Psychological Dilemmas Research Articles

Horror after Elevated: A Study of the Film Style of Ari Aster

American director Ari Aster is a representative director of the emerging horror genre of elevated horror, and his three feature films have revolutionized the language of the horror genre and gained great reputation in the industry and among fans. Through analyzing the three feature films and eight short films directed by him, from the two levels of aesthetic style and thematic expression respectively. It explains the spatial narration, mise-en-scène, the use of lens, and the use of sound present in the works of Ari Aster, and points out the thematic ideas of Ari Aster's works about pathological family relationships and the psychological dilemmas of the characters.

Stigmatization experiences of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers face the stigmatization of those caring for COVID-19 patients, creating a significant social problem. Therefore, this study investigated the stigmatization of healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn this scoping review study, searches were conducted from December 2019 to August 2023 in Persian and English using various databases and search engines including PubMed (Medline), Embase, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and national databases. The study used English keywords such as Social Stigma, Health Personnel, Healthcare Worker, Medical Staff, Medical Personal, Physicians, doctors, Nurses, nursing staff, COVID-19, and coronavirus disease 2019, and their Persian equivalents, and their Persian equivalents to explore healthcare workers’ experiences of COVID-19-related stigma.ResultsFrom a total of 12,200 search results, 77 eligible studies were included in this study. stigmatization of healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients was evident from the literature because of fear, misinformation, and negative self-image. Manifestations were violence and deprivation of social rights, resulting in adverse biopsychosocial, occupational, and economic consequences. This condition can affect negatively health staff themselves, their families, and society as well. Anti-stigmatization measures include informing society about the realities faced by healthcare workers, presenting an accurate and empathetic image of health workers, providing psychosocial support to health workers, and encouraging them to turn to spirituality as a coping mechanism. There are notable research gaps in comprehending the phenomenon, exploring its variations across diverse healthcare roles and cultural contexts, examining its long-term effects, and monitoring shifts in stigma perceptions over time.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the stigmatization of healthcare workers, causing mistreatment and rights violations. This stigma persists even post-pandemic, posing a psychological dilemma for caregivers. Addressing this requires comprehensive strategies, including tailored stigma prevention programs and research to understand its psychological impact.

The twisted path to sacredness: a grounded theory study of irrational religious orientation and its psycho-sociological implications

This research delves into the nuances, origins, and societal effects of irrational religious orientations within China’s Generation Z, employing grounded theory methodology for a comprehensive analysis. The focus is on those born between 1995 and 2010, a demographic raised amidst rapid information technology growth and significantly influenced by digitalization and globalization. The study identifies three primary dimensions of irrational religious orientations in Generation Z: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendency, and religious uniqueness identity. These are shaped by factors such as the overwhelming influx of information via digital media, societal pressures and psychological dilemmas, conflicts in values and identity crises, as well as feelings of social isolation and the need for group belonging. To address these trends, the study suggests several interventions: enhancing multicultural and values education, implementing stricter online information regulation and literacy programs, boosting mental health awareness and support, and fostering engagement in social and cultural activities. These recommendations are essential for comprehensively understanding and effectively responding to the irrational religious orientations of Generation Z, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being and healthy development.

“Wheels stuck in the mud”: A qualitative study of experiences of academic burnout in graduate nursing students

