Betapsi held their AGM on April 29th, where Nicole Micallef was elected as the organisation’s president for the upcoming term.

2023/24 Executive List

• President: Nicole Micallef
• Vice-President: Emily Farrugia
• Secretary General: Em Falzon Sollars
• Finance Officer: Maria Ellul
• Public Relations Officer: Kerby Amber Borg
• Educational Officer: Maria Kristina Caruana
• External Relations Officer: Marlena Abela
• Leisure Officer: Hannah Ellul
• International Officer: Ita Jakubowska
• Social Policy Commissioner: Gabriel Rizzo
• EFPSA Member Representative: Aidan Spiteri

Presidential Comment

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the leader of this team. As an organisation, we will continue working hard in our mission to promote metal health awareness and wellbeing, as well as to represent psychology students to our utmost ability.

Nicole Micallef

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck in their upcoming term!

The post Nicole Micallef Elected as Betapsi President for 2023/24 Term appeared first on The Third Eye.

Olli Chat is a free chatting service by Richmond Foundation operating 24/7, allowing its users to chat with professionals and get the help they need.

Who will you be chatting with?

If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone face-to-face, you can chat with one of their mental wellbeing support team. The team is made up of psychology graduates with extensive training provided by Richmond as well as training in Mental Health First Aid. Moreover, they operate under the supervision of a Richmond psychotherapist.

Did you know?

• Since the launch of Olli Chat, a total of 3,214 individuals reached out to Richmond Foundation.
• Women reach out for support more than men. That being said, there seems to be an increase in men reaching out for support.
• Diverse age groups reach out for support. The chat is utilized more by younger individuals ranging from 15-35 years old.
• The main presenting issues: anxiety, depression, loneliness, relationship difficulties, suicidal thoughts, along other mental health concerns.
• Suicidal thoughts and relationship difficulties have been on the increase the past 4 months.

Olliversary at the University

Representatives from the Richmond Foundation will be at the University to celebrate one year of Olli Chat and to provide students with more information about the service and answer any questions they may have.

The event will take place on May 20th, from 10:00 to 14:30 and will include a number of workshops focusing on Mental Health and Sports, Mental Health and Rest, and Mental Health and Nutrition.

The post Olli Chat | Richmond Foundation’s Mental Health Service appeared first on The Third Eye.

Meet the team:

• Eric Abela – President
• Ritienne Demanuele – Vice President
• Maria Kristina Caruana – Finance Officer
• Emily Farrugia – Secretary General
• Sarah Grima – Public Relations Officer
• Nadine Agius – External Relations Officer
• Kyle Muscat – Educational Officer
• Celine Ellul – Leisure Officer
• Nicole Micallef – International Officer
• Mireille Azzopardi – Social Policy Commissioner
• Daniela Borg – EFPSA Member Representative

I have the privilege of not thinking but knowing that each and every one of the newly elected board is more than capable and that they will excel. I will just tell them to enjoy it, because there is a lot in it that they will enjoy!

Andre Mifsud, outgoing president

Our mission will be to create an environment for learning and growth both within our new executive team and for all psychology students at university, since today’s students will be the professionals of the future.

Eric Abela, incoming president

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

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First and foremost, domestic violence, which can also be referred as intimate partner violence, can be perpetuated in various ways including: 

• Verbal;
• Emotional;
• Physical;
• Financial;
• Sexual abuse of another individual/s within the same household.

Unfortunately, it affects any member regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. (Kavita, A. 2014). Moreover, “Domestic violence is a major public health issue and has been linked with many mental health problems including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and psychosis” (Oram et al., 2018).

Therefore, most can agree that any form of abuse targeted towards an individual, may leave severe and harsh consequences on mental health. Without doubt, domestic violence is increasing, especially during the past two years due to Covid-19, and therefore, new measures need to be established in order combat this issue and its dreadful effects on these victims (Campbell, A. M. (2020).

