Psychology Articles

America is the great melting point, a haven for difference. Millions of people from around the world immigrate for a chance to experience the opportunities promised them in this country. Within this great American ideal is the reality of different social and psychological experiences for cultural or ethnic minority group members based on social, racial, and/ or ethnic status. Different lived experiences alert individuals to their group identity , creating a lens through which to see and judge their experiences (L. Arredondo, personal communication /class lecture, 11/16/2006); So that, while a person is American they are also European-American, also African-American, also Asian-American, Hispanic-American, etc. Through these different socio-cultural contexts, individuals and groups develop different models that influence their thoughts and actions within their own and other contexts (Y.C. Dutton, personal communication/class lecture, 11/16/2006). Models of diversity can be defined as shared understandings and practices of how groups come together (or should come together), relate to one another, and include and accommodate each other given the differences associated with group identity (Markus, et. al., 2002)

Members of various cultural and ethnic groups must assimilate to the styles and standards of the mainstream European-American culture (Phinney, 1989). However, the mainstream is not obligated to value any of the corresponding features of these sub-groups. In fact, marginal and superficial interest is often expected to be rewarded, despite the frequent misinterpretations or negative representations of the particular cultural or ethnic group. The central problem is how to recognize group difference without affirming and creating boundaries. Many Americans seek to alleviate this tension, of trying to be inclusive and acknowledging difference. However, group discussions in search of solutions often leave both parties upset, and feeling that little or nothing can be done to solve the problems of the inherent paradoxical nature of the prominent cultural model in the United States. The problem in these group discussions is that they frequently become a medium for both minority and majority members to release their frustrations with the system of discrimination in America on each other. In addition, many members participate in these discussions with the intention of making another understand them, but not the intention that, they too, will understand another. The problem with this is, those in power, and those who are not, usually have very different understandings of the way things work. In many cases, the listeners, those trying not to offend, are members of the dominant group and holders of the mainstream perspective.

Thus, in the example of America, the listener can be equated to a Caucasian male or female. Listeners belong to a social category of people whose sense of belonging in society is often taken for granted. Because their individual experience may not often alert them to group differences in the experience of society’s settings, and because they are presumably committed to the American ideal of treating everyone the same, they may not readily see, or acknowledge, the speakers different experience within the same environment. The idea that difference should be celebrated juxtaposed with the idea that this difference does not really matter is paradoxical. This perspective on difference can be viewed as an effort to resolve America’s tension around diversity with its strong position in favor of equality. The assumption here is that race, ethnicity, and culture are superficial qualities applied onto a person, and that it is possible to ignore them in seeking the ‘real person’.

An example of this is depicted in the film ‘Last Chance for Eden’ when the white male demands of the Latino male that he is “going to be real for [him]“. This tactic, however well meaning of the listener, undermines the dignity of the speaker – the person ‘being heard’. In order to ‘be real’[have his opinion heard and acknowledged] he must ‘relive his pain’ to allow someone else to recognize that discrimination continues to be a real force and to empathize with the speaker’s perspective. This cultural model of ’sameness’ (Plaut, 2002) has dominated relationships between groups in the United States. Using the sameness model, it can be easy for listeners to attribute a speaker’s mistrust to an inherent oversensitivity. In supporting this model, the listener inadvertently works against the inclusion they seek to provide the listener. Examples of this were repeatedly depicted in the film ‘Last Chance for Eden’, as many of the white participants were repeatedly misunderstood by the participants of color when they proclaimed that they did not see color or thought of everyone as the same regardless of their backgrounds. It was clear that a number of the minorities in the video viewed these statements as offensive or lacking a certain understanding of how diversity should be interpreted. In a student opinion survey conducted by Adelman (1997) a noticeable difference was found in the way majority and minority college students thought about diversity.

