Do some people actually benefit from procrastination?

Psychologist Timothy Pychyl referred to procrastination as a “self-inflicted wound”, but can some people benefit from procrastinating habits? Many procrastinators share a similar self-soothing rhetoric, believing they benefit from procrastination because they work better under pressure, however, a study by psychologists Tice and Baumeister found that students who procrastinate tend to have lower overall grades. The reason, they suggest, is due to a mental process called “pondering”.  Pondering is a proactive behavior where a person engages in contemplative slow thought, analyzing various perspectives of a situation, improving our ability to problem-solve immensely. When we procrastinate, we lose the time to ponder which can take a toll on academic performance.

The study also found that procrastinators had significantly higher stress levels and even more instances of illness (Jaffe, 2013). Procrastinators are also affected mentally, often reporting feelings like guilt, dread, shame, and anxiety. So why do we keep procrastinating if it makes us feel so bad?

Why do we procrastinate?

1. Instant Gratification: As humans, we naturally seek pleasure and avoid discomfort (Martin, 2021). This drive makes it easy to fall into the trap of seeking instant gratification, causing us to choose instant rewards, like scrolling social media, over delayed rewards, like finishing an assignment. We choose actions which feel good in the moment despite the decision causing discomfort in the future. Our brain’s dopamine reward system plays a major role in such decisions. Dopamine, released in anticipation for short, pleasurable activities, makes distractions feel more rewarding than tackling a difficult task. In the long-term, giving into instant gratification urges, like procrastination, weakens the dopamine pathways involved with motivation and self-regulation, making it even harder to focus on long-term goals (Martin, 2021). This creates a vicious habit loop where distractions become harder to resist, making us a slave to our dopamine system, ultimately deepening the severity of our procrastination.

2. Fear of Failure and Perfectionism: A majority of students tend to procrastinate due to their perfectionism and/or underlying fear of failure. Perfectionism upholds an ‘all or nothing mindset’, causing the assignment at hand to feel daunting and incredibly intimidating to begin (Novotney, 2010). As a result, we self-sabotage by procrastinating which paradoxically makes it impossible to achieve the standards we set for ourselves. This is not necessarily out of laziness, but rather a protective mechanism at play (Long, 2022). We want to protect ourselves from the feelings of incompetency so we will sabotage our best efforts and potential. This way, failure at the task can be blamed on a lack of effort rather than a lack of ability and competence (Jaffe, 2013).

3. Emotional Regulation: Procrastination is an issue with managing emotions, not time (Jarrett, 2020). We are aware of how much time we need for the assignment and how much time we are wasting through procrastination, yet we continue to delay completing the task. This is because procrastination serves as a way of finding temporary mood-lifters which will drown out the negative emotions, such as boredom, confusion, and frustration, which the task makes us feel. In fact, research has found that when people were made to feel negatively, by watching a sad video, before completing a task, they procrastinated compared to those who felt neutral and tackled the task immediately (Jarrett, 2020). By giving into temporary mood-lifters we build an avoidance habit which perpetuates procrastination.

4. Cognitive Biases: Cognitive biases are essentially thinking errors that warp the way in which we perceive certain situations. Such biases are partially responsible for procrastination as they falsely alter the way we view the task or our own capabilities. For instance, Piers Steel identified that procrastinators tend to view the task as increasing in importance closer to the deadline, when in reality the value of the task remains constant (Jaffe, 2013). This cognitive bias distorts the urgency of the task making procrastination appear reasonable. Another cognitive bias is the false belief that we’ll be more capable and emotionally equipped to handle the task at hand in the future, enforcing procrastination.

How do we overcome procrastination?

1. Break Down Tasks into Manageable Steps: Dividing the task at hand into smaller more manageable steps has been proven to reduce the urge to procrastinate. With this method, instead of thinking of writing an entire essay, you first tackle the introduction. This causes the task to be much less intimidating and anxiety-inducing, as well as providing faster gratification, a sense of achievement and autonomy (Jaffe, 2013).

