Singapore Institute of Management
issue 8 For Internal Circulation
Mind
worK to live, or live to worK?
Psychology Society
What’s wrong with being wrong?
jan-april 2012
why is it we caN share frieNDs But Not lover(s)?
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 2
editor’s note Niloufer’s note It has been a very difficult year and I would like to thank both Wilson and Jun Leong for their continuous support and help. When Wilson left to complete his studies in Buffalo, New York, Jun Leong came to my aid. Jun Leong has been helping behind the curtains of MIND. To begin a new year we would like to wrap up all the events of the previous year, and with everything going on, this issue would have been as thick as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However this would hurt the theme of our paperless generation, thus we decided to publish an extraction of all the events, where the full versions can be found online. We wish to strive forward this new year; with a fresh perspective, willing to learn, as always, though through less mistakes. Through the taste of bitter errors, we understand what success is, and this drives the engine for us to carry on experimenting and writing various chapters in our lives. Waving adieu to last year, we keep what we have reaped in previous years and now sow new seeds to keep stimulating the MIND.
Loretta’s note Hello dear readers, It has been an eventful year filled with seminars, workshops and activities in 2011. As we move on to embark on our various endeavours in 2012, we create a fresh list of new year resolutions to achieve. How many of them will you strike off your list this year? Undoubtedly, we all need a large dose of motivation to even get started on the changes which we set out to make. Regardless of whether it is a psychological change, shift in mindsets, physical change, health, wealth, appearance or academic grades, there is a force within us that drives our thoughts and actions. This issue explores various types of motivation that affect and/or are applicable to different aspects of our lives. Perhaps you readers will discover something new that you never knew about yourself and will understand yourselves better! I hope this issue provides a good kickstart to all those who are starting a new year, semester or phase in life.
If you are interested in sharing with us your thoughts and insights, do drop us an email at publication.psysociety@gmail.com Otherwise, do feel free to write in your feedback and criticism for the betterment of PSYSOC Mind. We hope that we have brought you more articles that are not only entertaining but also practical. Cover pgae © Billy Tan
Featuring:
14 5 6 7 12 13
Including:
what’s wroNg with BeiNg wroNg? Research This! Photo: skemboo.com
worK to live, or live to worK?
MotivatioN sexual MotivatioN: to whoM Do i give My iNNoceNce to? why is it we caN share frieNDs But Not lover(s)?
Regulars:
5 15
: coNtagioN Photo: itinerantpreacher.org
feMales iN Power
full gradpsych interview: iNterview with Dr trevor Bruce PeNNey excerpts: iNterview with Dr NeNNa NDuKwe, Dr gaBriel taN, Dr DeNise DilloN, Dr scott wersiNger, Dr sMita siNgh, Ms seNthu JeyaraJ full Exploring psych write-up: lie DetectioN By Dr wolff voN auer: i will always tell the truth. excerpts: choosiNg your reality worKshoP worKPlace Behavior sPorts Psychology Play theraPy
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 4
THE MIND TEAM GUEST WRITERS
OUR WRITERS Wilson Lim The only overseas member of MIND Team- left Singapore to work with Dr. Mark Frank on facial expression research in Buffalo, New York. Hope to be featured in PSYSOC someday instead of always writing about other people.
Josephine Tan
We wish to be the final addition to our partner perhaps because it makes us believe that we are good enough.
Loke Jun Leong I think everybody likes being right; only everyone goes about it differently. That’s why you never know what’s going to happen.
Leevia Dillon
Someone who loves to smile despite how bad the day has been; why deny people the right to have a small ounce of happiness to brighten up their day?
Roy Chan Kevin Chow
Heed these words well! “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor roosevelt
Loves free ride biking a lot, and hopes for a good full face helmet and shin armour for Christmas.
Wee Chi Hui Photographs by: Billy Tan I am a psychology major who is also an avid photographer and audiophile. Being an active person, I enjoy bowling, fencing, and playing badminton with my friends.
Graduated with a Double Degree in Business and Psychology in University at Buffalo (SUNY).
Hafiza Abdul Majid
I’ve finally finished school! Now it’s time to take on the world!
MIND is published by the SIM Psychology Society general.psysociety@gmail.com Email
SIM Psychology Society Facebook
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 5
Reseach this!! Photo: skemboo.com
9/11 Psychology: Just How In Sickness and In Health Resilient Were We? http://www.psychologytoday. h t t p : / / w w w . t i m e . co m / co l l e c t i o n s / 2 0 1 1 0 8 / c o m / t i m e / n a t i o n / how-do-your-relationshipsarticle/0,8599,2092130,00. a f f e c t - y o u r - h e a l t h / i n html?xid=rss-nation-yahoo sickness-and-in-health
A Dangerous Method (2011) - Freud & Jung have hit the cinemas! Set on the eve of World War I, A Dangerous Method is based on the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein, a troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. A must-watch if you are intrigued by psychoanalysis and the likes.