Majority students tended to focus on similarity and sameness, whereas minorities recognized differences between cultural and ethnic groups. In addition, while the European majority seemed to support a one-way assimilation or colorblind model of diversity (minorities should make adjustments to fit the majority culture), the minorities supported a mutual-accommodation model of diversity (the majority culture should change to accommodate minority perspectives). In this model of diversity, difference is recognized but not as a hindrance to performance or progress within a group or society. It recognizes that individuals come from different socio-cultural backgrounds and have legitimately different perspectives and beliefs. This difference is also found and transmitted in cultural products such as magazine advertisements (Plaut, 2002) Clearly, recognition of these alternate perspectives would be the best approach in forums addressing diversity (as well as among the general public). In addition, minority participants must allow room for the uncertainty and worry associated with the European majority’s transition to a new and unfamiliar model. The goal should be to help people understand the validity of alternate models. Attempting to force understanding only succeeds in arousing defensive feelings and rejection of the model. In the film ‘Last Chance for Eden’, this ‘understanding of uncertainty’ was only provided by the mediators, however, an emphasis should be made for all participants to do the same. Successful implementation of alternate models of diversity such as the inclusion/ accommodation model requires effort from all individuals, both majority and minority, to ensure that differences are viewed as contributive.

Works Cited

Maria Beaudry is a freelance writer offering services in a variety of forms, including: academic writing, article writing, blogs, copywriting, e-books, editing, essays, ghostwriting, proofreading, and web content.

In a previous article I discussed the psychological concept of Flow. Let me give you an example of a memorable flow experience.

I had been taking private instructions in violin performance for several years with no public performances outside of the recitals with other students. I was uncomfortable with my abilities as a violinist until my teacher mentioned one day that I was ready to play with a music group. I contacted a small pops orchestra in my hometown and began rehearsing with them.

As I became more comfortable with the orchestra my confidence rose and soon I played in my first public concert. I enjoyed the experience so much that I remained with the orchestra for several years before moving to a symphony orchestra. Having played with the pops orchestra, I immediately became comfortable with the new setting and enjoyed many years of playing very beautiful classical music.

But that is not the end of the story!

I had always appreciated the beauty and strength of solo performers and one day I was offered the opportunity to play traditional classical violin and piano pieces at my church. I was intrigued with the possibility of joining the small world of solo performers that I greatly respected. I practiced a few pieces with the pianist and was ready for my solo debut. I would play Schubert’s Ave Maria as a prelude.

I thought that I was ready! Unfortunately, when the time came to play I became overwhelmed with anxiety. I wasn’t sure if it was the size of the church or the 200 plus parishioners sitting in the pews starring at me, or both. I did finish the piece but, to be kind, it was not a memorable moment. One major fear of violinists is the body’s reaction to the exposed nature of solo performing. And my body reacted no differently to that exposure. My left hand was under control but my right arm, the bow arm, shook. And, as you might expect, a trembling bow on a string produces a very unpleasant sound, one that the player only wishes would end quickly.

Despite the setback, I did persevere – after all, if you are going to put in thousands of hours practicing scales, arpeggios, and etudes, you might as well do what you enjoy doing. So, my performance the following week was filled with less nervousness, as was the third and the fourth, etc.

Finally, after several months of diminishing nervousness, I played a piece without any signs of anxiety and my self-esteem rose dramatically. My tone, vibrato, rhythm, and pitch were spot on. And from that performance onward my anxiety was under control. The butterflies were still in my stomach, especially when performing more difficult pieces, but the anxiety was under control. And the most remarkable thing was that I became absorbed in the music, time went fast, playing was effortless, and each note on the sheet music appeared as large as a dime. I was “in the flow” and my self-esteem grew allowing me to tackle more difficult pieces without any further undo anxiety.

Please share with us thoughts about this very important psychological concept of flow!

Oliver Abel had devoted the last several years to the study of personal happiness and well-being. He has a major scientific research article awaiting publication in an academic journal. Please visit http://www.360degreehappiness.com and join a unique journey to find your work and personal happiness based on the works of great thinkers, scientists, researchers, religious leaders, and artists of the world.

