Faking mental disturbance to test the system
"In 1972, David Rosenhan, a newly minted psychologist with a joint degree in law, called eight friends and said something like, "Are you busy next month? Would you have time to fake your way into a mental hospital and see what happens?"
When David Rosenhan first presented to the psychiatrist he complained of a voice in his head that simply said 'thud'. After some simple test he was admitted and kept in the institution for weeks, despite immediately telling his doctor that the voice had now disappeared. How could it be so simple to fool a professional? Back in 1972 Rosenhan's report of his experiences scandalised the psychiatric profession.
Inspired by Rosenhan, psychologist Lauren Slater repeated the experiment recently and her conclusions were only marginally less disturbing.
A summary of Rosenhan's research. Rosenhan's original article in full. Review of Lauren Slater's book.
When David Rosenhan first presented to the psychiatrist he complained of a voice in his head that simply said 'thud'. After some simple test he was admitted and kept in the institution for weeks, despite immediately telling his doctor that the voice had now disappeared. How could it be so simple to fool a professional? Back in 1972 Rosenhan's report of his experiences scandalised the psychiatric profession.
Inspired by Rosenhan, psychologist Lauren Slater repeated the experiment recently and her conclusions were only marginally less disturbing.
A summary of Rosenhan's research. Rosenhan's original article in full. Review of Lauren Slater's book.
Is Social Software Bad for the Dean Campaign? After Howard Dean's much vaunted online campaign fails to be converted into actual votes, tech commentators ask why. Could it be down to the gap between the online fantasy of putting the world to rights and the reality of doing something about it in the real world?
"We know well from past attempts to use social software to organize groups for political change that it is hard, very hard, because participation in online communities often provides a sense of satisfaction that actually dampens a willingness to interact with the real world."
[Read more at corante.com]
"We know well from past attempts to use social software to organize groups for political change that it is hard, very hard, because participation in online communities often provides a sense of satisfaction that actually dampens a willingness to interact with the real world."
[Read more at corante.com]
Lie tests for fight against fraud - "AIG, the world's largest insurer, is using psychological testing on its policyholders to determine if they are making fraudulent claims. The interviewing technique, which was developed in the 1990s by criminal psychologists in the US and modified by Dutch child psychologists working in paedophilia cases, is being piloted on customers claiming on their travel and motor insurance."
[From The Telegraph]
But AIG are just following suit with other insurers. [From The Guardian]
[From The Telegraph]
But AIG are just following suit with other insurers. [From The Guardian]
You've heard of memes right? A word that Richard Dawkins came up with that is a play on genes. Genes are pieces of genetic code that appear to be trying to replicate themselves. Memes are thoughts, ideas, or scraps of information that appear to be trying to replicating themselves across an 'information space'. So like genes, memes are subject to natural selection, survival of the fittest and all that malarkey.
Well there's all these people posting blogs all around the world aren't there? What if you could see what the most successful memes are amongst all these posts? What if there was a list? What if MIT had done the coding?
OK I'll shut up and give you the link.
Well there's all these people posting blogs all around the world aren't there? What if you could see what the most successful memes are amongst all these posts? What if there was a list? What if MIT had done the coding?
OK I'll shut up and give you the link.
The Emerging Mind - Reith Lectures 2003 - Vilayanur Ramachandran is Director of the Centre for Brain and Cognition and Professor with the Psychology Department and the Neurosciences Program at the University of California. Last year he gave the BBC's Reith lectures on neuroscience in which he gave a flavour of his research and wide-ranging interests.
The lectures start with examples of neurological anomalies - phantom limbs, synesthesia and pain asymbolia - investigating what these tell us about the workings of the brain. Later in the series Ramachandran moves on to Art and Philosophy, working up from the coal-face of neuroscience to those questions with which we have had little scientific purchase in the past.
This man knows how to lecture. Just listening to the recordings is an electrifying experience, it must have been fabulous to be there. So do yourself a favour no matter what your level of knowledge in this area and have a listen. The complete series is available on the BBC website.
The lectures start with examples of neurological anomalies - phantom limbs, synesthesia and pain asymbolia - investigating what these tell us about the workings of the brain. Later in the series Ramachandran moves on to Art and Philosophy, working up from the coal-face of neuroscience to those questions with which we have had little scientific purchase in the past.
This man knows how to lecture. Just listening to the recordings is an electrifying experience, it must have been fabulous to be there. So do yourself a favour no matter what your level of knowledge in this area and have a listen. The complete series is available on the BBC website.
About This Blog - Jeremy Dean
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