capoeira and psychology

Mindfulness connections with anxiety and scientistic evaluation

2009-07-01T23:49:00.011+01:00

Finally I finished my final thesis! It included Langer’s concept of mindfulness I find especially interesting. One is mindful if pay attention to information, actively constructing new categories and meanings for it. Mindfulness means to be open.

Okay, I won’t repeat all the stuff about the concept. Author did it nicely in 1992 in journal Consciousness and Cognition: Matters of Mind: Mindfulness/Mindlessness in Perspective and the net is full of articles. Here I am going only to say what my project was about and where mindfulness was in it. I will describe how I used Langer's Mindfulness Scale (LMS) and then summarize general results.

My paper summary

My final thesis was designed to explore phenomenon called “right thumb’s civilization”. That is a metaphor for tendency to prefer solutions, that are “fast”, “easy” and “clear”. One does not have to wait for results nor put much effort and thinking a lot, when use remote controls and other modern appliances. Since those devices are operated with right thumb, the metaphor is as it is.

On seminar that I attedned the variable was discused. People came up with idea that mindlessness in modern environment leads to “right thumb’s mindset”. One taught that technology gives control over everyday life situations, without thinking wants such full control in fields such as interpersonal contacts. It could be said: he or she is not aware of context.

Our supervisor told us that Ms Ph. D. Ellen J. Langer researches pehnomena that included lack of awareness of circumstances. Each of us wanted to know if there is a real negative correlation between our variable and mindfulness. The statistical relationship between results gained in our questionnaire and LMS. I took the challenge.

Although I was interested in one more thing about “right thumb’s civilization”. On seminar I heard that it could be connected to anxiety. My colleagues said that some authors (Beck, Bauman, Eriksen) point out, that human kind is more and more threatened by technology it created. So there should be a little correlation. I was intrigued with this problem and going to solve it. I added State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to my project. It measures a temporary “state anxiety” and the general “trait anxiety”.

An attempt to adapt LMS questionnaire

After Ms Ph. D. Ellen J. Langer gave me permission I prepared three independent translations. My colleagues from seminar, who know her theory, helped me to chose the most suitable sentences. On 24.10.2008 I asked some 4th-year English students to take part in research. Eight resigned when they saw English items, so twelve people lasted. First they filled original version, and just then Polish one. (The a table with all results is available on request.)

For six items there is no significant correlation between the original phrase and the translation. So the whole was not good enough to be an adaptation. Two other people (not involved at first) prepared backtranslation. I hoped it would help to improve those six items, but it did not.

Meanwhile I learnt from that Ms Ph.D Bogusława Błoch was working on LMS too. Immediately I wrote to her and described my situation. We agreed to consider working together on the Polish adaptation. I send her my results and was waiting for her answer. Then I called. Several times. No reply till present.

The questionnaire based on LMS

My friends comforted me and the supervisor asked “what next?”. Consoled I looked at LMS translation quality research results from different perspective. Half of Polish items have medium value of Pearson coefficient for correlation between them and the scale. Some have large. This fact means, that it could work. And if the questionnaire based on LMS had good reliability, it would be sufficient for my final thesis purpose.

I did the research from 06 to 09.04.2009. 64 people took part in it. The sample was consisted of: 37 men, 17 women, 30 did not tell their sex; age mean was 32, with s=9, the youngest person was 19 years old, eldest 60.

Three more people’s answers I did not take to the sample. They replied only to one of each three-item groups, so later I resigned from breaks between lines. Instead I use highlight to guide sight.

The questionnaire based on LMS estimated internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson Formula 20) was rtt=0,828. Then I checked the item – scale correlation statistical significances. All but one were p=0,01 or lower. The eleventh did not correlate at all. I threw it out. Adding modification of appearance I gained the 20 items questionnaire based on LMS.

My paper general results

For my main research I took new sample consisted of 101 people. 29 men, 58 women and 14 persons that did not tell their sex. Age mean was 31 with s=13. Below you could see the frequencies.