If you want to learn about the meaning of dreams then you need to start with the basics. There are plenty of places that you can look up the rules of interpreting dreams, but in this article we’ll be looking at a few of the more common types of dreams that people have and what they could potentially mean. While there are an infinite amount of possible dreams there are usually a relatively small amount of different parts that make up these dreams so basic dream interpretation starts with learning the fundamentals.

Teeth Dreams

Dreams about teeth are a very common type and are often recurring. Most of the teeth dreams that people have are to do with the teeth falling out or just crumbling away to nothing which can be a distressing experience, but what does it mean? There isn’t just one meaning, but some people believe it is showing that a person is unhappy with their personal appearance and what other people think of you . Another interpretation is that the teeth might be a fear of being embarrassed – in other words this dream might be caused by being anxious about something.

Naked Dreams

While not as common as teeth dreams, naked dreams still affect a lot of people. Often the dreamer is in a place such as work or on a street and going about their everyday business only to suddenly realize that they are completely naked. This is often interpreted being because the dreamer feels vulnerable or ashamed of something they have done. This is because in the dream the clothes act as a sort of barrier behind which you can hide behind, but when you are feeling vulnerable the clothes disappear. A naked dream might also mean that you are being caught out unexpectedly.

Flying Dreams

These are one of the more enjoyable dreams to have and can be an amazing experience. Flying dreams are part of a section of dreams called lucid dreams that happen when you know that you are dreaming but are still asleep. Usually a flying dream is interpreted as the dreamer knowing that they are able to cope with the situation that they are in at the moment and feeling good about things. It is also sometimes interpreted as gaining a new perspective on something.

As you can see, there are usually many different interpretations of a dream and which one is correct comes down to the person, the dream itself and also the situation that the person is currently in. Basic dream interpretation starts with being able to identify the important features of a dream.

Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Selections Guide Series of Websites. Basic Free Dream Interpretation

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) was developed by Dr Aaron Beck in the 1960’s. It has proved extremely effective in dealing with such problems as depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks and phobias. However, it has also been used for more complicated difficulties such as psychosis and personality disorder.

How it works:

The way we think about situations, have a direct effect on the way we feel about them. Simply put CBT changes the way we think, and therefore changes the way we feel and the actions we take. For example: You are walking home and see a friend on the other side of the road. You wave to her but she ignores you. There are possibly two thoughts you could have about this situation.

1. Why did she ignore me? What have I done?
2. She didn’t see me.

If you had the first thought, you will probably go home feeling depressed, you’ll brood on what has happened and feel worse. Your self esteem and confidence could be affected and also your friendship. You may also feel sick in your stomach or get a headache. If you had the second thought then you will still feel good about yourself and laugh about it with your friend when you next see her.

Try to think back to a situation when you felt bad. How did you feel emotionally? How did you feel physically? Every time you have a feeling about something, you will have already had a thought. Try and capture that thought. This can sometimes be difficult but only because we are not used to doing it. Getting used to identifying our thoughts is extremely important in CBT because changing the way we think will change the way we feel.

Case Scenario:

Jane has been invited to a party by a friend from work. Jane does not have a great deal of confidence and does not go out very often. However, she has decided that she must make more of an effort to socialise. When Jane arrives at the party it is already in full swing. Taking a deep breath, she walks in to the crowded room where many people are chatting and laughing. As she enters the room, a number of people stop talking and turn to look at her.

Because Jane has low self esteem arising from childhood issues and her own feelings that she is overweight, she immediately feels embarrassed and that people are looking at her because they don’t like the way she looks. Jane turns around, walks out of the room and returns home. We don’t know the reason that people looked at Jane. Maybe people just turned around and Jane assumed they were looking at her? Maybe they were looking at her because she looked so nice? In this scenario, it doesn’t really matter why. As far as Jane was concerned they looked at her because she is fat and ugly and as long as she keeps avoiding parties and running away she will continue to believe that.

