User:U3195247

About me
Robert. U3195247. Part-time student in 3rd year (Psychology and Sports & Exercise Science)

I'm studying psychology at university to gain a bigger picture understanding of my overall personal experience, to attain 'mastery' and to integrate my work and contribution to society.

I'm passionate about humanistic & transpersonal psychology (personal development and spirituality) and seek to experience and embody 'what actually is'. To live Life in the present while creating distinctions via language, to use theoretical perspectives as tools to communicate and assist others in the social and relative domains to alleviate suffering and find out more about themselves.

I intend to further the development of mind-body to enable for greater effectiveness in all aspects of life. A formal degree in psychology would help to establish credibility and open doors to career options.

Book chapter I'm working on
Transpersonal Psychology

Social contributions

 * 1) Motivation and emotion/Book/2020/Ayahuasca and emotion - Contributed on Ayahuasca effects on Emotion "When thinking in terms of people taking Ayahuasca for depression and anxiety, an important part of the healing process is what happens after when the ceremony is over and integrating the experience which may vary from 6-12 months or longer. As a result of taking part in Ayahuasca ceremony, participants have reported more space between their awareness and various moods. The distance between automatic emotional or mood reactions and awareness gives the person greater ability to respond to what is occurring within their experience. Some people have reported greater openness in their relationships, less depression and anxiety, with one participant reporting to have “come out of my shell” Other people who have participated in Ayahuasca ceremonies have reported greater objectivity and more attuned to their emotions than prior to taking Ayahuasca. The effects of Ayahuasca seem to have similar effects to mindfulness training within the person, in that there is a ‘widening of the gap’ between impulse and action.  An increased skill in delaying gratification to what otherwise would be immediate reactions seem to also another one of the positive effects. Harris, R. (2017). Listening to ayahuasca: New hope for depression, addiction, PTSD, and anxiety. New World Library)
 * 2) Motivation and emotion/Book/2020/Psychedelic treatment of addiction - Contributed by adding reference: Pollan, M. (2019). How to change your mind: What the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression, and transcendence. Penguin Books.
 * 3) Motivation and emotion/Book/2022/Self-actualisation and motivation - Contributed by adding paragraph: Self-actualisation has been defined and described in a variety of ways, according to Maslow (2013) there are key features which make Self-actualisation distinct such as the expression and acceptance one's inner core self, minimal presence of ill health or psychopathology (e.g. neurosis, psychosis etc.) A self-actualising person has a free spontaneity, uninhibited expression of his or her inner-nature. Maturity in terms of self-actualisation means to transcend deficiency needs with a tendency to fulfill self-fulfillment or 'being-needs' towards "Peak Experience" and self-transcendence. Maslow, A. H. (2013). Toward a psychology of being. Simon and Schuster. p. 42,
 * 4) Motivation and emotion/Book/2021/DMT and spirituality - Contributed by adding information
 * 5) * "In all human bodies and throughout the plant and animal kingdom. DMT is endogenous and is a compound made within the body" and further reference to pioneering researcher Rick Strassman. Strassman, R. (2001). DMT: The spirit molecule: A doctor's revolutionary research into the biology of near-death and mystical experiences. Park Street Press.
 * 6) Motivation and emotion/Book/2020/DMT and spirituality Contributed to overview: DMT is taken commonly for spiritual exploration and has been coined as 'The Spirit Molecule' (2001) by many researchers and research subjects. In and of itself, it is said that DMT has no beneficial effects. The alleged benefit is said to be achieved by taking the substance within appropriate contexts. Psychedelic experts have stated that there are three factors in which the substance exerts its effects. They could be seen as 'the 3'S: Set, Setting and Substance. Set is the person engaging in taking the substance, it includes one's past history, genetics, feelings, live history etc. Set is basically one's brain and physiology. Setting is what is in the person's immediate surroundings and environment, this includes other people. Substance is the actual substance itself. It's crucial to that take into consideration the use and meaning of the word 'drug' including the surrounding circumstances in which a person takes the substance. The substance may be referred to by many names, depending on the context, perspective and interpretation. DMT can be called a drug, as well as a substance, molecule, compound, agent, entheogen, medicine, sacrament etc. This goes hand in hand with set and setting.
 * 7) Links to related Wikiversity book chapter pages:
 * 8) **DMT and spirituality (Wikiversity)
 * 9) **Eudaimonia (Wikiversity)
 * 10) **Eudaimonic well-being (Wikiversity)
 * 11) **Mindfulness 2011 (Wikiversity)
 * 12) **Mindfulness 2013 (Wikiversity)
 * 13) **Mystical experiences and emotion (Wikiversity)
 * 14) **Near-death experiences and emotion (Wikiversity)
 * 15) **Positive emotion (Wikiversity)
 * 16) **Self-actualisation and motivation (Wikiversity)
 * 17) **Spiritual and religious motivation (Wikiversity)
 * 18) **Yoga and emotion (Wikiversity)
 * 19) Motivation and emotion/Book/2020/Disgust and disease avoidance motivation - Added subsection and paragraphs: 'Recognising Disgust' -  According to Goleman (1995), the expression of disgust feelings and emotion looks the same throughout the world. Disgust serves to send the message that something is offensive in taste and/or smell. The emotion of disgust may also have a cognitive element of judging someone or something as to be avoided. From an evolutionary perspective, physiological manifestations of disgust may originate from guarding against noxious odours or spitting out poisonous food. To recognise the feeling of disgust within one's own physiology, Paul Ekman (2003) suggests to: 1. First pay attention to feelings in your throat, notice any slight gagging. 2. Upper lip and nose sensations increase in sensitivity and start to 'turn up'. 3. Focus attention on nose, upper lip and throat. 4. Think about another's actions. 5. Notice if there are any judgements about feeling superior, many times the feelings of disgust may be mistaken for contempt or anger. It is important to feel within the body and make finer distinctions within one's own body. Emotions may shift extremely rapidly.  To recognise the feeling of disgust within the physiology of others, notice the 'upper lip raise'. See if there are any wrinkles above the nose between the eyes which raise the upper lip, forming an 'Inverted-U' shape. The overall appearance of the nostril and upper lip should be raised. The raising of the cheeks and lowering of the eyebrows display the feeling and emotion of disgust to an extreme degree (Ekman, 2003, 2007)