More mindfulness, less anxiety

There was not any significant correlation between “right thumb’s mindset’s” questionnaire and its scales and anxiety nor mindfulness. Though the questionnaire based on LMS correlated negatively with STAI’s state anxiety r=-0,339; p=0,001 and trait anxiety r=-0,296; p=0,003 (showed on the scatter plot below; "refleksyjność" is mindfulness and "lęk-cecha" trait anxiety).

Those small values of Pearson coefficient resembles Ms Ph.D Małgorzata Kossowska’s results between need for closure and neurotism, r=0,25, p<0,01. The author comments that lack of interest in new information and experiences is a defence against changes. Stable and fixed knowledge helps to cope with anxiety of self-depreciation. If one is not sure about her or his intelectual capabilities, he or she prefears being given “clear” interpretation or instruction (wants to stay mindless). In such description I see a variant of self-handicapping.

I also agree with Brown and Ryan who say that neurotic person is so much occupied with her worries that is not able to think about things around her or him. Could one be released from her or his anxiety? I have no doubt it is possible if one trains her or his awareness toward context (Ms Ph.D. Langer have mentioned, it is exercisable in her 1989 book). People did it e.g. within cognitive therapy or practice I provide: life coaching.

Scientistic Evaluation, mindfulness and genders’ languages

The right thumb’s mindset questionnaire has a scale Scientistic Evaluation. It measures how much one is keen to put value from a perspective gained from natural science. Person with high results uses categories recognized in natural science in her or his everyday life. One may share scientists’ assumptions like e.g. science is the only justifiable access to the truth (arts or philosophy are not).

In my research among women there was significant, negative correlation between Scientistic Evaluation and mindfulness (r=-0,275, p=0,027). There is not such relationship, in any direction, among men. The p-value for this difference significance (z test) is p=0,041. I see here a role of genders’ languages as intervening variable.

Some say that a language of physical and biological sciences is masculine. So scientism is a masculine belief. When man considers this philosophy, it is natural for him. But woman has to think in “foreign language” which demands additional effort. If she tends to be mindless, she may even do not see the differenc between scientific and scientistic. Menawhile mindfull woman has additional stimuli (“foreign language”) while considering if science is the only way of describing all reality. I think gender’s languag is the source of tendency among woman that is not observed among men. Of course this statement needs further, empirical research.

References

Citation details for all information above: Cetnar, E. (2009). Mentalność prawego kciuka, a refleksyjność i lęk jako cecha – powiązania i zależności. Unpublished final thesis, University of Silesia (Dept. of Pedagogy and Psychology)

Kossowska, M. (2005). Umysł niezmienny... Poznawcze mechanizmy sztywności. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego

Langer, E. (1989). Mindfulness. United States of America: Da Capo Press

Brown, K. W., Ryan, R.M. (2003). The Benefits of Being Present: Mindfulness and Its Role in Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 4, 822 – 848

E.g. Mulac, A., Lundell, T., Bradac J. (1986) Linguistic Contributors to the Gender-Linked Language Effect. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 2, 81-101

E.g. Collini, S. (1993). Introduction to The two cultures. In Snow, C. P. The two culturess

Eye contact and overall balance are foundation of capoeira game

2009-04-04T13:14:00.013+01:00

Eye contact and overall balance really make a difference. There was a time when I had already been able to perform all Mestre Bimba's Sequences, known basic techniques and still didn’t play well. Accidentally I attended classes where I was taught what I need. Here I share “secrets” with you.

EYECONTACT
At one group I was told “look at your opponent”. I have understood it is important, because I must see a guy I fight with to attack and to avoid his or her attacks. Though when game became faster I immediately lost eye contact.

Fortunately I get to teacher Fantasma classes where big pressure is put on the matter. They not only remind each other to look at opponent but also actually exercise it. I played moving-near-floor game which objective was to get behind opponents back. It is rather slow and to succeed one needs feints and eye contact.

Other example is cartwheels along gym. At East London they do it in pairs slow, low but looking at a partner. Just do the closed cartwheel instead of open. See difference on an illustration below. Left is aú fechado, right aú aberto. If you learn to do the first maintaining eye contact you will keep looking on your opponent performing higher version.

