Helms - Ohlone Psychology Blog

Interesting Breakthrough in Schizophrenia Research...

A group of researchers at Johns Hopkins hospital released a report on July 31st, 2007, announcing success in genetically engineering mice with Schizophrenia, a breakthrough that could help researchers understand the disorder better and develop new treatments.

Until now, antipsychotic drugs used to treat Schizophrenia were often tested on mice who had received mind-altering drugs such as LSD or PCP.  This new strain of mice, however, make much better test subjects since they actually carry a gene (DISC1) isolated in a Scottish family known to be prone to the illness; this gene has been found in several other families in other countries as well, making it likely that the mutation plays some role in Schizophrenia.

These new rats show many of the behavioral traits of humans with Schizophrenia (odd behaviors, difficulty with memory, etc.), and react well when treated with current antipsychotics.

To read more about this report, CLICK HERE.

Phobias!...

Dear Psychology 101 Students:

Below, please find the list of Phobias we discussed in class.  This list of approximately 500 Phobias is by no means comprehensive, but it should illustrate to you that, since they are all learned, the types of Phobias are endless. 

Download ch_13_phobia_list.doc

Experimental Course Paper Assignment...

Dear EXPERIMENTAL Psychology Students:

As discussed in class, you will be writing a Course Paper for credit.  Below is a basic description of what I’m looking for.  We will discuss these in class with each other at some point so that everyone can learn about each other’s projects, experiences, successes, failures, etc.

Your paper is to be EMAILED to me by the deadline (11/26), using the instructions below.

A copy should be brought to class on 11/24 for the in-class dicussion exercise (see syllabus).

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Your paper is to be typewritten double spaced, in 12 pt. characters, using Times New Roman font. Use Microsoft Word ONLY. I’m not big on setting “page limits,” but I think to cover the items below it should at least  be 3 or 4 pages long.  In the paper, please:

1.   Describe the topic of your survey as if your reader has no knowledge of psychology or experimentation.

2.   Discuss the types of questions/items in your survey and how you decided upon them.

3.   Talk about what you hoped to gain from the questions/items, and what information you actually were able to gather.

4.   Detail what parts of the survey you think were the most successful.

5.   Detail what parts of the survey you think could have been more successful, and how you could improve them.

6.   Describe how this assignment either confirmed or refuted any ideas you may have already had about performing a scientific study.

7. And feel free to add in anything else you can think of that might be relevant.

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- When submitting (emailing) your Course Paper, please save it by the following format:

Helms, S. - Psych 102

- In the Subject Heading of the email, please use the following format:

Psych 102 - Helms, S.

David Reimer - The Boy Who Was Raised As a Girl...

The life story of David Reimer is a fact that reads like fiction. It regards one of the most personal and mysterious aspects of human life: gender.  The detailes of the story were recently released in a book by John Colapinto, "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised As a Girl."

Born a male, a botched circumcision led his parents to make the difficult and fateful decision to surgically alter his genitals and attempt to raise him as a girl.  Encouraged by sex researcher John Money (a man who did much to assist those suffering from Gender Identity Dysphoria), the Reimers followed every script given to them down to the smallest detail, but in the end, this experiment would prove a complete failure.  These results, and others like them, strongly suggest that gender is not determined by how we are raised (our name, clothing, reflected appraisal from others, etc.), but by our genes, all of which were telling David, "You are a boy."

Although the story has a tragic ending, the results had led to a somewhat better understanding of Gender Identity, and will hopefully help put an end to the suffering and confusion of many whose bodies do not match the gender their brains tell them the truly are.

Click the links below to watch the TLC video (in four parts) that chronicles the story of David Reimer.

Clip 1

Clip 2

Clip 3

Clip 4

 

Personality - Keirsey Temperament Sorter...

Dear Students:

If you would like to experience a modern-day "Personality Test," click the links below and download the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.  Based loosely on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Keirsey uses a few dozen self-report questions to categorize you into one of 16 different personality types.

After answering the questions, use the KEY to add up the numbers and determine your 4-letter category.  Then, look up your "type" on the list of all 16 personalities.

Clicking the hyperlink above will allow you to critically analyze the orignal MBTI and its creators, and to decide for yourself whether these types of tests have any validity.

Download keirsey_temp_sorter.doc

Download color_calculation_sheet.doc

Download keirsey_types.doc

Jenny McCarthy, SHUT UP!...