If Jane changed her thought, her feelings and consequently her actions would automatically change and she could stop the vicious circle.

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Criminal psychology focuses on the study of criminals. This field is receiving more and more attention thanks to films and television shows that have shown professionals in this branch of psychology. Criminal psychologists perform a range of tasks. They do everything from craft profiles of criminals and suspects to help the police and other law enforcement agencies track such people down. They can also conduct testing to determine a person’s mental state before, during, and after a crime has taken place.

Criminal psychologists are not focused on diagnosing and then treating mental disorders in criminals. Instead, they focus on observing human behavior and considering the desires and motivations behind different actions. The training to become a criminal psychologist takes time and can include everything from a master’s and doctorate degree in psychology.

People who study the actions of criminals are interested in understanding what makes a person commit a crime in the first place. Criminal psychologists study everything from the childhoods of serial killers to the romantic relationships they have had, the stressors in their life (i.e. losing a job, losing family, etc.). Additionally, they may also study how one’s culture and society can play a role in shaping criminals.

Criminal psychologists also study the words and actions of criminals after they have committed crimes and after they have been caught. Often, such a professional can tell as much about a criminal from watching how they deal with being arrested and how they act in court as they can from a one-on-one interview.

Criminal psychologists know the clues to look for when approaching crimes of a specific nature, and they can create a working profile that can help track down the criminals before they hurt anyone else. A criminal psychologist can tell a lot about a criminal from the weapon they use to the gender and ethnicity of the victim. Such information can help determine the criminal’s next crime, and it can lead to their capture and their arrest.

Often, if a criminal psychologist is brought into an investigation, they can be asked to do everything from walk a crime scene and create theories and hypotheses to actually interviewing and interrogating suspects in a crime. At times, this professional will also be asked to accompany officers to witness interviews or even to the suspect’s residence.

Sometimes, criminal psychologists can be the ones who bring in the information that leads to the capture of the suspect in question. Thus, they provide an invaluable service to both law enforcement groups and to the legal system as a whole.

Argosy University offers a wide selection of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of psychology concentrations at 19 locations across the nation.

In comparing Gramsci’s analysis of domination and Foucalt’s idea of the formulation of power presented the main contradiction arising is the actual source of that power. Gramsci philosophy and ideas depend upon a collection of intellectuals comprising what can be considered a aristocracy while Foucalt’s focus is not simply on any particular individual but the structure of the given organization providing positions of authority to act with power. Just as one can take the more scenic route or choose to take the more succinct to find themselves at a destination our philosophers in question take a different perspective and direction to drive to the central point of focus-the power itself.

Foucalt’s route is that of the exterior. More than any subject that could possibly be a source of power the idea is that the power itself is provided via organization and/or culture. As is stated, “the individual is an effect of power, and at the same time, or precisely to the extent to which it is the effect, it is the element of its articulation.” So, much more that what may be visible on the surface, with what may appear to be the individual manufacturing power and position, it is the organization or structure that that individual finds himself that is his manufacturer and source of the power. The individual himself is merely a manifestation of the authority, dominion, and power. 

The intellectual is our focal point in our Italian philosopher’s evaluation of domination. Or rather the group of elite intellectuals joined to format truth. In any organization Gramsci would argue that at the head, that position where power is exercised and decisions are made would be a regime of individuals linked with their abilities master minding a structure and function which will cycle and continue to benefit itself. Where one intellectual with specific capacities of engineering (or any vocation) may arise and communicate with another in certain capacities of finance(or any other vocations) both will collaborate to create a hegemony which will in turn benefit the “powerhouse” while dominating those which the power is being imposed upon.

