scholarly journals Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Manuel Rodríguez Arce ◽  
Michael James Winkelman
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Cognitive Niche ◽  
Hominin Evolution ◽  
Serotonin 2A

Our hominin ancestors inevitably encountered and likely ingested psychedelic mushrooms throughout their evolutionary history. This assertion is supported by current understanding of: early hominins’ paleodiet and paleoecology; primate phylogeny of mycophagical and self-medicative behaviors; and the biogeography of psilocybin-containing fungi. These lines of evidence indicate mushrooms (including bioactive species) have been a relevant resource since the Pliocene, when hominins intensified exploitation of forest floor foods. Psilocybin and similar psychedelics that primarily target the serotonin 2A receptor subtype stimulate an active coping strategy response that may provide an enhanced capacity for adaptive changes through a flexible and associative mode of cognition. Such psychedelics also alter emotional processing, self-regulation, and social behavior, often having enduring effects on individual and group well-being and sociality. A homeostatic and drug instrumentalization perspective suggests that incidental inclusion of psychedelics in the diet of hominins, and their eventual addition to rituals and institutions of early humans could have conferred selective advantages. Hominin evolution occurred in an ever-changing, and at times quickly changing, environmental landscape and entailed advancement into a socio-cognitive niche, i.e., the development of a socially interdependent lifeway based on reasoning, cooperative communication, and social learning. In this context, psychedelics’ effects in enhancing sociality, imagination, eloquence, and suggestibility may have increased adaptability and fitness. We present interdisciplinary evidence for a model of psychedelic instrumentalization focused on four interrelated instrumentalization goals: management of psychological distress and treatment of health problems; enhanced social interaction and interpersonal relations; facilitation of collective ritual and religious activities; and enhanced group decision-making. The socio-cognitive niche was simultaneously a selection pressure and an adaptive response, and was partially constructed by hominins through their activities and their choices. Therefore, the evolutionary scenario put forward suggests that integration of psilocybin into ancient diet, communal practice, and proto-religious activity may have enhanced hominin response to the socio-cognitive niche, while also aiding in its creation. In particular, the interpersonal and prosocial effects of psilocybin may have mediated the expansion of social bonding mechanisms such as laughter, music, storytelling, and religion, imposing a systematic bias on the selective environment that favored selection for prosociality in our lineage.

scholarly journals The Moderating Impact of Attending Services on the Effect of Older Adults’ Discrimination Experiences on Loneliness

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 323-323
Author(s):  
Dahee Kim ◽  
Kyuho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Religious Community ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Religious Behaviors ◽  
Religious Services ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Research has shown that perceived discriminations impact physical and mental health in later life. Discrimination experiences could make older adults consider themselves as a social misfit and decrease their social interactions, which finally increases their loneliness. Religious behaviors has been reported as a key factor of a lower sense of isolation. Considering that religious behaviors provide opportunities to engage in more extensive social networks and have supportive social ties with community members, attending religious services might decrease the impact of older adults’ perceived discrimination on loneliness. The current research aims to examine the moderating role of religious services attendance in the association between older adults’ perceived discrimination and loneliness. We used data of 4,488 adults aged 50 to 80 (M=66.27, SD=10.15) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) collected in 2012 and 2014. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate whether older adults’ religious service attendance might decrease the impact of their perceived discriminations in daily life on the level of loneliness. The results indicated that more perceived discriminations older adults face on a daily basis were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness. However, participants who frequently attended religious services showed a lower impact of perceived discriminations on their loneliness. These findings highlight the positive effects of engaging in religious activities on discriminated older adults’ social well-being. These findings also emphasize the role of the religious community as a social resource for socially marginalized older adults.

scholarly journals The mediating role of narcissism in the effects of regulatory mode on positivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Di Santo ◽  
Calogero Lo Destro ◽  
Conrad Baldner ◽  
Alessandra Talamo ◽  
Cristina Cabras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Motivational Orientation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Regulatory Mode ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Reported Data

AbstractPositivity (i.e., the individual tendency to positively approach life experiences) has proven to be an effective construct applied in positive psychology. However, individuals’ self-regulation may have contrasting effects on positivity. We specifically examined whether positivity could be partially explained through two aspects of motivation concerned with self-regulation: locomotion (i.e., a motivational orientation concerned with movement) and assessment (i.e., a motivational orientation concerned with comparison and evaluation). Furthermore, based on previous literature that found a link between these aspects and narcissism, we examined whether “adaptive” and “maladaptive” dimensions of narcissism could mediate the effects of locomotion and assessment on increased or decreased positivity. Narcissism was defined by previous research as adaptive or maladaptive insofar as it leads or does not lead to increased psychological well-being. We estimated a mediation model with multiple independent variables and multiple mediators in a cross-sectional study with self-reported data from 190 university students. We found that both locomotion and assessment were associated with adaptive narcissism, which in turn was positively associated with positivity. However, assessment was also associated with maladaptive narcissism, which in turn was negatively associated with positivity. Relationships between aspects of self-regulation, narcissism, and positivity can have significant implications which will be discussed.

