Menu

ScIUConversations in Science at Indiana University

Tag: psychology

The Origins of 420

Posted by

[A cannabis plant, seeds, and oil displayed on a canvas cloth.]

This Tuesday is April 20th, otherwise known as 420. For some it’s just another day in the week, but for others it’s a much-anticipated and beloved holiday. However, have you ever stopped to consider how this pseudo-holiday came to be? A quick google search will provide a number of varying and amusing theories. Some of the most popular 420 stories include 420 as a police dispatch code for cannabis use, as the number of chemical compounds in cannabis (actually there are over 500), or  the day of Bob Marley’s death (actually May 11th). However…

Building Wakanda: a graduate student’s journey into sports psychology

Posted by

[DJ Purnell is captured from the side, smiling. He is sitting at a panel on advice for applying to graduate school]

This week on the blog, we tackle sports and performance from the perspective of mental health, talking with IU’s DeJon Purnell. Purnell is a Ph.D. student in the Counseling Psychology program in IU’s School of Education, and his specific focus is Sport and Performance Psychology. While much of sports psychology translates directly into counseling the athletes themselves, DJ focuses on bigger-picture issues in sports and performance mental health, such as coaching behaviors and pathways to licensure for practicing sports counselors…

Dog Therapy

Posted by

[A service dog, with yellow lab features, stands at the side of a pool with it's harness on while sniffing the forehead of it's handler who is in the pool.]

Mental health awareness in the United States has become less taboo throughout the decade, as people young and old, become more comfortable talking about their mental health. Since 40 million adults in the US are diagnosed with anxiety disorder and 18 million adults suffer from depression, those who are dealing with their diagnosis are trying new approaches for coping with their disorders. While the traditional route of therapy and prescription medication to manage a mental health disorder works for many, the use of therapy dogs has proven as an effective method to improve mental health…

Expert or poser? Debunking the psychology behind imposter syndrome

Posted by

[An open book with faded yellow pages is sitting on a black desk. The following quote by journalist David Carr is written in capital letters with black permanent marker on the pages “We all walk this Earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn’t end soon.”]

As a young scientist, not a day goes by when I don’t see the phrase “imposter syndrome” in at least a few tweets or Instagram posts written by colleagues. In recent years, imposter syndrome seems to have become commonplace in academia, particularly among students and early-career faculty. So, what exactly is imposter syndrome, and how does it arise?

Can Animal Crossing make you happier?

Posted by

[image showing three animal crossing characters in the town square.]

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” was released on March 20th, 2020 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Although the game itself has been praised by critics, some suggest that its success is partially attributable to its being released during the COVID-19 pandemic. During these trying times, many people have been affected by anxiety and  loneliness stemming from, for example, social isolation and/or loss of work.

Goldfish myths: Does their memory really only last seven seconds?

Posted by

[A goldfish is trapped in a transparent light bulb filled with water.]

Have you ever dreamed about having a good relationship with your pet from day one? I believe that all pet owners have good hearts and the intention of sharing their lives with these cute creatures. Unlike dogs, who are often thought of as the symbolic figure of human beings’ most loyal friends, cats are considered more conservative in terms of revealing their feelings or emotions towards their owners. There is one pet’s feelings, however, that people might find more challenging to interpret — goldfish….

4 Go-To Skills to Support Your Mental Health During COVID–19 (and Beyond)

Posted by

[calm-woman-in-lotus-pose-meditating-after-awakening-at-home]

We’re living in a very stressful time due to the sweeping, global effects of the COVID–19 pandemic. Although much of the focus has been on physical health, mental health is equally important during these times. Broad feelings of uncertainty, job loss, fear, and drastic changes to our normal schedules and activities take a toll on our mental well-being. Below are four of the skills that I have relied on to maintain and support my mental health during COVID–19, though their utility extends to any time I’m experiencing stress in my life…

IU’s take on the cannabis trend

Posted by

[The image shows Cannabis Sativa plant]

On March 20, 2019, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Professor Emeritus Dr. Brian O’Donnell and Research Scientist Dr. Alex Straiker met with the student community for a Q&A session entitled “Cannabis: Science and Policy.” “IU has been the world center for research regarding cannabinoid signaling,” said Dr. Straiker during his address at the Science Café talk. Having studied cannabinoid signaling for more than 20 years, Dr. Straiker mentions the growing enthusiasm for cannabis use in a variety of forms, like essential oils; not only recreationally, but also for the treatment of anxiety, autoimmune disease, inflammation, and pain management…

College of Arts + Sciences

Are you a graduate student at IUB? Would you like to write for ScIU? Email sciucomm@iu.edu