Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ann Macaskill
Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Keynote: Positive psychology progress and pitfalls: Exploring health, well-being and education
Time : 9:25-10:05
Biography:
Ann Macaskill is Professor of Health Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom and Head of Research Ethics for the university. She is trained as a health psychologist and a psychotherapist. She obtained her PhD from Aberdeen University and then worked as a Post-doc at Edinburgh University. She then moved to the University of Sheffield and currently works at Sheffield Hallam University where she established a psychology degree. She has published over 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 3 books and 9 book chapters and serves on the Editorial Board of several journals.
Abstract:
Positive psychology in its most recent incarnation is now around 16 years old and it seems timely to take stock of progress. In this presentation, I will focus on the expansion of research on positive psychology that has occurred recently. This has included identification of a summary statement of human virtues and widespread acceptance of character strengths as psychological attributes worthy of study. The Values-in-Action Inventory (VIA) has been developed as a first generic measure of the hypothesised model of human virtues although not all the character strengths in the VIA are equally supported empirically by existing research it has provided a huge stimulus to researchers. My own work on applying positive psychology to examine stress in students and academics to identify the characteristics of those who cope best will be explored. We have also been examining strengths in the well elderly a much under researched population to try to identify what contributes to a happy, healthy, and productive old age. The positive psychology interventions my colleagues and I have undertaken with students and the elderly will also be presented. While great strides are being made positive psychology is not without its critics and this will be examined. However, in the spirit of positive psychology, I will examine the challenges that these identified shortcomings pose to researchers so that we can ensure that the area continues to flourish and we move on from our heavy reliance on correlational studies largely with students to employ more sophisticated designs and representative populations.
Keynote Forum
Oakley E Gordon
University of Utah, USA
Keynote: The Andean cosmovision: Connecting to the heart of nature
Time : 10:05-10:45
Biography:
Oakley E Gordon completed his PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Utah in 1984. He has travelled 15 times to Peru to study with the Paq'os (indigenous mystics/healers) in isolated villages of the high Andes. He has shared his findings with his culture at five regional and international academic conferences, through a blog and a recently published book, and through several hundred Andean meditation classes.
Abstract:
The Andean Cosmovision is a way of perceiving and interacting with reality found in the indigenous culture of the high Andes. It is not a set of concepts or beliefs. It cannot be described or encompassed by words. It can, however, be experienced and thus it can be explored. This exploration is accomplished through indigenous, meditative-like, processes that bring into our awareness all aspects of our existence, including our mind, body, and heart. The meditations also nourish a loving and mutually-supportive relationship between humans and nature, bringing in as co-creators of our meditative experience the earth, the sun, the trees, the stars, the rivers, and other aspects of nature. It is a relationship between humans and nature that is not tenable within the Western worldview. As the Andean Cosmovision and the Western worldview are based upon fundamentally different assumptions about the nature of reality, translation from one to the other is not possible. By moving to a meta-level of consideration, however, an integration of the two can be achieved. For over twenty years I have been travelling to Peru to study the Andean Cosmovision, returning home to integrate it with my life in Western culture, and teaching it to others. This presentation will lay out the basic assumptions of the Cosmovision, address how to integrate it with the Western worldview, and discuss how that integration may both contribute to positive psychology and add more beauty to our relationship with nature.
- Positive Psychology & Psychological Approaches Social Psychology Psychology & Health Educational Psychology
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
Carroy Ferguson
University of Massachusetts, USA
Title: Archetypal energies as the creative urges behind the evolution of humanistic psychology and positive psychology
Time : 10:20-10:40
Biography:
Carroy Ferguson has completed his PhD in Psychology from Boston College. He is a tenured Professor, former Dean and currently Human Service Internship Coordinator at College of Public and Community Service, UMass Boston. In 2006, he made history by becoming the first African American President of the Association for Humanistic Psychology and is currently in the same role again. He is an author of books and articles; a Clinical Practitioner; Associate Editor, Journal of Humanistic Psychology and Co-Founder of two visionary organizations (Associates in Human Understanding; Interculture, Inc).
Abstract:
The presentation is a brief overview of what can be called authentic Archetypal Energies as the “creative urges” behind the evolution of humanistic psychology and positive psychology. The framework is derived from my newest book, Evolving the Human Race Game, a book designed to assist readers in evolving human consciousness as we play what I call seven kinds of human race games. In the book, 25 Archetypal Energies are discussed. They are defined as Higher Vibrational Energies that operate deep within our psyches at both individual and collective levels. We tend to experience them as “creative urges” to move us toward our optimal selves and optimal realities. In all cultures, based on exhaustive study, each Archetypal Energy has its own transcendent value, purpose and quality and “voice” unique to the individual. Easily recognized terms are used to evoke a common sense of these Archetypal Energies (e.g., Trust, Love, Acceptance, Harmony, Inclusion, Patience, Wisdom, Courage and Truth). Three types of Archetypal Energies and their functions, therefore, will be discussed briefly with respect to how they have and will continue to influence the evolution of humanistic psychology and positive psychology. Anecdotal examples will be used to illustrate how the “creative urges” move us toward co-creating optimal conditions for individual and collective growth and how humanistic psychology and positive psychology can play important roles in that regard.
Braco Pobric
High Impact Consulting & and Coaching, USA
Title: Habits and Happiness: Apply the Research from Positive Psychology to Become Happier and Improve Your Wellbeing
Time : 11:00-11:20
Biography:
Braco Pobric is the bestselling author of Habits and Happiness: How to Become Happier and Improve Your Wellbeing by Changing Your Habits and teaches Applied Positive Psychology in corporations, public programs and as a personal coach. He has over 16,000 registered online students in 155 countries. Formerly, he was a Globally Certified Trainer and Business Coach for Dale Carnegie Training. He is a Director at ICAP and was previously a Vice President at Merrill Lynch and a Manager at KPMG.
Abstract:
This presentation is based on Pobric’s bestselling book “Habits and Happiness: How to Become Happier and Improve Your Wellbeing by Changing Your Habits”, his teaching of Positive Psychology in public and corporate settings - including individual presentation at the World Congress of Positive Psychology - coaching sessions, online classes (over 17,000 registered students in 155 countries) and many years of helping others change their life for the better while applying the research from Positive Psychology. In this interactive and engaging presentation, Mr. Pobric will help participants understand, apply and teach the scientifically based tools that will help them change their habits, introduce new habits and teach their respective students and other professionals do the same. By the end of this presentation, participants will have the basic tools necessary to start educating their audience on the topic of habits and therefore help them become even more successful in every area of their life. Mr. Pobric will provide the seven scientifically based tools to help participants change their habits and/or introduce new habits. The focus will be on applying specific research in a very simplified way that everyone in the audience can understand (from researchers to folks willing to learn about positive psychology). In addition, this session will help the coaches and positive psychology practitioners understand and apply the same tools with their own clients. Mr. Pobric will explain how to apply the research in the areas of will power, power of belief (placebo/nocebo effect), activation energy, dopamine, support group and accountability partner, creating "small wins", measuring your success, announcing your new habits, etc.
Sukanya Ray
Suffolk University, USA
Title: Experience of adversity and post traumatic growth: A positive psychological perspective on research and implications
Time : 11:20-11:40
Biography:
Sukanya Ray is a tenured Associate Professor in Psychology at Suffolk University, Boston Massachusetts. She has received training and worked as University Faculty in India, Australia and USA. Her research interests/publications include immigrant mental health risks/disparities, body image/eating problems, trauma/resiliency. She serves as Board member, community consultant, multi-cultural competence trainer, empowerment/prevention program educator in collaboration with clinicians, researchers and agencies. She has co-authored a recently published book “Beyond the Campus: Building a Sustainable University-Community Partnership”. She has received 2014 Stanley Sue Distinguished Lecture Award for her contribution of diversity education to the field of psychology at University of Maine, Orono.
Abstract:
In recent years, researchers and practitioners have embraced the positive psychological perspective which provides a better insight into various human potential, resilience and post traumatic growth among individuals following traumatic events. Literature on resilience, hope, spirituality, meaning making process, optimism, positive emotions, creativity and other aspects of positive psychology facilitate our understanding of the incredible adaptation pattern, to adverse personal/professional events and maintenance of a health/well-being among survivors of diverse backgrounds. Transforming adversity into a growth experience and moving forward in one’s life are outcome of positive characteristics and resilient behavior among youth and adults across cultures. Being raised in Eastern culture with my exposure to yoga, spiritual tradition and healing experience, I strongly believe in the power of positive outlook and its impact on psychological well-being, relational health and healthy workplace climate. This presentation will highlight mixed method research data from her recent projects on resilience, psychosocial correlates, coping strategies, meaning making and post-traumatic growth among diverse groups of women following traumatic events and adversity. Practical implications of these findings on protective factors, empowerment and growth promoting processes across individual, family and organizations will be addressed. Finally, it will highlight the importance of strength based approaches in therapeutic intervention/prevention programs that foster pathways to psychological recovery, growth and build healthy communities at large.
Tim Lomas
University of East London, UK
Title: Towards a positive cross-cultural lexicography: Enriching our emotional landscape through 216 ‘untranslatable’ words pertaining to wellbeing
Time : 11:40-12:00
Biography:
Tim Lomas is a Lecturer at the University of East London, where he is the Co-Program Leader for the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology. He has completed his PhD at the University of Westminster in 2012, focusing on the impact of meditation on men’s mental health. He is the author of numerous books and papers, covering topics including mindfulness, Buddhism, gender, cross-cultural psychology and neuroscience. His latest book, entitled ‘The Darkness and the Dawn: The Value of Sadness and other Negative Emotions,’ is published by Piatkus in Autumn 2016.