BackgroundAcademic burnout is widespread in higher education, affecting academic achievements, professional development, and physical and mental health. Previous related research lacks qualitative studies on graduate nursing students. AimThis study aims to provide valuable information to relevant authorities and stakeholders by identifying the key experiences associated with academic burnout in graduate nursing students. DesignAn exploratory qualitative research design. SettingsThis research was carried out at two medical universities located in the southern region of China. ParticipantsNineteen enrolled graduate nursing students. MethodsData collection spanned from December 2023 to January 2024. After obtaining informed consent from the participants, the researchers conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Data processing and analysis were based on Giorgi's phenomenological method. The reporting of this study strictly adhered to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). ResultsNineteen participants completed the interviews, ranging in age from 22 to 42 years and including sixteen females and three males. “Wheels stuck in mud” was the core construct that explained graduate nursing students' academic burnout. Analyses revealed four themes: invisible hand, a battle with myself, two choices, find my way. ConclusionThe academic burnout of nursing graduate students is perceived as a psychological dilemma akin to being “wheels stuck in mud.” It is driven by an invisible force composed of multiple components, leading to intense internal struggles for individuals. Individuals exhibit two distinct trends in their academic performance: either “remaining detached and indifferent to academics” or “overcommitting and self-exploiting.” It is encouraged to conduct intervention using an integrative strategy based on acceptance and commitment therapy, self-disclosure, and mindfulness.

Unraveling psychological dilemma among miners in the context of low-carbon transformation: an ISM-MICMAC approach

Purpose With the rapid low-carbon transformation in China, the industrial approach and labor structure of mining enterprises are undergoing constant changes, leading to an increasing psychological dilemma faced by coal miners. This study aims to reveal the relationship and mechanism of factors influencing the psychological dilemma of miners, and to provide optimal intervention strategies for the safety and sustainable development of employees and enterprises. Design/methodology/approach To effectively address the complex issue of the psychological dilemma faced by miners, this study identifies and constructs five-dimensional elements, comprising 20 indicators, that influence psychological dilemmas. The relational mechanism of action of factors influencing psychological dilemma was then elucidated using an integration of interpretive structural modeling and cross-impact matrix multiplication. Findings Industry dilemma perception is a “direct” factor with dependent attributes. The perceptions of management response and relationship dilemmas are “root” factors with driving attributes. Change adaptation dilemma perception is a “susceptibility” factor with linkage attributes. Work dilemma perception is a “blunt” factor with both dependent and autonomous attributes. Originality/value The aforementioned findings offer a critical theoretical and practical foundation for developing systematic and cascading intervention strategies to address the psychological dilemma mining enterprises face, which contributes to advancing a high-quality coal industry and efficient energy development.

School Psychology Graduate Students’ Experiences with Ethical Dilemmas: Implications for Training and Practice

Most prior research on the ethical dilemmas in school psychology has focused on certified school psychologists. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to survey school psychology graduate students about their experiences with ethical dilemmas, perceived preparation to respond to ethical dilemmas, responses to ethical dilemmas, and most concerning ethically challenging situations. We also examined differences in preparation and response across background (i.e., degree track, year in program, program NASP approval, ethics training). Results indicated that, although participants generally reported experiencing relatively few ethical dilemmas in the past year, they reported experiencing more ethical dilemmas related to programming and supervision than specific applied skills (e.g., intervention). Most participants reported receiving both formal and informal training, with formal graduate coursework the most frequently reported. Participants generally indicated they were well-prepared to respond to ethical dilemmas, but less so to respond to unethical conduct of those in power (i.e., administrators, supervisors). Implications for training and practice in school psychology are discussed. Our findings suggested that trainers need to facilitate open communication and feedback with students and convey and enact a willingness to listen to students’ concerns and suggestions. Impact Statement School psychology graduate students reported that they experience relatively few ethical dilemmas, but they were more likely to encounter ethical dilemmas related to programming and supervision than applied skills (e.g., intervention), highlighting the importance of systematic planning and reflection in training and applied experiences.

The intervention of consumer product design optimization incorporating color psychology on consumers’ anxiety disorders