Dance your Phd http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=UlDWRZ7IYqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ7JKmcLTsI
Can you trust me? http://www.psychologytoday. co m / co l l e c t i o n s / 2 0 1 1 0 6 / trust/can-you-trust-me
DyK : coNtagioN By Roy Chan The movie Contagion claims that ‘ The average person touches their face 3 to 5 times every waking minute. In between that, we are touching door knobs, water fountains and each other’. For those of you who are familiar with this movie about a pandemic outbreak, the fear of contamination must be the first thing that strikes your mind when you think about bacteria, viruses and germs. However, if you were to actually follow the advice of contagion to avoid all physical contact, you may be exhibiting some of the symptoms of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
According to Psychiatry Online, sufferers of OCD experience obsessive thoughts, a common one of which is an intense fear of contamination, as seen in the movie. In turn, they resort to compulsive behaviors to counteract their fears, in this case, being overly adamant about hygiene. Of course, such a disorder only manifests itself in selected environments, such as their own homes for some.
Photo: httpsaznaj.ba
Because OCD is a disorder that develops gradually, we could always provide the silent sufferers amongst us, the emotion support and assistance they need to overcome their disorder.
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 6
worK to live, or live to worK? By Hafiza Abdul Majid Engaging workers and motivating them to perform in their work are some of the hardest challenges managers face. It becomes even tougher if these employees are in jobs they rather not be in. Good leaders are those who are good at getting people to do their jobs. To be a good leader, one needs to understand what motivates his subordinates. Work may be one of our most basic needs but it also provides people with a source of income, social acceptance and growth. For all these to occur, leaders must first communicate with their subordinates openly and frequently. In the recent economic downturn, the director of American diner chain Billy Bombers, Ms Jessica Soh, reassured her employees that there were no plans for layoffs. She recognized that it was a time that firms needed to keep people fed, warm and clothed. She also made it a point to be transparent about the company’s finances during their regular staff meetings. Instead of layoffs, the company looked for ways to tighten other costs like electricity use, minimising wastage and increasing productivity. “Communication on HR matters is most important in lean times, as it will confirm the fears of employees, so that they can make preparations in the worst of times, and they can focus on their work once that fear is dispelled,” said Associate Professor Chan Teng Heng from Nanyang Business School. Investing in employees pays off too. A survey on Employer Supported Training conducted by the Ministry of Manpower’s found that 83 per cent of employers polled said training their employees led to improved work productivity. They reported that training enhanced the employees’ skills and job responsibilities, which further spurred their employees on at work. Besides sending staff for further training, local furniture firm, Varl Office System, gets staff to bond with each other through weekly jogs and company cheer. The staff also watches inspirational movies and discuss lessons that can be learnt. In 2009 alone, Varl had spent about 150 hours on staff bonding. Dr Stephen Choo, regional director at management consultancy Hay Group, says companies which continue investing in employees in a downturn send out a clear message: they care and that employees matter. These companies will be rewarded with what companies need most in tough times - stronger organisational commitment, discretionary effort and staff loyalty.
Photo: toonpool.comcartoonsmotivation_5805#
However, it is imperative to note it is possible to grow and develop yourself without the fancy job titles. For example, there have been cases where individuals having accepted managerial posts, found themselves resigning not long after because they did not think they fitted in with their new co-workers; in addition to the stress that accompanied managerial positions. Others preferred to move on to different departments across the company or to join other firms in the industry. Not everyone wants to be managers, but they can definitely gain more lateral experience in the field. They possess more breadth in the industry. Employees who are happy with their jobs are much more likely to stay on. As the Economics professor Michael Gibbs of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business says, ‘Treat staff well when times are tough - they reciprocate later.’
For references, please refer to the appendix, which can be found together with the online version of this newsletter.
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 7
MotivatioN By Billy Tan
The journey we embark usually takes numerous detours along the way. A flock of birds rest on an electrical cable after a long bout of flight, oblivious to the danger of possible electrocution.
Sometimes we know it; sometimes we remain elusive and oblivious. Faces in the crowd: The man in the costume who is supposed to add joy and laughter to the people around may have affected people’s mood through his subtle facial microexpressions that may or may not be conceivable to him.
.. And the goals we had set aside sail further and further away. Two lost and forsaken chicks stand on a dilapidated chair looking around for signs of their family.
But just when we have lost sight of our aim, someone new usually comes along and teaches us to live again. Two domestic workers having a nice chat, when this Golden Retriever comes along to greet the other friend with a big smile on her face.
An occasional indulgence can also make us feel good about ourselves. A group of friends in NUS share a late night supper, spreading their joy and laughter infectiously across the halls throughout the night.
Although more often than not, it is the simplest thing that gets us going through the day. Hope, like motivation begins in the dark. When there’s life, there’s hope. Photos by © Billy Tan
MIND SPRING 2012 GRADPSYCH
PULLOUT
For the full version of the interviews, please refer to the online version of this newsletter by scanning this QR code
Interview with Dr Trevor Bruce Penney Question: So how long would a PhD typically take?