Twice a week for a month I train with Fantasma’s group and when I back to Sao Bento Grande de Regional I was amazed. My new habit to keep sight on opponent at all times lasted. I can see what is going on! What to do if at your group at home is not any opportunity to getting used to look at opponent? Do same as I. Now when I exercise in rows I chose a point on a wall (a socket, a column or mate’s back) and keep my eyes on it constantly.

One more thing, “eye contact” in this case means that you keep your sight on whole opponent. It could be fixed on his or her clavicles but whole body should be in your field of view. Look directly without fear but do not literally in the eye. If you focused on face you cannot see what opponent’s arms and legs do and he or she may confused you with facial expression.

BALANCE
Another thing I still hear is “balance”, “balance” and “balance more!”. Finally two weeks ago I attended a training that put some light on this topic. Keeping balance is not about moving around parts of body, like turn a back from armada trajectory or take a pelvis from centerline of bencao. It is not about being in motion, including changing feet’s position before each attack. It’s about all those details at once.

I knew before I need to move each part of my body in time so the goal - movement flow would be achieve. Though I have never before thought seriously about arms. I keep my grade in strictly structured manner to prevent myself from being kicked and did not think that I can afford to “swim” with my hands because it is hard to be kicked when whole body moves. Talks in locker-room after training reveled that some other girl suffered the same.

Here is a description of exercise that helped us to discover it. Professor Sem Memoria introduced it and make useful comments that some of them I quote here. At first you start from ginga of course. Take a swing and strike a side as if you want to slap somebody's face. It is called galopante. Movement done correctly shift your body weight forward foot and take your pelvis from the central axis. It is convenient during game to put a torso slant – not only on side and not only leaned forward.

Then palm tuck like a snake under imaginary opponent’s leg. Let your hand guide whole body. Elbow would bend and torso slide down (under kick). During practice you can strike the air with your fingertips end of this part. Last part is back to ginga. Smoothly put your forward leg and hand back.

I have not mentioned that a part of body is moving but you feel that it should? It is high probably that you are right. Remember balance is about all staff at once. I scribed those words to show you that here is something worth to seek. I cannot tell yet what and how exactly because I discovered the topic of balança recently and am still learning.

Vingativa, timing is everything

2008-09-09T23:50:00.031+01:00

Although vingativa [VIN-ga-CHEE-va] is take-down move, it is not so obvious who will finally use her or his leverage to topple whom. This situation provides both opponents opportunity to perform a trick. Here I describe only three.

Let's start from base how to do it. The diagram above is an illustration to the description. Twist your body as to queixada kick and step slightly to an oponent, shift body's weight onto the forward and throw your leg behind opponent's back leg. It is important to do it as wide as it.

Immediately, vertically bring your torso close to opponent's body. That slipping move should be perform balancing on bended knees, your hips ought to go forward then up. Remember to guard your head at all times. That is vingativa.

What you intent to do is topple the other player. You need to do two things in nice coordination. One is pressing opponent's knees with leg you have put behind her or him and second - pressing her or his chest with your hand to push her or him out of balance. Keep your guard all the times!

The other player may spot what is going to happen and escape you. She or he may rise back leg and place it behind you and in the same jump do a wide semi circle move with second leg to gain a distance. Hard luck! Turn round fast and play on.

After your attempt to topple a good player with vingativa you may be taken down. Beware! Your oponent may place his or her front leg slightly back and spin placing so-far-front leg under your back knee. Also when turning put hand on your chest. Pressing both - your knee and chest, the opponent topple you.

That is fun about capoeira - nobody knows what will happen.

Keywords on Deviantart.com in languages different than English (a SEO report)

2008-09-01T14:12:00.021+01:00

Today a little bit about human behaviour. Let's call it users' psychology. I were interested if adding to Deviantart.com keywords from language different than English will expand an audience. (I confess: expand my audience for free) My boyfriend suggested me which data may show the relation. Below I described things I did plus my finding and further questions.