Some of the most dedicated and underappreciated parents on the planet are those whose children have been diagnosed with Autism, a pervasive spectrum disorder that presents varying degrees of cognitive, emotional, and developmental problems beginning in childhood.  Although Autism is not likely to have a single cause, scientists are hard at work trying to determine its etiology.  As yet, very little is known.  Working to uncover more information about what might contribute to its prevalence is important, as are the development of effective therapies to help autistic children and their parents deal with the struggles of daily life. 

In the past several years, an increasingly vocal minority of well meaning parents has begun focusing attention on, of all things, childhood vaccinations, creating a classic (albeit intractable) Correlation vs. Causation scenario that threatens the lives of literally millions of children in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Happy Birthday, Carl!...

Those of you who are not familiar with the life and work of Carl Sagan are missing out on an amazing opportunity to approach science in a way that makes you re-think your view of the entire Universe.  Sagan was an Astronomer whose tireless efforts to educate the public about science made him arguably the most influential scientist since Charles Darwin.  Like those who have come after him (e.g., Bill Nye, "The Science Guy"), Sagan concentrated on making science fun and accessible, while never watering it down or treating the untrained as children.

In addition to the millions of lesser known scientists he influenced, Sagan's efforts roused many of the scientists we see regularly on television and in print today, including popular tv science presenter Bill Nye, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson, physicist Richard Feynman, etc.

Unfortunately, Carl Sagan's time on this earth was short.  He died at the age of 62 from cancer, after a long fight.  That loss reverberates throughout the scientific community to this day, saddening many, but also encouraging us to continue our efforts in his memory.  To celebrate what would have been his 75th birthday on November 9th, 2009, the clever minds at SymphonyofScience.com hired composer John Boswell to create the video below. Its use of synthesized modulation of the voices of four great popular science writers is a fitting and moving tribute to Sagan, and a pretty darn good piece of art!  Enjoy it, and please take a moment to look at other videos, writings, etc. by these scientists.

 

 

Sensation, Perception, and the Backmasking Craze...

They say the devil's in the details, but they never warned us that he may also be lurking in your I-Pod.

At least, that's what the proponents of BackMasking would have you believe.  This phenomenon is not only predicated upon the belief that we can be affected by subliminal input, but even more outlandishly, that we can be affected by BACKWARD subliminal input. 

CLICK HERE to be taken to a web site where you can hear excerpts from songs of the accused, played forward and backward.  Numerous music artists throughout the years have been accused of "corrupting America's youth" with messages of death, destruction, suicide, and evil supposedly hidden within their music. 

The best defense against the nonsense of BackMasking lies in how difficult it is to determine what the message is before reading the "reverse lyrics."  An area of the brain responsible for language comprehension (the Wernicke's Area) creates this auditory phenomenon.  Ever on the lookout for input, the Wernicke's Area only needs the slightest suggestion to give us the perception of language.  With an almost endless supply of recordings to search, it is almost certain that a combination of sounds will present themselves that are close enough to actual words to be perceived as language, especially once we are prompted to listen for them.

Fall 2009 Syllabi...

Dear Psychology Students:

Please click the links below to download your syllabus for the Fall 2009 term. Keep in mind that, since I teach five classes each semester, I leave it to you to download the correct syllabus from the list below. Downloading the wrong syllabus would be disastrous, since the dates for lectures, tests, and assignments would be incorrect.

These syllabi will NOT be handed out in class, but will instead remain posted on the blog for the entire semester.  Although they may be subject to change (hopefully not), I will announce any alterations so you will know to download or print again.

Thanks,

-- Sheldon

Abnormal Psychology (Psych 115) M/W 10:30-12:05
Download Helms - syllabus_psych_115_mw_1030

Experimental Psychology (Psych 102) T/Th 10:00-11:35
Download Psych 102 tth 1000---revised

General Psychology (Psych 101) M/W 1:00-2:35
Download Helms - syllabus_psych_101_mw_100

General Psychology (Psych 101) T/Th 12:25-2:00
Download Helms---syllabus_psych_101_tth_1225 - REVISED

General Psychology (Psych 101) T/Th 2:15-3:50
Download Helms---syllabus_psych_101_tth_215 - REVISED

Please Take Part in Our Surveys...

Dear Students:

My Experimental Psychology students have been working all semester on creating surveys to gather data about various topics in human behavior.  Please take this opportunity to add to the body of scientific knowledge by filling out at least one (or all?) of them.

