deoarece zeii au plecat

Am publicat, in articolul anterior, programa unui curs de la University of Virginia (al carei Departament de Psihologie este evaluat in mod constant drept unul din cele mai bune din Statele Unite)

Poate ar merita, inainte de a te deprima, sa mai stii cateva lucruri:

• Pentru a deveni licentiat(a) in psihologie la UVA (the major in psychology) este necesar sa fi absolvit, cu cel putin C- sau mai mult, un curs de matematica (Applied Calculus, Applied Calculus with Algebra, Single Variable Calculus etc.)
• O multime de studenti care s-au transferat la UVA si au urmat unul din cursurile mentionate mai sus nu au reusit sa-l promoveze si, implicit, nu au putut obtine licenta
• Studiile dureaza 4 ani (nu au auzit de sistemul Bologna, hi hi!) iar numarul absolventilor este in jur de 250
• Daca esti din statul Virginia taxa anuala  este in jur de 12.000 de dolari iar daca esti din Romania (sau oricare alt stat, inclusiv un stat american) si ai un apartament de doua camere in valoare de 38.000 de dolari trebuie sa-l vinzi pentru a te putea inscrie (totalul cheltuielilor este undeva in jur de 50.000 de dolari pe an)

Prin urmare, daca ai studiat, aproape plangand, programa din articolul precedent, realizand ca tu, la facultatea pe care o urmezi, nu beneficiezi de asa ceva (si nici nu vei beneficia in urmatorii 50 de ani, in Romania), aminteste-ti, te rog, si cat anume platesti (nu tu, parintii tai!). Abia dupa ce ai facut acest calcul (cat platesc vs cat primesc) poti spune ca ai o perspectiva mai echilibrata asupra realitatii.

Da, acum poti plange.

 

Pentru studentii facultatilor de psihologie (mai ales cei care platesc) dornici sa faca unele comparatii cu omologii lor din universitatile americane, intelegand in ce fel ultimii ar putea fi avantajati (in sensul de a detine o cunoastere superioara), iata programa unui curs tinut de unul din psihologii mei preferati.

 

Se poate vedea cu usurinta cum studentii sunt obligati sa citeasca anumite studii stiintifice iar facultatea le permite accesul gratuit la ele prin intermediul unei pagini web (deci nu trebuie sa plateasca, asa cum se intampla in general)  De asemenea, pentru fiecare seminar au de citit capitole bine precizate din carti si exista si o bibliografie obligatorie care trebuie cumparata.

 

Celui care i se da mult i se va cere mult, nu?

 

Flourishing

Psychology 403, Professor Jon Haidt

Fall 2004, University of Virginia

Wed. 9:15-11:45, Gilmer B001

Course description: People are like plants: if you get the conditions just right, they will usually flourish. So what are those conditions? We will try to answer this question from two perspectives. We will look primarily at the latest research in social and positive psychology on happiness, virtue, and personal growth. We will also look at some of the Agreat truths,@ the insights into mind and heart that poets and philosophers have bequeathed to us. At each meeting I will lecture for 10-20 minutes, and the remaining time will be discussion.

 

Contact Info: The best way to reach me is by email (haidt@virginia.edu), or by coming to my office hours, Tues 5-6, Wed. 4:00-6:00, in Gilmer 304.

 

Course Requirements: About 40% of the grade will be based on your level of involvement with and contribution to class. In addition, you will be asked to write a number of papers, none of them ordinary research papers. These will include: 1) Several short papers after doing positive psych activities. 2) A midterm paper on Finding Great Truths. 3) A substantial final paper: Improving yourself, and proving it. In addition, everyone will participate in some sort of class research project.

 

Readings: Articles will be made available on our class webpage: toolkit.virginia.edu/PSYC403‑1   In addition, you should buy the following books at Amazon.com, or wherever you buy books on the web:

1) Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press.

2) Keyes, C. L. M., & Haidt, J. (Eds.). (2003). Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well lived. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

3) Franklin, B. (1962). Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. (Any edition is acceptable)

4) Buddha (1993). Dhammapada. Thomas Byrom (trans.) Boston: Shambhala (Other editions acceptable, but not as beautiful)

5) Burns, David (1999). Feeling good: The new mood therapy. Avon Books.

6) Maslow: religions, values, peak experiences

 

 

 

9/1) C1: Introduction: Flourishing and the great truths

Sage: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Bk II. (Analyze his psych. claims).