Examining the role of passion in university students’ academic emotions, self-regulated learning and well-being

2021 ◽  
pp. 147797142110373
Author(s):  
Anna Sverdlik ◽  
Sonia Rahimi ◽  
Robert J Vallerand
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Academic Emotions ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Self Regulated Learning ◽  
Regulated Learning

University students’ passion for their studies has been previously demonstrated to be important for both their academic performance and their personal well-being. However, no studies to date have explored the role of passion for one’s studies on both academic and personal outcomes in a single model. The present research sought to determine the role of passion in adult university students’ self-regulated learning and psychological well-being (Study 1), as well as the process by which passion shapes these outcomes, namely academic emotions, in Study 2. It was hypothesised that harmonious passion would positively predict both self-regulated learning and psychological well-being in Study 1. Furthermore, the mediating role of academic emotions between passion and outcomes was tested using a prospective design over time in Study 2. Results provided support for the proposed model. Implications for future research and practice focusing on the role of passion in facilitating adaptive emotions, use of self-regulation and well-being in adult students are discussed.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF OLDER PRESCHOOL-AGE ORPHANS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS

2020 ◽  
pp. 9-27
Author(s):  
I. Baranauskiene ◽  
A. B. Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Orphaned Children ◽  
Self Image

The article presents the research on the characteristics of older preschool-age orphans’ interpersonal relationships. It reveals differences between the functioning of the sphere of orphans’ interpersonal relations and that of children brought up in families. Orphans show higher interest in adults, indicating that orphans’ need in adults’ attention is not satisfied. The main motives for communication with adults in families are mutual interactions and cognitive needs, while the dominant motive of orphan children is searching for attention and kindness. Orphans show increased inclination to conflicts, cause for which are every-day issues and the struggle for adults’ attention and friendliness. The main cause of conflicts characteristic for family-raised children is their selfaffirmation in games. Orphans are less and less likely to express their own emotions when communicating. They rarely turn to their partners for some advice, support, and sharing of experiences, unlike children in families. Orphaned children feel indifference in relationships with peers. Differences were found between orphaned children and family-raised children as for well-being of relationships: orphans’ well-being is quite low, while family-raised children’s well-being is high. Orphaned children, due to problems in interpersonal relationships with adults and peers, have some deviations in the most important psychological formations: distortion of self image, delayed formation of subjective attitude to oneself, as well as slow and abnormal development of activity, which may further negative affect their psychological well-being.

Psychology of the Subject's Self-Regulatory Activity in the Context of Hybrid Warfare

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Nataliia Makarchuk ◽  
◽  
Liliia Kulinenko ◽  
Olga Vasylieva ◽  
Olga Zhurkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Mental Content ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Political Life ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Regulatory Activity ◽  
Hybrid Warfare ◽  
Clinical Interviews

Objective: The main tasks of this study are as follows: to substantiate the interdependence of perversion as a form of violence and the human ego in the context of hybrid warfare; to prove the existence of perversion as a form of violence against a person in the context of hybrid warfare in Ukraine (personal perversion); to describe the alteration of ego states as conditions for effective human self-regulatory activity in the context of hybrid warfare. Background: Hybrid warfare, including the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, as a phenomenon, has been widely studied both abroad and in Ukraine. However, there are very few works on the psychological impact of such a war. There are currently no works on disorders of human self-regulatory activity in the context of hybrid warfare, which makes the study unique and relevant. Method: The study used a combination of various methods, in particular, structural-clinical interviews, psychological counseling and therapeutic meetings, data analysis. Data were collected for 2014-2020. The total number of participants was 55 people aged 25 to 63 years, with 70% female and 30% male. Results: The latent tension and denial of hybrid warfare result in a gradual increase of neurotization, which is in 95% of cases passes into a neurosis state with concomitant manifestations of symptoms. There is also a deterioration in psychological well-being and phylogenetic disorders (erogenous dysfunction in men, uncontrolled neurotic masturbation in women). Disorders of the mental level of self-regulation determine the manifestation of the mental content of perversion, in which perversion takes on the character of intrapersonal functioning. Conclusion: The combination of disorders of the physical, mental and personal levels of the self-regulatory activity of the psyche increased perverse tendencies in social and political life, which provoked a high rate of psychotization of the entire society and an increase in deficit characterological manifestations of each individual.