Abstract:
Although much attention has been paid to culture specific psychopathologies, there have been no comparable attempts to chart positive mental states that may be particular to certain cultures. This presentation outlines the beginnings of a positive cross cultural lexicography of ‘untranslatable’ words pertaining to well being, culled from across the world’s languages. A quasi systematic search uncovered 216 such terms. Using grounded theory, these words were organized into three categories: Feelings (comprising positive and complex feelings); relationships (comprising intimacy and pro-sociality) and character (comprising personal resources and spirituality). The presentation has two main aims. First, it aims to provide a window onto cultural differences in constructions of well being, thereby enriching our understanding of well being. Second, a more ambitious aim is that this lexicon may help expand the emotional vocabulary of English speakers (and indeed speakers of all languages) and consequently enrich their experiences of well being. The presentation concludes by setting out a research agenda to pursue these aims further.
Hajra Hussain
Amity University, UAE
Title: Empowering Attitudes towards Positive Psychology in the UAE.
Time : 12:00-12:20
Biography:
Hajra Hussain is a Positive Psychology specialist, with ten years’ experience in Psychology and Health Behaviour change. Her expertise focuses on the use of Positive Psychology as a catalyst to self-empowerment. Upon establishing well-being services (public and private sectors) and honing her skills across five continents in the education, health and retail sectors, Hajra has worked at the heart of diverse cultures and communities. Presently the Director of Counselling at Amity University, Dubai, she pioneered "The Big Happiness Project" initiative, which focused on individual happiness through engagement of the government and corporate sector, and the wider community as a whole. Hajra is an accredited Positive Psychology Coach and holds an MSc in Health Psychology.
Abstract:
By placing an emphasis on the incorporation of Happiness and Psychology into its governmental strategies and policies, the United Arab Emirates has altered its outlook towards mental health and psychology, by adopting several methodologies to that effect. For instance, the adoption of the Self-Belief model, which uses instruments of positive psychology, such as gratitude and altruism, allows for self-empowerment and the development of wellbeing. In addition to this, by employing the higher rungs of self-actualization on Maslow’s hierarchy, the Emirate has managed to elevate the ‘happiness’ factor in each city through the establishment of the Ministry of Happiness, mandating government policies in the pursuit of positive well-being, and branding 2016 as the ‘Year of Happiness’. This move aims to generate a shift from the ‘rat race’ quadrant towards the ‘happiness’ quadrant (Ben Shahar, T. 2007, Hamburger Model). With conventional models being moot in a largely untapped region, modified versions of the Functional Happiness Model, the Biopsychosocial Model and the Seligman model have been applied to two focus groups, students and teaching faculty, at Amity University Dubai, with an emphasis on perceptive awareness and self-generated inspiration. The ‘BIG Happiness Project’, with its focus on tools for Authentic Happiness has been instrumental in driving positive growth not just members within the university, but also the wider community by way of organic reach. Looking ahead to Expo 2020 and beyond, this project has allowed us, and by extension the Emirate of Dubai, to bury negative attitudes towards mental health, and reinforce the models of positive psychology.
Augustine Nwoye
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Title: Enhancing Women’s Performance in University Science and Mathematics in East Africa: Reflections from a ‘Shadowing Technique’.
Time : 12:20-12:40
Biography:
Augustine Nwoye is a Professor of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and a Member of the School of Applied Human Sciences. Through his research and writings he has made original and unique contributions to the definition and study of African Psychology as an emerging specialization very much in demand in the curriculum of many departments of psychology in the South and other regions of Africa. He has held distinguished teaching positions in several universities in Africa, including: The University of Jos, Nigeria; Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, The University of Dodoma, Tanzania and Covenant University, Lagos, Nigeria. He has also won several visiting fellowships and given public lectures in many universities in continental Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. He has received his PhD from the University of Nigeria and was recently in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar at Howard University and the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess university female students’ image of how they are faring in their science and mathematics programs and to isolate any challenges that might be hindering their motivation for optimal performance in these programs. A mixed method design was applied in implementing the research, using a catchment sample of 125 female students drawn from the Departments of Mathematics and Physics of a public university in Kenya. The ‘technique of shadowing’ provided the epistemological framework for the study. This is a process of finding out how users feel about the services they are getting in a target program; in this context, teaching and learning of mathematics and science at the university. The ‘raid technique’ was used for data collection. The peer corroborative interview pattern was applied in consolidating the problem themes isolated. A thematic model was applied in analyzing student challenges isolated. A discursive analysis was used in examining the tension density and the constitutive meaning of each problem highlighted. Percentage frequency loading of each problem mentioned was used in summarizing the trends of the findings. The results show that a number of negative factors, some structural, others mostly motivational, hinder optimal performance of university female students in science and mathematics in Kenya. This paper discusses these factors by name and clarifies the kind of obstacles they constitute against effective performance of Kenyan women in university science and mathematics. It also highlights some positive psychological measures for containing these factors.
Jace Pillay
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Title: Hope for the future and literacy achievement in a sample of impoverished South African primary school children: A positive psychology perspective
Time : 12:40-13:00
Biography:
Jace Pillay completed his PhD from the Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa. He is the South African Research Chair in education and care in childhood in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. He has published numerous papers in reputed journals, presented research findings in several international conferences and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of reputable international journals.
Abstract:
Adopting a positive psychology perspective this study investigated hope for the future and literacy achievement in a convenient sample of South African primary school children living in poverty. Data was collected through a quantitative survey that was administered with learners (N=160) from four grade 5 to 7 classes in a school in Soweto. Soweto is an urban black township that emerged during the years of apartheid and its people were characterized by extreme poverty and negativity. The survey comprised five literacy tests that were standardized by Do-It- Profiler, a UK based institute, and Shape the Learner, a South African based consultancy. The results show a statistically significant relationship between future hope and literacy scores, with learners who had lesser hope for the future scoring significantly lower on the literacy tests used in this study. Specifically, learners with lesser future hope performed noticeably lower in the real word test, followed by spelling, words spelt correctly, reading fluency, and non-word spelling. Based on positive psychology and hope theory, the author discusses the implications of the findings for literacy achievement in children living in poverty.
Ignasia Mligo
University of Dodoma, Tanzania
Title: Enhancing young children’s access to early childhood education and care settings in Tanzania
Time : 13.00-13.20
Biography:
Ignasia Mligo has recently completed her PhD from Waikato University, New Zealand in 2015 from the Faculty of Education. Her specialization is on theories of childhood development and learning. Currently, she is teaching childhood development courses in the Department of Psychology, University of Dodoma. She was also headed a Department of Curriculum and Teacher Education for 3 years before her PhD studies. Her area of interest is on early childhood education, policy and curriculum issues in relation to child development and learning. She is also amongst of the Reviewers of Early Years: An International Research Journal.
Abstract:
This study explored the current situation of limited access of young children to early childhood education and care settings in Tanzania. The aim was to explore the views of stakeholders regarding the basis for this anomaly and what needs to be done to assuage the situation. A total of 28 people participated in the study: Six teachers, 12 children and four parents in one rural and one urban pre-school (local level) and six national government education officials. Data was generated through interviews, classroom observation, focus group discussion, documentary review and informal conversations. The findings showed that early childhood education and care in Tanzania is still unsatisfactory. Many children, the participants agreed, have no access to early childhood settings for various reasons including “lack of support from the government”, “low socio-economic status of parents”, “traditional norms and cultural values”, “gender discrimination” and “lack of parents’ awareness of the importance of early investment in education”. The study discovered that all activities pertaining to early education were left to parents and communities who seemed unable to cope with its various demands. To improve the situation, it is recommended that there is need for a forging of partnership between the Government, parents and the community in such a venture; and that Government policy makers should set clear policies regarding how quality early childhood education and care can be equitably funded and conducted throughout the country.
- Advances in Psychiatric disorder treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Psychiatry Nursing Cognitive Therapy
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
David Baron
University of Southern California, USA
Title: CBT in treating athletes: A global perspective
Time : 14:00-14:20
Biography:
David Baron is currently a Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California, Director for Global Center for Exercise, Psychiatry and Sports at USC and Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Cinema-Television. He is currently working on cutting edge research on Traumatic Brain Injuries funded by the NFL. He received his MEd from USC, and is trained in bioethics at Georgetown University and NIH. Additionally, he was the NIMH bioethics representative at NIH.
Abstract:
For over half a century, CBT has been proven to be an effective treatment for a large number of psychopathologies in a varied group of patient populations. The authors of this presentation have used CBT to treat athletes suffering from mood, anxiety, psychotic, and eating disorders for over 30 years. This structured, evidenced -based therapy has unique advantages over other forms of psychotherapy when treating elite athletes. In this presentation, the authors will share their experience of over 30 years in tailoring CBT to the needs of this unique patient population. Case examples will be employed, and interaction with the audience will be strongly encouraged. The role of CBT in treating concussed athletes will be highlighted, given the timely nature of this topic, and the growing number of athletes at all levels of participation experiencing mood symptoms post sports-concussion. Finally, work conducted by the World Psychiatric Association, Section on Sports will be presented to offer a global perspective. This session is intended for clinicians currently working with athletes, and those intending to expand their practices. A bibliography of relevant papers and chapters written in this field, including those written by the presenters’, will be provided to all attendees.