Prevalence and Statistics

In order to control the spread of Covid-19, safety measures are being implemented such as social-distancing, sheltering in-place and restricting individuals’ ability to go outside (Campbell, A. M. (2020).  For instance, in May, 2020 more than one-third of the entire population of the world was under some form of restriction (Sharma & Borah, 2020). Therefore, as a result of these safety measures, family abuse is dramatically increasing and thus, data suggests that “domestic abuse is acting like an opportunistic infection, flourishing in the conditions created by the pandemic.” (Sharma & Borah, 2020). Furthermore, it’s common for perpetrators of domestic violence to isolate their victims as an act of control and the current societal conditions are likely furthering the impact of these actions. And let us not forget about the high rate of unemployment due to the Coronavirus, serving as a gateway to more marital abuse within households.

Moreover, there is this cultural belief that men should be able to defend themselves, and that there is no such thing as female violence. In a study conducted by Buzawa and her colleagues (2006), showed that “male victims reported three times the rate of serious injury as their female counterparts, 38% compared to 14%”. At the same time, Brown (2006) examined the differences on how both male and female perpetrators were treated by the social justice system. Brown sought 2,044 cases where the man was charged, 155 where the woman was charged, 118 where both were charged and 612 where a complaint was filled but neither was charged. There were 206 cases where only the male partner was injured, and the female was charged in 60.2% of those. However, when the female partner was injured, the male was charged 91.1% of the time (Dutton, 2006). Unfortunately, often when we hear or read the word domestic violence, automatically an image of a man pops up into our heads.

Domestic Violence on Male Victims

Intimate partner violence (IPV) or domestic violence (DV) is often framed as a “woman’s issue” generating the perception of males involved in violent relationships as the aggressor and more capable of inflicting injury and harm. And therefore, as a result of the ‘Gender Paradigm’ whenever a male seeks protection from a female figure, they are treated with more suspicion and with less seriousness (Dutton & White, 2013). One factor as to why any records of assaulted men tends to be low is because often the victims do not see it as abuse and so, no action is done by the police.

The same study also showed that it is far less common for men to call up a friend/relative/professional for help. Nonetheless, because of male victims not reporting their abuse, there is also lack of research about the challenges of providing support to male victims and how barriers to effective service engagement are experienced by both men and professionals in the health sector. For instance a study highlights how, male participants were subject to ridicule by their female partners and also financially abused. Therefore, it is of vital importance that this area is further explored since the safety of these men have been historically overlooked within academic research and service provision (Hines & Bates & Wallace, 2020).

Moreover, in order to tackle this issue a study has been performed by Bates, Wallace and Hines (2020), to explore the nature and context of abuse towards male victims and the perceptions of professionals’ dealing with male victims. The study mainly focused on the theme of ‘Stereotypes and expectations of men’. Conclusions revealed that even though men were exposed to verbal and physical violence, they were still hesitant and even reluctant to seek help, ending up making excuses for their perpetrators each time.

Psychological Health Issues Faced by Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Gender theories of domestic violence, which describe male dominance and violence through the sociological aspects of a patriarchal society, were introduced by feminists in the 1960s and continue to be the basis of most people’s views on domestic violence. On the other hand, the gender symmetry theory of domestic violence views violence as being portrayed both by men and women (Kavita, 2014). Having said that, domestic violence brings with it immense psychological distress, both long-term and short-term. These include depression, alcohol/substance disorder, sleeping/eating disorders, social isolation, anxiety, and personality disorders (Kavita, 2014).

A study conducted by Randle and Graham (2011), found that depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation was common as a result of IPV targeted towards men. This study also revealed that men tended to blame themselves for being abused, even though it was not their fault. A crucial reason as to why more research should be conducted on this overlooked part of the population, is because immediate attention is needed to adequately help and ensure safety of these victims.

Furthermore, an Italian study conducted by Margherita et al., (2021), which is the first ever Italian study to deal with domestic violence targeted to men, focused on the development of psychological distress by male victims and how important it is for clinicians to have a good understanding on the issue. This study showed that interventions such as provision of management guidelines, training to attending physicians and a supportive service to male survivors are needed for victims’ needs to be adequately met.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as made evident in this article, male victims suffer from various mental and physical distresses because of domestic violence. On a brighter note, however, new and improved interventions are being implemented and there is more awareness on this topic due to the fact that people are now talking about it more freely and are realizing that both, male and females can be victims of domestic violence (Hogan et al., 2012).