Bio Data: Dr. Trevor Bruce Penney Columbia University, New York City Question: Do you have any advice for people who are considering a PhD? Dr. Trevor: First for the Don’ts. Don’t apply to PhD because you don’t know what you want do with your life, because you can’t find a job, and because you think obtaining a faculty position is easy. Just a little information, there are fewer academic jobs available each year than there are PhD graduates produced. Most PhD students will not become professors. However, having said that do apply if you find research interesting and exciting… and… Do apply because you enjoy being stretched intellectually Question: Thank you. Now what advice do you have on financing a PhD? Dr. Trevor: First of all, Don’t fund your PhD singlehandedly. It is very expensive and there are better ways to go about doing it. Many programs especially private universities will guarantee funding (tuition waiver and stipend) for standard duration of the program. In return, you may have to serve as teaching assistant for undergrads. Teaching expectations however differ across universities. Some universities only require grading as a teaching assistant once a year; for others it entails teaching a full class. Students may also be funded by supervisor’s grants. For this to happen, your dissertation topic must be clearly related to the topic of the grant. Having your own funding (a scholarship) would give you greatest flexibility for your research focus. It also increases your chances of being accepted.
Dr. Trevor: 4-5 years Sometimes students take longer. I know of some who look 7. This is because there is no guarantee that the experiments comprising your PhD research will work. Although it is sometimes it is possible to finish in less than 4-5 years, it is not always the best in terms of a long term career choice. This is because you will get funding for 5 years, so why not make the best of it. Question: What advice would you give then to selecting a good PhD program? Dr. Trevor: First of all, consider the international standing of the university as a whole, as well as department itself. Next, consider the research productivity and reputation of the potential supervisors you are considering Remember: Apply to people, Not universities. If a particular supervisor already has 15 PhD student, that’s too many. And also, consider the number of past/current students and success of those students. Question: So finally, are there any tips you could give for getting into a PhD program? Dr. Trevor: First of all, determine whether your application will be competitive. There’s no point applying to programs where you have zero chance of being admitted. You also should not apply to programs that are relatively weak given your strength of your application. In trying to determine whether your application will be competitive, look at the minimum GRE scores as well as the scores of recently successful applicants. Of course this entails doing well on the General GRE. Finally, determine whether a potential supervisor intends to accept students in the academic year you are applying for. This is because a supervisor may already be full or going on sabbatical. I wish you the best of luck. By Roy Chan
Photos by © Billy Tan
MIND SPRING 2012 GRADPSYCH
PULLOUT
iNterview with Dr NeNNa NDuKwe (Excerpt) After giving an insightful speech at our inaugural Gradpsych about graduate study in the United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Nenna was kind enough to sit down with me for a chat. The highlight of our conversation included the enrollment into graduate programs in the UK, which required either a 1st class honors, or an upper 2nd degree in psychology (Bachelor of Science). In addition, relevant work experience was encouraged. She also stressed the importance of having both the desire and ability to thrive in one’s field before enrolling in graduate school. On a parting note, she said to me: “Our profession is often a reflection of our personality and the more we do it, the more we learn about ourselves.” By Loke Jun Leong
iNterview with Dr DeNise DilloN (Excerpt) Taking an unusual pairing of Psychology and Literature bachelor degrees, Dr Dillon did her post-graduate PhD involving research work in James Cook University Cairns, Australia. Her vested interest in teaching led her to do another course on Tertiary Teaching. The educating, supervision and training were such a rewarding experience for her. It encouraged lifelong learning as she felt she gained something new after every lecture she gave and students also gave her new knowledge or insights. She advises students’ to check before applying for a graduate program is whether the students’ university’s program is eligible under the Australian Psychology Society (APS) guidelines. A post-grad diploma differs from a Masters degree as the former requires a certain period of work exposure. Masters, on the other hand, requires only an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited program of 4 years with honours. By Loretta Chan
iNterview with Dr gaBriel taN (Excerpt) Dr Gabriel Tan, Director of the Clinical Psychology programs at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has over 35 years of professional psychology experience as a clinician, researcher, teacher, trainer, and consultant. He carries an ABPP specialty board certification in clinical health psychology; a diploma in advanced psychopharmacology and quantitative EEG; and a certification in group psychotherapy, clinical hypnosis and behavioural medicine. His clinical specializations lie in the management of chronic pain, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and forensic assessments. The fields he specializes in are vastly different from the other speakers, and given that, it is not surprising that the talk he gave was different as well. He gave us something invaluable during his talk: wisdom. The audience got to know what it takes to be a good psychologist, and what you need to prosper in the field – an objective and inquisitive habit of thinking. By Kevin Chow
iNterview with Dr sMita siNgh (Excerpt) Social psychologists like Dr Smita Singh try to make sense of behavior and study how people influence others around them. Dr Singh is keen on studying group dynamics. Her research interest areas include leadership research, the role of trust, group behavior and social cognition. She stressed the importance of having a mentor to supervise, motivate and guide students. Students will benefit from tapping on their mentors’ experience and expertise. Besides adding value to one’s employability in future, these will help psychology graduates get a foot in the door when they eventually start jobhunting. For these reasons, Dr Singh encourages UB students to network and explore different areas of psychology to find out what they can pursue as a career. By Hafiza Abdul Majid