Hector W H Tsang and W M Cheung
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China The University of Hong Kong, China
Title: Effects of a CBT based stress management program for teaching professionals augmented by complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approach
Time : 14:20-14:40
Biography:
Sushilkumar Deshmukh MS (Ayurved- Obs Gynaec), PhD Scholar, is practicing Ayurveda and YogaHector W H Tsang has received a number of local and international awards including the International Educator of the Year 2003 from the International Biographical Center, being a finalist for the Director’s Fellowship at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 2004, and the Most Valuable Consultancy Projects Award from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2006. Recently, he is awarded Performance Funding from his serving department at PolyU to develop collaboration with Professor Morris Bell’s cognitive remediation laboratory at the School of Medicine, Yale University, on his supported employment study in the next two years. He has frequently been invited to deliver workshops and lectures in the Asia-Pacific region including mainland China, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. since last 7 years in Pune, India. He is interested to serve as a faculty member in Ayurveda and Yoga. His interest includes: Nadi pariksa i.e. Ayurvedic Pulse reading; rehabilitation programme in cardiac and joint disorders and; Obesity.
Abstract:
Background: The present study aims to assess psychosomatic and physical effects of a CBT based stress management program augmented by CAMamong teaching professionals in Hong Kong. Method: A random controlled trial (RCT) was used to compare between CBT group (n =26) and the CBT-CAM group (n =30). Interventions were administered for 1.5 hours once a week for eight consecutive weeks. A self-administered questionnaire including perceived stress scale (PSS) and frequency of psychosomatic symptoms were measured at baseline (T1), immediate after the program (T2), and 4 weeks after the program (T3). Physical parameters were measured at T1 and T2. Results: A reduction of 23% in PSS was observed in the CBT group, while the CBT-CAM group yielded 18% reductions in PSS from T1 to T3 [F(2,108)= 3.099; p=.049]. No significant interactions were observed in the frequency of psychosomatic symptoms and physical parameters. However, a significant downward time trend was observed (p<.001) and larger percentage changes in physical responses were shown in the CBT-CAM group than CBT group. Conclusion: Clinical evidence of both the CBT-CAM and CBT programs has been demonstrated in the current study and both approaches are easy to be self-implemented. The CAM technique might serve as an alternative choice for self-administered stress management to replace the additional time needed for professional follow-up contacts. It might further improve some physical responses such as handgrip strength and resting heart rate, which are associated with better psychosomatic health and better occupational stress management.
Brigitte Karcher
Brest University School of Medicine, France
Title: Cognitive behavioral therapy versus bariatric surgery in the treatment of eating disorders
Biography:
Brigitte Karcher has completed her PhD from Nice-Sophia Antipolis University. She was qualified by the CNU (National University Council ) in Psychology the following year of her thesis. She is now working as an Associate Professor at Brest University School of Medicine. She has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals. She took part at the Ethics Research Laboratory, Professionalism and Health (EA 4686) in Brest University School of Medicine.
Abstract:
In western countries, obesity is currently considered as a major public health issue, mostly in relation with bulimia addiction. While meeting obese subjects with bulimia, one can hear a complaint and a suffering expressed as an acute pain of body dissatisfaction. These subjects feel ashamed and conclude that their body dissatisfaction should have a large impact on their self-esteem. The care requested is more related to this suffering as to its impact on health. To better understand this demand for restoring self-esteem by losing weight, we undertook to assess the actual effects of weight loss. The aim of our study was to measure the effects of medical treatment or psychological support on self-esteem and body dissatisfaction for obese subjects with bulimia.
Richard Shane
New West Physicians, USA
Title: A self-administered treatment for relief from insomnia, anxiety and trauma
Biography:
Richard Shane, PhD, is a Behavioral Sleep Specialist for New West Physicians, Colorado. From 2009-2014, he was the behavioral sleep specialist for Lutheran Medical Center Sleep Center, Denver. He developed the Sleep Easily learn-at-home program that has been proven effective in a study published in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Sleep Disorders and Therapy.
Abstract:
Millions of people suffer from insomnia, anxiety and trauma, conditions that have damaging effects on almost every area of life. Pharmacologic treatment carries dangers of addiction and side effects. Numerous studies have proven that cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for these conditions. To compliment in-person behavioral treatment, there is the need for effective self-administered treatment. To meet this need, this presentation will cover highly effective techniques that are simple yet commonly overlooked. This video will be tailored to also be a self-administered treatment to which you can refer your patients for basic relief. Instead of working with thoughts and emotions, you will learn a simple way to calm the corresponding body tension (a physical expression of the unconscious mind), which automatically creates positive shifts in mind and emotions. You will learn responses to body discomfort that are damaging and responses that are beneficial, plus specific body sensations that are physical triggers for calming the nervous system. Calming these few core body sensations is easier and more effective than general relaxation and results in a fundamental feeling of internal safety and trust. You will also learn: Research data about the damaging effects of poor sleep and the benefits of good sleep; how these physical triggers work and steps for simple and safe mind-body integration applied to relief from insomnia, anxiety and trauma; steps to reduce internal struggle and the fear that is at the root of much discomfort and; a quick stress-reduction method to use when your eyes are open and you’re in the midst of activity. This session will include an experiential exercise, plus a summary card, so you and your patients will be able to use some of these elements in everyday life.
Nesrin Hisli Sahin
Baskent University, Turkey
Title: Brain-based, mindfully-managed stress counseling: An interpersonal neurobiology based approach to stress counseling
Biography:
Nesrin Hisli Sahin has completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA in 1972. She received her Graduate and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology at Aegean University, Turkey. She has been the President of the Turkish Psychological Association for several years. Since 2008, she has been the Head of the Psychology Department at Baskent University and has established the Baskent Univeristy Stress Management and Applications Center in 2014. She has published more then 30 papers in journals listed in the SSCI. She has several CE certificates from Institutions like Benson-Henry Mind-Body Institute, NICABM, Psychotherapy Network, Mindsight Institute.
Abstract:
Interpersonal neurobiology is a current, consilient approach, synthesizing information from disciplines like neurology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, mathematics, sybernetics, physics, arts, contemplative practices and theories of human behavior like psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive, to explain normal and abnormal behavior. It incorporates issues on brain evolution, bio-psycho-social development, attachment, stress, neurobiology, social cognition, and interpersonal communication. We are in the process of developing a new approach to stress- counseling based on this new approach, named as Brain-Based, Mindfully-Managed Stress Counseling. This is a 10-week psychoeducation program conducted in a group setting (each session is conducted in one and a half hours). The next sessions follow in the mentioned order: the role of the mind in stress and how the mind works, the role of personality in stress and how personality is developed, the importance of communication in stress and the workings of the brain in interpersonal situations, the importance and reality of brain plasticity and its role in the change process, and a wrap-up session with a philosophical, humanistic-existentialistic touch, introducing the role of acceptance and commitment as additional coping strategies. Along the way, during each session a new mindfulness practice is taught and practiced between the sessions. In this speech at the Congress, the details of this new type of stress counseling will be discussed and some preliminary results of pilot studies will be presented.
- Workshop
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
John D Matthews and Jesse M Crosby
Harvard Medical School, USA
Title: Acceptance and commitment therapy for addictions
Time : 14:25-15:25
Biography:
John D Matthews, MD, MSc is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Medical Director of the Bulfinch Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is an integrated health care model for psychiatric patients. He is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and teaches cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for residents at the combined Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program. In 1998, he was certified as a Diplomate in the subspecialty of Addiction Psychiatry. His research has focused on cognitive behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology interventions in the areas of suicide, depression, and psychotic depression.
Abstract:
This workshop will be divided into four sections: 1. an overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. 2. the application of the ACT model to addictions; and 3. experiential examples, with audience participation, of how to apply the six ACT processes to achieve “Psychological Flexibility†in patients with addictions. 4. Summary of outcome studies demonstrating the efficacy of ACT in the treatment of addictions. Section 1: In ACT, treatment focuses on responding to internal experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations, images, and memories) based on context and function rather than content. The goal of ACT is to change one’s relationship to distressing thoughts rather than change their content. The aim of ACT is “Psychological Flexibility†which means being aware and allowing negative internal experiences, in the moment, while engaging in value-based actions. According to ACT, when negative internal experiences determine one’s actions, pain is intensified resulting in avoidance and inflexible responses. Section 2: ACT is very consistent with the current perspective of treating addictions; a prime example is the 12-step tradition. ACT and the 12-step tradition share in the importance of acceptance, being present, and values. Section 3: The presenters will provide experiential examples, with audience participation, of the six ACT processes including, being present, acceptance, diffusion, self as context, values clarification, and committed value-based actions. Section 4: The presenters will provide a summary of the outcome studies demonstrating the efficacy of ACT in the treatment of addictions.
- Cognitive Behavioral therapy
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
Sushilkumar Deshmukh
Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College, India
Title: Programme for management of cognitive disorders with ayurveda and yoga
Time : 16:20-16:40
Biography:
Sushilkumar Deshmukh MS (Ayurved- Obs Gynaec), PhD Scholar, is practicing Ayurveda and Yoga since last 7 years in Pune, India. He is interested to serve as a faculty member in Ayurveda and Yoga. His interest includes: Nadi pariksa i.e. Ayurvedic Pulse reading; rehabilitation programme in cardiac and joint disorders and; Obesity.
