Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky, posits that depression is the most damaging disease that you can experience. Right now it is the number four cause of disability in the US and it is becoming more common.

Stanford's Sapolsky On Depression in U.S. (Full Lecture)



Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

The Theory and Mechanics of 'Emotional Contagion'

Emotional contagion is the tendency to catch and feel emotions that are similar to and influenced by those of others. One view developed by John Cacioppo of the underlying mechanism is that it represents a tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of another person and, consequently, to converge emotionally. A broader definition of the phenomenon was suggested by Sigal G. Barsade—"a process in which a person or group influences the emotions or behavior of another person or group through the conscious or unconscious induction of emotion states and behavioral attitudes". Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

Via: Wikipedia

External links

• Mirrored emotion from the University of Chicago Magazine.
• Mirror neurons
• You remind me of me in the New York Times.
• Imago Therapy
• Albert Bandura
• BoBo doll experiment
• Amygdala (brain)
• Multiple Intelligences
• Bobo Doll
• http://socialsciences.people.hawaii.edu/faculty/?dept=psy&faculty=elaineh@hawaii.edu
• http://www.alexithymia.info/
• http://psychology.berkeley.edu/faculty/profiles/rlevenson.html
• http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/
• Attunement, imputation, and the scope of embodied simulation, Alvin Goldman
• http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/04/reviews/970504.04tavrist.html

Depression's Evolutionary Roots: Two scientists suggest that depression is not a malfunction, but a mental adaptation that brings certain cognitive advantages

Depression seems to pose an evolutionary paradox. Research in the US and other countries estimates that between 30 to 50 percent of people have met current psychiatric diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder sometime in their lives. But the brain plays crucial roles in promoting survival and reproduction, so the pressures of evolution should have left our brains resistant to such high rates of malfunction. Mental disorders should generally be rare — why isn’t depression?  Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

Via:  Scientific American

The Biology Of Fear And Anxiety: Evidence Points To Chemical Trigger-1982

By HAROLD M. SCHMECK JR.

Published: September 7, 1982

Illustrations: Drawing of the human brain Drawing of brain's receptor system

INJECTIONS of a synthetic substance made for studies of the chemistry of human emotion have produced severe anxiety in monkeys within seconds. The animals became agitated, their hair rose, they squirmed and they displayed other outward signs of extreme alarm. These effects could be quickly halted by other chemicals.

Scientists have known for years that drugs such as the benzodiazepines Librium and Valium can lessen anxiety. But the ability to create such a pure state almost instantly with a drug alone is new and unexpected, according to scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md...Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

via The New York Times

Why We do Dumb or Irrational Things: 10 Brilliant Social Psychology Studies

"I have been primarily interested in how and why ordinary people do unusual things, things that seem alien to their natures. Why do good people sometimes act evil? Why do smart people sometimes do dumb or irrational things?" --Philip Zimbardo

1. The Halo Effect: When Your Own Mind is a Mystery

2. How and Why We Lie to Ourselves: Cognitive Dissonance

3. War, Peace and the Role of Power in Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiment

4. Our Dark Hearts: The Stanford Prison Experiment

5. Just Following Orders? Stanley Milgram's Obedience Experiment

6. Why We All Stink as Intuitive Psychologists: The False Consensus Bias

7. Why Groups and Prejudices Form So Easily: Social Identity Theory

8. How to Avoid a Bad Bargain: Don't Threaten

9. Why We Don't Help Others: Bystander Apathy

10. I Can't Believe My Eyes: Conforming to the Norm

Via PsyBlog

Psychology Basics

By Kendra Van Wagner, About.com Guide to Psychology

Before you begin studying psychology, you need to gain a clear understanding of exactly what psychology is. When did psychology originate? What do psychologists study? Explore this section to learn the answers to these questions and build a good foundation for further study of this vast and fascinating subject. Click anywhere in this sentence for a link to much much more.

1. Psychology 101
2. Brain and Behavior
3. States of Consciousness
4. Learning
5. Memory

6. Development
7. Personality
8. Social Psychology
9. Resources for Psychology Students

A Free & Comprehensive Guide To The World of Psychology

All About Psychology website (Link)

Written and regularly updated by a lecturer in psychology, this website was launched in March 2008 and is designed to help anybody looking for informed and detailed information on psychology.

Definitions, history, topic areas, theory and practice, careers, debates, course directories and study skills will all be covered in detail here.

The website will also highlight and explore the most fascinating and compelling psychology related news and research.

All About Psychology website (Link)