands backwards. LOL!

Check out this really funny video about "elevator psychology."

Joker's Social Experiment

2009-02-11T12:44:00.000-08:00

The cooperation (or altruism) of people has long been investigated before the days of Batman or the Joker, using non-zero sum games, or games in which the gains and losses do not sum to zero. In these games, if the players cooperate they minimize their losses and maximize their total gains. The findings indicate that even if it is in the players' interests to cooperate, most people compete anyway.

The best-known game of this kind is called Prisoner's Dilemma. Pairs of subjects role-play being suspects in a crime. They get interrogated separately by the district attorney and are given two alternatives - to confess or to remain silent. The game is worked out so that if both remain silent, there can be only minor charges lodged against them. If one confesses and the other remains silent, the confessor receives immunity from punishment and the other one gets the severe punishment. If both confess, they both get severe sentences. The best strategy is for both to be cooperative and not confess. The research shows, however, that players tend to confess in the hope of beating out the other. But since both confess, both lose. Maybe the Batman movies aren't so dark after all.

Eyebrows and Other Fish

2009-02-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

Another book to throw on the pile of "to be read" books. This one sounds a little more interesting than the others. Andrew Scully chronicles his life as a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. For those of us in the mental health field, we can usually personally relate in some small way to most of our clients, or the humanity therein. However, for those individuals (remember, we don't call them patients anymore per the wellness and recovery model) with thought disorders, the closest a mental health provider can come to relating is to go on an acid trip, or smoke methamphetamine for a long-time. I wouldn't recommend either.

The Psychology of Blogging

2009-02-07T11:22:00.001-08:00

According to a recent article about what we are really doing when we blog, "[Usenet posts] are short, informal, sometimes controversial, and sometimes deeply personal, no matter what topic they approach. They can be characterized by their conversational tone and unlike a more formal essay or speech, a [Usenet post] is often an opening to a discussion, rather than a full-fledged argument already arrived at. " But as the author would suggest, there's nothing new about blogs - they are something old in new form.

What is the Dr.'s motivation? Let's explore: closet exhibitionist, desire to help a broader community, psychoeducation, fame, need for intimacy, pro bono work, ..or perhaps boredom is the biggest reason. Surely one can argue that there are more interesting things to blog about than psychology. But are there - doesn't psychology encapsulate everything other topic possible. What is your motivation for reading this blog?

Welcome to the Nut House

2009-02-06T21:53:00.001-08:00

Patient's Rights vs. Treatment

2009-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

Individuals have the inherent right to refuse mental health services and to continue living in an impaired, dysfunctional manner – but individuals do not have the right to create impairment and dysfunction in the weak and vulnerable, those unable to protect themselves. Click here for more information about ACT, AOT, and mandated outpatient treatment for the severely mentally ill. The severely mentally ill are often not able to recognize the severity of their own symptoms, placing their safety and the safety of others at risk. Our current mental health and legal system cannot act in these individuals lives until someone has been hurt or or some crime has been committed. The revolving door of inadequate and inconsistent care in the state of California costs taxpayers, health care, and social services millions of dollars. Preventative care in the form of mandated outpatient treatment for specific individuals is one way to alleviate costs, resources, and protect mentally ill individuals and the community. Since the days of Dorothea Dix, mental health systems have struggled to balance compassionate care/patient's rights with treatment. One thing we can learn from Dorothea Dix is that social reform is needed to temper patient's rights with treatment that the most severely mentally ill deserve.