I started on Alexa, a website that provides information about other websites. On the www.alexa.com I found out from where people visit DA. More than quarter are from United States, 5% are Germans, almost 5% Chinese, then 4% from Mexico and 4% from Italy.

Primary DA's language is English so I would make comparison to it. I should decide which languages all worth to check. I picked my mother tongue, German (because Alexa shows there is some guys from Germany on DA), Chinese, Spanish (Mexico official language), Italian and Russian (Russia is next guest on the Alexa's list after English speaking countries). Then I paste word “cat” in those languages into DA search engine and picked three images for each to my analysis.

First thing that I found is non stop loading on obtained from Wikipedia Chinese and Russian marks for cat. So there comes my question: how those people (if they do) put their alphabets into DA so they work? Since the engine won't show me results in decent time I consider adding keywords in alphabets other than Latine unworthy.

Second interesting thing is comparison how many descriptions is not English. I base it on total sum of findings. In my sample there are a lot Spanish stuff for “gato” how they name cat. (Note that except Brazil all South America speaks Spanish) Putting mother tongue keywords is also quite popular in Poland and Germany, but not a common practice in Italy.

Let's see if the foreign descriptions gain some attention, comments and favs. That is main point and my purpose to do this small research. To make comparison I calculated a “efficiency indexes” for all of them. It is an average number of visits, comments and favourites for one of non-English languages divided by accordingly average number of visits, comments and favourites for English keyword. I show them it the table below.

Language	Polish	German	Spanish	Italian
Keyword	Kot	Katze	Gato	Gatto
Visits' efficiency index	0.07	0.01	0.9	0.0008
Comments' efficiency index	0.03	0.05	1.23	0.003
Favs' efficiency index	0.02	0.03	1.69	0.0004

Just a glance is enough to see that Italian keywords is just very little fraction of audience. (I guess Italians are so good at English that they do not need to use their mother tongue on DA) Data in the column next to, indicate that one may expect some Spanish speaking audience. Deviant user can also looks for some visits if put Polish keywords though it is still a fraction of DA traffic.

Look at the comments' and fav's indexes. It could suggest that Spanish speaking visitors more easily give nice feedback than those who use English. However please note that since the sample is really small it may be the most not accurate perceive relationship into all that report. Findings for Spanish “cat” may have been simply exceptionally good or friends tend to communicate in mother tongue and spread kindness through their bunches. Same remarks apply to Germans who seem to be nice visitors too.

Finally I can share with you my conclusion. It seems that adding Spanish and maybe Polish keywords in line with English may expand a bit a DA audience for free. For curious guests I leave a problem to solve: how does the search engine arrange results? It is not singly by visits, favs, comments or upload date. Evidence for this report is available on request done via email (address in profile).

And now visit akaszik.deviantart.com

How to set berimbau up

2008-05-04T21:15:00.024+01:00

I have been back from Capomajówka, Unicar's meeting in Beskidy mountains. There were rodas, trainings, hiking, bonfire and disco. In meantime I was wondering around with berimbau and collecting advice that now you can read below.

I must worn you that those trivias won't replace observation and higher-rank students' comments. However you may find them useful because they show you what is worth to ask for. Part by part I will share with you my knowledge.

Stick
I made a mistake and hold a wire on it for two weeks. Wood should last springy to strech a wire, what is important for good sound quality. Reason for I left a wire was my conviction that I would not be able to set it up. I am not sure if I were right or not. I supose the fact that the stick was bent for so much time made it easier to bend it.

Do not worry about your stick if you find vertical splits in it. Crack that goes along is natural consequence of bending.

To learn how to bend a stick is a must and I am glad to finally got one, suitable for me technique. First you should find a place on your knee where you have two bones. They will be use to hold a stick.

Then you will need a wall. Lean a bottom of stick against it. Press wood in the midle with your knee while pulling the top end 'backward' to you.

Suprasingly it won't demand to take strenght if I do it right.

Wire
To finish the topic about binding a stick and a wire I want worn you about knots. Tie a few of them so the arame will stay on verga. Remember that the stick is elastic.