iNterview with Dr scott wersiNger (Excerpt) Dr Scott Wersinger came to share about his journey of obtaining a PhD in the United States; graduate school is about maximizing one’s creativity. Definition of goals is most important when considering graduate school; it is about what we want to be. He advised us to determine which degree is best suited for our career; best done by referring to job requirements and asking those working in the field. It is crucial to know in advance whether knowledge and skills gained in graduate school is worth it for one’s career, considering the expenses and opportunity costs involved. By Josephine Tan
iNterview with Ms seNthu JeyaraJ (Excerpt) Ms Senthu Jeyaraj realized that to climb the career ladder she needed more than just her Bachelor of Science, Honors in Psychology from the University of Western Australia, Perth. Choosing to throw herself back into school she decided to enroll at National University of Singapore. Having recently completed her Masters in Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, she has applied to University of Southern Queensland, Australia for her doctoral study focusing on researching the concept of organizational alignment from a socio-psychological perspective. Ms Jeyaraj encourages students’ to take their time through their studies as it is perfectly harmless. Having a career guide is advised, however if a student is uncertain, it indicates that for this student it will only take them longer to figure it out. Her advice to students’ is to read up journal articles, research papers and future research sections to help them gauge the environment of the field they would like to enter. By Niloufer Othman Photos by © Billy Tan
MIND SPRING 2012 EXPLORING PSYCH
Lie Detection by Dr Wolff Von Auer: I will always tell the truth. Exploring Psych Week concluded with an overwhelming response for the Psychology of Detection and Lies workshop. Three times as many participants signed up for the much anticipated event and were not disappointed. Photo by © Billy Tan
The speaker introduced himself as Dr Mis Rail and was present to cover for his German colleague, Dr Wolff von Auer who fell sick and could not come for the workshop as scheduled. Here’s an interesting fact he mentioned – we encounter as many as 200 lies a day, and more than three-quarters of them go undetected. The average adult can only distinguish truth from falsehood half the time. People are hardwired to assume that what they are told is true and what they see is real. The speaker then asked a participant what it takes to be a good liar. The reply was, “Confidence”. To that, the speaker asked if he appeared confident. He revealed that “Rail” spelt backwards is liar and “Mis” is actually SIM! He was masquerading as a Swede, covering his sick colleague! I was surprised to discover that polygraphs are not always reliable in detecting lies. To illustrate that, Dr Wolff played a video of a man taking a polygraph test. He took a test with an interrogator in a room. The reading on the polygraph remained stagnant throughout the subject’s responses to the interrogator’s questions. After a while, a female interrogator entered to take over her male co-worker’s place. The subject got visibly aroused with her attractiveness and plunging neckline causing physiological changes which greatly affected the polygraph reading. In this sense, the polygraph detects signs of emotions, not lies, and is not fully accurate. Dr Wolff also discussed the behavior symptom analysis from the Reid Technique of Advanced Interrogation. For this legal method of detecting lies to be effective, one must understand the subject’s character and habits to spot nonverbal leakages. He brought up Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky as a classic example. Dr Wolff screened videos of interviews with Clinton on his affair. Clinton appeared to clam up and seemed unlike his usual animated self. In one video, Clinton’s hands covered most of his face and he looked like he wanted to disappear. In general, if anyone’s behavior is out of the ordinary, it is likely that he or she is lying.
Photo by © Billy Tan
Being able to spot lies has its advantages. This ability is obviously necessary to solve crime. It is also pertinent when screening job applicants or knowing if someone is out to con you. Parents too need to know if their children are telling them the truth, for the sake of their child’s safety. According to Dr Wolff, the downside to this however, is that one may become too guarded and prone to checking every detail of the people he interacts with. Dr Wolff kept everyone at the edge of their seats in this interactive workshop. Participants had so much fun and walked away with another skill that will help them in social, private and professional settings. By Hafiza Abdul Majid
PULLOUT
For the full version of the write-ups, please refer to the online version of this newsletter by scanning this QR code
PULLOUT
MIND SPRING 2012 EXPLORING PSYCH
choosiNg your reality worKshoP By Dr oNg Kwee hioNg, clare (Excerpt) Dr Ong is a veteran in the field of counseling and therapy. She explains that choice theory involves 5 drives – a sense of belonging, power, freedom, fun and survival. We filter what goes into our “quality world” via moral values and knowledge. The most valued are then placed in our quality world. She states that mindfulness is an insight into others’ mental experiences and understanding their actions. A counselor’s aim is to be in the client’s quality world to address their feelings. Through a small activity, Dr Ong proves that is difficult to voluntarily alter our blood pressure levels but can easily induce arm movements. Quoting Dr Ong, “No matter how much we reflect, ultimately, how we act is a true message of the values we hold.” Hence, the first step to changing and improving ourselves is to alter our behavior and actions. By Loretta Chan
worKPlace sPorts Psychology Behavior By eMily ortega By Dr aNNa leyBiNa (Excerpt) Dr. Anna Leybina of Singapore Psychological Society council and International Association of Applied Psychology introduced us to real-world organizational psychology during the Workplace Behavior workshop. The focus was on the modern organization – the changing structure of the workplace and the psychology of those involved (the employees as well as the employers). Dr. Leybina also emphasized the currency of training and development, an area often dreaded by employees as such trainings are perceived as obligatory rather than skill-enhancing. This area is about motivational qualities of the employees, about what skills are relevant for this particular job and under what parameters should the employees be trained under. The most insightful take-away from the workshop would be the introduction to the eight different stages of crises during professional development. This spectrum aids us to better understand the struggles of the individual with respect to his career standing.