Abstract:
Introduction: Indian Traditional Medicinal System Ayurveda is a benchmark in understanding Human health and disease therapeutics since more than 2000 years. Current scenario of cognitive diseases and their management with Ayurveda and therapeutic yoga is a topic of new exploration when it comes to evidence based research. Objectives: A. Understanding of cognitive diseases using Ayurveda literature B. In the womb management: Ayurveda Preventive and wellness practices during foetal period to avoid cognitive disorders. Antenatal care will be planned to avoid future cognitive diseases in next progeny. C. Diagnosis of cognitive disorders with the help of Ayurveda basic principles of Pathophysiology D. Therapeutics and Yogic interventions to minimize the intensity of the disorder by improving quality of life with reduced dosage and dependency on medicines having side effects Materials & Methods: Ayurveda compendia literature study will be presented in detail along with meta-analysis of research articles and studies. Discussion and Conclusion: This article will discuss many aspects of Ayurveda strategies for cognitive disorders management. Why Ayurveda different from others to treat cognitive diseases- A. personalised medication with complex mixtures B. evidence based traditional medicine C. major source of novel medicines as well as novel concepts D. very long tradition and apparently safe use With detail analysis of prevention right from the womb by focusing on mother’s lifestyle and diet/drug related practices. Second issue is how an Ayurveda decoding of disease is different than modern medicine and how this study of pathophysiology helps in understanding deep rooted causes of the manifestations of the disease. This understanding helps in giving right therapy and medicines by personalized solution with minimum side effects. This therapy not only focuses on the healing or rejuvenation of the body but also helps body to get balance on the level of body soul and mind. Not only medicines but route of administration will also be discussed like Nasyam (nasal medications), Shirodhara (oil or buttermilk is dropped on head in supine position) or Basti (enema) in CNS disorders. Holistic therapies get extended into non pharmacopeia treatments like yogic practices like meditation and Omkar chanting proving to be effective in behavioural and cognitive skill development.
Nithin Krishna
University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA
Title: Impaired temporal, parietal and frontal/prefrontal coupling and glutamate during auditory working memory in Schizophrenia.
Time : 16:40-17:00
Biography:
Nithin Kirshna is a professor at University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA
Abstract:
Working memory (WM) deficit is a core cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia (SCZ), though its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Long-range synchronization of neuronal oscillations is presumed to mark cognitive processing and facilitate information transfer among broadly separated brain regions. Theta, alpha, and gamma range phase synchronization (PS) is thought to contribute during encoding, maintenance and retrieval phases of WM. Using a novel auditory WM paradigm, we used combined EEG and MRS measures to investigate the putative functional connectivity and neurochemistry in mediating the accuracy and performance during a modified N-Back test (MNB). SCZ patients (n=57) and matched healthy controls (HC, n=51) participated in the study. The MNB task requires rapid comparisons of subtly discrete tones held in memory while resisting the interference of previous tones. EEG recording during the MNB task was used to obtain phase synchronization (PS) values from time frequency data. To examine the contribution of synchronization by neurochemistry, GABA & glutamate were measured using standard techniques at the medial frontal/anterior cingulate. Behaviorally, HC performed considerably better compared to SCZ [F=18.94, p=.000]; SCZ made more errors [F=21.27, p = 0.000] compared to HC. Reaction time (RT) was not significantly different between groups during correct trials (F=000, p=0.985). In contrast, HC had a shorter RT during incorrect trials (F=12.49, p=0.001) compared to SCZ. Neuro-physiologically in HC, correct trials marked by an increased right fronto-temporal, central and left parieto-frontal PS in the alpha frequency; on the contrary, a trend for an increased interhemispheric fronto-frontal, and tempro-occipital PS in the delta frequency band was noted in SZ during the same time. Additionally a significant tempro-frontal and parieto-frontal PS in the theta frequency band did not survive multiple corrections. Neuro-chemically a higher level of GABA (r=.34, p=0.01) was correlated with accuracy in SCZ. In addition, lower levels of glutamate (r=-.33, p=0.05) and glyco-phosphatidylcholine (r=-.31, p=0.05) were correlated with the increased fronto-temporal and fronto-parietal PS respectively. Studies are suggestive that alpha-theta frequency are important for phonological loop during WM tasks, however delta frequencies are more implicated in attention selection specifically inhibiting all interferences that may affect the performance of the task. Our finding are suggesting that SCZ rely heavily on attention and concentration for auditory working memory, and SCZ may utilize parieto-occipital PS rather than a frontal temporal synchronization for auditory working memory implicating cerebellum in auditory working memory, Our finding highlights the role of neurochemistry along with impaired fronto-temporal and parieto-frontal PS abnormality in SCZ.
Biography:
Mag Alina Georgeta is a Dr. Lecturer at the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, were she teaches early childhood education, pshychology and pedagogy courses and seminars, providing theoretical and practical support for the training of students. She participated in many national and international conferences and published important articles and books in order to share her research work in early childhood education. She is a person with real passion for the pedagogical field and she enjoys working with people, being recognized for the significant impact as a trainer in the fields of early childhood education and teacher training. The enthusiasm proven in the activity of training young children, students, parents and teachers, motivates her to continuously develop her competences and research interests.
Abstract:
Early year services in Romania have, until recently, lacked any form of national financial support. Early childhood practitioners are very low paid and the investments in training programs are insufficient. The impact on children should be considered and policy decisions should be taken, in order to grow the opportunities for training. In a world affected by financial crises, attitudes about children’s needs are very important. This research evaluates if the voices of children in Romanian preschools are heard and proposes new educational policy in order to train practitioners for preschools. The purpose of the study is to involve practitioners and parents in the Early Years in an experimental training program focused on how to reconstruct positive attitudes about children. We discovered that according to the traditional attitudes of Romanian parents and practitioners, children’s voices are rarely taken into consideration. After the new training program was put into practice in preschools and homes, teachers and parents started to give more attention to children’s voices and children’s wellbeing was improved. The study is relevant in order to increase public attention to the professional development of the early childhood workforce as a factor that can contribute to a healthy childhood.
Anbarin Aslam
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Title: Efficacy of five sessions programme of cognitive restructuring on depressive symptomatology among chronically sick
Biography:
Anbarin Aslam has completed her Mphil (Scholar) from The Islamia University of Bahawalpur in 2016.
Abstract:
This study was aimed to check the efficacy of five sessions of cognitive restructuring among the chronically sick of asthma, diabetes, heart attack, hepatitis and cancer who are prior to develop the symptoms of depression while have just one week to two months back, have history of diagnosis. Sample of 10 diagnosed patients with chronic physical diseases were conscripted. The foremost intentions of study were to bargain the effects of implementing sessions of cognitive restructuring on the patients of bodily diseases who are going to adapt the symptomatology of depression after disease diagnosis. To measure the Depressive Symptomatology “The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology developed by Rush (2000) was used. Behavior therapy, CBT and mindfulness based cognitive therapy were used for cognitive restructuring. Lot of difference found in patients thought patterns after the implementation of cognitive restructuring between pre and post assessment sessions. Results indicated asthmatics and diabetics spectacles rich effect of cognitive restructuring to change their thought pattern about the paraphernalia of their diseases. They were on the level of severe depression but after the enactment of cognitive restructuring they switched on to the level of mild category. Heart patients had fluctuated features of their problems because of rigidity developed by age factor as they were much reluctant to dispute their thought patterns. Hepatitis and cancer patients seemed much hard to turn their thinking. It proved that cognitive restructuring is much effective to minimize depressive symptomatology.
- Poster Presentations
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
Yurie Igarashi
California Lutheran University, USA
Title: Happiness in relation to culture
Biography:
Yurie Igarashi is completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from California Lutheran University and earned a Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. Her research interests are cultural differences and well being of individuals.
Abstract:
Happiness is considered one of the most important values people seek throughout life. Studies have reported that happiness is significantly related to cultural factors such as collectivism and individualism (I/C) and can vary between I/C countries. Not only can country affect the levels of happiness, but also personal preference for a particular cultural orientation. People from individualistic societies and personal individualistic orientation tend to produce higher levels of life satisfaction because individualistic people create life styles that fit with their preferences. However, other researches show that individuals from collectivistic societies are more encouraged and successful in pursuing of happiness than individuals from individualistic societies. Optimism has been known to significantly influence personal happiness across cultures. Therefore, the current study examined if an individual would more likely to experience happiness when individual’s I/C orientation matched with society without the effect of optimism by comparing an individualistic country (the U.S.) and collectivistic country (India). In the present study, 120 (28 males and 92 females) American samples and 132 (84 males and 48 females) Indian samples were collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Both personal tendencies predicted personal happiness with the U.S. sample, yet personal tendency of individualism predicted persona happiness significant higher. On the other hand, only personal tendency of collectivism predicted personal happiness with the Indian sample. Optimism did not influence happiness with the Indian sample. The results showed there was significant relation between culture, cultural personal tendencies and personal happiness with the U.S. sample and the Indian sample.
- Video Presentations
Location: Day 2
Session Introduction
Richard Shane
USA
Title: A Self-Administered Treatment for Relief from Insomnia, Anxiety and Trauma
Biography:
Richard Shane, PhD, is a Behavioral Sleep Specialist for New West Physicians, Colorado. From 2009-2014, he was the behavioral sleep specialist for Lutheran Medical Center Sleep Center, Denver. He developed the Sleep Easily learn-at-home program that has been proven effective in a study published in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Sleep Disorders and Therapy.
Abstract:
Millions of people suffer from insomnia, anxiety and trauma, conditions that have damaging effects on almost every area of life. Pharmacologic treatment carries dangers of addiction and side effects. Numerous studies have proven that cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for these conditions. To compliment in-person behavioral treatment, there is the need for effective self-administered treatment. To meet this need, this presentation will cover highly effective techniques that are simple yet commonly overlooked. This video will be tailored to also be a self-administered treatment to which you can refer your patients for basic relief. Instead of working with thoughts and emotions, you will learn a simple way to calm the corresponding body tension (a physical expression of the unconscious mind), which automatically creates positive shifts in mind and emotions. You will learn responses to body discomfort that are damaging and responses that are beneficial, plus specific body sensations that are physical triggers for calming the nervous system. Calming these few core body sensations is easier and more effective than general relaxation and results in a fundamental feeling of internal safety and trust. You will also learn: Research data about the damaging effects of poor sleep and the benefits of good sleep; how these physical triggers work and steps for simple and safe mind-body integration applied to relief from insomnia, anxiety and trauma; steps to reduce internal struggle and the fear that is at the root of much discomfort and; a quick stress-reduction method to use when your eyes are open and you’re in the midst of activity. This session will include an experiential exercise, plus a summary card, so you and your patients will be able to use some of these elements in everyday life.