Do Before Class: Take Strengths Self-Test, print out your 24 strengths

 

9/8) C2: Positive Psychology and Self-Improvement

Sage: Ben Franklin, Autobiography [skim 1st half, but read 3rd quarter carefully, on virtues and moral perfection]

Scientists: Seligman: AH (Authentic Happiness) Preface, and Ch:1‑4

BK&H (Keyes & Haidt): Introduction

BHaidt: AThe Sage and the Scientist@, Introduction and Ch. 1

–Burns: Read introduction and ch. 1-3 (you can skim ch. 1&2, which are very elementary)

Do Before: Imagine your ideal self. Write your own self-improvement plan (a la Franklin)

Optional reading: Aarts, H., & Dijksterhuis (2000). Habits as knowledge structures: Automaticity in goal directed behavior. JPSP, 78, 53-63.

 

9/15) C3: Getting the right appraisals

Sage: Epictetus, Manual for living [print it from web, link provided]

Scientists: Seligman: AH Ch.5 & 6

–Haidt, Sage and Scientist, Ch. 2 (life itself is but what you deem it)

–Burns, most of the book, Chapters 4-16 (ch. 9 & 15 are optional)

Do: 1) Cognitive Therapy Exercises on yourself. Catch and analyze 10 automatic thoughts. (Use the DTR record on our web page).  2) Sign up on www.authentichappiness.com. Take at least the scales from Seligman Ch. 5&6

Optional reading:

 

9/22) C4: Happiness: what is it, what causes it?

Sage: Nozick, “Happiness” Ch. 9 of: The examined life.

Scientists: Buss, David M. (2000). The Evolution of Happiness. American Psychologist, 55, 15-23.

–Diener, Ed (2000).  Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and a Proposal for a National Index. American Psychologist, 55, 34-43.

–Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.

Do: Hand in your tentative plan for your final project.

Optional reading: Myers, David G. (2000).  The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People. American Psychologist. 55, 56-67.

–Ryff & Singer on Well-being

–Economists: chapters from Robert Frank; Richard Layard

 

9/29) C5: Calming the mind, meditation and prozac [Hand in your self-improvement plan]

Sage: Buddha, Dhammapada [whole book]

Scientists: Shapiro, S., Schwartz, G. E. R., & Santerre, C. (2002). Meditation and positive psychology. In Handbook of Positive Psychology.

–Nolen‑Hoeksema on Rumination, TBA

–Kramer, P. (1993) Listening to Prozac, Ch. 1.

Do: Spend at least 40 minutes on websites about meditation, e.g.,: www.shinzen.com. Or www.mkzc.org/beginzen.html  or www.how-to-meditate.org.  Read about meditation techniques. Meditate for at least 15 minutes, three days in a row.

Optional reading: Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J. et al. (2003). Alternations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570

–Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 84, 822-848.

–Turkington, C. & Kaplan, E., “All About Prozac”, downloaded from Webmd.com

 

10/6) C6: Hedonics and the Setpoint

Sage: Gibran: Pleasure

Scientists: Kahneman, D. (1999). Objective happiness. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 3-25). New York: Russell Sage.

–Wrzesniewski, Rozin, & Bennett: Working, Playing, and Eating [Flourishing, Ch.8]

–Sheldon, K. M., Lyubomirsky, S. (in press). Achieving Sustainable New Happiness: Prospects, Practices, and Prescriptions.

–Kubovy, M. (1999). On the pleasures of the mind. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (pp. 134-154). New York: Russell Sage.

Do: Continue meditation; Give it a serious try, every day for the whole week. Or design a perfect day?

Optional reading: Lykken & Tellegen (1996). Happiness is a stochastic phenomenon. Psych Science 7

 

10/13) C7: Being Nice

Sage: Bible, Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the mount)

Scientists:

–Carnegie, D. (1936). Excerpts from : How to win friends and influence people. [Carnegie is an excellent social psychologist]

–Emmons, R. A. (2004) Gratitude. (Chapter from Character strengths and virtues).

–McCullough, M. (2004) Forgiveness (Chapter from Character strengths and virtues).

–Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56, 218-226.

DO: TBA… watch amelie? [link ahead to love, and to awe/beauty] Or: do a good deed

Optional reading: Trivers on reciprocal altruism? [read later parts, on moral emotions]

 

10/20) C8: Love and social support: Why we need others to flourish

Sage: Gibran, sections on Love and Friendship

Scientists: Seligman, AH ch.11 (love)

–Reis & Gable, Toward a positive psychology of relationships. [Flourishing Ch. 6]

–Taylor, S. E., Klein, L. C., Lewis, B. P., Gruenewald, T. L., Gurung, R. A., & Updegraff, J. A. (2000). Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight. Psychological Review, 107(3), 411-429.

–Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497-529. [This is a long paper, only the first 7 pages are assigned (p.497-503)]

Do: ??