BackgroundAny product design cannot do without color design, and color is also an important form of psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. This study is based on color, optimizing product design, intervening, and treating consumer anxiety disorders, and combining conventional medical methods to improve consumers’ sub-health status and generate positive social effects.Subjects and MethodsWe performed a MEDLINE search focusing on the past 10 years. Keywords used were attachment, neurobiology, and psychotherapy. We included original studies and existing reviews looking at all types of formal psychotherapy used and focusing on human research. Exclusion criteria were non-psychotherapeutic interventions and attachment based on couples only.ResultsThe experimental results showed that the number of people who observed red light was greater than that of those who observed blue light, and the number of people who observed green and blue light was 21,25. The order of changing colors has little effect on the experimental results. The level of activity in brain regions varies with color, with darker red areas indicating more active brain activity, while darker blue areas indicating less active brain activity.ConclusionsRed light makes the brain tense and excited, while blue light makes the brain calm and relaxed. Design products with colors, expressing emotions through color combinations on the screen. Faced with the psychological dilemma of anxiety, through the application of color in product design, color optimization is carried out to explore effective color application solutions that can be suitable for various psychological needs.

Distressed Adolescent in Subima Misra’s Select Stories: An Anthropological Study of Indian Childhood

Critically speaking, Indian societies tend to ignore unusual behavior or psychosexual crisis in a child or teenager. This paper attempts to tap some of those uncomfortable nerves of Indian childhood and debate some of their challenges through the lens of Indian family structure. Contextualizing some of the crucial stories of Subimal Misra, a prominent and powerful voice of Modern Bangla literature, this paper, again, sympathetically but scientifically negotiates different relations of Indian household and their effect on the psychosexual growth of a child or teenager. It attempts to ask, though not limited to, these following sets of questions: How does the presence of a mother and her behavior affect the child? What are the psychological dilemmas that push a teenager to unidentified rage and revengeful attitude? How does society influence the formulation of a veneer into a teenager? It is curious to note that the stories under consideration here, like Will You Preserve Your Chastity, Aparna (1987), or Here’s How We Wring a Quarter of Lime (1989), are ‘about’ children but not ‘for’ children. With the help of an anthropological point of view, this paper problematizes family relations, imposition of social choices, and their gaps.

Analysis of the Psychological Dilemma of the Elderly with Grandchildren and the Design of Human-computer Intervention

China is facing the severe challenge of population aging, the elderly not only need to take care of themselves, but also need to take care of their children, this trend is increasingly obvious. The working hours of young people are getting longer and longer, and more and more old people take care of their children. Due to the lack of communication and long-term tension with children, the old people have a kind of emptiness, loss and emotional gap, fear and depression, which make the old people with grandchildren have a bad mood. In order to solve these problems, through the introduction of man-machine path to assist the elderly to communicate and operate, the psychological crisis of the elderly can be effectively intervened.

The Exploration and Practice of the Construction Path of Female Engineering Students' Employment Confidence

In order to solve the employment pressure and psychological dilemma faced by female engineering students, based on the theory of Nel Noddings care circle, following the spiraling upwards curve law, this paper explores the construction path of employment confidence for female engineering students in practice on the four levels of Individual, interpersonal, academic and achievement confidence. Following the logic approach of knowledge, emotion, intention and action, help engineering girls break through multiple self-limitations, gradually build up appropriate employment confidence and cognition.The practices of collaborative innovation of employment guidance, professional teaching and psychological education in universities with systematic thinking can further implement the goal of moral education.

Dilemmas and Possibilities of Re-Growth of the Elderly: An Analysis of the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry from the Perspective of Initiation Story

British author Rachel Joyce's debut novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, focuses on the spiritual and psychological dilemmas of the elderly, attempting to summon their spiritual recovery by way of a pilgrimage. Around this theme, the novel outlines the family relationship of the main character Harold in the form of interpolation and explores the possibility of his re-growth. This essay draws out Harold's past, present and future from Plato's three questions of life, and based on them, tentatively analyses the process and results of the re-growth and metamorphosis of the elderly.