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Written by Nadine Agius for Betapsi on conspiracy theories

A Eurobarometer survey in 2020 that assessed beliefs in conspiracy theories has found that 29% of Maltese respondents were unable to indicate whether the statement “Viruses have been produced in government laboratories to control our freedom” is true or false. Moreover, 38% think that the cure for cancer is hidden for commercial reasons. 

What are conspiracy theories?

A conspiracy theory is usually defined as “the belief that a number of actors join together in a secret agreement, in order to achieve a hidden goal, which is perceived to be unlawful or malevolent” (Zonis & Joseph, 1994). This broad definition encapsulates different forms and institutions, including the government, industries and scientific research. 

In his book, Van Prooijen (2018) states that there are 5 criteria that make a belief a conspiracy theory;

1. A pattern of established connections between actions, objects and people that did not occur by coincidence. 
2. An agent of action that intentionally planned it out.
3. A coalition or group of actors (not always human).
4. Hostile motives for the group to act in that way.
5. Operations run in secrecy.

Who believes in them?

Conspiracy theorists aren’t zealots in a tinfoil hat, they’re all around us.

There are no set criteria of a conspiracy theorist, they may come from all walks of life. They prefer to identify themselves as critical thinkers that distance themselves from sheep-like people that are gullible enough to conform to the majority (Haramam & Aupers, 2017). However, they cannot be cooped up in one group, in fact, there are differences between categories of conspiracy theorists.

Tonkovic et al. (2021) has found that lower education, lower economic standard, higher importance of religion and having no political affiliation is associated with beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories. Moreover, there is a relationship between authoritarianism, powerlessness and lower trust in science and scientists with COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

Swami et al.(2011) showed that 7/7 bombings conspiracy ideation is negatively correlated with agreeableness, life satisfaction and self-esteem, whilst having a low crystallised intelligence is related to believing in fictitious conspiracy theories. 

Additionally, social media use and how people are connected online may play a role in believing in conspiracy theories. Min (2021) has found that those who hold conservative ideologies tend to endorse conspiracy theories more, and this was exacerbated when they discussed on homogeneous social media network settings.

Why do people believe in them?

There are a number of people that keep on believing in irrational ideas in the face of scientific or logical evidence. Besides personal factors that make one more in tune to such type of thinking, there are other, social factors that influence beliefs in conspiracy theories.

Social factors

Social crises, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may increase the attention towards conspiracy theories (van Prooijen & Douglas, 2017). Such crises are rapid and have a large impact on society as a whole and make people question well-established structures and norms. As a result, people become fearful, uncertain and feel out of control. With such feelings in mind, they try to make sense of the situation by attributing the cause of the situation to certain societal actors. This leads to an increase in vigilance, hostility, and thus an ingroup-outgroup setting. In an interview with the APA in 2020, Douglas states that people feel a sense of power and hope in a situation where they have no control over when they think they have access to information that others cannot see.

Identity to a group is another precursor to believing in conspiracy theories. When a group you are a member of is undermined, you are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories against the agents of those actions (Galinsky & Moskowitz,2000). The influence of this increases when you perceive your social group to be superior to the rest. In a way, it serves as a warning signal- that one’s group is being threatened by a hostile outgroup. Although it has a pro-social aspect in mind, it may lead to disastrous consequences for those considered in the conspiracy (van Prooijen,2018).

Politicians and people holding high power are often the targets of conspiracy theories. This is due to a feeling of outgroup threat conspirers experience. It is easy to blame a party that has a lot of power and the ability to do harm, as one feels threatened by the decision-making abilities they have (Imhoff & Bruder, 2014). Hence, the combination of strongly identifying with one’s group and perceiving other groups as a threat increases the beliefs in conspiracy theories.