While I was packing to a car I grappled the wire. When I took it back there were a loop in the middle of it. I tried to straight it back and it cracked. Now I need a new one.

Cabassa
I was thinking the caxixi is the most fragile part of berimbau. Acctually it is the only part I have not damaged yet. My cabassa (gourd) is the part with significant amount of super-glue into it. And it is obviuous my fault.

Let's get down to setting berimbau up again. Cabassa string should be two fingers long. Remember it to be tight while measuring the lenght.

Cabassa string's knots should not touch the wire. Left it next to the stick.

The cabassa should be placed 20cm from the bottom. Practically that means you could mark it with wide open palm. While little finger touches the end, thumb indicate proper place for the cabassa.

If you do everything all right under cabassa string is space only for your little finger. If you left so much it will be hard to hold berimbau vertical while playing. (Check the lenght of cabassa string and see if you do not bend the stick too much.) If something is not brace enough the instrument will sound bad.

I wish you the joy I have with my berimbau!

Muslim Women - one of many approaches to the subject

2008-03-26T22:32:00.010Z

My friend lent me a book ‘Miscellaneous Question & Answers for the Muslim Women’ compiled by Ibrahim M. Kunna (1996; Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Darussalam). She instructed me that the publication describes how things should be, not exactly as they are. If everything were as author says, there would be no need for the book. I am going to summarize briefly what I learnt and compare requirements described in the book to my culture.

Monitor Aloprado in his comment (see below) informed me about two facts. First that not all Islam world looks like in Saudi book and second - there esixt some simultaneous European and Muslim nations.

Let’s start from a dress code. According to the book Muslimahs should not wear white and just after I realised I have never seen those women in white indeed. This colour is reserved for men. In Europe everyone can wear every tone. Muslim women cover their heads. They can by seen without veil only by those who cannot marry them - her and her husband’s families. However scholars differ in instructions what exactly have to be hidden. I have seen in London street face of woman who wore jeans long skirt, jacket and colourful scarf on her head. If I met her in Poland I would think she is dress like that because it is cold. For the other hand I have seen in restaurant woman covered with black. Since I could only see her eyes, they mesmerized me. She was cutting pieces of food and lifted them to the mouth under veiling.

The book listed a lot more things Muslims, both sexes cannot do. For example put statues in houses, use gold and silver housewares, eat pork or smoke. Music is not allowed, but songs of polite words are. And there are a few things more which women cannot do. Among it: add herself head hair, go out wearing perfume or travel without at least one of her Mahram. Mahram are men who cannot merry certain woman. They are only men whose hands woman can shake. Among Muslims only women can war gold and silk. I think those things were listed because European can decorate house with statue, shake hands with each other without tabu etc.

In Europe a menses can become from time to time a reason to complain among female friends, but I do not think any of them think it is serious issue that can influent anything. For Muslimahs it means they must not have sex, perform prayers, fast, read loud and touch Holy Qur’an (they have to use gloves or cloth), walk around Ka’bah (the holiest Islamic place in Mecca).

According to the book the best position Islam prefers for women are housewives. It is hard to imagine any European of my age (I am 22) indicating this role as the best for them and their friends. Another recommendation sounds strange to me. Women are supposed to get married as early as they can that means after first menstruation. However I think both cultures agree that wife can expected her husband to be kind, fair, helping and to ignore some of her weaknesses. I am not sure what majority of European thinks about spending on wife.

Question & Answer 171 says that woman must approval for her marriage herself. Since I read in Independent that from time to time Muslim girls are forced to get married I am confused. I suppose the issue is similar to head cover. Maybe in some cultures or countries woman is asked for opinion and in some is not. To be hones I must add that there was a time in Europe’s history when parents decided who marry whom.

Don’t speak. It’s my data

2008-02-28T06:27:00.000Z

Once again I asked IT specialist for help and once again one told too much and confused me. This particular time changing reaction about the data that was my friends and mine made me go crazy. From time to time I hate all of them.

From my experience I can provide following hints:

Prepare carefully to make your order. Know what you want and what you want not. Be as particular, exact, clear as you only can be.