Nesrin Hisli Sahin
Baskent University, Turkey
Title: Brain-based, mindfully-managed stress counseling: An interpersonal neurobiology based approach to stress counseling
Biography:
Nesrin Hisli Sahin has completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA in 1972. She received her Graduate and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology at Aegean University, Turkey. She has been the President of the Turkish Psychological Association for several years. Since 2008, she has been the Head of the Psychology Department at Baskent University and has established the Baskent Univeristy Stress Management and Applications Center in 2014. She has published more then 30 papers in journals listed in the SSCI. She has several CE certificates from Institutions like Benson-Henry Mind-Body Institute, NICABM, Psychotherapy Network, Mindsight Institute.
Abstract:
Interpersonal neurobiology is a current, consilient approach, synthesizing information from disciplines like neurology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, mathematics, sybernetics, physics, arts, contemplative practices and theories of human behavior like psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive, to explain normal and abnormal behavior. It incorporates issues on brain evolution, bio-psycho-social development, attachment, stress, neurobiology, social cognition, and interpersonal communication. We are in the process of developing a new approach to stress- counseling based on this new approach, named as Brain-Based, Mindfully-Managed Stress Counseling. This is a 10-week psychoeducation program conducted in a group setting (each session is conducted in one and a half hours). The next sessions follow in the mentioned order: the role of the mind in stress and how the mind works, the role of personality in stress and how personality is developed, the importance of communication in stress and the workings of the brain in interpersonal situations, the importance and reality of brain plasticity and its role in the change process, and a wrap-up session with a philosophical, humanistic-existentialistic touch, introducing the role of acceptance and commitment as additional coping strategies. Along the way, during each session a new mindfulness practice is taught and practiced between the sessions. In this speech at the Congress, the details of this new type of stress counseling will be discussed and some preliminary results of pilot studies will be presented.
Anbarin Aslam
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Title: Efficacy of five sessions programme of cognitive restructuring on depressive symptomatology among chronically sick
Biography:
Anbarin Aslam has completed her Mphil (Scholar) from The Islamia University of Bahawalpur in 2016
Abstract:
This study was aimed to check the efficacy of five sessions of cognitive restructuring among the chronically sick of asthma, diabetes, heart attack, hepatitis and cancer who are prior to develop the symptoms of depression while have just one week to two months back, have history of diagnosis. Sample of 10 diagnosed patients with chronic physical diseases were conscripted. The foremost intentions of study were to bargain the effects of implementing sessions of cognitive restructuring on the patients of bodily diseases who are going to adapt the symptomatology of depression after disease diagnosis. To measure the Depressive Symptomatology “The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology developed by Rush (2000) was used. Behavior therapy, CBT and mindfulness based cognitive therapy were used for cognitive restructuring. Lot of difference found in patients thought patterns after the implementation of cognitive restructuring between pre and post assessment sessions. Results indicated asthmatics and diabetics spectacles rich effect of cognitive restructuring to change their thought pattern about the paraphernalia of their diseases. They were on the level of severe depression but after the enactment of cognitive restructuring they switched on to the level of mild category. Heart patients had fluctuated features of their problems because of rigidity developed by age factor as they were much reluctant to dispute their thought patterns. Hepatitis and cancer patients seemed much hard to turn their thinking. It proved that cognitive restructuring is much effective to minimize depressive symptomatology.
- Keynote
Location: Day 1
Session Introduction
Ann Macaskill
Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Title: Positive Psychology Progress and Pitfalls: Exploring Health, Well-being and Education
Biography:
Ann Macaskill is Professor of Health Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom and Head of Research Ethics for the university. She is trained as a health psychologist and a psychotherapist. She obtained her PhD from Aberdeen University and then worked as a Post-doc at Edinburgh University. She then moved to the University of Sheffield and currently works at Sheffield Hallam University where she established a psychology degree. She has published over 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 3 books and 9 book chapters and serves on the Editorial Board of several journals.
Abstract:
Positive psychology in its most recent incarnation is now around 16 years old and it seems timely to take stock of progress. In this presentation, I will focus on the expansion of research on positive psychology that has occurred recently. This has included identification of a summary statement of human virtues and widespread acceptance of character strengths as psychological attributes worthy of study. The Values-in-Action Inventory (VIA) has been developed as a first generic measure of the hypothesised model of human virtues although not all the character strengths in the VIA are equally supported empirically by existing research it has provided a huge stimulus to researchers. My own work on applying positive psychology to examine stress in students and academics to identify the characteristics of those who cope best will be explored. We have also been examining strengths in the well elderly a much under researched population to try to identify what contributes to a happy, healthy, and productive old age. The positive psychology interventions my colleagues and I have undertaken with students and the elderly will also be presented. While great strides are being made positive psychology is not without its critics and this will be examined. However, in the spirit of positive psychology, I will examine the challenges that these identified shortcomings pose to researchers so that we can ensure that the area continues to flourish and we move on from our heavy reliance on correlational studies largely with students to employ more sophisticated designs and representative populations.
Oakley E. Gordon
University of Utah, USA
Title: The Andean Cosmo vision: Connecting to the Heart of Nature
Biography:
Oakley E Gordon completed his PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Utah in 1984. He has travelled 15 times to Peru to study with the Paq'os (indigenous mystics/healers) in isolated villages of the high Andes. He has shared his findings with his culture at five regional and international academic conferences, through a blog and a recently published book, and through several hundred Andean meditation classes. oakley.gordon@psych.utah.edu
Abstract:
The Andean Cosmovision is a way of perceiving and interacting with reality found in the indigenous culture of the high Andes. It is not a set of concepts or beliefs. It cannot be described or encompassed by words. It can, however, be experienced and thus it can be explored. This exploration is accomplished through indigenous, meditative-like, processes that bring into our awareness all aspects of our existence, including our mind, body, and heart. The meditations also nourish a loving and mutually-supportive relationship between humans and nature, bringing in as co-creators of our meditative experience the earth, the sun, the trees, the stars, the rivers, and other aspects of nature. It is a relationship between humans and nature that is not tenable within the Western worldview. As the Andean Cosmovision and the Western worldview are based upon fundamentally different assumptions about the nature of reality, translation from one to the other is not possible. By moving to a meta-level of consideration, however, an integration of the two can be achieved. For over twenty years I have been travelling to Peru to study the Andean Cosmovision, returning home to integrate it with my life in Western culture, and teaching it to others. This presentation will lay out the basic assumptions of the Cosmovision, address how to integrate it with the Western worldview, and discuss how that integration may both contribute to positive psychology and add more beauty to our relationship with nature.
- Positive Psychology | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Positive Psychological Approaches | Psychology & Health | Psychopathology
Location: Day 1
Session Introduction
Scott Asalone
University of Pennsylvania, USA
Title: Beyond Happiness to Greatness: Applying Positive Psychology to Achieve a Higher Goal
Time : 11:10-11:30
Biography:
Scott Asalone is an author, speaker, poet and teacher. He is an entrepreneur who started A&S Global Management Consulting, Inc. in 1999. For the past 16 years ASGMC has worked around the world developing and delivering powerful and unique programs for leaders and employees in for-profit and non-profit organizations. Scott has authored a children’s Christmas book, a book of poetry, and his most recent book about how to attain personal greatness. He has a Master degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He is also an Associate Instructor for the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program
Abstract:
If positive psychology focuses on what is best in life and in each individual and its research and applications have been empirically validated then it should be possible to blend positive psychology applications in a workshop environment and help individuals unleash previously untapped potential. Positive psychology proposes to research and build upon the best that humans can experience and the best they can become. Historically the goal of positive psychology has varied from happiness, to subjective well-being, to flourishing. Yet each of these goals falls short of the highest possibility for each individual. Is flourishing the end goal of positive psychology or is there a penultimate goal which can be achieved through the select application of positive psychology interventions and research? Based on over 8 years of study and application there will be a brief argument for a new goal for positive psychology; that of personal greatness, and a definition will be suggested. Additionally a process called Roadmap to Personal Greatness will be offered as an example of a session that was offered for four years in a Fortune 100 financial services company. Qualitative results and anecdotal evidence will be shared from the participants of this session. This work focused on the use of multiple positive psychology interventions, teaching of positive psychology research, dialogue and self-reflection to enable each participant to create a path to attain their goals, dreams and unleash their personal greatness.
Robert M Rosalesg
Lead Academy, USA
Title: Energizing social interactions at work: An exploration of relationships that generate employee and organizational thriving
Time : 11:30-11:50
Biography:
Robert M Rosales has completed his Master of Applied Positive psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania, where he currently serves as an Assistant Instructor. He is an Instructor on positive psychology and positive organizations at Universidad TECMILENIO in Mexico. He is the founder and principal advisor of Lead Academy, a workplace leadership development advisory firm specializing in sustainable organizational excellence through the application of positive psychology.trauma/resiliency. She serves as Board member, community consultant, multi-cultural competence trainer, empowerment/prevention program educator in collaboration with clinicians, researchers and agencies. She has co-authored a recently published book “Beyond the Campus: Building a Sustainable University-Community Partnership”. She has received 2014 Stanley Sue Distinguished Lecture Award for her contribution of diversity education to the field of psychology at University of Maine, Orono.