How can we reduce beliefs in them?

You might be asking yourself why you should care about conspiracy theories. It is a certainty that conspiracy theories are detrimental to the lives of countless people, and to society, as such we should be concerned that people hold such beliefs. One should not blindly follow leaders and powerful groups without scrutiny or criticism, on the other hand, one should not accept strange theories that have no scientific and logical background (van Prooijen,2018). For instance, believing in medical conspiracy theories results in higher use of alternative medicine and avoidance of traditional medicine, such as using sunscreen and getting the influenza shot (Oliver & Wood,2014). Such behaviours are harmful to themselves as they are more prone to illness and disease, and for others such as spreading the influenza virus. 

Hence it is important that beliefs in conspiracy theories are reduced. Van Prooijen (2016) suggests that education and the educational institution is a powerful tool in reducing beliefs in conspiracy theorizing among the population, through providing problem-solving skills, learning how to master one’s own environment and proving an opportunity to increase their opportunity in the job market. The educational curriculum should promote analytical thinking and that, social problems have no simple solutions.

Fostering a belief in science and its findings is pivotal to shifting thinking away from conspiracy theories. This can start at home by discussing issues with friends and family, as Goldberg et al. (2019) found that having “climate conversations” may lead to accepting scientific understandings of climate change. Having high scientific thinking leads one to search for more information accurately, and think deliberatively on what they found, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby those more attune to scientific thinking felt less intimidated and threatened (Čavojová et al.,2020). Thus, being less prone and vulnerable to misinformation. 

Conclusion

As a result, policymakers and educational institutions should be aware of the implications of conspiracy beliefs and how it is related to scientific thinking in order to implement such teachings into the educational system. Most people are not aware of the complexities of scientific research and how it does not provide quick and easy explanations, in fact, the results of one experiment doesn’t mean it’s a done deal (Weigmann,2018). I encourage all readers to be aware of what they are reading and make sure it is from a reputable source and backed up by findings from authentic research journals that have been peer-reviewed. By being mindful of what we read and repost, we can prevent the spread of misinformation, and reduce the incidence of harmful conspiracy theories.

Find some more articles by Betapsi Malta here.

The post I want to believe: The psychology of conspiracy theories | Betapsi Malta appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Francesca Camilleri

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943), sex is a physiological need equivalent to breathing and sleeping.

On the other hand, sexual intimacy is considered as a fundamental love and belonging need. Therefore, maintaining healthy relationships is one of the most important factors in any person’s wellbeing, regardless of age. So, why do ageist beliefs paint older adults as asexual and view intimacy between them as shameful and disgusting?

On a similar note, the assumption that older adults’ self-esteem plummets because of natural changes to the body (like wrinkles and discolouration) which in turn affects their sex life, might be true for some, but it is not the experience of all. We must go beyond and question such assumptions, as after all, sex and intimacy needs do not diminish with age. In fact, contrary to popular belief, some studies suggest that sex gets better with age and not worse.

Yes, older adults have sex!

While the frequency of sex does decline as people age, the quality might make up for the quantity. Lee and Tetley note that while physical challenges occur more frequently with age (like vaginal dryness, erectile dysfunction, and physical pain) the emotional side of sex is nevertheless more fulfilling than in younger counterparts. After all, sex is not defined by penetration. People can find equally satisfying and creative ways to deal with age-related challenges.

Such solutions could include focusing more on intimate touch, something often overlooked in earlier years. Utilising sex toys, partaking in oral sex are just a few of the many examples. This is what is referred to as adaptive behaviour, proving the phrase “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks” mistaken. Such efforts come to show how important sexual connection is to older adults. They are willing to change their sexual techniques, behaviours, and patterns in order to be a “sexual survivor”. This could be a reason why people in their 80s report more emotional closeness and shared sexual compatibility than middle-aged people.

“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gon’ love somebody else?”

In another study, Thomas pointed out several factors that lead to better sex. Being more comfortable in one’s body and becoming confident in one’s understandings of how their bodies work when it comes to sex are two examples.