Put all in writing. Both. What you want and what you don’t want.

Set a deadline. Make she or he agree to it in writing is not a bad idea.

Don’t allow your IT specialist to speak. You aks her or him for help not unnecessary and doubtful comment. (They are IT specialist, you are specialist in your field)

London's groups cordas

2008-02-08T12:47:00.000Z

Those who train Regional style, among them Ceara and Unicar members, wear corda. It is coloured rope that denotes different skill level. One glance at other belts and player knows where is his or her place in a group. To make it a bit easier for Londoners, below I made comparison.

Grade	Ceara's corda	Requirements	Unicar's corda
Aluno (student) 1st	Dark green	4 sequences, play with 1 mestre	Light green
Aluno (student) 2nd	Mix of dark green and yellow	8 sequences, play with 2 mestre	Dark green
Aluno (student) 3rd	Yellow*	A few more skills than 8 sequences and play with 3 mestres	Yellow
Graduado (graduated student)	(?) Mix of yellow and blue		Blue

* Some Ceara 3rd grade students have blue or green covers at end of their corda. They told me it shows their ability to sing or play instruments.

Not only colours differ among groups. Ceara's mix of colours mean that corda is made of two types of fibers, braided together on whole length. Unicar's two-colour is divided in two halfs of which each is different dyed. There is also not same fashion. Ceara members rather tuck their cordas, make them look like little tails. I have never seen a person in Unicar who wears it in this way.

Other capoeira groups in London

2008-02-07T12:22:00.000Z

A few days ago I received a newsletter from mestre Marcelo Angola. He listed places where he was going to lead workshops. Ssobebody unknown in response to my claim I believed that's a list of capoeira angola schools, left a comment not all are they.

Mestre Israel school. Oxford house 5 Derbyshire st, E2; tube Bethnal Green

Professor Fantasma, The Geffrye community Centre, Falkirk street, N1; tube more, less Liverpool Street; read more on this blog

Professor Mac school, Salvation Army, 122 Lower Clapton, E5; nearest trains, Hackney Dows

Professor Julio Assanhaco school, Thanet youth and community centre, Herbert street NW5 4HP; tube: Chalk Farm

Professor Topera school, La fitness bayswater house 6 Moscow place, W2-4AP; tube: Bayswater

Professor Pedro school, LSE, Houghton street, WC2; tube: Holborn

Professor Lula school, 212 Bellenden rd, SE15

Mestre Joaozinho school, West kensington tenants hall, 70 Lillie road, SW6 1TN

My favourite capoeira group in London

2008-01-24T22:19:00.002Z

I belong to Unicar. Its name is an acronym form União Internacional de Capoeira Regional. This International means that we have academies in Salvador da Bahia (in Brazil of course), Berlin, Munich, Potsdam, Braunschweig (Germany) and Poznań (Poland) and a lots of groups in those countries and Ukraine.

Since there is no Unicar’s classes in London, I attended another group’s. For two months I train with other beginners in East Longon. Simon Atkinson called Fantasma founded it and has been still teaching. However, at time when I join them, first class was leading by Alex, great Brazilian who went to Australia. I really enjoy his style, teaching and company.

There are some differences between East London and Unicar Katowice. Most obvious is first train angola and second - regional. I learn few useful things on Alex and Fantasma’s classes that I doubt I would learn on Sem Memoria’s so fast. For instance the fact that songs have not only melody but also accents. East London put much more stress on eye contact. They make more exercises to practice it and more remark about it. Third example you can see on picture below.

There is also many things I learnt on Sem Memoria’s classes which I doubt I would learn on Fantasma’s so fast. The main is regional style. At time when I started to longing after it I went to watch 3rd Friday open roda at Corbet Place, Ely's Yard, London E1 6QR. Fantasma organizes it every month and it’s free. I met there a boy who obviously trains in my style. I asked him about his group and he told me about London Capoeira Ceara. I attend their class once. It was at Parkwood Leisure Centre, Antony Street, Hamlets, E1, where in front of group is a mirror wall so everybody can see what exactly they do.