2. Reassess and Set Realistic Expectations: As established earlier, the pressure of perfectionism and overly grandiose goals usually results in procrastination. To break this cycle, a mindset shift must be made from “I need to do this perfectly.” to “I need to make progress.”. This way, beginning the task is much less discouraging and an imperfect flow of ideas and momentum begins which can be later tailored and perfected. 

3. Pomodoro Technique: The Pomodoro Technique involves studying/working for a set amount of time and then taking a short break, for instance, studying/working for 30 minutes and then taking a 10 minute break. While this may sound too simple, the Pomodoro technique has been found to be incredibly effective in decreasing procrastination, sharpening focus, preventing burnout, and boosting motivation. By having a clear studying/working timeframe, beginning the task is less daunting as a break is already in sight (Scroggs, 2024).

4. Practice Self-Compassion: Professor Michael Wohl found that students who forgave themselves, treated themselves with gentleness and compassion after procrastinating, were less likely to procrastinate on the next task (Jaffe, 2013). By beating ourselves up for procrastination we generate negative emotions which, as mentioned earlier, have been found to fuel further procrastination. By treating ourselves with compassion, forgiveness, and remembering that procrastination is not necessarily due to laziness or a flaw in our personality, we are able to minimize the chances of procrastinating again.

The post The Psychology Behind Procrastination: Why We Delay and How to Overcome It appeared first on The Third Eye.

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.

Winning and Losing

“Indeed, in so many instances when physical talents seem evenly matched, it is the mental factors that will make the difference in winning or losing.”

It is of no surprise that the outcome of a competition affects the athlete psyche. Jones and Sheffield (2011) presented a study, which showcased that the outcome of a game is attributed to the short-term changes in the athlete’s wellbeing, confirming research which has been concluded in the early 1990s.

This comes back full circle, as winning and losing is dependent on an athlete’s mental health whilst the athlete’s mental health is also dependent on winning and losing, as well as other factors which will be discussed further along the paper.

Goal Setting

Goal setting is said to be a mental technique which aids the athlete into achieving his or her own personal goals. These goals may be short term or over a long period of time. Whilst deciding his or her goals, the athlete is to ensure that such goals align with the 5 SMART criteria, being specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound.

Visualization

Visualisation comes after goal setting. An athlete creates the mental image of himself successfully attaining the goal, stepping into the feeling. Athletes are encouraged to include as many senses as possible in visualization, as if they are rehearsing and indirectly training to perform their skill for the game.

Confidence

The relationship between confidence and performance has been deemed of having utmost importance. It has also been proven that the confidence within the team is directly proportional to the confidence which the coach has. This highlights another important fact – how the coach affects the athlete even indirectly – even without himself knowing.

Coping with Injury

Although an injury might seem solely physical at face value, it affects the athlete mentally as much as it does physically. “It’s not uncommon for injuries to fuel feelings of isolation, frustration, anxiety and even depression.” Being absent from competition due to an injury may affect the athlete’s mental well-being. In this regard, it is crucial for the athlete to accept help and support from professionals to take control of the situation and get back on the road of physical and mental rehabilitation.

Eating Disorders

Facing issues with self-esteem is not uncommon in athletes. Contrary to popular belief, this is the case in males and females. Coupling an intense pressure to win with an increased demand to have a particular body shape is a combination that brings about many challenges for athletes. There is pressure to look thinner, leaner, bulkier, stronger, be taller, be more petite; this list is endless. Some sports, such as wrestling, even demand a weight-class system which inevitably puts an extra stress factor into the sport. This nurtures a toxic relationship for the athlete with their body resulting in eating disorders in athletes.

The Bench Warmer

Colloquially termed the bench warmer, when an athlete commits to training but is not yet of the standard of their teammates, they sit and watch the game from the bench in the hopes that someday soon, they will be able to play amongst the rest of their team. It is not uncommon for these athletes to experience an identity crisis of sorts. The goals of the athletes seem far-fetched and unreachable. It can be harmful for the morale of the athlete and furthermore, for their self-esteem. The athlete’s career at this stage is based on hope. Hope that is constantly let down is a factor that can lead to psychological decline.

