Association of racism and substance use treatment with belief in the myth of an American Indian/Alaska Native biological vulnerability to alcohol problems.

OBJECTIVES: Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems is associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AIANs. Despite a notable lack of evidence that biogenetic factors play a greater role in the development of alcohol problems among AIANs than other groups, many people still believe this myth. Consistent with theory and evidence that greater experiences with discrimination leads to the internalization of stereotypes and oppression, we hypothesized that greater perceived racial discrimination (racism) would be associated with greater BV belief, but that having a stronger ethnic identity would weaken this association. We also examined whether previous substance use treatment as well as participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was associated with BV belief. METHOD: Participants were 198 reservation-dwelling AI adults with a substance use problem who completed a survey as part of a larger community-based participatory study. RESULTS: A multiple regression analysis revealed that greater systemic racism was associated with greater belief in a BV; this association was not moderated by ethnic identity. Greater interpersonal racism was also associated with greater BV belief-but only among those low in ethnic identity. A regression analysis revealed that previous treatment, AA, and NA participation were not associated with BV belief. CONCLUSIONS: Greater systemic and interpersonal racism were associated with belief in a BV, and greater ethnic identity buffered the association between interpersonal racism and BV belief. This suggests that both combatting racism and fostering positive ethnic identity may help to lessen BV belief. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Myths and Knowledge Gaps in the Aesthetic Treatment of Patients With Skin of Color

Background: Misperceptions about facial aesthetic treatments in individuals with skin of color (SOC) may influence treatment selection. Objective: We aimed to identify knowledge gaps and myths concerning facial aesthetic treatment in individuals with SOC. Methods: A PubMed search identified articles concerning patients with SOC receiving facial aesthetic treatments. The experience of experts in aesthetic treatment of patients with SOC was also considered. Results: Knowledge gaps included not seeking injectable filler treatment of lips, risk of developing keloids with injectable filler treatment, risk of hyperpigmentation precluding surgical procedures and nonsurgical injectable filler treatment, melasma being a minor cosmetic concern with limited treatments, and racial/ethnic groups being homogeneous with respect to facial characteristics and aesthetic concerns. Dispelled myths included perceptions that: individuals with SOC do not need sunscreen; dermal fillers and neuromodulators are not necessary or useful for patients with darker skin; laser treatments cannot be used on darker skin; facial products are unnecessary; and only medical providers with SOC can understand how to treat patients with SOC. Conclusions: Knowledge gaps and myths concerning facial aesthetic treatment in individuals with SOC exist. These patients may undergo various facial aesthetic procedures safely and effectively, as long as nuances in treatment approaches are recognized. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(7):616-622.

'Total girlfriend experience': examining marketplace mythologies on sex tourism websites.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic content analysis of sex tour websites to understand how sex tours are marketed to potential clients. A total of 380 web pages from 21 sex tour websites were reviewed. The sex tour websites sought to promote privacy and hassle-free travel with a local 'escort' and the opportunity for 'hooks-ups' with no strings attached. Three themes emerged around the description of sex workers: (1) enjoyment and complete acceptance, (2) a 'total girlfriend experience' and (3) exoticisation of the 'Third World' woman. The majority of the sex tourism websites used marketplace mythologies concerning racism, sexism and imperialism to appeal to sex tourists' desires for fantasy experiences, power and domination, and a renewed sense of identity. Legal and STI-related information was largely missing from the websites, and when it was included it was aimed at protecting sex tourists, not sex workers. It is of importance for researchers, social workers and others engaging with sex workers and sexscapes to recognise the power of language, cultural myths and framings and their ability to generate real-world social and health implications.

Do "Myths" of low back pain exist among Irish population? A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain remains major public health problem in the Western industrialized world. The known prevalence of low back pain in Ireland is approximately 13 %. It is one of the leading causes of sickness compensation and disability pension in our justification. We hypothesized that there is a widespread misconception about the perception of low back pain among the Irish population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the "Myths" of low back pain existed among the Irish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in the Republic of Ireland from April 2013 to August 2013. The Irish population who visited Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland, was contacted randomly at point of entry to the hospital. During the survey, the authors obtained verbal consent before handing the questionnaire, which contained the Deyo's seven myths. The responders were asked to mark their response in a three-point scale (agree, unsure, disagree) to the seven statements. RESULTS: Out of 500 responders, 59 (11.8 %) people answered none of the questions correctly. Fifty-six (11.2 %) answered one question correctly, 106 (21.2 %) answered two questions correctly, 85 (17 %) people disagreed with three myths, 88 (17.6 %) disagreed with four myths, 55 (11 %) people answered five questions correctly, and 34 (6.8 %) answered six questions correctly. Therefore, only 17 (3.4 %) people disagreed with all the seven myths. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this cross-sectional study showed that myths of low back pain widely exist among Irish population studied . The level of education played an important role. The findings from this study suggest that public health information regarding low back pain is inadequate and has not affected attitudes to low back pain in an Irish population.