Abstract:
People are an organization’s most valuable asset. In our increasingly service-based economies, social relationships and swift coordination among employees are the means by which a lot of work gets done. Thus, whether organizations -and their employees- flourish or languish largely depends on the quality of the social connections they nurture. The quality of the workplace connections can be defined as life giving (high quality) or life depleting (low quality). Positive social interactions facilitate organizational learning, cooperation, effectiveness, and employee loyalty, among many other desirable outcomes (Ragins & Dutton, 2007). While positive relationships give life and energy to individuals and their organization, toxic relationships sap the energy out of them and lead to individual and corporate floundering (Dutton, 2003). A recent survey highlighted that for three out of four U.S. employees their relationship with co-workers was what most engaged them at work (SHRM, 2015). The Gallup Organization (2015) found that a majority (51%) of full-time workers in America are not engaged in their jobs while another 17.5 percent are potentially hostile to their organizations. Positive psychology provides us with interventions that can help bring about high-quality connections, positive emotions, trust, energy and wellbeing. I will define positive relationships at work, with a particular focus on high-quality connections, examine the benefits of high-quality relationships and connections, and provide a framework for building high-quality connections. I will show that high-quality connections are a pathway to building individual and organizational flourishing. optimism, positive emotions, creativity and other aspects of positive psychology facilitate our understanding of the incredible adaptation pattern, to adverse personal/professional events and maintenance of a health/well-being among survivors of diverse backgrounds. Transforming adversity into a growth experience and moving forward in one’s life are outcome of positive characteristics and resilient behavior among youth and adults across cultures. Being raised in Eastern culture with my exposure to yoga, spiritual tradition and healing experience, I strongly believe in the power of positive outlook and its impact on psychological well-being, relational health and healthy workplace climate. This presentation will highlight mixed method research data from her recent projects on resilience, psychosocial correlates, coping strategies, meaning making and post-traumatic growth among diverse groups of women following traumatic events and adversity. Practical implications of these findings on protective factors, empowerment and growth promoting processes across individual, family and organizations will be addressed. Finally, it will highlight the importance of strength based approaches in therapeutic intervention/prevention programs that foster pathways to psychological recovery, growth and build healthy communities at large.
Brad Desmond
University of Melbourne, Australia
Title: Harnessing both patient and practitioner strengths in the work of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The ‘dance’ of respective resources.
Time : 11:50-12:10
Biography:
Brad Desmond is an award winning positive psychologist with twenty years’ experience supervising counselling and mental health programs. He is a member of the editorial board of Positive Psychology Program based in the Netherlands and a member of the Positive Psychology Interest Group at the University of Melbourne.
Abstract:
The central objective of CBT remains helping people identify dysfunctional cognitions and acquiring skills to change them. And while there are varied approaches to CBT, most treatment protocols tend to be prescribed uniformly across patient cohorts. More recently Positive Psychology has opened more scope for tailoring CBT techniques to individual patients as informed by prior assessments of the patient’s strengths. For example Flückiger & Grosse Holtforth (2008) found when practitioners spent five minutes reviewing a patient’s strengths immediately prior to sessions there were improvements in therapeutic alliance and outcomes. Moreover; further to involving the patient’s strengths in CBT, this presentation will argue the next, logical progression is for greater involvement of the practitioner’s own personal strengths in the work of therapy. In the first instance this is intended to enhance the therapeutic alliance through deeper authenticity and congruence. There are also the benefits of practitioner resilience and the experience of ‘flow’ as documented elsewhere in the Positive Psychology literature. This presentation will draw from research and case studies to illustrate the ‘dance’ between the respective strengths of the patient and the practitioner, as they work towards deeper therapeutic alliance and better therapeutic outcomes.
Ann Macaskill
Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Title: Expanding mental health assessment to include psychological strengths: Advantages and disadvantages for patients and clinicians
Time : 12:10-12:30
Biography:
Ann Macaskill is a Professor of Health Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom and Head of Research Ethics for the University. She is trained as a Health Psychologist and a Psychotherapist. She has obtained her PhD from Aberdeen University and then worked as a Post doctorate at Edinburgh University. She then moved to the University of Sheffield and currently works at Sheffield Hallam University, where she established a psychology degree. She has published over 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 3 books and 9 book chapters and serves on the Editorial Board of several journals.
Abstract:
Traditionally when mental health is assessed, what is actually being measured is psychopathology. However, psychological health is more than the absence of psychopathology. This paper explores the application of the two continua model of mental health developed by Keyes, 2002 to individuals with both chronic and acute mental health conditions. Several studies are reported with different groups of individuals suffering from mental health problems. The acceptability to clients of assessing their psychological strengths is explored. Quantitative and qualitative data are presented. In a sample suffering from recurrent depression (N=112), higher levels of gratitude, self-forgiveness, hope and spirituality were found to be predictive of greater life satisfaction. Self-forgiveness, spirituality and gratitude were found to be predictors of happiness. While in a student sample (N=214) higher levels of hope and gratitude were predictors of lower levels of psychopathology. Gratitude and hope predicted life satisfaction in this sample with hope, exploratory curiosity and gratitude predicting positive affect. Assessing strengths was seen by most participants as positive, although the need for support in implementing their strengths was identified as an issue. From interviews with clinicians (N=10), it was clear that while many therapists welcomed this development they felt that further training would be necessary for them to fully embrace this new way of working. Concerns were also raised about educating clients about positive psychology and new ways of thinking and being. Cognitive Behavior Therapists envisaged this as being less problematic than did therapists coming from the Rogerian, Humanist Psychology tradition.
Augustine Nwoye
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Title: The positive psychology of African cultural practice: Stages and rituals of community intervention in grief work in Africa
Time : 12:50-13:10
Biography:
Augustine Nwoye is a Professor of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and a Member of the School of Applied Human Sciences. Through his research and writings, he has made original and unique contributions to the definition and study of African Psychology as an emerging specialization very much in demand in the curriculum of many departments of psychology in the South and other regions of Africa. He has held distinguished teaching positions in several universities in Africa, including: The University of Jos, Nigeria; Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, The University of Dodoma, Tanzania and Covenant University, Lagos, Nigeria. He has also won several visiting fellowships and given public lectures in many universities in continental Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. He has received his PhD from the University of Nigeria and was recently in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar at Howard University and the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Abstract:
Western literatures on bereavement acknowledge the tendency to pathological grieving among some bereaved persons. The phenomenon of pathological mourning, however, is rare in Africa because of the presence of coherent and positive transformative rituals of mourning made available by the community to bereaved individuals. This presentation argues that such rituals and performative experiences heal through provision of positive psychological resources that help to prevent the grief of the bereaved from degenerating into pathological mourning. The paper elaborates on the content, process, symbolic meanings and clinical potency of these rituals. The paper demonstrates by means of a case study that whereas Western researchers have largely been concerned with the individual’s reaction to loss, the African perspective focuses on the spiritual/systemic/cultural nature of healing in grieving and the variety of resources which the community makes available to assuage the pain and the impact of people’s bereavement. The significance of the presentation is to highlight and underscore the African community’s contributions to facilitating healing in the bereaved. It is believed that such an account will complement the work already done in the bereavement field by Western investigators.
Claus Dieter Stobäus
University of Massachusetts, USA
Title: School physical education: Welfare, motivation and positive psychology
Time : 12:30-12:50
Biography:
Carroy Ferguson has completed his PhD in Psychology from Boston College. He is a tenured Professor, former Dean and currently Human Service Internship Coordinator at College of Public and Community Service, UMass Boston. In 2006, he made history by becoming the first African American President of the Association for Humanistic Psychology and is currently in the same role again. He is an author of books and articles; a Clinical Practitioner; Associate Editor, Journal of Humanistic Psychology and Co-Founder of two visionary organizations (Associates in Human Understanding; Interculture, Inc).
Abstract:
This study is a reflection about part of the theoretical foundation of the doctoral thesis "The process of construction of welfare and quality of life during training in Physical Education and future prospects in the direction of Positive Psychology" and the discussions among the authors. It can be characterized as a bibliographical study. Despite its importance for learning, motivation rarely receives due attention of teachers and researchers. Now with the flourishing of the Positive Psychology study area it appears a new study that can discuss the importance of knowing better and give intentional application of motivational concepts and practices, under the influence of positive aspects that favors the development of classes at school for students during their education process. In this perspective, the teacher must recognize not only planning topics such as methodology, content, evaluation and objectives, but also consider the emotional and motivational dimension of its operations; and teachers search through his/her strategies to establish links that contribute to personal flourishing. Therefore, it is evident the need to analyze the scenarios of which our students come from and to what we want to empower on them, also at the same time, not forgetting the specific topics above, we will be able to have more enjoyable environments in our schools/colleges, as well of partakers and helping children, youth and today, many adults who seek sense of being in our educational settings, through the construction of a health project aimed at the maximum possible development of human potential, contributing on a creative and innovative way into the common welfare.
- Workshop
Location: Day 1
Session Introduction
Edward Hoffman
Yeshiva University, USA
Title: The life and legacy of Abraham Maslow positive psychology
Time : 13:40-14:35
Biography:
Edward Hoffman completed his BA from Cornell University and his PhD in educational psychology from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor. He is an adjunct Associate Psychology Professor at Yeshiva University and the author of more than 15 books in psychology including the definitive biography of Abraham Maslow, titled The Right to Be Human. He also edited Maslow’s unpublished papers titled Future Visions. He is the recent co-author of Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Flourishing, and serves on the Editorial Board of several international psychology journals.