In opposition to this, as per Kingsberg, women in their 40s and 50s reported that an improved body image would have the most positive impact on their sexual satisfaction, in turn affecting both a woman’s sexual desire and her ability to experience arousal.

These are tied to a reported increase in self-confidence that “allowed them to be freer in terms of sexual expression” (Thomas). Additionally, improved communication skills were also reported. This enables participants to feel empowered in speaking up about techniques that work and others that do not. Thus, those that do not work are avoided and those that do are emphasised and utilised more frequently.

The majority of over five hundred women between 40 and 75 years of age stated that “sexual activity was important to their overall quality of life” (Kingsberg). This is due to a rise in dopamine levels and the release of oxytocin which create feelings of romantic love and deep emotional attachment. However, intimacy does not only come from romantic or sexual partners.

Intimacy Beyond Sex

The socio-emotional selectivity theory states that older adults mostly focus on priorly established meaningful relationships rather than on creating new ones. Seniors are more aware of their own mortality and their limited time left. These intimate relationships usually manifest in friends and family, the latter usually being siblings.

Friends in adulthood are defined by a sense of mutuality. They can exchange advice and favours, confide in each other, help each other in times of trouble and try to better each other’s sense of overall well-being. Friendship is also important for better adjustment through life transitions and socialising, especially regarding finding life or sex partners. When older adults have a social network, they are more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem. This is more impactful than the person’s income or marital status (Whitbourne & Whitbourne, 2011).

Siblinghood in Older Adulthood

On the other hand, sibling relationships have the potential of being both the longest-standing and the closest relationships in an older adult’s life. This is why losing a sibling could be devastating to an older adult, especially if they were close in age.  The older adult now feels that death is closer to their reality. Siblinghood, similar to close friendship, can be a source of comfort, protection, and support during difficult time periods. Siblings share the grief of losing a parent or work through childhood trauma (Merz & De Jong Gierveld, 2016).

Interestingly, emotional support from siblings has been shown to reduce loneliness in older adults. Having someone with a common history of upbringing and similar socialisation leads to shared opinions which could be crucial in times of need like crisis situations (De Jong Gierveld & Peeters, 2003).

Debunking Ageist Misconceptions

Although society has worked on shrugging off the restrictive shackles of history when it concerns sex and the pleasure associated with it, we must create the space for topics like older adulthood and sexuality to become normalised within society. Doing so will enable older adults to think of themselves in a different, arguably more positive light. This will reassure them that their experience is normal and that they are not “past their prime”.

On a practical note, accepting that older adults have sex means providing elderly homes with tools and contraception. A doctor will also be assigned to ask about sex during routine appointments and not ruling dysfunction as a side-effect of ageing but actively trying to help. This is one way of ensuring older adults have the best overall well-being possible.

Click here for another piece on relationships by Betapsi!

The post Sex, Intimacy and Older Adults | Betapsi appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Andrè Mifsud

The Independent‘s agony aunt column shared this story:

“My girlfriend Amy has an Australian pen-pal called Leo, who she has been in contact with since her early teens.  For me, this was okay – despite this Leo having a special place in Amy’s heart.  For years, they maintained contact via chats and messages.  Unlike me, he is 6’2″, rich, intelligent, sporty, athletic, tall, dark, and handsome – and I know this because Amy talks about him…a lot!  But he was always a continent away, so I never thought of him as a problem.  This was until last week, when Amy came rushing to me with a letter in hand, screaming: “Oh my god, Leo is coming over for a holiday!”  I admit, I got a bit jealous.  Amy asked me why I was stressed.  “Yes, he’s good-looking, but it’s you I love and it’s you I’m with!”  Admittedly, this didn’t make me feel any better. The day of his arrival has come, and I don’t know what to do…” – Gavin

This story adaptation makes you wonder; If you were Gavin, what would you do next? Naturally, there is no right or wrong answer. However, your answer is likely to reveal a lot about your attachment style!