Optional reading:  -Handbook of positive psychology, ch. 39, Ryff & Singer: From social structure to biology

–Sternberg, R. J. (1988). A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review, 93. 119-135.

 

10/27) C9: Work and engagement [Hand in: short paper, your great truths];

Sage: Gibran: Work

Scientists: Auth. Happ: : AH: Ch.7 (incl. Savoring and flow) Ch.14 (meaning and purpose)

–Nakamura and Czikszentmihalyi. Vital Engagement. [Flourishing ch.4]

–Emmons, Personal goals. [Flourishing Ch.5]

–R. Ryan & J. Bernstein (2004) “Vitality”, Ch. 12 of Character Strengths and Virtues. (Peterson & Seligman, eds.)

Do: Watch movie: Fast, cheap, and out of control

Optional reading:

 

11/3) C10: Growth by adversity

Sage: go to www.greatfailure.com, look around, and read the “commencement speech”

Scientists: Ryff & Singer: Flourishing under fire. [Flourishing, Ch.1]

–Wethington: Turning points. [Flourishing, Ch.2]

–Updegraff, J. A., & Taylor, S. E. (2000). From vulnerability to growth: Positive and negative effects of stressful life events. In J. Harvey and E. Miller.(eds.) Loss and trauma: General and close relationship perspectives. Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge. 3-28.[ONLY PRINT OUT 1^ST 5 PAGES, (pgs 3-11 of the article)]

–Pennebaker, J. (2003). Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions. New York: Guilford. Read Chapter 3.

Do: [movies about overcoming adversity? Admiration project?] One door opens? Write out how you have grown from setbacks? Write your uva narrative, make sense of your time here?

Optional reading:

 

11/10) C11: Growth by awe and beauty

Sage: Bhagavad Gita, Bk. 11

Scientists: Haidt: Elevation [Flourishing Ch.12]

–Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 17, 297-314.

–Maslow: Main text (p.3-58), and appendix A. Other appendices are optional

Do: Watch Amelie, after reading at least the Elevation article. [Or if you have seen Amelie already, you may watch Patch Adams, Life is Beautiful, Pleasantville, or Harold and Maude]. Note the ways that awe and responsiveness to beauty affect characters in these movies, and also the ways they affect you as a viewer. Or beauty movies, koyaanisquatsi?

Optional reading: Responses to Music: Braud (2001), or Panzarella (1980) in Brunk

 

11/17) C12: growth by virtue: What is morality, and how does it develop? Can we become better people by doing good deeds?

Sage: Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics Book II

Scientists:

–Damon, W. (1999). The moral development of children. Scientific American, August.

–Haidt, J., & Joseph, C. (in press). Intuitive Ethics. Daedalus.

–Piliavin: Doing well by doing good [Flourishing, Ch. 10]

Do: Seligman philanthropy vs.  pleasure exercise

 

12/1) C13: Strengths, Choice, Wisdom

Sage: tba

Scientists:

1) Strengths: Seligman, AH Ch. 8-10, 13 (Strengths and virtues, finishing up the book)

2) Choice: Schwartz, B. et al. (2002). Maximizing Versus Satisficing: Happiness Is a Matter of Choice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 1178-1197

3) Wisdom: Sternberg, R. J. (1998). A balance theory of wisdom. Review of General Psychology.

Do: take the long VIA signature strengths test, at www.authentichappiness.com

 

12/8) C14: Class presentations.  How have you changed?  [Final paper due on 12/9]

No Reading; Student reports on final projects.

 

 

Fiind intr-o dispozitie nostalgica, azi, mi-am amintit de vremurile in care eram profesor si, in aceasta calitate, dadeam note (operatiune pe care am detestat-o de la inceput pana la sfarsit). Cu un astfel de priming, inca de dimineata, articolul de mai jos era, cumva, inevitabil. Daca esti student(a) te-ar putea interesa. Insa si mai bine este sa-l tiparesti si sa-l oferi, sub protectia anonimatului (al meu, nu al tau!) unor doamne, domnisoare si domni profesori. Ar putea afla unele lucruri despre orientarea lor politica implicita, poate neconstientizata, plecand de la note.

Pentru simplitate ma voi referi la  domnul Conservator si doamna Liberala (atentie, folosesc termenii „conservator” si „liberal” in sensul limbajului politic american, in care a fi „liberal” este o orientare asociata cu „stanga” si viziunile progresiste iar a fi „conservator” se asociaza cu „dreapta” si valorizarea stabilitatii; da, libertarienii ma vor ierta!)