(Excerpt) Ms Emily Ortega is the head of the psychological unit at the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI). Her team provides psychological services to over 60 national sports associations, and deals with the mental aspect of the athletes’ games. Due to the limited manpower her team has, and the overwhelming demand for sports psychologists from the sports associations, each person in her team specializes in one or more fields of sport psychology and shares expertise with other team members. Her unit uses the various psychological concepts such as goal setting; relaxation techniques and positive self-talk, amongst many others, to aid the athletes in achieving the desired psychological mind set to be champions. She also uses inspirational quotes, claiming that it helps the athletes better understand what differentiates greatness from the average, inspiring them to greater states of mind required to be victorious. By Kevin Chow
By Josephine Tan
Play theraPy By geralDiNe taN (Excerpt) Play Therapy, by its name, sounds like fun, but in all seriousness, it is a useful method of healing. As children, most begin to learn and develop their social and cognitive skill sets through play. It is then obvious that Play Therapy is a favoured form of therapy for adolescents, although grown-ups are just as welcome to try it out since play is an activity that comes naturally to people – young or old. Also, depending on preference, Play Therapy is employed through various methods of play activities. Healing can only begin when problems are identified, so through the process of Play Therapy, underlying psychological issues are manifested and explored in a non-intrusive way. This is especially beneficial to patients because the process presents itself in a non-threatening manner, further encouraging the ease of expression and trust in the therapist. By Wee Chi Hui Photos by © Billy Tan
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 12
Sexual Motivation: To whom do I give my Innocence to? By Leevia Dillon
‘Have you done it?’ – This question, though innocuous is something that naturally elicits defensiveness and alarm in almost everyone. Let’s admit it, we all know that no one is as innocent as they present themselves to be. Indeed, having sex satisfies the basic biological function: to procreate. So what exactly drives us to have sex? Sexual Orientation: Firstly, our sexual desire directed towards our potential partner depends on our sexual orientation. With the dawn of the ‘Generation X’, the touchy matter on homosexuality is gradually being accepted as part of individualism. In his review of several studies on the pervasiveness of homosexuality, LeVay1 stated that an open mindset should be embraced since the rapid changes in beliefs and attitudes correlate with selfstated homosexuality, which can be seen from the succeeding generations, Y and Z with the advent of modern technology. Testosterone: Secondly, hormonal influence on sexual motivation has been reflected vastly in much research. Research has established that a minimum threshold level of testosterone is needed to maintain normal sexual motivation. However, once this minimum threshold is attained, the influence of external factors increases. Hence, testosterone provides the right conditions for sex before anything else. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder: The phenomenon of ‘sexual imprinting’ has been supported by research where we tend to pick our counterpart instinctively based on parental facial features. This has been reflected in a research to disentangle the effects of phenotypic matches and sexual imprinting3. The study shows that there is significant resemblance of facial traits between a daughter’s husband and her adoptive father. Furthermore, attraction towards another person can also be based on similarity in physical attractiveness. This ‘matching’ phenomenon has been reflected in a study on physical attraction and relationship
Photo: wallchan.com
length, and found this as an enduring factor that couples would remain together in an intimate relationship even after the dating phase is over4. This study has been replicated with consistent results5. It is innate in us to lean towards mates who are attractive as they are seemingly more sexually warm. Learning about the Pleasure Pursuit: Being only human, we are naturally hedonistic. We repeat behaviors that are rewarding such as engaging in sexual activities. Conditioning is a type of associative learning where interpretations of certain stimuli are known to stimulate or may even dampen sexual arousal and from there, we learn to modify our voluntary (sexual) behavior. Leigh6 states that fear of rejection, a learned element is the prime reason why single men do not engage in sexual activities. Like Vernon Saunders say, experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards. Cultural Shock: The many cultures of the world play a role in sexual motivation; these social boundaries determines behaviors that are publicappropriate like hand-holding, and not others like casual sex where some cultures find repulsive7. Being the slow-changing but still conservative Asian society, we tend to approach these issues with caution and for some, surreptitiously. In other words, attitudes driving sexual motivation are culturally ingrained. Conclusion: Of course, sexual motivation does not depend on any one factor described above but based on the multifaceted relationships shared among them all with learning being the central component that links the other remaining factors together. Being the complex beings that we are, perhaps the motivation to lose our innocence might be a rite of passage into adulthood or even to establish a long-lasting bond with our counterpart.
