THINK PSYCHOLOGY

Here is the home of all things Psychology. A new blog run by a student for fellow students. Ask questions about the course, the subject and anything else that comes to mind.

[thinkpsych]

7 Cups

Hi everyone! 

Just wanted to raise a bit of awareness about a company I am currently interning for. 7 cups of tea is a support site/app which involves pairing a guest/member with a trained active listener who can talk with them about any issue they wish to bring to the table and hopefully provide them with some support. It’s a great site I have used myself, both as a listener and a member. 

If you want to check it out, follow this link! 

http://www.7cups.com/14122976

[psych-facts]

Bad handwriting? Keep this in mind: more intelligent people tend to think faster, and as a result their handwriting is more sloppy.

(via psych-facts)

[psych-facts]

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela (via psych-facts)

[thinkpsych]

Psych Fact

Did you know that some preliminary research suggests that our reliance on GPS technology might be destroying our natural navigation skills?

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/30/satnav-users-risk-losing-their-natural-navigational-skills-expert-warns

[thinkpsych]

Psych Fact

Did you know that, despite opening the door to potentially endless interpersonal interaction, most people have around 150 followers/following. This is the same number that evolutionary psychologists believe to be the size of the average person’s social network in real life. 

Gonçalves B, Perra N, Vespignani A (2011) Modeling Users' Activity on Twitter Networks: Validation of Dunbar's Number. PLoS ONE 6(8): e22656. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022656

[thinkpsych]

Psych Fact

Did you know that particular disorders, associated with damage or underdevelopment of the left hemisphere, such as frontotemporal dementia and dyslexia, are associated with enhanced artistic talents, possibly because of compensation from the creative right hemisphere?

[thinkpsych]

Freshers: DO’s and DON’Ts (AKA, what to bring to Uni)

You got into Uni!! First up, that’s amazing, congrats! 

This is the first of my many posts related to starting Uni. I’ll be doing another one in a couple of days, but this one is specifically related to packing: what I found `I missed, and what I didn’t need. 

So, do bring: 

a hot water bottle! Halls of residence are known for their...variable heating. It can be great to have something to warm you up, especially during winter!

a fancy dress costume! Be it freshers or halloween, you will definitely need one at some point!

your medical details! Chances are, if you are moving away to Uni, you will need to register with a doctor there, and if you do, you’ll need things like this. Better than having to guess insurance/NHS numbers etc!

films/music! Its great to have something to relax with in the hour or two before bed in order to wind down. A relaxing book can be good too, but you might not always feel like more reading if you’ve spent the day studying, so its good to have something different as well

photos/posters! These can make your room feel a lot more homey!

bedding! Not all halls supply bedding, its best to check before you arrive whether you need to bring any with you

some prior acquaintances! This one might sound a bit odd, but what i mean is, try and get in contact with people from your hall/course before you arrive. Facebook is great for this, often they will have a page for your hall so you can find out who is living near you! It can be a great way of breaking the ice if you’ve already talked a bit first!

Don’t bring

cooking equipment! What I mean here, is be selective. Utensils/pans etc are very bulky to transport, so be honest with yourself as to whether you will actually use them. A friend of mine brought an entire kitchen’s worth of stuff and only used about four pieces from it. A saucepan, frying pan, plates and cutlery is a good start, and then think about building around that! 

every item of clothing you own! Think about the weather wherever you will be going and pack around that, if your unlikely to see the sun much during the university term time (remember you aren’t actually there for the summer) maybe limit the summer wardrobe you bring!

your car! Unless you will actually be driving long distances, it will probably cost more to park it all year than any benefit you will get from using it! 

[thinkpsych]

Congratulations to everyone in the UK who received their A level results and is off to University!! Remember, if you are planning to study psychology, please follow this blog! It will be filled with helpful hints over the coming weeks! 

:)

[thinkpsych]

Calling all future psychology students!!

If your hoping to study psychology come September, please follow this blog!  It’s run by a current psychology student and aimed at helping other students of the discipline! I’ll be posting some (hopefully) helpful stuff for upcoming freshers in the near future! 

[loveless-people]

"Breathe. You’re going to be okay. Breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable and anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Breathe and know that you can survive this too. These feelings can’t break you. They’re painful and debilitating, but you can sit with them and eventually, they will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon, they are going to fade and when they do, you’ll look back at this moment and laugh for having doubted your resilience. I know it feels unbearable right now, but keep breathing, again and again. This will pass. I promise it will pass."

Daniell Koepke (via lovequotesrus)

[heavemly]

[lovequotesrus]

Everything you love is here

[thinkpsych]

Psych Fact

We always hear in the media about how playing too many violent video games leads to aggression, but there are now a number of studies that suggest playing games which involve 'helping', or roleplaying games, can help improve of social behaviour and make us more helpful and kind towards others

Greitemeyer, T., & Osswald, S. (2009). Prosocial video games reduce aggressive cognitions. Journal of experimental social psychology, 45(4), 896-900.