All data will be gathered confidentially, and will only be used to help budding new scientists learn to interpret their findings.

Thanks in advance, and please feel free to post these links anywhere and/or send them to friends. The more data we gather, the better we'll be able to work with the results!

Click this linke to download a handout with the same links:

Download Helms - Experimental Psychology Survey Links

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01 – Health Survey: http://tinyurl.com/HealthSurveyLink

02 – Sexual Attractiveness Survey: http://tinyurl.com/SexualAttractivenessSurvey

03 – Body Modification: http://tinyurl.com/BodyModification

04 – Professor Ratings: http://tinyurl.com/ProfessorRatingsSurvey

05 – Attraction Survey: http://tinyurl.com/AttractionSurveyLink  

06 – Sexual Activity Survey: http://tinyurl.com/SexualActivitySurvey

07 -  Video Game Survey: http://tinyurl.com/VideoGameSurveyLink

08 – Stress-Eating Survey: http://tinyurl.com/StressEatingSurvey

09 – Human Mate Selection: http://tinyurl.com/HumanMateSelectionSurvey

Psych 101 Course Papers - WebCT Information...

Dear Students:

As you know, I require that you upload your papers to WebCT after you have emailed them to me.  This will allow the filter to check for plagiarism and cheating.

To register, simply visit the Ohlone College Web Site, and click on the link that reads "Online Classes" (in green bar, on the left of the screen).

Once there, you will see a list of gray boxes on the right, under the heading "How to Log In."  Click on Login to WebCT CE 8.0 and you will be provided with a login page.

REGISTERING FOR WebCT:

Your login Username and Password are as follows:

Username: First two letters of your first name, and first two letters of your last name. (e.g., for Sheldon Helms, it would be SHHE), followed by the last 4 digits of your Student ID number (e.g., if I had one, it might look like SHHE0956)

Password: Your default password is the word "student."  You can change it once you have logged in.

IMPORTANT!: YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD WHEN YOU FIRST LOG IN. DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD. IT CANNOT BE RETRIEVED FOR YOU!

** If you have trouble, you might also watch the "How to Login to WebCT" Video, which is located on THIS PAGE.

UPLOADING YOUR PAPER:

After you have logged onto WebCT, my class should be listed under your account.  The shell has been activated, and the link is now available for you to upload your paper.  Just click the link and follow the instructions.

Emotions, Stress, and Health...

Dear Students,

Below are links to several pieces of supplemental information.  One is a "personality test" of sorts which will allow you to determine whether you fit the definition of Type A or Type B Personality.

Below that are two Stress Scales (choose the one that best fits your life experiences) that offers a way to assess the amount of stress in your life...the first step to doing something about it.

Lastly, I've added a measurement tool that will rate your "Emotional Intelligence," also known as E-IQ.  Keep in mind that each of these is only an introspective tool, and should not be used to assess your overall personality, aptitude, etc.  If you want to discuss these results and/or would like more information on how to de-stress, email one of our mental health counselors Rosemary O'Neill (ROneill@ohlone.edu) or Gena Rhodes (GRhodes@ohlone.edu) for an appointment.

Download ch_12_type_ab_test.doc

Download Ch 11 Stress Scale (Youth Version)

Download emotional_intelligence_eiq_test.doc

Research on Sexual Orientation...

Sadly,  Ohlone College does not currently offer even a SINGLE course in "Queer Theory," nor do we thoroughly review the contributions of gay men and women in our History curriculum (the way such is, thankfully, done for Chicano and African American History).

Until this is done (and as I encourage the college to correct this omission), I offer the following information for my students.

1.  BIOLOGY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION:  Research on the biological evidence for Sexual Orientation, and a specific reference to the work of Simon LeVay, and to his website where you'll find a good SUMMARY of the biological research to-date.

2.  GAY RIGHTS: An explanation of the Stonewall Riots, an incident in 1969 that many view as the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement.  (Keep in mind that such violent  outbursts share much in common with other riots based in civil rights, namely severe oppression over long periods, a history of violence perpetrated upon the group, as well as a general feeling of institutionalized hatred toward the group.)

3.  GAY PRIDE PARADE:  The history of the Gay Pride Parade, the major symbol of the end of oppression of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) individuals.  (Many ask why such "flamboyance" is shown at these events, and I have two answers as a Social Scientist.  First, media coverage is usually focused on the "best story or  picture," and results in a skewed image of the folks who usually attend.  Second, like Mardi Gras and Carnival [in Rio de Janeiro], participants like to be as outrageous as possible to enhance the fun; however, such portrayals hardly represent the entire population they come from.)