Abstract:
Abraham Maslow was among the most important psychological thinkers of our time. His seminal ideas on intrinsic motivation, creativity and peak-experiences, personal growth and self-actualization, have impacted social science for more than 50 years. At the time of his death in 1970, Maslow was busily at work on a host of unfinished projects—many of which have substantial relevance for positive psychology today. As his chief biographer, Edward Hoffman will highlight Maslow’s key influences--such as his close relationships with Alfred Adler and cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict—and Maslow’s unrealized goals for a new psychology based on human personality strengths, exceptional experiences and potentialities.
John D. Matthews and Jesse M. Crosby,
Harvard Medical School, USA
Title: Acceptance and commitment therapy for addictions
Time : 14:35-15:35
Biography:
John D Matthews, MD, MSc is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Medical Director of the Bulfinch Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is an integrated health care model for psychiatric patients. He is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and teaches cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for residents at the combined Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program. In 1998, he was certified as a Diplomate in the subspecialty of Addiction Psychiatry. His research has focused on cognitive behavioral therapy and psychopharmacology interventions in the areas of suicide, depression, and psychotic depression.
Abstract:
This workshop will be divided into four sections: 1. an overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. 2. the application of the ACT model to addictions; and 3. experiential examples, with audience participation, of how to apply the six ACT processes to achieve “Psychological Flexibility” in patients with addictions. 4. Summary of outcome studies demonstrating the efficacy of ACT in the treatment of addictions. Section 1: In ACT, treatment focuses on responding to internal experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations, images, and memories) based on context and function rather than content. The goal of ACT is to change one’s relationship to distressing thoughts rather than change their content. The aim of ACT is “Psychological Flexibility” which means being aware and allowing negative internal experiences, in the moment, while engaging in value-based actions. According to ACT, when negative internal experiences determine one’s actions, pain is intensified resulting in avoidance and inflexible responses. Section 2: ACT is very consistent with the current perspective of treating addictions; a prime example is the 12-step tradition. ACT and the 12-step tradition share in the importance of acceptance, being present, and values. Section 3: The presenters will provide experiential examples, with audience participation, of the six ACT processes including, being present, acceptance, diffusion, self as context, values clarification, and committed value-based actions. Section 4: The presenters will provide a summary of the outcome studies demonstrating the efficacy of ACT in the treatment of addictions.
- Positive Psychology | Social Psychology | Psychology $ Health
Location: Day 1
Session Introduction
Jace Pillay
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Title: Hope for the future and literacy achievement in a sample of impoverished South African primary school children: A positive psychology perspective
Time : 14:35-14:55
Biography:
Jace Pillay completed his PhD from the Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa. He is the South African Research Chair in education and care in childhood in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. He has published numerous papers in reputed journals, presented research findings in several international conferences and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of reputable international journals.
Abstract:
Adopting a positive psychology perspective this study investigated hope for the future and literacy achievement in a convenient sample of South African primary school children living in poverty. Data was collected through a quantitative survey that was administered with learners (N=160) from four grade 5 to 7 classes in a school in Soweto. Soweto is an urban black township that emerged during the years of apartheid and its people were characterized by extreme poverty and negativity. The survey comprised five literacy tests that were standardized by Do-It- Profiler, a UK based institute, and Shape the Learner, a South African based consultancy. The results show a statistically significant relationship between future hope and literacy scores, with learners who had lesser hope for the future scoring significantly lower on the literacy tests used in this study. Specifically, learners with lesser future hope performed noticeably lower in the real word test, followed by spelling, words spelt correctly, reading fluency, and non-word spelling. Based on positive psychology and hope theory, the author discusses the implications of the findings for literacy achievement in children living in poverty.
Claus Dieter Stobäus, Marcio Alessandro Cossio Baez and Juan José Mouriño Mosquera
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Title: School physical education: Welfare, motivation and positive psychology
Time : 14:55-15:15
Biography:
Claus Dieter Stobäus is graduated in Medicine and completed his PhD in Education in 1989 at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and Post-doctoral studies at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 2000. He is a teacher of Graduate Programs in Education and in Biomedical Gerontology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Abstract:
This study is a reflection about part of the theoretical foundation of the doctoral thesis "The process of construction of welfare and quality of life during training in Physical Education and future prospects in the direction of Positive Psychology" and the discussions among the authors. It can be characterized as a bibliographical study. Despite its importance for learning, motivation rarely receives due attention of teachers and researchers. Now with the flourishing of the Positive Psychology study area it appears a new study that can discuss the importance of knowing better and give intentional application of motivational concepts and practices, under the influence of positive aspects that favors the development of classes at school for students during their education process. In this perspective, the teacher must recognize not only planning topics such as methodology, content, evaluation and objectives, but also consider the emotional and motivational dimension of its operations; and teachers search through his/her strategies to establish links that contribute to personal flourishing. Therefore, it is evident the need to analyze the scenarios of which our students come from and to what we want to empower on them, also at the same time, not forgetting the specific topics above, we will be able to have more enjoyable environments in our schools/colleges, as well of partakers and helping children, youth and today, many adults who seek sense of being in our educational settings, through the construction of a health project aimed at the maximum possible development of human potential, contributing on a creative and innovative way into the common welfare.
Ignasia Mligo
University of Dodoma, Tanzania
Title: Enhancing young children’s access to early childhood education and care settings in Tanzania
Time : 15:15-15:35
Biography:
Ignasia Mligo has recently completed her PhD from Waikato University, New Zealand in 2015 from the Faculty of Education. Her specialization is on theories of childhood development and learning. Currently, she is teaching childhood development courses in the Department of Psychology, University of Dodoma. She was also headed a Department of Curriculum and Teacher Education for 3 years before her PhD studies. Her area of interest is on early childhood education, policy and curriculum issues in relation to child development and learning. She is also amongst of the Reviewers of Early Years: An International Research Journal.
Abstract:
This study explored the current situation of limited access of young children to early childhood education and care settings in Tanzania. The aim was to explore the views of stakeholders regarding the basis for this anomaly and what needs to be done to assuage the situation. A total of 28 people participated in the study: Six teachers, 12 children and four parents in one rural and one urban pre-school (local level) and six national government education officials. Data was generated through interviews, classroom observation, focus group discussion, documentary review and informal conversations. The findings showed that early childhood education and care in Tanzania is still unsatisfactory. Many children, the participants agreed, have no access to early childhood settings for various reasons including “lack of support from the government”, “low socio-economic status of parents”, “traditional norms and cultural values”, “gender discrimination” and “lack of parents’ awareness of the importance of early investment in education”. The study discovered that all activities pertaining to early education were left to parents and communities who seemed unable to cope with its various demands. To improve the situation, it is recommended that there is need for a forging of partnership between the Government, parents and the community in such a venture; and that Government policy makers should set clear policies regarding how quality early childhood education and care can be equitably funded and conducted throughout the country.
- Young Research Forum
Location: Day 1
Session Introduction
Joan C Craig
University of Windsor, Canada
Title: Positive thought-action fusion: Possible implications for positive psychology
Time : 15:50-16:10
Biography:
Joan C Craig has completed her Master’s degree in Applied Social Psychology in 2014 and is currently pursuing her PhD from the University of Windsor Psychology Department in Ontario, Canada. She has won several awards for her past research, which has been well-received at both national and international conferences. Her current research is focused on further investigation of the positive thought-action fusion construct; particularly, in relation to risk-taking behaviors.
Abstract:
Positive thought-action fusion is a cognitive bias that has only recently been identified as an independent construct. This bias is related to, but distinct from the thought-action fusion bias that has been examined in work on obsessive-compulsive disorder and various other clinical disorders, such as anxiety. Positive thought-action fusion is a bias in which a person believes that his or her personal thoughts regarding positive outcomes can have an influence on real-life events. For example, a person may think that he will win the lottery and he believes that this thought has actually improved his chance of winning. Similarly, a person may think that she can get away with cheating on an exam and she believes that this thought has actually improved her chance of getting away with cheating. The author will discuss the results from a full psychometric evaluation of this construct including the development of a valid scale for measurement and the distinctions found between this cognitive bias and other constructs, such as hope and positive thinking. An open discussion will follow the presentation to provide an opportunity for the presenter and conference attendees to discuss the possible implications of positive thought-action fusion in the field of positive psychology.
Lunthita M Duthely1, Leah B Hammond1 and Andrew J Wawrzyniak2
1University of Phoenix, USA 2University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA
Title: Heart-centered meditation and gratitude: The feasibility and acceptability of a novel positive psychology intervention among adolescents
Time : 16:10-16:30
Biography:
Lunthita M Duthely completed her MS at te University of Miami and her EdD with School of Advanced Studies, Educational Leadership, University of Phoenix. She oversees data management to support research related to women and infants, and authored 31 papers and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals in the area of maternal/child health. She is experienced in two contemplative practices: 200-level-hour Hatha Yoga instruction, and 21 years facilitating Sri Chinmoy The Path of the Heart meditation workshops to adults and students. She travelled to 33 countries, facilitating well-being and sports programs. She is a member of several professional organizations, including International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA).
Abstract:
The positive psychology (PS) approach is a more preventative approach to well-being, rather than the traditional deficits approach of curing mental illness. Among adults, meta-analyses (40 randomized control PS interventions) demonstrated effectiveness for health promotion in general populations, as well as among subgroups with specific diagnoses. The research among youth has evolved to the point that PS interventions’ affect on different factors under the general umbrellas of psychological functioning and school functioning bring promise for the prospects of expanding into field youth development. Positive Psychology interventions target increasing strengths, such as optimistic outlook and positive emotions, such as the emotion of gratitude, among youth and adults. Most gratitude interventions among youth include journaling and making a gratitude visits. Contemplative practices such as Hatha Yoga and meditation also proved effective in increasing well-being among youth. A review of the literature revealed a paucity of well-being studies bringing the two paradigms together. Different techniques can be practiced within the specific disciplines of contemplative sciences. Duthely’s (2015) novel approach included meditation techniques infused with visualizations on gratitude described in Chinmoy (2010) as the basis for an this quasi-experimental study conducted among school-aged adolescents. During this oral presentation, Dr. Duthely will discuss the theoretical framework for the intervention and present the data regarding feasibility, acceptability, as well as preliminary outcomes of the analyses.