The Attachment Theory

The Attachment Theory was developed by John Bowlby in the 1960s. It is based on the premise that all our relations in life are determined by a first emotional attachment. This is usually formed with the main caregiver in childhood.  This caregiver can be the mother or father or any other person with whom a young toddler emotionally connects. 

Bowlby’s theory is quite in line with Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. Erikson’s theory suggests a compromise between trust and mistrust mastered during this period.  Thus, our initial relationship with our main caregiver serves as an emotional foundation of trust and security. This is where we form future relationships with friends, family, and spouses.

Secure and Insecure Attachments- The Origin Story

Ainsworth and Bell conducted an experiment called The Strange Situation. Children are put in a situation that is considered strange to them while also experiencing separation from their caregiver. In total, the child went through five stages throughout the experiment:

1. The child is in the room with their mother.
2. The child is introduced to the stranger but the mother is still present in the room.
3. The mother leaves and the child is left alone with the stranger.
4. The stranger leaves and the child is left alone.
5. The child is then reunited with their mother.

However the child reacts determines what attachment style the child has. There are two types of attachments; securely and insecurley. Insecurely then subdivides into three different attachments.

1. Securely Attached: The children easily separate from the caregiver but when they are scared or feel threatened seek contact and are readily consoled and easily soothed. When they are reunited with their mother, there is a positive greeting from the child’s side. They clearly prefer the mother from the stranger.
2. Insecurely Attached (Avoidant): The children avoid contact with the mother, and while they do not resist the mother’s effort to make contact, they do not seek it either. There is no preference to the mother over the stranger.
3. Insecurely Attached (Ambivalent): The children are wary of the stranger and are greatly upset when the mother leaves them with the stranger. They do not feel reassured when the mother tries to show comfort, and while they seek contact with the mother, they also avoid it. They avoid all contact and/or comfort from the stranger and are angry at the mother upon her return.
4. Insecurely Attached (Disorganised): The children exhibit a dazed behaviour, confusion and apprehensive. They move towards the mother but look away at the same time.  They move towards the mother but look away at the same time.

According to Ainsworth, the type/quality of attachment depends mostly on the mother’s behaviour towards the child.

• Secure Attachment: The mother is sensitive to the child’s needs, that is, being more responsive, cooperative, and accessible than other mothers. These mothers provide warm and close physical contact, especially when the infant is distressed.
• Insecure (Avoidant): The caregiver is often impatient and/or uninterested, rejecting the child and being self-centred and rigid in their behaviour.
• Insecure (Ambivalent): The caregivers are interested in the child but misunderstand their behaviour. They are inconsistent in the way they treat their children, therefore the child is unable to rely on the caregiver for emotional support.

How does this relate to adult relationships?

The securely attached individual will find it relatively easy to get emotionally close to others, depend and be depended on.  Emotionality here is mutual.  They will feel comfortable with emotional closeness and intimacy, and confidently trust partners rather than fear abandonment. 

Conversely, the ambivalently attached individual fears abandonment constantly. They are usually anxious and overthinks/doubts a partner’s love, and believes he/she will leave them. Rather than mutual effort, individuals here feel they love their partner more – because this fear of abandonment drives the ambivalently attached individual towards big gestures that not only can never be equalled but scare partners away with their intensity. Anxiety, in this attachment style, problematises trust. Reminds you of good old Gavin by any chance?

The avoidantly attached (or rather detached) individual finds it difficult to trust and depend, feels uncomfortable with closeness and intimacy, and represses feelings rather than express them.

With this knowledge in mind, let’s go back to Gavin. Gavin’s reaction to the initial dilemma reveals trust levels and security modelled by his attachment style in infancy, inevitably affecting his romantic relationships now. Even though attachment styles are believed to have formed in the first year of life, this does not mean they are irreversible!  Every new relationship we have in our life is a new chance for us to change our predispositions – regardless of secure, insecure ambivalent or avoidant – and found our relationships on the most important virtue of trust.

Check out Betapsi’s previous article here!

The post Adult relationships: the influence of childhood | Betapsi appeared first on The Third Eye.