6. TOLERANCE:  Please CLICK HERE to be taken to some recent research on the correlation between familiarity with gay people and greater tolerance for differing sexual orientations.

Psychologists repudiate gay-to-straight therapy...

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer David Crary, Ap National Writer

The American Psychological Association declared on 08/05/09 that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.

In a resolution adopted by the APA's governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of "reparative therapy" — a concept espoused by a small but persistent group of therapists, often allied with religious conservatives, who maintain gays can change.

No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-4 vote. The APA said some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

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I guess the only question left is, "How many times do they have to say this?"

CLICK HERE to read the entire news story.

CLICK HERE to read about protests outside Exodus International, the country's largest organization espousing the belief that people can switch sexual orientations.

Psych 101 - Please Don't Feed the Humans...

Students,

Although it's very popular these days to point out the obesity problem in the U.S., this phenomenon is actually a worldwide epidemic.  Click the link below to download a startling editorial on the Obesity Epidemic and its impact worldwide.  I think the facts will be very surprising to you.

-- Sheldon

P.S.  Please note that many of the words and terms are hyperlinks that will lead you to web sites supporting the author's statements and/or providing you with more detail.

Download please_dont_feed_the_humans.doc (55.0K)

Intelligence Testing...

As promised, this is a posting of some further information on the history of Intelligence Testing.

Keep in mind that the idea of "intelligence" is highly controversial.  Although it is relatively well accepted that some people are "smarter" than others, agreement on the issue stops there.  How intelligence is created (via Nature or Nurture), whether it can be increased, how it is distributed throughout our species, etc. are all highly controversial issues that are fiercely debated within the sciences.

One of the most talked-about publications on intelligence in recent years is the well known book "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" by Herrnstein and Murray, a tome that reports scientific findings on intelligence in the general population.  Two chapters in particular (Chapters 13 and 14) helped to create the controversy, reporting differences in intelligence correlated with race (using Asian, White, Hispanic, and Black for these categories).  Many objected to study of this topic, others argued about the research and its interpretation, while still others (mostly Anthropologists) argued for there being no such "races" at all.  Copies of this book are available online if you'd like to read it for yourself.

Kim Peek, aka "Kimpedia"...

In 2009, Ohlone College hosted a discussion with Kim Peek, the man who was the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie "Rain Man."  Although the film portrayed a man with Autism, Kim does not fit that classification.  He has some unusual differences, including agenesis of the corpus collosum and structural damage from several childhood strokes. Scientists do not yet understand how these may relate to his abilities, but it's clear that Kim's memory is unsurpassed. One of only 50 known MegaSavants in the entire world, he reads at lightening speed, and retains about 98% of what he reads, sees, or hears.  He has amassed a vast encyclopedia-like database of knowledge that would fill several hard drives - thus his nickname "Kimpedia."

I, for one, felt honored to be in the presence of someone with such an extraordinary brain.  When I introduced myself, I joked, "Now, don't forget me."  He smiled, and I was treated to one of Kim's trademark hugs.  As we chatted, Kim began to recite local roads and their cross-streets (Kim has memorized all of the streets and highways in the United States), and ended with one of his pat phrases, "You have been made known like a man of greatness and love."  But he then added, "And your name is Sheldon."  Everyone around laughed and applauded, including Kim.

Click the image below to watch a documentary on Kim:

Psych 115 Presentation List...

Dear Abnormal Psychology Students:

READ THIS ENTIRE POSTING!!

Please click the link below to download the Presentation Schedule for our class.  You will find within it your names, as well as an indication of which chapter you and your team mates will be presenting (per syllabus schedule).

The primary goal in this assignment is to "provoke" your classmates to learn, process, and utilize the material in the chapter.  You may do this by numerous methods of your own choosing, including lecture, in-class assignments, formal or informal quizzing, memorization exercises, handouts, etc.  Whatever method(s) you choose will be up to you as individuals and as a group.  I choose this "Collaborative Learning" format because 1) you are adult students who do not need to be spoon-fed the material, and 2) my experience is that it is more entertaining and effective than a straight lecture format.