More pieces from UoM Futsal here!

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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.

Written by Kristina Micallef Pulè

“Power resides only where men believe it resides. […] A shadow on the wall, yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” (George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings). This quote from the beloved Game of Thrones saga tells us a lot about, well, the power of power. And power is simply what most everything is about. There are numerous way of exerting power; be it benevolent or with a malicious intent. One way it can be done is through the terrifying yet intriguing cult.

Information about the dangers and innerworkings of cults is readily available for anyone who is not living under a rock. Yet, somehow people are still joining them and ending up in potentially dangerous situations. If there is so much information about the dangers of these cults, why do people still get roped into them? Numerous theories and studies in social psychology suggest that it is all a matter of manipulation and abuse of power.

What is a cult?

Rousselet et al, (2017) define ‘cults’ as an organised group of people or a solitary person who aim to dominate others through manipulating and pressuring them. The first thing that comes to mind is religion, those types of cults are all over the media; but not all cults are based off of a religion. Some are based off a political ideology, like with the Ku Klux Klan and Nazism. Polygamist like ‘Bountiful’ in Canada, or ‘human potential-based’ like with ‘Kenja’ in Australia, and others offer unethical and unwarranted types of therapy.

Christianity started off as what can be defined as a cult. However, cults and religions are not the same thing. Christianity eventually became integrated within many societies and cultures around the world. You find people who identify as Christian but do not live their lives precisely to its doctrine. When someone is part of a cult, they have no choice but to follow the rules and norms to a tee.

Recipe for Cults

The very characteristics of a cult are what makes them so dangerous. Yet they are a source of great curiosity for those interested in group behaviour and social influence. Within a cult, you will surely come across:

1. A charismatic leader; someone who delivers grand speeches, makes each and every member feel like they belong within the community, and claims that the outside world is evil.
2. A high level of commitment to this leader. By devising a strict hierarchy, everyone does as the leader commands.
3. There are claims for answers for the most compelling of questions, and recipes for change for those seeking it.
4. Providing promises for solutions to people’s problems.
5. Very little tolerance for internal conflicts. Amidst all the propaganda and rhetoric that is fed to its members this is the scariest and most deceiving attribute of a cult is that there is.
6. External scrutiny and criticism is highly frowned upon in fear that their true agenda should be revealed.

Why do people join cults?

It is no wonder that the very prospect of joining a cult boggles and terrifies people; after all, who wants to give their freedom away like that? Social psychology denies the idea that we willingly choose to lose all control over our lives; but poses a number of theories that might just explain why we do. From a psychological and sociological aspect, we know that humans are inherently social beings; and if we’ve learnt anything from COVID-19, it’s that. Here are a number of factors that could be at play when one unknowingly forms part of a cult:

• Conformity: This is a classic example of how we surrender ourselves to group pressure. According to Asch (1950s), the more people present at a given time, the more pressure there is to conform to an opinion/idea. I can think of many instances where I have conformed to the majority in an attempt to avoid embarrassment and to fit in.

• Obedience to Authority: Milgram (1963) conducted a study where an unknowing participant had to administer fake electric shocks to their confederate partner each time they purposely got an answer to a test wrong. 65% percent of participants administered the highest voltage, thinking that they were administering real electrical shocks. When being asked, why they still administered the shocks despite their actor partner’s evident pain and discomfort, most said that they were just doing as they were told. Milgram (1963) coined the term ‘Agentic State’ – referring to when someone disregards any responsibility to their actions, just because they are being told to do so.

• Social Power: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) is a common example of social power. A number of participants were split into guards and prisoners and were sent to a location unbeknownst to them. Almost immediately, the guards assumed a position of power and were becoming aggressive with the prisoners. Despite being highly unethical, it showed that anyone can assume a position of power when given to them, and that we can disregard our own values and beliefs to get a job done.