The fresh faces of the Betapsi team are as follows:

President: Andrè Mifsud

Vice President: Francesca Camilleri

Secretary General: Ritienne Demanuele

Finance Officer: Mirea Gauci

Public Relations Officer: Eric Abela

External relations Officer: Naomi Schranz

Student Affairs Officer: Rachel Dalli

Educational Officer: Amy Cachia

Leisure Officer: Maria Grech

International Officer: Nadine Aguis

EFPSA MR: Kylie Fenech

Social Policy Commissioner: Kristina Micallef Pulè

Former President, Clayton Seguna and current President, Andrè Mifsud shared their thoughts on the election with The Third Eye:

I would like to thank everyone that formed part of this journey throughout these 2 years – from organisations which I collaborated with, to all my team members, and to all the students that handed their trust in me. I have nothing but excitement for the new executive team, to follow on this successful mandate. I would like to wish them all the best of luck and to cherish this journey!

Clayton Seguana, Former Betapsi President

Andrè Mifsud told The Third Eye about Betapsi’s goals;

Our main aim is to continue raising awareness about mental health and promote connectedness, especially during these trying times, whilst exploring opportunities through with psychology and non-psychology students can familiarise themselves with different forms of therapy and practice.

Andrè Mifsud, Current Betapsi President

The Third Eye wishes the best of luck to the Executive team for the upcoming year!

The post Andrè Mifsud to lead Betapsi Malta for 2021/22 appeared first on The Third Eye.

The Willingness Team and Betapsi once again curated a spectacular event that members of The Third Eye team were lucky enough to join. Clayton Seguna, Betapsi President, started off the day by welcoming everyone to the conference, introducing Betapsi, and thanking all the collaborators for making the event possible. Following that, Matthew Bartolo elaborated on the importance of discussing family, especially in 2021.

“We are breaking away from what should be, and moving onto what could be.”

Matthew Bartolo

Adding to this comment, Matthew not only described how we are breaking away from the norms set by society on what relationships and families should be but also how we are celebrating this change.

The role of family in gender transitions

In her keynote speech, Ruth Micallef set the pace of the entire conference by taking us through the transition process of her son. By being transparent Ruth allowed us to better understand all the aspects of this journey, from the hardships she and her son went through, to the fulfilment they received for going through them.

“You grieve the loss of your daughter until you can celebrate the birth of your son.”

Ruth Micallef

She finished off by narrating the progress they have made as a family, and how they now face new challenges such as the usual problems that come with teenagers.

Case review

Following the keynote speech, the willingness team presented a case review which encouraged a discussion on possible ways forward to deal with the issues a couple had as described by the case itself. 

The review dealt with Saviour and Felicity, a couple who decided to seek help after Saviour was experiencing sleeping difficulties. The discussion was led by Danica Cassar who went into detail about the issues the couple was facing and highlighted other contributing factors in the case, such as each individual’s background. After the stage was set, a variety of input was given by people involved in the case such as Dr Candace Adams, and by participants alike, who continued to add their own insights into the case. Some of the suggestions were to look into things like financial stressors and even the couple’s intimacy.

The case study was wrapped up with each speaker giving final comments in their respective area, from health to relationship psychology.

Same-sex parenting

After a series of workshops, Noel and Chris from TwoPapasMalta described their life together as a family. They recounted every step of the way from when how they met, to the day they got married in 2016, and even when they were amongst the few same-sex couples to adopt from Portugal in 2019.

“Our objective is to promote awareness about same-sex families and to inspire others who might eventually embark on the adoption journey.”

Noel and Chris

Noel and Chris gave a variety of insights about the adoption process and continued to elaborate on how their family functions very similarly to a heterosexual one, without the need to distinguish between a male or female role within the household.

Conclusion

Matthew Bartolo brought an end to the conference by celebrating the 94 attendees present at the conference, stating that the online nature of the event made it particularly unique from the other ones. He wrapped everything up by providing more information about the newly released Family Clinic “where all families are welcome”.

The Third Eye would like to congratulate everyone behind 360° for hosting such a captivating conference, and look forward to whatever they have in store for the future.