Stii ce fel de note da doamna Liberala? Intr-un registru mai restrans! De exemplu, la unul din examenele pe care l-ai sustinut in sesiunea recent incheiata cu dansa, la care ai luat si tu un amarat de 7, poti observa cum nimeni nu a luat 10, doar cativa tocilari au impuscat un 9 si, spre bucuria tuturor, nimeni nu a picat. Pe vremea mea astfel de profesori erau numiti de treaba (nu-mi pot stapani un zambet!)

Si domnul Conservator cum procedeaza atunci cand distribuie recompense (note mari) si pedepse (note mici)? Eh, notele dansului sunt intr-un registru mai larg! La materiile domnului profesor Conservator se iau si note de 10 dar si note de 4 sau chiar de 3, daca nu cumva unii sunt prinsi copiind, ca urmare a unei supravegheri mai vigilente (in comparatie cu lejeritatea de la examenele doamnei Liberala) si primesc nota 1.

Aha, si ce-i cu asta? Aproape nimic daca nu se intampla sa fi aflat ce alte comportamente si atitudini sunt asociate cu cele doua tendinte rapid identificate privind un catalog. Se intampla sa stii sau, ca de obicei, trebuie sa te luminez? (sunt si intr-o dispozitie modesta, de asemenea)

Parca te-as lasa putin in tensiune, sugerandu-ti doar sa te gandesti daca domnul Conservator, avand copii acasa, ar putea fi mai degraba strict sau mai degraba relaxat in optiunile lui parentale? (si nu politice) Iar doamna Liberala, avand un partener (tot acasa) ar fi mai degraba generoasa cu infidelitatile lui (posibile) sau mai degraba aspra si intoleranta? (fireste, putem roti perspectiva astfel incat sa ne gandim daca ar fi mai probabil sau mai putin probabil, in raport cu colegul Conservator, sa comita chiar dansa o infidelitate)

Si o multime de alte comportamente (sau doar atitudini) pe care le putem infera (insa doar in termeni probabilistici) plecand de la un amanunt minor, anume felul in care sunt distribuite, pe un continuum, notele, dar numai daca, placandu-ne psihologia, am mai aflat una-alta. De exemplu (only for teasing, also) am putea sti, la un nivel superior sansei, daca doamna Liberala isi mai articuleaza progeniturile, din cand in cand (mai des sau mai rar decat domnul Conservator) si am mai sti daca domnul Conservator isi viziteaza (sau macar le telefoneaza) mai rar sau mai des parintii, adesea chiar conformandu-se cererilor sau solicitarilor lor.

Nu ti se pare si tie ca psihologia este frumoasa? (cand o studiezi intr-o maniera stiintifica)

Talia Bar & Asaf Zussman, 2012. “Partisan Grading,” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(1), pages 30-48, January.

PS Era sa uit: daca iti plac mai mult profesorii „corecti”, cei care ii recompenseaza pe cei mai buni studenti si ii pedepsesc (prin note, nu prin torturi fizice) pe cei mai slabi (lenesi?) sau, dimpotriva, simti o afinitate mai mare fata de profesorii cu orientari mai egalitariste (cu mai multa compasiune pentru cei care nu au invata?), deja stii mai multe despre tine. Dar nu-mi spune!

Astazi am avut o zi minunata (si nu s-a terminat) Asa mi se intampla mereu dupa ce o vizitez pe bunica mea  de 90 de ani si mai primesc o doza de buna dispozitie, in sensul de buna asezare in viata, eu oferind la schimb cateva teste de memorie, aplicate fara mila, pentru a ne convinge impreuna, dar mai mult eu, ca nu s-a instalat senilitatea (exista o predispozitie genetica pentru Alzheimer si printre cele 25% gene primite de la bunica mea materna nu au cum sa se numere si cele care predispun catre Alzheimer, neexistand asa ceva;dar am emotii cand ma gandesc la bunicul patern, pe care nu l-am cunoscut si refuza sa mi se arate in ritualurile samanice la care particip periodic, tinand in mana dreapta, pentru siguranta, un manual de Critical Thinking)

Ultimul lucru frumos de azi este un mail primit de la o prietena foarte tanara a blogului:

Sper sa va bucure acest fapt: sunt cativa profesori (bine, bine, ii poti numara pe degetele de la o mana),vorbesc doar despre cei pe care ii cunosc, de la care am aflat (a 2-a oara) informatii mai noi care nu se regasesc in manualele de psihologie romanesti, dar despre care aflasem in prealabil de pe blogurile dvs.

Ma bucur, draga mea corespondenta! Si putem fi optimisti deoarece mai exista degete si la cealalta mana!