The source or manufacturer of power is the question and contradiction between our two philosophers in questions. Where does it come from and how is it enforced. I believe both arguments are in conjunction with reality. The fact of the matter being that any social structure is of course going to have position of authority which imposed power. But the question is how do the individuals within the social structure find themselves in those positions of authority? History will tell that typically it is one of two ways; First, the individual is once of stature in communication and vocation needed to complete the functions involved for the position or, Second, the intellectual is within connections to an individual who in facts has the same traits as first described. 

Tiana Van Dyke

So you’re well aware of your fear of snakes. Understood! The very sight of them alone makes you sick to your stomach.

However, on a warm summer night when there’s not much to do you find yourself flipping through channels on your cable television hoping to come across something good enough to spark your interest. Unfortunately, you don’t.

You keep searching, and while doing so, you inadvertently happen upon a creepy scene of serpents on the Discovery channel.

The repugnant display turns your abdomen inside out, but now you’re curious and decide not to change the channel just yet. You stay and watch for a minute or two as the behemoth anaconda squeezes the life out of the antelope and then proceeds to swallow it whole. This terrifies you.

So at this point, you’ve had enough and you change the channel immediately. Even though it is evident to you that this eerie animal doesn’t live anywhere near you, you can’t stop your mind from hovering repeatedly over the horrifying vividness of it. It becomes an image you can’t seem to get rid off so you think about it sporadically for the next couple of days or even weeks.

Then, out of the blue, you dream of walking through the woods and accidentally stepping on a snake. Overwhelmed with terror, you freeze for a minute but not for long, because now the snake you stepped on is agitated and very angry. It rises up with swiftness and chases you from one end of your dream to the other and commences to torment you. When it finally decides to go for the kill and unleash the bite of death on your neck, you jerk wide awake.

Is this dream Prophetic?
No. Absolutely Not!

Is there a cause for worry?
For the most part, No.

However, if in the past you’ve seen a wild snake in your backyard, chances are there are still more of them back there. On the other hand, if you’ve never seen a snake in your backyard or heard of one ever being in your neighborhood, you need not worry.

It’s important to understand that most people harbor some level of fear for snakes, but these same people hardly ever dream about them.

If you find yourself having nightmares about snakes, or anything monstrous for that matter that you fear, the first process you need to go through is to ensure that the thing you dreamt about hasn’t been a dominant or reoccurring thought in your mind over the past few days or weeks.

Ask yourself some key questions such as;

Did I read about it somewhere?
Has there been any unusual news of this thing recently in the media?
Did I see it recently on television or heard about it on the radio?
Have I been thinking of this thing on more than one occasion over the last few days?

These questions are designed to specifically help put your mind at ease if your answers to them are all Yeses. The questions are engineered to segregate disqualifying and qualifying factors within the dream so the best determination can be made as to whether or not a dream is Prophetic or Non-prophetic.

On the other hand, if you answered No to all of the above questions, you may have to prepare yourself for some type of a heartbreaking upheaval in the near future.

For more information on how to accurately interpret your dreams, I strongly suggest you visit the following link:

http://www.JacobHTBowman.com/propheticdreams

Are the id and the ego both at an unconscious level?

If only the id is at an unconscious level and the ego is at a conscious level then how is it possible for one to consciously fight against something that is unconscious? Suppose it were so, then it means that there must be a clear connection between the unconscious and the conscious level that one can tap into at anytime. Yet no one knows what is happening at our unconscious level. If they are both at an unconscious level then it means that we do not ever make our own choices. Every choice would be governed by the id and the ego at an unconscious level. But if we do not make our own choices then who does? Is it the id and the ego? If that is the case then what governs them? There must be some other forces at the unconscious level governing the id and the ego. If Freud has assigned the id and the ego at an unconscious level then it is just as appropriate to assign another force (aside from the superego) governing the id and the ego. And it is just as appropriate to assign a thrid force governing the previous force. How do we know that there are not infinite forces at an unconscious level governing the id and the ego? Why stop at the id, the ego, and the superego?