Photo: httpcrazyphoenix.files.wordpress.com
For references, please refer to the appendix, which can be found together with the online version of this newsletter.
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 13
why is it we caN share frieNDs But Not lover(s)? By Josephine Tan
Photo: httpmousebreath.com
Exclusivity undoubtedly makes us feel special, but it seems that we require it only in certain situations. We might aim to be the favourite/best friend, the favourite child of our parents; but not the favourite partner of our lover; rather, the only. Where is the line that separates narcissism from necessity? Is the distinction merely a product of the labels we give, or an austere psychological drive? Same love? According to positive psychologist Barbara Frederickson, love involves: being deeply interested, amused, joyous, sharing of hopes, inspired, proud and thankful for one’s partner. She suggested that love is similar between family, friends and lovers. Frederickson also contended that love is not sexual desire, a special bond, commitment, or exclusivity– traits additional to lovers’ relationship. As such, do these labels drive our need to demand strict exclusivity from our partner? Self-esteem & the cure Perhaps exclusivity from our partner is the ultimate boost to our self-esteem, the highest need. With romantic love constantly placed on a pedestal, there seems to be a prestige for this over the love we share for our family and friends. It is the relationship in which “he/she is mine” does not actually sounds possessive. However, it is not in belonging to someone that drives exclusivity, but rather, the ability to be the cure. Aaron Ben-Zeév, President and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Haifa, challenges us to consider how one who is already comfortable with dating a married partner, may not be comfortable with the idea that this same partner take on another lover. Perhaps in such scenarios, we view our presence as a missing component in our partner’s lives that compels them; providing something they have been searching for or
currently lack with their current partners. On the other hand, such demands are rarely sough between families and friends. Confusing culture According to Richard Alexander, in The Biology of Moral Systems, the puzzling historical shift from polygamous to socially-imposed monogamous society emerging in most countries is due to military advantages. This concept not only stuck, but has been imperceptibly reinforced as righteous. The interplay of this evolvement together with how love is now equated with commitment, as compared to the past where it is merely for the institution of maximizing the number of children, have intermingled the case of love, partnership and exclusivity to an exotic brew. To ponder: Is it love or partnership that insists on exclusivity? Easier to love live In increasingly educated societies, having to split our physical and emotional resources may prove more of a hindrance than something that our hormones should get excited about. It is not difficult to admit the possibility that different partners might satisfy our different needs. But perhaps it’s this emotional dissonance that comes from our schema that by definition, strong emotions demand partiality, which forces us to work out some sort of exclusivity. Consider modern philosopher Alain de Botton’s satire: modern romanticism is that we go in search of one person who will spare us any need for other people. This, perhaps for a myriad of reasons, but then again, maybe just one - we insist this very one person (our partner) must be good enough for us, because really, we just want to be that one who is good enough.
For references, please refer to the appendix, which can be found together with the online version of this newsletter.
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 14
What’s wrong with being wrong? By Loke Jun Leong
There’s a story about a physics student who, in answering the exam question: “Describe how the height of a building can be measured using a barometer,” wrote: “Attach the barometer to a string and lower it from the top of the building. The length of string needed to lower the barometer to the ground indicates the height of the building.” The professor was looking for an answer that involved measuring barometric pressure on the ground and on top of the building, using principles learned in class. He therefore gave the student a zero for his answer1. This story highlights the teaching and grading system many students undergo today. They are taught at a young age to avoid risks and mistakes through the replication of fixed methods in producing the “correct” answers. Deviation at any point is deemed wrong and therefore, discouraged. An individual who commits too many mistakes run the risk of being ridiculed and ostracized by his peers; not to mention face disapproval, criticism and punishment from the adult community. These responses collectively play a crucial role in the stigmatization of mistakes we see in society today. Is it any wonder why so many students don’t bother trying anymore? Preferring instead to rely on established methods that produce quick and “correct” results. This is widely considered an advantage especially in examination conditions, where strict time limits and rigid grading systems loom. Understandably, getting good grades greatly increases the likelihood of success for one’s academic future and career. This undoubtedly makes it an important life component. What worries me is whether in doing so, we are inadvertently hindering our ability to solve many other basic and fundamental problems in our lives. Everyday problems, as we will come to see, are almost never as straightforward. I recently attended a lecture about problem solving during which, two basic categories of problems were discussed. The first type comprised of well-defined problems (i.e. mathematics and chess), which are frequently accompanied by a fixed algorithm to generate a single correct answer. Conversely, the second type consisted of ill-defined problems, which generally require creativity to accomplish (since no preestablished rules or steps are available), and offers multiple valid solutions2.