O prietena a blogului, plina de o  bunavointa malefica, apta sa integreze, pentru totdeauna, contrariile, imi semnaleaza sosirea in tara noastra, mai intai in corpul spiritual si apoi, desigur, in cel fizic, a doi renumiti luptatori impotriva compulsiilor, sot si sotie (desi Swami Muktananda, fostul lor prieten, cel care verifica virginitatea discipolelor, ar putea fi de alta parere). O lupta mereu reluata, si de el (Stanislav), cu LSD-ul, si de ea (Christina), cu alcoolul.

Corespondenta mea, datorita unui nivel spiritual modest, nu avea cum sa stie ca eu eram la curent cu aceasta vizita inca dinainte ca ea sa fi fost negociata de organizatori, ca urmare a unui newsletter pe care il primesc, periodic, din viitor (clisee.akashice.ro sau doar „clisee”, nu mai stiu nici eu exact).

Cei doi faimosi cunoscatori ai notiunilor de sevraj sau craving, dintr-o regretabila invidie profesionala nepublicati de nici un jurnal stiintific serios, in ciuda revizuirilor geniale aplicate demodatei paradigme de intelegere a realitatii si a naturii mintii, vor conferentia la Cluj si la Bucuresti, aproape sigur intr-o atmosfera plina de iubire neconditionata si, probabil, de omnipotenta infantila.

O karma foarte grea, de care am luat la cunostinta gratie unei facturi recent primite de la Departamentul spiritual de profil, semnata ilizibil de entitati transpersoanale din familia Mumbo-Jumbo,  ma impiedica sa particip la aceste experiente cu caracter arhetipal, daca nu cumva mitic. Sunt devastat. Inteleg, astfel, inca o data, esecul meu in armonizarea sistemului COEX (sau asa ceva) si necesitatea de a respira putin mai repede, ca sa nu zic accelerat, pentru a penetra, in sfarsit, a doua matrice perinatala, bucurandu-ma, la capatul travaliului, de o fantezie debordanta, vecina cu imaginatia psihotica (intr-o nota mai serioasa, mentionez ca, atunci cand ofeream servicii de psihoterapie, am asistat persoane transformate de atelierele de respiratie holotropica si orientate, in cel mai pur spirit monist-materialist, spre destinatii farmacologice de tip Zyprexa)

Nu-mi ramane decat sa sper ca, ajutat si de o Sahasrara Chakra anemica, de la prea mult scepticism nesanatos,  intr-una din urmatoarele vieti, beneficiind si de unele sincronicitati jucause, atent orchestrate de campurile cosmice de constiinta, campuri pline cu iarba, ii voi intalni pe cei doi titani ai spiritualitatii halucinogene macar la un suc (de datura, specia Brugmansia)

Nu inteleg de ce au avut nevoie de atat de mult timp pentru a vizita tara in care 4 locuitori din 10 sunt convinsi ca Soarele se invarte in jurul Pamantului, avand un usor deficit de cunoastere stiintifica, din fericire compensat de nivelul extraordinar de inalt al cunoasterii spirituale, nivel la care a contribuit decisiv si un psihopat refugiat, in prezent, in Suedia, o regiune mai propice integrarii in absolut.

Realizez, in timp ce scriu aceste randuri intr-o stare modificata de constiinta, ca urmare a unor morcovi samanici consumati intregi, impins fiind de nevoia de intregire, realizez, spun, cu o angoasa multistratificat-constelata pe mai multe niveluri, ca sa imprumut si eu ceva din noua psihologie a viitorului, ca aceste randuri mi-ar putea cobori frecventa vibratorie la un prag de alarma, mai ales daca sunt citite, nu mai zic intelese arhetipal, de admiratorii cuplului iluminat, eliberat spiritual si, de ce nu, slightly inebriated  (in sensul divin, desigur) si starnesc valuri de compasiune telepatica pentru care, marturisesc, nu sunt pregatit, si din cauza unei relatii nefericite, recent incheiate, cu un autor britanic, feature writer for The Guardian,  pasionat si el de weak-minded poppycock, insa mult mai talentat decat mine (si avand, astfel, o karma cu adevarat sinistra)

Din cate inteleg participarea la Conferinta costa 250 de lei, un pret mic pentru un pas atat de mare dincolo de ratiune (titlul unei carti a domnului Grof, traduse in limba romana, pe care am canalizat-o spiritual, dar mai ales motor, catre un cos de gunoi). Le trimit participantilor, organizatorilor si geniului neinteles explorator al golului aflat dincolo de gandire cele mai bune ganduri, fericire, pace si multe impliniri.

PS Intuitia imi spune ca, in timpul seminarului, nu vor exista „pauze de cafea” ci pauze de ciuperci.