Each member of your group must prepare a single-sheet (both sides) handout that helps the students study for the chapter section you are charged with teaching.  These must have your name and chapter number at the top, and can include such things as important vocabulary, summaries of the chapter, references to (reputable) outside sources, etc.  (Please do not simply type the vocabulary words as your handout, however.)  You must make enough copies of your double-sided handout for each member of the class (28 copies should be enough) .

The entire class meeting is expected to be filled each day on the syllabus by you and your team mates, so be prepared with lots to lecture on, discuss, and do in class so you won't run short and then turn to me to bail you out.  LOL

Each presentation team should meet with me for a few minutes the week before they are scheduled to present.  During this short meeting, we will discuss your goals, I will share ideas and/or vid clips I might have, etc.  This meeting's primary purpose is to remind you of your obligations to present, and to allow you to ask questions or brainstorm.

Let me know if you have any questions, AND WATCH THE SYLLABUS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE PRESENTING.

Download Presentation List

STOP USING "ZICAM COLD REMEDY"! ...

Given the off-and-on nature of Bay Area weather, it's not surprising that many of my friends and family members are suffering from those darned "summer colds."  (Although changes in weather do not cause colds, they make us more susceptible by guaranteeing that we'll be indoors and exposed to infected people - thus, the correlation between cold weather and colds/flus.)

In their efforts to avoid contracting a cold, many American consumers have turned to products like Zicam, a nasal spray that its manufacturer claims will prevent you from contracting a cold.  Although there is no evidence supporting that claim, scientists and doctors have discovered an interesting, and terrible, effect of this product: over time, it permanently robs users of their sense of smell!

CLICK HERE to read a report on the FDA alert issued recently, warning people to IMMEDIATELY STOP USING the product Zicam Cold Remedy since it permanently damages the sensitive olfactory (smell)  nerves in the nose.  Like thousands of other products, this zinc based nasal gel has never been tested by the FDA for safety or effectiveness, and is only legally sold due to a loophole in medicine laws called the "U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)."  This act was passed by Congress in an effort to guarantee low prices for vitamins and minerals, supplements that are useful in maintaining good health (although nearly all Americans get enough of these in the food they eat.)  Unfortunately, the law has become a legal loophole for people with money making schemes that involve selling a whole host of nonsensical, untested, and potentially dangerous "treatments" for everything from weight loss to erectile dysfunction.

As the Zicam story illustrates, you should always be wary of anything that has no scientific evidence of effectiveness or safety.  Watch for packaging statements such as "Dietary Supplement," or "This product has not been FDA tested," or the more common, "This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease, condition, or illness."  Those are RED FLAG WARNINGS that you are dealing with a product that has likely undergone absolutely NO testing, and could be quite dangerous!

Ohlone Psychology Club...

Dear Students:

As many of you may know, we have a thriving Psychology Club here at Ohlone College.  One of the most visible and active clubs on campus, the Psychology Club regularly hosts guest speakers, organizes off-campus field trips, has regular fund raisers, and engages in regular discussions related to the field of psychology.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov.18th at 2:30pm.

Our meeting room is 7104 (in the new Student Services Building).

Past events include:

-  a talk by Kim Peek (The Real Rain Man) and his father Fran;

-  a talk by best-selling author, skeptic, and psychologist Michael Shermer;

-  a visit by representatives from Furry Friends Pet Therapy (and their humans);

-  a talk by local psychiatrist Dr John Cotrufo on schizophrenia and mental disorder diagnosis;

-  a field trip to hear Stanford University's Dr William C. Dement, world renowned sleep specialist;

-  a field trip to meet Kim Peek, a man with Savant Syndrome, and the inspiration  for "Rain Man";

-  touring the Glankler School for children with autism and other behavioral difficulties;

-  regular "Donut Days" sales to raise money for the club, and many other fun events.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

See you there!

-- Sheldon

Psych 101 - APA / Course Paper Documents...

Dear General Psychology Students:

These are the documents you will need to write your Course Paper. They will remain on the blog for the entire semester, so if you lose them, you'll always have a back-up.

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Download Apa_course_paper_psych 101

Download sample_cover_page.doc

Download sample_reference_page.doc

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Below is a Sample APA Paper that I wrote, based entirely on NONSENSE. Although it has no basis in fact or reality, it will hopefully assist students in understanding the tone a scientific paper should use, as well as provide some ideas about the structure of such a paper. Please do not think that its structure is a "template," however. Trying to copy its format will only serve to limit you in many ways.

Download Helms---sample-apa-paper

Fall 2009 Textbooks...