They have much in common with Unicar. From my rough observation I might say that all except one thing: way they greet. At the beginning of class Cearas’ members stand in rows, kick straight forward and shout “Ceara” for coach call “capoeira”. I found it silly and embarrassing. Unicar Katowice starts in one line. Coach calls “salve Unicar!” and participants answer the same aloud. Rising right hand is the accompanying gesture. One should remember that palm must be vertical to the floor. If you do it right it is plenty of force and meaning and does not resemble Nazi salute.

I’ve made up my mind to accept London’s groups disadvantages and the fact that Unicar doesn’t have a branch in the city. Suddenly two days ago I got know my groups’ members who emigrates are going to organize themselves. There will be Unicar in 17th voivodeship! “Londyn” starts on 26th January, in two days. You can get information about it from Mr Jerzy Coroa Obreski 075 062 389 31 or Mr Przemek Topogigio Niewiadomski (pl only) 075 233 748 32. The group train at POSK, Polish Social & Cultural Association Ltd, 238-246 King Street, Hammersmith W6. Fee is about £3 or £4.

Reference
Ceara group: http://www.capoeira-ceara.co.uk/
East London group (open rodas): http://www.capoeira-angola.co.uk/
Unicar (pl+en): http://unicar.org.uk/

We changed the term to technical mentality

2008-01-02T23:20:00.000Z

On our seminar we began to be more precise about right thumb's civilization, which we started to call technical mentality. Let me share one example from our work.

A few weeks ago one of seminar’s participant suggest item: how many electronically things do you usually go out with? On last meeting another mate pointed that out one with high technical mentality intensity might have more functions in his or her mobile than somebody with low who may collect more objects but in the end they altogether have less functions.

Yeah, it’s new year! And we are going to test our questionnaire and after that make some research. I wish you equally good time as our looks and valid hypothesizes.

Conceptualization of right thumb's civilisation

2007-11-23T11:23:00.000Z

On my seminar participants talk about rigidity in dealing with social and existential situations among people who use procedures adequate rather for machines operating. An example seems to be necessary. One may get used to fact computer answer for his or her requests immediately. If such person starts to think that anything in contact with this machine is automatic, she or he could be surprise replies for e-mails aren’t automatic. Since they ‘should’ be automatic, one writes back as fast as she or he can.

Today I started to thinking if our horizon is not too narrow. Maybe not only habits with machines cause new, strange for me, behaviors. If somebody transfers convictions from contact with modern services to social and existential situations, it could also effect in new behavior. I am going to illustrate it. If person got used to home delivery, she may expect everything she want must reach her home itself. She won’t wait for beloved one on railway station or airport treating him like an item. I must confess I wouldn’t believe in second situation if I hadn’t experienced it once.

Although all I have typed here are only hypothesizes.

Response to meia lua de compasso

2007-10-17T07:51:00.000+01:00

While tiding my room I found my notes from Teacher Fantasma’s class. It is one of responses to meia lua de compasso. How to do it you can read above.

Doubt if right thumb's civilisation real exists

2007-10-06T12:25:00.003+01:00

My seminar has started. It is a weekly gathering of a few students and our primary supervisor. We focus on so called right thumb's civilisation. However I am a bit afraid we are overenthusiastic about our topic.

Tadeusz Gadacz invented the term 'right thumb’s civilisation'. It labels society where everything can be control with tools. In such culture the most important part of human body is opposable finger which pressing buttons, especially on remote. I hope the below example put light on what the term means.

Everyone has inner world that generally speaking is safe. Each person can escape there, even in a crowd street. However difference among people can be observed. Some just shift their attention from environment to their thoughts and some press with right thumb music player.

On our seminar we ask questions like if there is any significant difference in mindfulness between those two groups. And it is possibility that our answers lead us to conclusion there is no right thumb's civilisation. I have already had such doubt.

Last Thursday we all listened enthusiastically to our mate report about new fashion in China: long thumb nail. He explained us that it is required to operate easier new mobile phones with touchpad. At that time thing he said was a material proof. 'Can you see? A long right thumb nail!'