Voices In Your Head

Have you ever been in a situation that might have produced some sort of anxiety in you because you had a choice to make? Or better yet, have you ever heard voices inside of your head where one says ‘do this’ and another saying ‘no do that’? I certainly have and I am confident others have as well including yourself. Assuming you have as well, then are these voices the id and the ego? If they are not the id and the ego then what are they? If it is the id and the ego then it is at a conscious level because we can hear these voices and we are aware of them. Regardless of whatever these voices are, two things can be safely concluded. First, that they are at a conscious level and second that they serve the same purpose of the id and the ego meaning that there is no need for the id and the ego at an unconscious level at the first place. Therefore, it can be concluded that the id and the ego or whatever you want to call them are both at a conscious level.

What does it mean?

So, what does this all mean? Before we get into that, another question must be asked. Do you believe in God, a supreme Being? I believe in One God, Allah. If you believe in God then another question must be asked. If you do not believe in God it should be remembered that this is not about proving the existence of God. Now, assuming you believe in God, the second question is that what is the purpose of your life? I believe that the purpose of my life is to get closer to my creator, God. To submit to God, to pray to God, to find God, God is our master and we are His servants. Now, if one believes in God then they most definitely believe in Heaven and Hell. So, how does God distinguish between who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell i.e. how does God distinguish between the righteous and the unrighteous servants of His? Not only do we have the Holy Books (Bible, Quran, Torah, etc.) and prophets of God (His messengers), but I believe that God has placed the id and the ego (the voices inside our head or in your heart) at a conscious level in every human (after a certain age of maturity but of course there are certain exceptions that may be due to brain illness etc.) so that when we are confronted with any situation, we are given two very clear-cut and distinct paths/choices to choose from. The id telling us to choose the bad path (leaning towards Satan) and the ego leaning towards the good (God). The choice we make is up to us and the path we choose is up to us. Hence, I believe that every man and woman will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment for their own deeds and no one can be a substitute or a scapegoat for another. In short, I believe that the id and the ego are a mechanism placed at everyone’s conscious level by God in order to distinguish the righteous from the unrighteous i.e. who goes to Hell and who goes to Heaven. Coincidentally, we have the id and the ego and we have Hell and Heaven. This much about the id and the ego should suffice for now.

Purpose of Dreams

Freud also talks about dreams. According to him, when we are asleep, the id seemingly overpowers the ego or gains dominance and in response to this the mind initiates what Freud calls Dream Mechanisms (I think it may be Dream something else). This is what Freud believes to be the purpose of dreams. Allow me to explain what I believe is the main purpose of dreams. It should be remembered that God does not have a mouth meaning that he can not speak directly to His servants. So, how does God communicate with His people? Again it has already been mentioned that one may say we have the Holy Books that contain God’s decree (what He wants us to do and what He does not want us to do). However, how did these books come to be? The answer is through his righteous messengers, prophets of God. How was the information revealed to the prophets? Through visions or dreams. Hence the main purpose of dreams. God communicates to us through dreams. This can be proved by the numerous fulfillment of prophecies by the prophets and in the Holy Books (more about fulfillment of prophecies can be discussed later if you like to). Whereas, Freud’s theory can not be proved. How can one confidently say that the id at an unconscious level dominates the ego resulting in Dream Mechanisms and what not? How do you prove this? You don’t because you can’t. It is a totally absurd idea. Which brings me to my next and final point. I will now attempt to explain where Freud went wrong with his ideas and why people may have believed such absurd ideas of Freud.

Where did Freud go Wrong?