• Crowd Behaviour: Le Bon (1895) posed that anonymity in a crowd leads one to disregard social constraints and can lead to violence. Zimbardo (1969) coined the ‘Deindividuation’ theory, where one is said to lose their identity and individuality when part of a crowd. This is often observed in cults when people seem to disassociate from their past lives and identities in order to pursue a new one within the cult.

• Group Polarisation: When one finds themselves in a group, opinions and decisions become very strong due to that sense of community. This leads to risk taking and deciding on extreme courses of action.

• Groupthink: Due to a desire for harmony and compliance, realistic and appropriate decisions and courses of action are dismissed. A consensus might be reached without there being a critical evaluation.

Seeking Refuge

Alternatively, the seemingly unconscious attachment to such organisations is compared to addiction to substances. Like with alcohol or drugs, these communities might serve as a place of refuge and distraction from the difficult realities a person might be facing. Oftentimes, cult members recruit vulnerable people who are either; recovering from a substance abuse disorder, grieving the loss of a loved one, have just received bad news, or are outcasted from society. In turn, these people think of the cult as being a safe space – a place where they can finally belong and be with like-minded people. This is until they unfortunately realise that they have been manipulated. Eventually they start experiencing subtle (and extreme in some cases) forms of abuse; especially when they try to disassociate from the cult.

The experience of a cult-escapee:

Intriguing and interesting as they might seem, the truth of the matter is that cults are an opportunity for power-hungry, manipulative, and potentially dangerous individuals to have a surprising amount of control over a group of people like you and me. There is a lot of information out there and countless horror stories of people who managed to escape cults, but somehow people keep getting lured into them. Perhaps this happens subconsciously, or due to vulnerability, or the psychological factors mentioned above. Maybe it is a mixture of everything combined. Either way, cults are still at large, even if they are not immediately visible, and people are still joining them.

Check out some more work from BETAPSI: The Thin Line Between Sexual Deviance and Sexual Offence

The post The Clever Psychology Behind Cults | Betapsi Malta appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Andrè Mifsud

On May 25^th 2020, the death of African-American George Floyd critically raised these questions, as the whole world stood in shock at the footage of the unarmed Floyd being pinned to the ground by a white police officer in Minnesota kneeling on his neck; actions which resulted in Floyd’s death.

Of course, albeit quite a famous one, this was not the only case where people of different ethnicity were discriminated against solely on the basis of skin colour.  Human beings seem to be automatically biased towards members of the same race.  Even in face recognition, Meissner and Brigham investigate an own race-bias in which memory is better for recognising faces of a same-race rather than faces of a different ethnicity – possibly resulting in a loss of personalisation.

This does not justify discrimination on any basis whatsoever.  But a key to addressing this inhumane behaviour is to investigate the psychological processes behind such action.  So, the question here is: why does racism take place in our societies?  Not to justify it, but to raise awareness.  Fortunately, social psychology – that is, the study of how interpersonal relationships affect behaviour – attempts to explain this.

The Social Identity Theory

Racism, rather than a product of two individuals interacting as two individuals, is the cause of two individuals interacting as group members.  This is in line with the social identity theory, characterized by Tajfel and Turner’s distinction between an ingroup and an outgroup, the “us” versus “them”. 

Categorisation is essential for everyday life.  It helps us distinguish social groups and classify the environment as per those categories.  It helps us distinguish a cat from a dog, a baker from a butcher.  However, the problems start when an individual identifies with a particular social category and begins comparing the ingroup with other existent outgroups.  Thus, the social identity theory is merely a theory of group differentiation – how an ingroup can assert its differences from the rest – and this is usually done by exaggerating differences between two somewhat similar groups, as tends to happen in racism. 