Catalina Acosta Orozco
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
Title: Uncovering core values and personality strengths through metaphor analysis
Time : 16:30-16:50
Biography:
Catalina Acosta Orozco is a Senior Medical Student at La Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. She has been certificated to participate in a year long program of international university leadership (AUSJAL). During her university years, she has worked in a Colombian institutional group to prevent child abuse. She has also performed volunteer work in one of Bogota’s poorest neighborhoods, where she developed various social projects. In 2015, she co-authored two research articles in the peer-reviewed College Student Journal published in USA, comprising the first published studies involving metaphor analysis with the Colombian population.
Abstract:
Metaphor analysis has become increasingly recognized as a tool for investigating individual values and personality aspects. In 1980, the cognitive linguist G. Lakoff and the philosopher M. Johnson published the hugely influential book Metaphors We Live By. They stated, “Metaphors affect the ways in which we perceive, think and act. Reality itself is defined by metaphor. Since then, metaphor analysis has attracted researchers in various fields including education and psychotherapy. For example, narrative therapy has utilized metaphors to help clients find their dominant story. Therapeutic changes in these stories involve alterations in rational cognitions, but also the ability to find healthier metaphors. However, metaphor analysis has received little attention to date in positive psychology. Due to the paucity of empirical data about life metaphors (the metaphors people express in viewing human existence) among South Americans, two empirical studies were conducted by American and Colombian researchers. These focused on college student leaders and medical students respectively. Each sample comprised over 50 students who anonymously completed a structured questionnaire with qualitative and quantitative questions. Supporting hypotheses in both studies, metaphor analysis proved an effective means of uncovering students’ core values, personal goals and decision making strategies. For both groups, “life is journey” was the most preferred metaphor and “life is like a prison” was the most rejected. Though both populations of students espoused metaphors that were predominantly active, positive and individualistic, leadership students’ life-metaphors tended to more collectivistic and spiritually oriented than those of medical students. The broader implications of utilizing life metaphors in healthy personality study will also be discussed.
Ying MA
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Title: Mindfulness, compassion for children and parents well-being
Time : 16:50-17:10
Biography:
Ying MA now is a second year PhD student in the Department of Educational Psychology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China. She got the Master’s degree of Psychology in Peking University, China. Her current research areas are parent-child relationship and mindful parenting.
Abstract:
Mindful parenting is a new extension of mindfulness and parenting. It was defined as bringing parents’ attention to the present moment and parenting process with their children, at the same time holding attitudes of non-judgment and acceptance. Previous studies have showed that mindfulness of parents was negatively related to parent’s depression, anxiety, and children’s problematic behaviors. Our study aims at investigating the predicting effects of parents’ mind awareness attention and compassion for children on parenting efficacy, parents’ satisfaction and general health. In addition, this study also examined the difference between fathers and mothers on these variables. Participants consisted of 329 mothers and 86 fathers with primary school children (mean age=7.24 yrs, SD=1.23) in China. Correlation, T tests and regression methods were applied to analyze data. The results demonstrated that both parents’ mind awareness attention and compassionate attitude towards children were positively related to parenting efficacy, parenting satisfaction and parents’ general health. Fathers reported significantly higher mindfulness, compassion, parenting satisfaction and general health than mothers. Thus fathers seemed to be more confident that mothers in parenting process. Moreover, the predicting effects of fathers’ mindfulness and compassion on depended variables were different from mothers. These findings indicate that in future parenting research and intervention, it’s critical to consider parents’ mindfulness, compassion for children, as well as father-mother difference. Discussions about future research direction and limitations of this study were also described at last.
Gulden Esat
Marmara University, Istanbul
Title: A local conception of happiness: Huzur
Time : 17:10-17:30
Biography:
Azize Nilgun Canel has completed her PhD from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey. She has been a faculty of the same university since then. She has published more than 20 papers and book chapters and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice.
Abstract:
In Turkey, the meaning of happiness flourishes with the concept of “Huzur†that can be roughly defined as inner peace. Happiness is generally understood as joy which is good to have but less important than Huzur. This study is pursued as the first phase of grounded theory design to qualitatively define the content of Huzur and its sources. Another purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship of Huzur and happiness through the perception of emerging adults (19-26 years old). Our results reveal that the state of Huzur is like a rubber rocking chair, it is hard to knock down, although it is soft and smooth, whereas happiness is like a crystal vase, it is glamorous but difficult to be preserved. Thus happiness needs to be preserved in the container of Huzur. Specifically, positive outlook, mindfulness and acceptance are reported to be both the source and the indicator of a person in Huzur. Other important sources of were mentioned to be gratitude, being around loved ones, success, integrity, prayers and autonomy. The major indicators of Huzur were listed as serenity, geniality, solution orientation, forgiveness and energy. On the opposite side, pessimism, anxiety, distrustfulness, impetuousness and anger, were described to be the properties of people lacking Huzur. When participants were asked to compare happiness and Huzur, they stated that Huzur is ascendant to happiness, more stable and more psychological which leads to a necessity of quantitative comparison of these concepts as the next phase of the study.
Gowri Agarwal
Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, India
Title: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and anxiety disorders: An empirical review
Time : 17:30-17:50
Biography:
Gowri Agarwal has completed her Bachelors in Art – Psychology and is currently a Post-graduate student pursuing her Post-graduation in Clinical Psychology from Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Mumbai, India. She is also working as a parent child counselor in Cosmikids International Playschool and day care in Mumbai. She has done various reseacrhes on sleep and dream analysis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Marriage – Happily ever after or no?, Separation Anxiety in Infants, Sexual orientation in Adolescents, Helping those who are not responsible for their problems, Effects Celebrity Endorsement on Consumer behaviour, etc. Some of her research papers have also been published in various journals, and she actively takes part in research clubs.
Abstract:
Anxiety disorders are marked “either by manifest anxiety or by self-defeating behavior patterns aimed at warding off anxiety” (Alloy, Riskind & Manos, 2005; p. 151). Prior research has estimated that the prevalence rate of anxiety disorders is fairly high, with 12-month prevalence being 18.1% (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005) and lifetime prevalence being 28.8% coupled with an early age of onset, i.e., 11 years (Kessler, Berglund, Demler, Jin, Merikangas & Walters, 2005). The current research paper attempts to peruse the empirical research that has been conducted till date examining the role of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a psychological intervention employed in the treatment anxiety-spectrum disorders. The conclusions emerging from the analysis of empirical literature have been discussed in this paper.
Cielo Rodriguez, Francesca Rosales
University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Title: The effects of mindfulness training on the quality of life of male Filipino soldiers with major depressive disorder in a selected military hospital
Time : 17:50-18:10
Biography:
Cielo Rodriguiez and Francesca Rosales are currently undergraduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.
Abstract:
Major Depressive Disorder is a type of mood disorder characterized by 2 or more weeks of depressed mood or lack of interest in life activities with at least four symptoms of depression such as anhedonia, changes in sleep, energy, weight, decision making, concentration, self-esteem, and goals. Mindfulness training has shown promise for reducing emotional distress and symptom severity across a number of psychiatric conditions including depression. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of mindfulness training in improving the quality of life of Filipino soldiers experiencing MDD. This study utilized a pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design that was conducted in 15 soldiers diagnosed with MDD from a military hospital. The subjects were selected through a purposive sampling procedure considering the inclusion criteria set by the researchers. The subjects have undergone 8 sessions of mindfulness training for four weeks. Quality of life and degree of mindfulness were assessed at baseline and post-treatment as measurement of outcomes of care using the questionnaires WHOQOL-Bref and MAAS. Gathered data were analyzed using paired t test. The paired t-test showed that the post interventions scores of WHOQOL BREF in terms of Physical, Psychological, Social, and Environmental parameters of quality of life appeared higher than the pre intervention scores. In addition, the pre-intervention and post intervention Mindfulness Awareness Attention Scale scores of the Filipino soldiers with MDD also showed a significant difference after 8 sessions of Mindfulness training. Mindfulness training has been proven to be effective in increasing the quality of life of male Filipino soldiers with MDD. It can be utilized as an adjunct complementary-alternative management for handling patients with MDD. Future researches may also expand the application of mindfulness training to other psychiatric disorders as well as to other physical conditions or psychosocial performances.
Kathleen H Schneider
Austin Community College, USA
Title: Cognitive rest: An integrated literature review
Time : 18:10-18:30
Biography:
Kathleen H Schneider is a Doctoral student at the University of Texas at Tyler, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2018. She is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Austin Community College. She has been a nurse in pediatrics, maternal-child health, and cardiology. Additionally, she served as Academy Lead in a Health Sciences Program in Round Rock, Texas.
Abstract:
Cognitive rest has been suggested as a treatment for school athletes who have sustained a concussion, but the concept has rarely been defined. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive definition of cognitive rest, based on an integrative literature review. The method of synthesis was guided by Avant and Walker’s concept analysis format. The importance of rest is discussed as a nursing intervention and model cases are presented to clarify the concept. Three defining attributes of cognitive rest are established: freedom from physical or mental discomfort; abstinence from mental exertion; and mental and emotional balance. Empirical referents are given as well as a suggested protocol to enable school nurses to form cognitive rest and return-to-classroom protocols that can be adapted to individual school settings.