Freud was correct to say that there are two forces that are contradictory to on another (he called it the id and the ego). I believe that people accepted this idea because they had themselves experienced it at a conscious level (the voices in their heads). Since they experienced it they began to accept this idea (even though Freud believed this at an unconscious level). So, people accepted Freud because they experienced the id and the ego at a conscious level but Freud talked about it at an unconscious level and perhaps people did not pay much attention to this (or maybe they did but it does not matter anyways). I believe that the id and the ego (the voices or what not) are a natural phenomenon (a mechanism placed by God to distinguish between the good and bad) and Freud simply coined the term ‘id’ and ‘ego’ for this natural phenomenon. Freud, after realizing that people are accepting his idea, appears to have gotten carried away with it. He made his own little world of id and ego and tried to explain other natural occurring phenomenon by the id and the ego since people accepted that idea so well. He began to explain dreams using id and ego (which has already been discussed). If dreams were the id gaining dominance over the ego then he surely must have had something to explain for the ego gaining dominance over the id and what if the battle was a dead draw? What happens then? As mentioned before, I believe he went into his own little world of id and ego. For example, bloopers in our everyday life such as saying one thing where you meant another thing he would call a Freudian slip (again most likely relating it back to the id and the ego). Is it not more reasonable to say that one said something else while meaning to say something different simply because they were multi tasking (thinking about one thing writing about another and focusing on something else), again a natural phenomenon. But Freud insisted on using the id and the ego to explain not only this natural phenomenon but others as well. This is where he went wrong. In short, people accepted Freud’s idea of the id and the ego because they experienced it since it was something normal to them, a natural phenomenon. But as soon as Freud started to apply the idea of the id and the ego to other natural phenomenon that were indeed not associated with the id and ego at all, people deviated from Freud’s beliefs. For example, more people will believe in the id and the ego rather than believing that it was a Freudian slip that caused them to say something while another thing was intended. Most people would just say that they were thinking about something else while they were talking or that they were not paying attention as to what they were saying and something else slipped out.

For further information please visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Freud-or-Fraud

Our brains are continually working, even when someone says they’re thinking of nothing. As a demonstration, for the next 10 seconds, do NOT think of elephants by try to think of nothing. It is likely that you tried to clear your mind but the thought of elephants kept creeping in, perhaps you even visualized one.

The reality is that our brain are constantly thinking, even when we’re sleeping. If our brains were truly inactive we would be considered brain-dead. Brain activity can actually be measured; that is to say that brainwave activity can be measured.

Brainwaves are minute electrical signals that are emitted as electrochemical junctions in the brain are rapidly open and closed in the order of a million times per second. Theses brainwave signals are very weak but they can be measured using a device called an electroencephalograph (EEG). It has been suggested that if telepathic people truly exist then perhaps they have an unusual sensitivity to detect other people’s brainwave activity.

At any given time, a person’s brainwave activity will appear similar from moment to moment. In other words, the pattern of brainwave activity from an EEG machine will show a generally consistent rhythm. Over time, however, the frequency of the brainwaves may change.

There are four generally accepted brainwave patterns: beta, alpha, theta and delta. The main differentiating characteristic is the frequency.

In our most alert and analytical state, our brains operate in the beta range. This corresponds to the highest frequency range of between 14 to 30 cycles per second (Hertz).

The next pattern is the alpha state and represents a relaxed mind. This state corresponds to activity such as day-dreaming or even a rhythmic physical activity where the mind remains in a relaxed state. This corresponds to the frequency range of between 9 to 13 Hertz.

The third pattern is known as the theta state and corresponds to a state of drowsiness, creativity, visualization and near-sleep. This occurs in the frequency range of between 4 to 8 Hertz.

The final state is called the delta state with a frequency range of between 1 to 3 Hertz. In this range, most people are asleep. Some experienced meditators can apparently remain aware during this state and describe this state as profoundly tranquil.

Understanding this variation of brainwave activity can help us understand and deal with some of our day-to-day problems, such as difficulty falling asleep. For example, if you go to bed with an active mind or pressing concerns, then your brainwave activity will likely remain higher for a longer period of time. This can lead to difficulty falling asleep. Understanding this helps us develop a strategy to fall asleep more readily. Therefore, if you find that you have difficulty falling asleep because your mind is too active and simple relaxation techniques have been ineffective, then you could try playing a repetitive and relaxing sound, such as the sound of a gentle rain shower or ocean surf. Such sound machines are readily available and often look like a regular clock radio, except that they offer several different relaxing sounds that can be set on a timer so that machine will turn itself off after you have hopefully fallen asleep.