Dear Fall 2009 Students:

Information about required textbooks for your classes is available in the Ohlone College Bookstore on campus, with classes organized in the store by department, instructor, and course.  Just ask any of the floor staff to help you find the section marked "Psychology," and find the book(s) with my name on the tag.  To assist you, however, I have included the information below.

For those of you in my Psychology 101 classes, be careful that you don't purchase Tom McMahon's book (which is the same as ours, but in modules).  I have never read that version, and cannot speak to its content.

General Psychology (PSY 101) CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

- Exploring Psychology, 6th edition (David G. Myers)

-  ISBN: 978-0-716-71544-3

-

-

OR

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- Exploring Psychology, 7th edition (David G. Myers)

-  ISBN: 978-0-716-77141-8

-

-

-

-

Experimental Psychology (PSY 102) Required: 

-  Experimental Psychology, 6th edition (Myers & Hansen)

-  ISBN: 0-534-63441-9

-

-

-

Abnormal Psychology (PSY 115) Both Required:

Abnormal Psychology, 9th edition (Alloy, Riskind, & Manos) 

- ISBN: 9780072878707

-

-                              

Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology (Lilienfield, et al.)

ISBN: 1593850700

-

-

Nota bene:  It doesn't much matter to me how you get these books (in the campus bookstore, online, through a friend, etc.), but I cannot hold lectures or tests because you're still awaiting your book's arrival.

"Swine Flu" - Much Ado About Nothing...Again?...

Dear Students:

You have doubtless heard about the recent outbreaks of Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) that have cropped up in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.  Health officials are, rightly, concerned and are doing what they can to  track the virus and prevent its spread.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time we've heard of Swine Flu, however, and many of us feel as if we are being somewhat manipulated into panic over something that will likely turn out to be a tempest in a teapot. 

Some of us are old enough to recall an outbreak in the mid-1970s, during which government officials assured us that a world-wide pandemic was on the horizon which promised to wipe out at least 1 million Americans.  It's important to recall that 1976 was an election year, that it was our Bicentennial, and that the country was still reeling from the recent impeachment and resignation of President Richard M. Nixon.  Politicians desperately needed a "cause celebre" to put them back in the good graces of the American people...and what better way than to "save them" from a horrible disease, even if there was that pesky little detail that there was no pandemic, and the small problem of no evidence that the virus would create one.  The end result: no reason to worry, ONE death and only three individuals infected in total (all from the same army barrack).

And CLICK HERE to read an excellent article from Salon.com which may inject a bit of reason and caution into the building panic over this Swine Flu "epidemic" (which, so far, has caused only a few deaths).  It's important to remember that the best defense against any threat is to use logic and reason, and to resist others' attempts to play upon our emotions.

Another GREAT ARTICLE from Rahul K. Parikh, MD gives a more detailed perspective of today's outbreak.

Think Before You Speak...

Ohlone College Psi Beta Chapter...

Dear Students:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the (near) completion of our plans to establish Ohlone's first chapter of the Psi Beta National Honor Society for Psychlogy.

Psi Beta is the community college branch of the university level honor society known as Psi Chi.  Becoming a member has many benefits, including a terrific way to feather your university application. Since qualification is based on academic achievement, membership shows that you are devoted to the field of psychology, that you have demonstrated academic superiority, and that you are focused on future study in the field.  CLICK HERE for further benefits, including scholarship opportunities.

In order to qualify, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. Completed at least one Psychology course with a "B" or better.

2. Completed at least 12 units of coursework (e.g., fulltime status) so far.

3. Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, OR has a GPA in the top 35% range of fulltime students.

If you would like to join, please click the link below to download the Membership Application.  After filling it out and signing in BOTH spaces at the bottom, attach it to an "unofficial" transcript from WebAdvisor and get it to me asap (in person, or in my mail box). A one-time $50 application fee will be required (I will collect that later), but that allows lifetime membership.

Induction occurs each May, just before graduation, so please have your application to me at least three weeks before the Commencement Ceremony (see Ohlone College web site for date).

Download CharterMember_app_rev9_2008.pdf

Psych 101 - Course Paper FAQ...

Dear General Psychology Students:

Your Course Papers will be returned to you on the day of the Final Exam via the email address you used to send it to me. Click the link below to see some frequently asked questions regarding the paper. I have also re-posted the Course Paper/APA instructions for your reference and review.

Thanks!

- Sheldon