교사의 심리적 딜레마에 대한 원인 탐구

The purpose of this paper is to explore the fundamental cause of the psychological dilemma experienced by teachers in the school space. To this end, 8 of the middle school teachers who attended the art therapy program participated in the study, the verbal description derived from the teacher's interview process and the visual results of the art works were cyclically interpreted. FGI and individual interviews were conducted according to the methodological procedure of grounded theory proposed by Strauss and Corbin (2001). 6 categories were derived from open coding, and a theoretical situational model was derived by naming the core categories as 'psychological dilemmas caused by two gaze' in the selective coding and specifying the analysis. This study suggested that the psychological dillema experienced by teachers are structural results from the dual surveillance system of a ‘disciplined society’ and ‘transparent society’ and the resulting role contradiction. It is expected that this study will be part the connection of teacher’s individual psychological and emotional problems and social structural aspects by integrating social analysis and artistic experiences.

The AI Commander Problem: Ethical, Political, and Psychological Dilemmas of Human-Machine Interactions in AI-enabled Warfare

ABSTRACT Can AI solve the ethical, moral, and political dilemmas of warfare? How is artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled warfare changing the way we think about the ethical-political dilemmas and practice of war? This article explores the key elements of the ethical, moral, and political dilemmas of human-machine interactions in modern digitized warfare. It provides a counterpoint to the argument that AI “rational” efficiency can simultaneously offer a viable solution to human psychological and biological fallibility in combat while retaining “meaningful” human control over the war machine. This Panglossian assumption neglects the psychological features of human-machine interactions, the pace at which future AI-enabled conflict will be fought, and the complex and chaotic nature of modern war. The article expounds key psychological insights of human-machine interactions to elucidate how AI shapes our capacity to think about future warfare's political and ethical dilemmas. It argues that through the psychological process of human-machine integration, AI will not merely force-multiply existing advanced weaponry but will become de facto strategic actors in warfare – the “AI commander problem.”

Görsellikten Eyleme: John Guare’in Altı Derecelik Ayrılık Oyununda Ekfrasis İzleri

John Guare’s renowned play Six Degrees of Separation (1990) exposes the protagonist Paul’s endeavour to assert his identity and find a place, by creating false identities, in the world of high-class individuals which is bounded by class, race, and sexual orientation. In delineating his journey into modern American culture, John Guare employs Kandinsky’s double-sided painting along with many other artistic devices such as flashbacks, flashforwards, cross-cutting, and different narrative techniques. Kandinsky’s painting, which dominates the stage with its slow movement, mirrors the varied aspects of social life where the characters hold no enduring and steady connection with reality. This painting also projects the emotional and psychological dilemma of the characters in the social life where they lose their sense of humanity and moral ideals. In this respect, this paper intends to explore how Kandinsky’s ideas of art and his double-sided painting constitute the quintessence of the play, reflecting the materialism of decadent contemporary society and its emotional and psychological impacts on the characters.

Thriving with Stone Age Minds: Evolutionary Psychology, Christian Faith, and the Quest for Human Flourishing

Thriving with Stone Age Minds: Evolutionary Psychology, Christian Faith, and the Quest for Human Flourishing

Psychological Dilemmas of People Trapped in Telecommunication Network Fraud Under the Post-Epidemic Situation and the Social Work Interventions

The consequences of telecommunication network fraud are becoming more and more serious, which seriously affects social harmony and stability. The psychological dilemmas of those caught in telecommunication network fraud constrain their mental lives and behavioral patterns and are a key element in cultivating a good social mindset to maintain social stability. A study of five victims aged 22-50 years old found that the psychological manifestations of those caught in telecommunication network fraud were different but similar, and their psychological dilemmas were mainly reflected in cognitive bias and irrational beliefs, many negative emotions and barriers to emotional support, and behavioral tendencies to escape from society and even suicide. The path of social work intervention includes: helping to establish rational cognition, providing targeted psychological counseling, helping to establish a social support network, and advocating to create a good social atmosphere.

Workplace Stress in Portuguese Oncology Nurses Delivering Palliative Care: A Pilot Study.