Check out last year’s conference!

The post Everything you missed from the Family 360° conference appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Rachel Dalli

It is hardly surprising that humans, by their nature as social beings, have the potential to communicate several aspects of their lives. The phenomena underlying this ability is that of the theory of mind, which describes a person’s ability to discern their own mental states and that of others. Empathy refers to the capacity to share emotions, a term often confused with sympathy, despite the chasm that lies between the two. Throughout this article these differences will be highlighted and illustrated by examples.

What is Empathy?

Empathy stems from the German word ‘Empathie’, an equivalent of ‘feeling into’, and refers to the capacity of stepping out of your own world and into that of another to such depth that you find yourself experiencing the same emotions as someone else.

Dr. Brené Brown (video above) describes empathy as the ‘vulnerable choice’ of connecting to a person or their situation by drawing upon a similar experience you have previously encountered and getting on the same level as the other person.

How Can You Show Empathy Effectively?

You must be able to look at matters from others’ perspectives, avoid judgments, and recognise and communicate the emotions you sense in other people.

Empathy is not a static quality available to a select group. Rather, it develops throughout life, gradually becoming more sophisticated. For instance, babies display primitive empathic responses by crying when other babies cry. Though this might seem too trivial an example, it clearly illustrates the recognition of another’s distress projected as one’s own. As the baby then grows, theory of mind starts developing and they learn to differentiate between others’ emotions and their own. Sustaining this distinction is essential in empathy, as it is not concerned with adopting another’s emotions, but rather, changing worldviews and feeling what other people feel by picturing yourself in their situation.

I am so sorry for your loss

Sympathy is far less personal than empathy. It merely acknowledges others’ feelings with no effort or intention of understanding them deeply. Empathy strives to bridge the gap between two people by levelling those emotions, while sympathy recognises the discrepancy and leaves it at that. Imagine your friend’s grandfather recently died and you attended the funeral. It can safely be assumed that most interactions between attendees and the grieving family would include: ‘I am so sorry for your loss’; ‘At least he lived an incredible life’; ‘At least you have beautiful memories with him’. Despite the best intentions at heart, they can often yield feelings contrary to those intended.

Instead of alleviating the pain and making the griever feel better, they may be interpreted as a failure to recognise the depth of their emotions and brushing them off by finding a silver lining. Phrases starting with ‘at least’ may convey the message that the person’s situation is not as serious as others and is therefore unworthy of the attention received. Normalising problems and issues in life may give people a sense of hope and empowerment to work through them, but it may also fail to validate the well-warranted emotions.

What can we say instead?

Instead of using phrases staring with ‘at least’ or ‘on the bright side’, show the person that you are trying to understand how they are feeling by drawing upon a personal similar experience. By connecting with that experience, you will achieve a deeper understanding of what the person is going through. While showing them that you made effort to get on their level, be with them, and show them that they are not alone.

With reference to the above example, one may say:

“I understand how you feel. I also lost my grandfather a few years ago and I know what you are going through.”

Some Tips!

• Think before you speak

Think about how your message could be interpreted. The intention behind what you say may be pure but it may come across differently. If ever you are in doubt, put yourself in their position and think about what you would rather others say to you.

• Listen

Someone may open up to you about a sensitive topic and you may not know how to answer, and that’s okay! Sometimes, it is not about what witty responses you give, but about being there for the person and listening to them. Do not do anything that seems unnatural to you. Show the person your support and appreciation with entrusting you with such personal matters. Saying something on the lines of: I don’t know what to say but I’m glad you told me. I’m here for you.

• Relate but don’t make it about yourself

Relating someone’s experience to your own is a fantastic way of showing them that they are not alone. However, be careful not to make it about yourself. Be sure to listen to the person and to tie your experience to theirs.

• Communicate

Sometimes you just do not know what to say or do, and that is absolutely fine! People react and cope to situations differently and it is hard to tell what the person needs and when. Do not be afraid to communicate your uncertainty and ask them what they need. This will help the person feel they are valued and cared for.

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