As it happens, a significant number of tasks experienced daily are ill-defined in nature. This extensive list comprises of resolving a conflict, apologizing, extrapolation, coping with a loss, negotiating, getting in and out of a relationship, composing music, creating art, choosing a career or simply speaking to someone—just to name a few. In short, there is no formula for life. Suffice to say, I am not implying that deliberately providing wrong or different answers make us better at solving life’s nebulous problems. Rather, it lies with our willingness to take a chance at obtaining the right answers via our own unique way; for if we are never prepared to be wrong, we will never truly understand what it means to be right.
For references, please refer to the appendix, which can be found together with the online version of this newsletter.
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 15
STRAW POLL HOW? In this online poll, 55 young adult participants responded to what they felt being wrong means to them.
Q1 You have a fantastic new idea for an essay you are going to write. Unfortunately for you, your lecturer deemed your previous work “too experimental” and gave you a low grade for it. What do you do? +3 points Go with the new idea
9.1%
Discuss your idea with the lecturer and if he doesn’t agree, write it anyway +2 points 9.1%
54.5% Try the new idea but tone it down to a safe level +1 points
27.3% Stick to a safe topic. Grades matter! 0 points
Q2 You see a boy/girl in class who seems attracted to you (and vice versa). Due to a lack of experience, you are unsure of how to approach this individual. Which option would you take?
50.9% Remain silent, maybe he/she will make the first move 0 points
38.2% Walk up to him/her, smile and say whatever feels right at that moment +2 points
7.3%
Take a humorous approach and open with a joke +1 points
3.6%
Take a formal approach (“Hi, my name is...”) +1 points
Photo: httpconsolationprize.files.wordpress.com200912avo-8-gone-wrong-aside.jpg
Q4 What is your definition of being wrong?
56.4% Not ll
(+
3
po
in t s )
t io
int s
po
your hear t
ned ( +2
)
Not following your teacher’s instructions. +1 points
t h e me n
7.3%
in g
23.6% A
63.6%
l
of
Not following what you were taught at home +1 points
fo l
ow
12.7%
Q3 In class, you find your teacher mentioning a point that is clearly contradictory to what was mentioned in the textbook. What do you do? Bring it up during consultation +1 points
3.6% Smile and nod in agreement -1 points
Cumulative Points Results: 0-3: Cautious
4-6: Mildly adventurous
7-9: Risk Taker!
27.3%
5.5%
Raise your hand and point out the mistake for the benefit of the entire class +2 points
Keep quiet 0 points
MIND SPRING 2012 PAGE 16 Women have come a long way from the 18th century A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft1 but are recurrently still treated as 2nd class citizens due to the enforced ideology of male dominance. In the past, Mary Anne Evans, who wanted to be deemed a serious author wrote under the name “George Elliot”. It should no longer be the case for women at present to dress and act as males to be seen as a serious equal. Yet males still do not take women’s work and achievements seriously; instead stereotyping women in senior positions as being ballsy or acquiring her position through coquettish means. Psychologist Susan Fiske, from Princeton University2 found that powerful people pay less attention to people they have power over. Instead, they hold on to stereotypical views of their subordinates. In the case of Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins; Ann Hopkins was denied partnership not because her performance was inadequate (it was in fact superb by objective standards), but because she was not considered feminine. In short, her male superiors denied her a promotion based on their stereotypical expectations and lessened attention to individual details. Against all odds, Hopkins won the case. Just like Hopkins, women in organizations face the issue of cracking the glass ceiling. Women need not carry themselves like males to be accepted by the old boys club. They are just as capable and intelligent as their counterparts to hold executive positions. By Niloufer Othman
feMales iN Power
Photo: americantransman.files.wordpress.com
In recent years, it is increasingly apparent that women have been rising up in the professional world. The working world has diversified and many women have been influencing numerous fields of work. The number of women in the working world has exploded exponentially and has changed the landscape of the professional world. However, it is also true that there is much more room for the scene to grow. What are the possible explanations for it? I believe that women have no problem coming up with effective leadership strategies, but they possibly struggle with claiming the authority to lead more than men. One of the explanations for this comes from social psychology. It is known as the entitlement effect. The effect is studied under conditions of ambiguity where comparisons are made between men and women. In the experiments, the trend is that women tend to work longer hours and make fewer errors for a comparable amount of pay, and they tend to pay themselves less for a comparable amount of work. This entitlement effect is a little hard to comprehend. Some of it is has its roots in perceived deservedness. In ambiguity, women perceive that they deserve less than what men perceive they deserve. However, when a standard (e.g. a minimum wage where both men and women know about) is imposed, this effect disappears. At the end of the day, gender bias will continue to persist in certain jobs. Whilst women would likely prefer having a female doctor, I’m confident that many will prefer having a male as a police officer.