The Importance of Religiosity to the Well-Being of African American Older Adults Living With Dementia

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayron Epps ◽  
Ishan C. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Involvement ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Religious Practices ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Structured Interviews

This study was a post hoc analysis of a larger qualitative descriptive study exploring family involvement in health promotion activities for African Americans living with dementia where participants identified religious practices as meaningful health promotion activities. The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which religiosity may influence the well-being of older adults living with dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among a sample of 22 family caregivers and 15 older adults living with dementia ( N = 37). Three themes emerged: Engagement, Promotion of Faith and Spiritual Connectedness, and Maintenance of Religious Practices. It is imperative for family caregivers to understand the important contributions of religious activities and beliefs to the well-being of their family member. This information might be of use for faith communities, policy makers, and health care providers in the provision of optimal person-centered care and the promotion of quality of life for persons living with dementia.

scholarly journals Implementing trauma-informed care through social innovation in child welfare residential treatment centres serving elementary school children

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-232
Author(s):  
Denise Brend ◽  
Nicolas Fréchette ◽  
Arnaud Milord-Nadon ◽  
Tim Harbinson ◽  
Delphine Collin-Vezina
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Residential Treatment ◽  
Complex Trauma ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Worker Attitudes ◽  
Trauma Informed Care ◽  
Trauma Informed

Objectives: This article presents the theoretical basis, initial deployment strategies, and resulting preliminary findings of a program implemented in residential treatment centres (RCs) in child welfare. “Program Penguin” aimed to help workers develop trauma-informed attitudes and implement trauma-informed practices, make the workplace more responsive to the well-being of RC workers, and reduce the use of restraints and seclusion among school-aged children in RCs. Methods: Informed by the theories of complex trauma (National Child Traumatic Stress Network Complex Trauma Task Force, 2003), polyvicitimization (Finkelhor et al., 2007), Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC; Blaustein & Kinniburgh, 2018) and Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS; Sugai & Horner, 2002), Program Penguin was developed and deployed using the social innovation approach (Fixsen et al. 2005). The key stages of social innovation will here be used to describe the implementation process. Results: Changes in practices were observed, RC worker attitudes towards trauma-informed care were assessed and showed strong effects between multiple covariables. RC worker support needs were identified, and a reduction in the use of restraints and seclusions was shown. Key strategies towards the development and maintenance of buy-in and meaningful change in practices are also described. Implications: Changes observed at all levels of this implementation suggest Programme Penguin is a promising approach, despite local issues that arose and the challenges inherent to program deployment within child protection settings. It appears a trauma-informed program using positive behavioural approaches and leveraging existing organizational strengths may impact intervention strategies, worker attitudes, and the use of restraints and seclusions against children in RCs.

scholarly journals Personal-adaptive indicators of the sovereignty of the students’ psychological space

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
І.O. Havryliuk
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Communicative Interaction ◽  
Mathematical Methods ◽  
Psychological Space ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Environmental Stimuli ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Emotional Immaturity

The article presents a theoretical and empirical study of personal-adaptive indicators of the sovereignty of the students’ psychological space. The theoretical aspect of the problem emphasizes on viewing the social adaptation and its close relations with an individual’s social activity, aimed to gain knowledge about the world, develop certain principles and specific ways of interaction. It is stressed that an optimal variant of the local interaction between social environment and personality is the psychological space sovereignty, indicated by personal-adaptive characteristics that define the boundaries of an individual’s well-being and health. The paper demonstrates the importance of studying the sovereignty of psychological space in student years. The program of empirical research and the range of mathematical methods used to process the study results, allow specifying the factor symptom complex of personal-adaptive characteristics of students with different levels of psychological space sovereignty. High level is predetermined by an individual’s integral harmony in terms of positive self-esteem, self-regulation of emotions, independence, constructive communication, and life satisfaction, expressed by self-actualization in the signs of autonomy, creativity, and time orientation; friendliness and responsibility, as well as refractory reactions to the environmental stimuli. The medium level of psychological space sovereignty is characterized by emotional maturity, self-composure, sociability, open-mindedness, and outlook well-being; a social adaptation of such individuals is quite developed and focuses on the search of power, indicated by the quest for leadership and domination. Low level of psychological space sovereignty is denoted by personal maladaptive characteristics of the students, who experience emotional discomfort, existential malaise, the destructiveness of interpersonal communicative interaction, emotional immaturity, and dysphoric reactions to the environmental stimuli. The article necessitates on introducing and implementing psycho-correction practice for students with a low level of psychological space sovereignty to overcome potential emotional and maladaptive processes.

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