Per the social identity theory, a group of white people are more likely to focus on evident differences such as colour, whilst ignoring underlying similarities, such as that, regardless of colour, both groups are human: we eat, we sleep, we drink, we feel happy and scared, we love, we live – all groups share a number of characteristics that unite, rather than divide.  But ingroup biases lead to white people preferring whites over blacks, maintaining self-esteem by prejudicing, hating and downgrading the other ethnicity.  So, there is a surprisingly personal motive behind racism; it goes beyond politics, economy or even principles.  It is possibly a way of elevating self-esteem and falsely perceiving security.

The Standard Prison Experiment in relation to George Floyd

Additionally, the case of George Floyd reminds us of another classic experiment from the field of social psychology: Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment.  In the classic experiment, college students were requited and divided into two groups: either guards or prisoners.  They were all placed together in an artificial prison setting, with their only instruction being that order must be maintained. 

Conditions were replicated as in real-life: participants were given respective uniforms; “guards” were armed, and “prisoners” were numbered rather than called by name.  Although participants from both groups knew that the prison they were in was a fake one, in trying to maintain order the guards resorted to several harsh measures such as giving physical punishments, push-ups and stripping down prisoners, as well as verbally manipulating prisoners and turning them against each other.  The attitude of the guards became aggressive to the extreme, especially when considering the guards knew the prisoners were merely participants too.

Zimbardo’s experiment was not directly related to racism; however, his replication of a prison setting sheds light on how social power corrupts and how authorities can unconsciously become unnecessarily aggressive.  It revealed that situational factors can precede over personal ones; meaning that regardless of how much of a good person you are deemed to be, social power can lead to deterioration of character. 

So, does this mean that racism could be related to social power?

Although Zimbardo’s experiment cannot be relied on as much due to notable breaches of ethics, a number of parallels can be drawn between the Stanford Prison Experiment and the death of George Floyd.  Just like Zimbardo’s guards seemed to forget the fact that the setting of the experiment was not real and that participants could leave any time they liked – thus posing no real threat – the case of Floyd also shows how law officials may sometimes lose touch with reality and the actual threats posed by the people they are interacting with, resulting in extreme behaviour. 

Just like one of the students participating as a prisoner in Zimbardo’s experiment had an emotional breakdown, the damage in Floyd’s case was fatal – due to extreme measures taken by the police officer in exerting power on an unarmed African American who did not resist arrest.  It is essential, however, that we do not fall into the pitfall of viewing our current national situation as qualitatively different from Floyd’s in Minnesota.  Lassana Cisse Souleymane’s murder in Ħal Far back in 2019 is stark proof of how these phenomena are still present in our societies, more than would be deemed ideal.

In essence, the aim of this article is definitely not to justify or defend any racist behaviour.  On the contrary, the belief that an unemphatic society can lead to detrimental repercussions was proven by Floyd’s and Souleymane’s racist murders, as well as all racist murders that have gone unmentioned in the past.  Only through awareness of these psychological processes can we hope to one day overcome this way of thinking and create an ambience in which everyone is valued on his own merit, rather than solely race. 

As psychology students, we promote mental health.  We promote empathy.

The post What is racism and why does it happen? | Betapsi Malta appeared first on The Third Eye.

Moreover, most of the dreams that we experience are a demonstration of our unconscious mind connecting to people, places, and events of our real life. Particularly, psychic dreams are a unique form of dreams, as they tend to connect to something external in your life, such as an event, person, situation and/or place, rather than revolving around yourself.

In psychic dreams, you tend to obtain psychic guidance regarding a place, a person or a situation, whilst you sleep. These dreams also allow you to experience an in-depth spiritual world, something beyond the physical world.

Psychic dreams are an unimaginable concept, that has been researched throughout generations. So, how does one distinguish between a normal dream and a psychic dream?

To do so, one must understand the various forms of a psychic dream. The forms include; Precognitive dreams, Telepathic dreams, & Clairvoyant dreams.

3 types of psychic dreams

Precognitive dreams

These are a type of dreams that grant the ability to foresee future events. This type of dreams allows the individual dreaming it to explore new places with the use of the five human senses. Precognitive dreams may also manifest strong bonds between individuals, for example having a precognitive dream of a family member that you haven’t seen in a while. However, these dreams may still sometimes be difficult to distinguish from normal dreams. A solution for this is to keep a dream journal, in order to later identify whether the dream was a precognitive psychic dream or a normal dream.