Oncology nurses often face complex end-of-life issues, underlining their need for specific training in palliative care. In this context, nurses experience several emotional and psychological dilemmas, which are often difficult to manage and result in high levels of workplace stress. This study aimed to determine the levels and work-related factors of workplace stress among oncology nurses. A descriptive baseline study was performed as part of a large four-phase study based on quantitative data collected from Portuguese oncology nurses. Of the 32 participating nurses, most were women, and the mean age was 42.69 ± 10.04 years. Overall, nurses revealed moderate levels of stress. Younger nurses with less professional experience had difficulties dealing with issues related to death and dying. This pilot study supported the development of a program of six Stress Management Training Workshops (SMTW) to reduce stress and increase adaptative strategies. Assessing workplace stress among oncology nurses should be the focus of intervention by managers and institutional leaders.

Separation of memory span and learning rate: Evidence from behavior and spontaneous brain activity in older adults.

It is unclear how the ability to initially acquire information in a first learning trial relates to learning rate in subsequent repeated trials. The separation of memory span and learning rate is an important psychological dilemma that remains unaddressed. Given the potential effects of aging on memory and learning, this study investigated the separation of memory span and learning rate from behavior and spontaneous brain activity in older adults. We enrolled a total of 758 participants, including 707 healthy older adults and 51 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Sixty-five participants out of 707 completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. Behaviorally, memory span and learning rate were not correlated with each other in the paired-associative learning test (PALT) but were negatively correlated in the auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). This indicated that the relationship between memory span and learning rate for item memory might be differentially affected by aging. Interaction analysis confirmed that these two capacities were differentially affected by test type (associative memory vs. item memory). Additionally, at three progressive brain activity indexes (ALFF, ReHo, and DC), the right brain regions (right inferior temporal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus) were more negatively correlated with memory span, whereas, the left precuneus was more positively correlated with learning rate. Regarding pathological aging, none of the correlations between memory span and learning rate were significant in either PALT or AVLT in MCI. This study provides novel evidence for the dissociation of memory span and learning rate at behavioral and brain activity levels, which may have useful applications in detecting cognitive deficits or conducting cognitive interventions.

Tragicomic Representations in the novel “Măștile lui Brejnev” by Nicolae Spătaru

This article offers a literary analysis of existential problems, psychological dilemmas and behavioral paradigms in Nicolae Spătaru’s novel, Măștile lui Brejnev. The mechanisms by which a totalitarian society exercises its power and control over individuals and which the author has managed to capitalize on in the artistic images are highlighted. It is also surprising how the traumas and psychological tensions of the character Marcu Filipescu and his condition in Soviet society are represented, which is obviously illustrated as a character who has typical features manifested in typical circumstances. With refined humor is described the intrusion of fantastic elements in the fictional reality of the novel, which significantly contributes to the reception of both a way of understanding through the prism of artistic representations of the historical daily referred to and the reception of the novel as a whole. The author set out to appreciate from an aesthetic point of view the approached issue and the artistic images that constitute the “fictional world” of Măștile lui Brejnev novel. Therefore, the given study represents the methodological part of a critical approach that analyzes the imaginary universe created by the author of the novel.

The bias in judgement: when “naïve” knowledge challenges expert knowledge in criminal trials

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a discussion on the socio-cognitive biases involved during a criminal trial, in accordance with the literature in this field.Design/methodology/approachWhether it is the biases of representation, availability or anchoring (Fariña et al., 2003), they have been widely studied in social psychology and constitute a relevant angle of analysis in the judicial context.FindingsThis paper outlines the issues related to the reality of the judicial decision, the psychological dilemmas that arise from it, as well as the normative pressures underlying the need to rationalize the decision. Finally, the status of psycho-legal expertise and the importance given to it is also discussed with regard to these issues.Practical implicationsThis paper may help provide the diverse socio-judicial actors with some elements for questioning the psychological mechanisms that may intervene in the decision-making and therefore create a sense of conscientization necessary to optimize the quality of decision-making.Originality/valueThis paper may help provide the diverse socio-judicial actors with some elements for questioning the psychological mechanisms that may intervene in the decision-making and therefore create a sense of conscientization necessary to optimize the quality of decision-making.