Photo: httpfungagz.com
For references, please refer to the appendix, which can be found together with the online version of this newsletter.
By Wilson Lim
issue 8
Mind
jan-april 2012
appendix
Singapore Institute of Management Psychology Society
Work to live, or live to work? (page 6) 1 Chew, C. and Long, S. Nov 24, 2008. The Straits Times. How good firms treat workers in a downturn. http://www.asiaone.com/Business/SME%2BCentral/Talking%2Bpoint/Story/A1Story20081124-102978.html 2 Lim, P. Sep 02, 2011. AsiaOne. More companies provided training to employees in 2010. http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20110902-297373.html 3 Chew, C. Sep 25, 2009. The Straits Times. Furniture firm sitting pretty now http://www.asiaone.com/print/Business/SME%2BCentral/Prime%2BMovers/Story/A1Story20090923-169481. html
Sexual Motivation: To whom do I give my Innocence to? (page 12) 1 LeVay, S. (1995). Queer Science: The Use and Abuse of Research into Homosexuality. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 2 Leger, D. W. (1992). Biological Foundations of Behavior: An Integrative Approach. NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.’ 3 Bereczkei, T., Gyuris, P., Weisfeld, G.E. (2004). Sexual imprinting on human mate choice. Retrieved on 8th September 2011: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691703/pdf/15306362.pdf 4 White, G. (1980). Physical attractiveness and courtship progress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39:660-668. 5 Feingold, A. (1988a). Matching for attractiveness in romantic partners and same-sex friends: A metaanalysis and theoretical critique. Psychological Bulletin, 104:226-235 6 Leigh, B. C. (1989). Reasons for having and avoiding sex: Gender, sexual orientation, and relationship to sexual behavior. The Journal of Sex Research, 26(2):199-209. 7 Tiefer, L. (1995). Sex Is Not A Natural Act and Other Essays. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. 8 Bereczkei, T., Hajnal, G. & Hegedus, G. (2008) Facialmetric similarities mediate mate choice: sexual imprinting on opposite-sex parents. Retrieved on 8th September 2011 from: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1654/91.full
MIND SPRING 2012 APPENDIX
Why is it we can share friends but not lover(s)?
(page 13)
1 Alexander, R. D. (1987). The Biology of Moral Systems. New York, NY: Aldine de Gruyter. 2 Ben-Zeév, A. (2011, June 5). Loving two people at the same time. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://www. psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-name- love/200803/loving-two-people-the-same-time 3 Ben-Zeév, A. (2011, June 5). My love has another lover. Psychology Today. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-name-love/201106/my-lover-has- another-lover 4 Sternberg, R. J. (1987). Liking vs. Loving: A comparative evaluation of theories. 102(3), 331-345. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.102.3.331
http://www.
Psychological
Bulletin,
5 Van Nuys, D. (2011, August 3). Declare Your Love: Overcoming The Fear of “I Love You”. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201108/risk-and-relationships-1/taking- the-fearout-i-love-you 6 Zeddies, T. J. (2002). Review of Can love last? The fate of romance over time. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 20(2), 395-399. doi: 10.1037/0736-9735.20.2.395
What’s wrong with being wrong? (page 14) 1 Lubart, T. I., & Mouchiroud, C. (2003). Creativity: A source of difficulty in problem solving. In J. E. Davidson & R. J. Sternberg (Eds.), The psychology of problem solving (pp. 127-148). New York: Cambridge University Press 2 Pretz, J. E., Naples, A. J., & Sternberg, R. J. (2003). Recognizing, defining, and representing problems. In J.E. Davidson & R. J. Sternberg (Eds.), The psychology of problem solving (pp. 3-30). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press
XX-XY : Females in power
(page 16)
1 Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Ed. Miriam Brody Kramnick. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 2004. ISBN 0-14-144125-9. 2 Fiske, S. T. (1993). Controlling other people: The impact of power on stereotyping. American Psychologist, 48, 621-628. 3 Desmarais, S., & Curtis, J. (1997b). Gender differences in pay histories and views on pay entitlement among university students. Sex Roles, 37, 623–642. 4 Major, B., V. Vanderslice, and D. B. McFarlin. 1984. Effects of pay expected on pay received: The confirmatory nature of initial expectations. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 14(5): 399–412. 5 Pelham, B. W., & Hetts, J. J. (2001). Underworked and overpaid: Elevated entitlement in men’s self-pay. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 37, 93–103. 6 Kaman, V. S., & Hartel, C. E. J. (1994). Gender differences in anticipated pay negotiation strategies and outcomes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 9, 183-197. 7 Callahan-Levy, C. M., & Messé, L. A. (1979). Sex differences in the allocation of pay. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 433–446. 8 Jackson, L. A. (1989). Relative deprivation and the gender wage gap. Journal of Social Issues, 45, 117–133.