However I have seen that my darling's old mobile with touchpad has attached small, thin stick. And as far as I remember Tomek's nails are extremely short. So I serched the net and found the picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexhailong/83310519/. Plus an interesting comment to it by Nino di Bari that long nails are Asian tradition.

The old mandarins and upper nobility grew their nails to distinguish from working class people. (...) Today there are even more people of lower society to grow their nails long (drivers or sellers). Others even say they grow their nails for good luck. Others just like it.

What doesn't psychologist, psyhiatrist and psychotherapist do?

2007-09-28T15:21:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I put a few of my friends to a quiz: who does it...? Unfortunately the service demands to register if one wants results. I am sorry for my mistake and going to check more strictly where I invite you. Today, here, I give answers to that quiz.

Person who helps people with mental disease is psychiatrist. Sometimes psychologist help her or him with diagnosis i.e. by providing tests. I explain this in previous post on 24th Sep.

When it comes to adoption expert is clinical or forensic psychologist. Child, future parents and judge relay on his or her opinion which is based in knowledge of parenting and children needs. Some people answered in quiz that a proper person in this case is psychotherapist. It may be for a child but parents have to be in good emotional condition.

What psychotherapist do is providing support and helping to develop one's personality. He or she never gives advice. Psychiatrist, psychologist or any humanist need to finish special training to be psychotherapist. It average lasts for three years and includes self therapy.

Tasks for an occupational psychologist mentioned in the quiz were career advising and training people in organisations how to behave. However in some fields certificate is required to be a personal coach which means another two years of learning after graduation. (sic!)

Why not an university? Skills, talents and knowledge.

2007-09-24T17:04:00.000+01:00

While choosing a study to gain a profession each young person should think what certain skills (not knowledge) it will provide. Please read whole article if you want to know why I think so.

When I asked what I did wrong during my studies and why I can't earn decent money, my Darling immediately replied 'You don't have any unique skills'. After considering his response I found him to be right. I had even thought so myself while writing my rpg system. One has to have skills if wants to earn.

Skills are commonly confused with knowledge or talent in my homeland. I, for example made the same presumption when choosing my field of studies. Fortunately, I didn't when the time came to choose my specialisation. The below illustration sheds light on this experience.

A common incorrect assumption is that psychologists provide tests, therapy and also drugs to treat a patient. Whilst tests and therapy are common practice, providing a prescription is never part of the job. This would be illegal and dangerous, as my studies do not provide an adequate overview of human physiology and the nervous system. Whereas a psychiatrist is a physician - a trained doctor.

As an occupational psychologist i.e. I will advise my clients on their future career choices. Of course I won't be able do so if I don't get to know them first. I will therefor provide tests to help learn their needs faster than in a conversation. Though talking is the basis for every psychologists' actions.

Almost everybody would be able to conduct such tests if law didn't prevent them. And if in the future one will be allowed to use questionnaires oneself, the job of the psychologist would be limited. This comes down to the fact that it is mainly knowledge (know-how) that is needed to conduct such tests; talent is not a requirement. Interpreting and explaining the meaning of such test results is a skill that any intelligent person could master.

When it comes to talent my friend once said, that I must train if I want to transform it into skill. There are wisdom in those words. If I had no practical groundings then I would not be able to provide appropriate advice for future clients. As I am practicing here, on this site, so I would be grateful if all of you could give me feedback through commentary. Another way of transforming talents into skills is through an apprenticeship.

Now that we have established some practical differences between skill, knowledge and talent I will add a few trivial things. Those young people who want to study immediately after secondary school, especially when they have never practiced a profession, should think first about institutes of technology and Academies of all types. (In my homeland all Academies teach to the standards of academic degrees whereas not all in UK.)

Generally speaking university is good for one who had a plan what to do with a lot of knowledge which is already available on Wikipedia. It is a dare. I took it and I am satisfy now hoping I will be still in the future. I know that my skills are not unique, but my personality is. This makes quite good perspective for psychologist.