The opposite can also be achieved. For example, if you are feeling lethargic then playing some faster tempo inspiring music can give us a feeling of increased alertness and energy.

Therefore, understanding that the brain is constantly thinking and having an appreciation its operational brainwave ranges can help us understand how we perform at various states of consciousness and how we can influence our state of consciousness and therefore our performance.

Mark is passionate about fitness, health and related products. His recent web site at http://www.homedicssoundmachine.com/ includes a review of the features and benefits of using a sound machine alarm clock.

As psychologists further explore the still largely unknown workings of the human brain, more and more is discovered about subconscious thinking and its powerful role within influence and persuasion.   We all experience forms of subconscious thought.  ”Eureka” moments when unresolved questions are suddenly answered. Completing the last stretch of a long journey on “auto pilot.”  Brand logos, product strap lines, roadside hoardings, TV commercials, product placement in TV programmes all use peripheral or subconscious communication. They anchor images, sounds and thoughts in our minds, and subsequently trigger off “impulse” buying decisions.

The next time you pass McDonald’s notice how you will actually experience the taste of a burger. Music teachers and sports psychologists coach their students into a state of unconscious competence. It’s just not possible to repeat all the complex mental and physical elements that combine in an instant to perform a brilliant shot. Top tennis players and golfers achieve this excellence through being in “the zone.” They practice and perform all the physical elements of a brilliant shot over and over again, storing a coded memory into their brains. They anchor that coded memory with a thought or “ritual”, and apply that thought or “ritual” to trigger the coded memory into action. In the entertainment world, hypnotists and illusionists use deft skill to fix attention in a distracting way, whilst implanting subconscious thoughts via imagery, gestures and words. Thoughts which they subsequently “mind read!”

How can we explain it?      
    
Things we learn are stored away in our memory rather like data being stored in folders on our computer’s hard drive. Millions of thoughts, feelings, memories, responses etc., are “filed” in billions of neurons. Chemicals “wire up” these neurons, and the brain “works” by the transmission of electrical impulses in a vast and complex electro-chemical network. When the brain receives a message it scans the “files” for meaning; similar to the search functions of a computer. However just as we find with computer searches, or predictive text on mobile telephones, the brain anticipates intended meaning and takes short cuts to what it thinks is meant. Especially interesting is the discovery that the non-conscious part of this “database” could be 10 billions times larger than the conscious part. Just how the mind scans, and the way we think, feel and respond is largely determined by the existence and health of the “wiring” chemicals. Significantly, as well as sleep, exercise, and nutrition this chemical state is also affected by external stimuli. Linked to this we now learn that information enters the memory simultaneously through channels independent of conscious thinking; with a “preconscious processing” that is faster smarter and significantly more efficient in the interpretation of stimuli and the triggering of emotional  reactions.

So what are the key lessons to learn and work with?

The old law is true!  90% of interpretation of meaning is through visual and auditory stimuli.
As we engage the conscious attention of our audience the unconscious channel is equally attentive.
Be visually congruent with your intended meaning through facial expression, body language, dress, animation, colour, light, presenter support, environment.
Be audibly congruent with your intended meaning through voice pitch, pace, diction, tone of voice, breathing pattern,  volume, accompanying music, environment.
Metaphors and analogies and generalised language will unconsciously encourage consideration.
Presuppositions and postive leading language will unconsciously encourage agreement.
The unconscious channel is more open to consider, and will have the final say!

(c)Bob Howard-Spink     

Bob Howard-Spink is a partner in Persuadability. For advice on how to present your messages with compelling and persuasive words, images and skill visit http://www.persuadability.co.uk