Telepathic dreams

These dreams include communication within them. This communication, however, does not consist of a normal conversation, rather it involves your subconscious revealing itself in the form of a person. In simpler terms, you would be talking to your subconscious. However, this is a common thing that is featured in dreams, because communication is a way in which the unconscious part of the mind can solve inner conflicts or emotions. Yet, what makes telepathic dreams exceptional is the telepathic communication you engage in with your loved ones, such as your pet, your mother, or another person, whilst in a dream state. These dreams tend to be very realistic, vivid, and impactful.

Clairvoyant dreams

The blunt bunch of psychic dreams. Clairvoyant dreams tend to include symbols, metaphors and events. These act as guidance to the dreamer both for the present life and for his future. In order to gain a better understanding of the symbols offered from a clairvoyant dream, it’s important to gain an understanding of the nature of the symbols. This also helps in breaking down the meaning of a psychic dream.

As mentioned before, any form of psychic dreams is hard to identify. However, one key component to identify such dreams is to master the ability to pay attention once in a dream condition.

Psychic dreams are a very mystical concept which can highlight an important and difficult question to answer: What is the nature of humans? And what is the human mind capable of? 

The post Can your dreams tell the future? | Betapsi appeared first on The Third Eye.

It’s quite funny that a third-year psychology student is attempting to write on something that she herself has not yet grasped how it works. I guess from my end it has always been that feeling of being torn between following the trends and looking cool, or establish my own signature style and sticking with it.

So far, I haven’t really succeeded in doing either.

Before attempting to draw any links between personality traits and fashion trends, it is paramount that one understands the role of fashion in a post-modern society. Simply put, fashion is the ticket to transmit non-verbal communication signals about one’s social status, values and lifestyle.

Then again, one might question the high success fashion has managed to accomplish in today’s society. Usually, such success depends on the way the society interprets the trend and judges it.

Today’s consumer culture focuses on diminishing the gap between the rich and the working class. When you look at it, today’s fashion trends can be adopted by practically anyone. That is, by anyone who wants to be part of the ‘masses’.

Why do youths care more?

The primary reason why adolescents show more concern about fashion than any other age group is because they are during an identity creation stage.

While Erikson would be proud that his psychosocial development model is also applicable to post-modern society, there is something that attracts youngsters to new trends especially if they are promoted by influencers and YouTubers.

But that is not all there is to it, we do not want to be too predictable, do we?

What youngsters are into, especially generation Z is to have the ability to express their own style in an anonymous manner. As a fellow generation Z member, consumption feels gratifying but it is even more gratifying when the materials bought are reorganised in a style that is engaging for myself.

However, psychology has gone a step further to try and understand the relationship between human behaviour and fashion trends. It all boils down to 2 terms: prestige sensitivity and fashion consciousness. Sounds fancy enough?

Prestige Sensitivity

This refers to a positive attitude towards prices based on the feelings of prominence and status that higher prices signal better quality. The tendency for people to prefer higher-end brands suggests that consumers of certain personality traits use brands as a means of protecting their self-identity and express their self-concept. Usually, people who are high in conscientiousness (a desire to do a task well) tend to base more importance on prestige sensitivity.

Fashion Consciousness

Fashion consciousness refers to the level of involvement between the consumer and the fashion style, in other words: the ones who pay more attention to their portrayed image (especially through prestige brands).

Usually, people who are fashion conscious tend to be more extroverted and high in the conscientious personality trait. Conscientiousness is implied in both ‘fashion consciousness’ and ‘prestige sensitivity’ and seems to suggest an image of ‘success’ and ‘achievement’ to their peers.

However extroverted individuals who do not want to stand out among their peers might not necessarily work in line with prestige brands in order to be consistent with the socio-economic level of the group.