Greitemeyer, T., Agthe, M., Turner, R., & Gschwendtner, C. (2012). Acting prosocially reduces retaliation: Effects of prosocial video games on aggressive behavior. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42(2), 235-242.

[psych-facts]

"I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that. ”

Robin Williams (via psych-facts)

[thinkpsych]

Travel Tidbits

Hello! 

As promised, a somewhat comprehensive account of my travel experiences!

People have all kinds of reasons for travelling, my main one was a desire for adventure, a desire to do something that scared me and to take the risk in order to get something amazing back. 

This trip certainly gave back. 

In short, I have been 'Interrailing', which for those of you outside of Europe, is a rail pass which gets you on trains in just about every European country. I saw 6 countries in my month away, and stayed in 9 cities. I got 11 trains, 8 buses, countless metros, 2 planes, and a boat (more on the boat in my top tips later). I have seen so much and experienced so much and would never trade the memories for anything.

Having said all of that, obviously, not trip is completely smooth, and the main purpose of this post (once I stop waxing lyrical about my time away) is to give some advice to anyone who may be considering travelling. It is totally worth it! But here are my top tips

 1) If you are travelling with some sort of pass, don't assume it makes everything 'free'.

Many trains, particularly night trains and high speed (as a guide, those that zip across a country in a matter of hours) require a reservation, which can cost anything from 3-18 euros or its equivalent.

2) Work things out for yourself (and save money! Yay!)

Hostels/Hotels often offer package deals to outlying tourist attractions which may seem good on the surface (especially if they pick you up right outside the door!) But do a little research, it may be if you take the time to find the public bus station yourself, you can find your own way there a lot cheaper. 

3) Conversely, also know when to splurge a little bit more

This is where I return to the boat issue. Being almost broke by the end of our trip, we opted for the free option with our pass, which was sleeping on the deck of the boat, rather than spending a little more to have a seat inside. Anyone who has tried to sleep out of doors on a concrete floor while a football match is screened and 30 drunken students trip over you, will understand why spending a little more might have been worthwhile. 

4) Understand the public transport system

Don't assume it will be the same as it is at home. You may have to buy a certain kind of ticket, (and always stamp that ticket if machines are provided to do so) and its probably best to ask at the desk rather than muddle through the self service machine. Believe me, the fines are not pretty and it puts a real downer on the day when you are slapped with one *cries at the memory of this incident* 

5) When it comes to hostels...

Honestly, most of the horror stories you may hear probably will not apply. You will stay in some hostels with strange bathrooms (case in point, the whole room is the shower, turning the bathroom into a slip and slide every evening), and some loud noises, but you will also meet some fellow travellers and amazing people. 

6) If travelling with friends

Make sure you get on! Travelling can be stressful, as can being with the same people 24/7. Someone getting snappy is almost inevitable but if you go with people you are close with then hopefully arguments will be kept to a minimum.

7) Think about your health.

Travel insurance that covers medical issues is not bank breaking, and is certainly worth investing in. Even if you have never broken a bone/come down with anything serious and are generally lucky in the health department, you don't want to find yourself wondering what to do because of a previously unknown allergy to Polish band aids is causing major issues. (Yep! This happened!)

8) Budget in for food.

Chances are, if you are moving from place to place quickly, then buying in food, even if your hostel has a fridge, may not be an option. You may find yourself having to eat out most nights, and trying a McDonalds in every country is not a healthy solution! 

So that is my top tips learnt while travelling. Obviously they are only minor niggles in comparison to the amazing time I had and the experiences of travelling which I would recommend to all!

[thinkpsych]

I've been on an adventure!

Hello! 

Sorry for a long absence, but I have been away travelling for some time, and between using every form of public transport imaginable (If I never have to take another metro again it will be too soon!) and living in hostels, my WIFI access has been somewhat minimized. But, I have finally returned home and therefore to my blog!

In the coming days I will be sharing some of my travel experiences and the impact these had, and some conclusions I have drawn about why travelling and exploring are so central to human lives and aspirations. I'm going to follow that up with a post that contains some of the tips I've picked up while on my own travels that might help others, so watch out for that if you are planning your own trip!

Until then, I would like to end on some wise words from T.S Eliot: 

“The journey, not the arrival, matters.”

[observando]

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.

H. Jackson Brown Jr. 

Everything you love is here

(via lovequotesrus)

[psych-facts]

Cuddling releases oxytocin, known as the “feel good” hormone. It increases happiness levels and relieves stress.

(via psych-facts)