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Nightmares in traumatized children: Does disturbed emotion regulation play a mediating role?
No full textThis review paper discusses to what extent a disturbed emotion regulation acts as a mediator in the relationship between trauma in children and the experience of nightmares. Evidence has been established for an association between trauma and the experience of nightmares. The role played by an emotion dysregulation is discussed both from a neurological and from a psychosocial perspective. The neurological dimension describes the key role played by the amygdala, which is hyperactive during nightmares and chronically hyperactive after trauma. The psychosocial dimension describes the role of attachment style for the development of emotion regulation and presents theories of dream function in order to portray the role of an emotion dysregulation for post-traumatic nightmares in children. An evaluation of the literature suggests that - from both the neurological and the psychosocial perspective - emotion dysregulation plays the role of a mediator in the relationship between child trauma and nightmares and a model showing this interplay is hypothesized and explained. Empirical research should be conducted in order to empirically validate the hypothesized model and to further support the assumption that an emotion regulation therapy should be part of the treatment for child trauma patients frequently experiencing post-traumatic nightmares.
Keywords: nightmares, childhood trauma, emotion dysregulation, triangular mode
The Memory Effects of Simulating Crime-related Amnesia: A Review of Experimental Studies
Get PDFCrime-related amnesia refers to the amnesia for an offense that is sometimes reported by offenders of (violent) crimes. Although some of the amnesia claims may be genuine, others are likely to be simulated. Simulating amnesia can have advantages for the offender, but not all offenders will continue claiming amnesia during the police investigation. This raises the question whether and how simulating crime-related amnesia affects subsequent genuine memory recall of the crime. Experimental studies generally find a memory-undermining effect of simulating amnesia. The exact memory effects depend on the simulation strategy used. According to the Memory and Deception (MAD) framework, different forms of deception result in distinct memory errors. False denial is likely to lead to omission errors, whereas fabrication of an alternative story is more likely to lead to commission errors. The possible explanations for these memory effects, important considerations, and legal implications will be discussed.
 
The Influence of Psychedelic Drugs on the \u27Sense of Self\u27
Get PDFPotent psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin are implicated in a multitude of cognitive and perceptual alterations. Through the mediation of serotonergic 5-HT2 receptors, distortion of the self is a common effect of these drugs. The self is usually referred to as an entity comprising physical and psychological attributes that are coherent within our self-concept. This so-called binding process can be affected through psychedelic experiences and can oftentimes lead to the phenomenon of ego-dissolution. Given this, ego-dissolution leads to the elimination of a binded self-model which eventually results in the perception of distorted self-boundaries. There have been improvements conceptualizing and assessing ego-dissolution. The Ego-Dissolution Inventory is the first questionnaire dealing with the assessment of this phenomenon. In addition, a variety of neural studies associate this common psychedelic induced phenomenon with different brain regions. The Default Mode Network and the Salience Network, two large-scale networks associated with distinct components of the self, show altered activity and disintegration, leading to a more global connectivity within the brain. Additionally, decoupling of the Medial Temporal Lobe (MTL) and reduced interhemispheric communication show the same correlations. These findings are first attempts to conceptualize the self and the concept of ego-dissolution in terms of large-scale networks within the brain
GENDER TRANSITION AS SELF-REALISATION IN LATER LIFE: Interview with a 72 year old Trans woman in Wales
Get PDFTrans experiences of ageing have, so far, been minimally explored in academic literature; however, older Trans people who have transitioned in later life have much to offer the fields of both Trans Studies and Cultural Gerontology. By drawing on an interview with Jenny-Anne Bishop, a 72-year-old Trans woman, this study suggests that Trans ageing experiences are not adequately accounted for by dominant cultural narratives of ageing, notably decline and age-defying narratives, and instead proposes Laceulle and Baars’ (2014) framework of self-realisation as a suitable alternative. Concurrently, this study serves as an empirical illustration of how self-realisation as a framework for meaning attribution in later life can be applied
LAKATOS AND THE ASSUMPTION OF THE NEUTRALITY OF MONEY IN NEOCLASSICAL ECONOMICS
Get PDFUsing Imre Lakatos’ concepts concerning research programmes, it is shown that the assumption of the neutrality of money belongs to the hard core of neoclassical economics. This conclusion is based on the interrelation of the concept of the neutrality of money and that of efficient equilibria, a key notion of neoclassical economics. By showing that utility-maximizing equilibria determined by the private market do not necessarily exist if money is not assumed to be neutral, I prove that the neutrality of money is a necessary assumption for the existence of efficient equilibria. Furthermore, it will be shown that unscientific ad hoc modifications are utilized to protect this assumption, and that the research programme of neoclassical economics is hence degenerating
REMEMBER TO NOT FORGET: Construction of the Serbian collective memory through media reportage of the commemorations of the Kosovo War
Get PDFIn 2019, Serbia marked the 20th anniversary of the end of the Kosovo War through numerous commemorations that received significant media coverage. Through qualitative, ideographical research, this article explores how the Serbian media constructs the collective memory of the 1999 NATO intervention. By using thematic analysis and coding, the article analyses a total of ten newspaper articles from two newspaper outlets. Three themes emerged from the analysis: 1. “Unjustified and premeditated bombing campaign”; 2. “Do not forget Milica!”; and 3. “No justice?”. The thread that unites all three themes is the element of victimhood that the media frames and positions at the centre of collective memory. The article concludes that this view of victimhood is not an anomaly in history, but is aligned with the existing collective memory through the continuous emphasis on the suffering of Serbs
WHAT WE DO WHEN WE SAY ‘MEISJE’: An essay on the relation between word, action and convention
Get PDFThis paper provides a philosophical reflection on a very common word in the Dutch language. Referring to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s book Philosophical Investigations, this paper explains how the meaning of every word is based on convention. Moreover, by argu-ing that language is an act, this paper shows how using the word meisje in contemporary Dutch perpetuates the convention on which the meaning of that word has been built. From a contemporary per-spective, this convention seems sexist. Despite the fact that this paper is written from a philosophical perspective, it does make an argument that is important for other academic fields, such as cul-tural studies, gender studies, history, and in fact any discipline that makes use of language: that the language one uses is not neutral. Understanding the conventions words are built upon allows one to gain insight into the historically created dynamics which influence societal and interpersonal relations
TAUGHT NOT TO TRUST: The role of civic education in shaping the political culture of Slovakia
Get PDFFor many years, Slovakia has been struggling with low voter turnout and a disengaged public. At the same time, there are concerns that the current education system is not equipping students with skills relevant to their lives. This paper examines the passive way civic education is taught in Slovakia and the influence it has on the political behavior of youth. The paper concludes that the education also promotes a passive political culture. At the end, the paper proposes an educational reform that could improve political participation for the new generation
FEMALE HOMELESSNESS: The social relationships of homeless women
Get PDFAddressing a gap in literature about female homelessness, this paper analyzes the role of social relationships in the lives of homeless women. Bourdieu’s theory of social capital and Granovetter’s theory of social ties are used as a theoretical framework. The specific analytical focus is on social relationships with family and romantic partners and how these relationships contribute to homeless women’s social capital. It was firstly found that despite family being a source of emotional and instrumental support, homeless women’s limited or absent family relations represent a burden. Secondly, romantic relationships can provide support and simultaneously represent a straining factor. We conclude that social relationships to both family and romantic partners can in some cases be a source of support but most often are an additional burden to the already disadvantaged situation of homeless women