Now if Freud were around, he would say that all these attempts are simply unconscious schemes to attract a mate… and maybe it is, who knows! But personally, I would say to just learn more about yourself and your pursuits towards fashion.

Sometimes it is a very simple way of learning about personalities instead of overthinking about every word a person says. Uni is a fun place, but adolescent expression can be a nightmare for some. The key is to always keep everything in context.  

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BA Psychology graduates having to do an extra course to start working or do a masters are not getting stipends and grants like all other students.

We are lucky enough to live in a country where students are paid to attend school. It is an amazing advantage for us students but it would be even better if ALL students received the same benefit.

Students reading for a Higher Diploma in Psychology at the University of Malta are denied their students and grants. The excuse that is being used when asked why these students aren’t being paid, is that they are reading for a second undergraduate degree. However it is clearly stated in UM’s by-laws that H. Diploma students are an exception because they need this extra course to both obtain their warrant and actually work, and to further their studies at masters level.

Students are being forced to feel that their course is laughable and relatively unimportant. Compare this to the constant mental health awareness campaigns we are experiencing in Malta.

How are you going to promote mental health when you’re discouraging aspiring professionals who are going to be the forefront of this cause? 

Students are being forced to feel that their course is laughable and relatively unimportant. Compare this to the constant mental health awareness campaigns we are experiencing in Malta. How are you going to promote mental health when you’re discouraging aspiring professionals who are going to be the forefront of this cause? Many students grieved over how hard it is to juggle a part-time job and a thesis over the course of one year. That said, getting the allowances granted to equally struggling students would be the obvious course of action.

It should also be noted that the year-long course is not the usual academic year but lectures also take place during summer. Between year-round lectures and thesis-research there is less time for work shifts and as a result a ‘more’ broke student. That extra monthly €88 and the hefty grant at the beginning of the year are a major stress reliever, so why aren’t they extended to every university student?

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The first thing that pops into most people’s minds when they hear the word ‘psychologist’ is the Freudian couch. The comfortable, velvety cushions succeeded in making the clients feel at home, more so in shaping people’s idea of what to expect once they enter the therapy room.

This may feel soothing to those individuals who have just booked their first appointment, but more often than not, people feel nervous and just plain uncomfortable with the idea of sharing their life story and personal problems with a stranger… and this is completely natural.

Therapy is a long process that many refuse to embark on simply because of societal beliefs. Society has led us to believe that therapy is a ‘taboo’ done by the vulnerable and pitiful, something that needs to be hidden and kept secret.

People may not want to spend their money on something they feel would lead to nowhere. People might think they are just not ‘bad’ enough to go to a psychologist. Others may try it but feel that it has made things worse.
The truth is that you will face criticism or people looking down on you for going to a therapy. But you have to keep in mind that you are going to therapy for you, and no one else, and that therapy is nothing to be ashamed of.

The truth is that therapy may not be cheap, but your well-being is precious and priceless.

The truth is that everyone has a right to go to therapy, whether it is because of lifestyle issues or a mental illness. The psychologist is not there to judge you for what you are going through, and you do not have to feel like you are wasting your psychologist’s time.

The truth is that therapy is like curve. Sometimes you are on the right track, sometimes you relapse or divert to old habits. And this, I state again, is completely natural. The hard truth is that it has to get worse to get better.

The psychologist helps you to delve into your life, your lifestyle, your history, making links and guiding you to make connections and arrive at conclusions. The psychologist is simply there to listen to your every life story, concern and episode, making sense of why, how and when things happen the way they do.

This may make people feel uncomfortable, challenged, and like their personal space has been invaded.

But this is completely natural. Many people may stop here, not being ready to see what there is on the other side of the discomfort and challenges. However, this does not mean they are a coward or a ‘giver-upper’.

There is a 65% chance that therapy is a success. You might say ‘What about the remaining 35%?’ Some people may respond more to medication, which really and truly requires its own article. However, the individual in therapy must want to get better and think that therapy will make him better for it to work.

Image Credits: Glasbergen

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