A brief report on rape myth acceptance: differences between police officers, law students, and psychology students in the United Kingdom.

A common perception is that police officers hold very negative attitudes about rape victims. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to establish whether police officers do accept stereotypical rape myths at a higher level compared to members of other populations. There were 3 comparison samples, composed of police officers, law students, and psychology students, that completed the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance scale. Male and female police officers accepted "she lied" myths at a higher level than the student samples. Student samples were found to accept 2 types of rape myths ("she asked for it" and "he didn't meant to") at a higher level compared to police officers. No significant differences were found in the other 4 subfactors. Therefore, the pattern of results suggests that police officers do not adhere to stereotypical myths about rape victims more than do other populations.

The medical-religious practice of votive offerings and the representation of a unique pathognomonic one inside the asclepieion of corinth.

Votive offerings to the healing gods were a common religious custom for the ill believers to achieve the expected cure. The dedication of votive offerings began in Prehistoric Crete and continued during the Classical Period, mainly connected with the god Asclepius. Most offerings presented healthy members, while in some rare cases a disease had been displayed. A unique votive offering, found in the Asclepieion of Corinth, presented an anomaly, bringing to light the religious beliefs of the era. The custom of votive offerings was absorbed by the Orthodox Christians and still remains a common practice.

[The importance of the mother archetype in our day's Hungary]. / Az anya archetípus jelentosége a mai Magyarországon.

The worsening demographic situation in our mother country as in Europe too call for the investigation of family life and the feminine role. We began the analysis of the developing problem with the investigation of the spirit of the age in which it appears. We examine the importance of the family life and the woman's role in the foundation of the future. We point out that in the archaic pattern of family life, the mother archetype functions as energy generator from the point of the family and the society. The children make it possible and necessary for the parents to live over again the whole process of human development. Through empathy they make possible the spontaneous corrective examination of the parents own deep psychological relational patterns. These make it certain that family life works psychologically as the source of energy, and workshop.

Face the consequences: learning about victim's suffering reduces sexual harassment myth acceptance and men's likelihood to sexually harass.

Prior research has shown that (1) better knowledge about the consequences of rape goes along with less rape-supportive attitudes and lower rape proclivity, and (2) empathy with the victims correlates negatively with sexual aggression. In two experiments, the authors combined these approaches in order to reduce sexual harassment myth acceptance (SHMA) and the likelihood to sexually harass (LSH). In Study 1, 101 male and female university students read a report describing sexual harassment as either serious or harmless, and completed scales assessing dispositional empathy and SHMA. Results showed that higher empathy was associated with lower SHMA; furthermore, learning about the seriousness (vs. harmlessness) of sexual harassment led to lower SHMA, particularly in participants low in empathy. Gender differences in SHMA were fully explained by gender differences in empathy. In Study 2, perspective taking, a crucial aspect of empathy, was manipulated. One hundred nineteen male and female participants read either a neutral text or a description of a sexual harassment case, which was written either from the female target's or from the male perpetrator's perspective; then they completed scales measuring SHMA and (only male participants) LSH. The target's perspective led to lower SHMA and to lower LSH than did the neutral text, whereas no such effect was found for the perpetrator's perspective. Implications for intervention programs are discussed.

[A clinical method for the investigation of spirituality]. / A spiritualitás vizsgálhatóságának egy klinikai módszere.

The purpose of the Religion Psychology Department of the National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Budapest, was to provide hospital care and cure for psychiatric patients belonging to different religions and spiritual movements. Modern psychiatric treatment integrates the three main dimensions of psychiatry: the biological, the sociotherapeutic and the psychotherapeutic. To this we have added a fourth field involving the spiritual life. The department was organized by therapeutic community principles. At the beginning our work was made almost impossible by an extreme confusion of worldviews and theological concepts which hindered clients' communication with each other as well as the work of sociotherapy and psychotherapy. Thus it became unavoidable to elaborate a common language and value system. This task was accomplished by searching for common denominators. We traced back most problems to two main factors. The first had to do with the essence of humanness, with the main driving force of the human personality. The second related to the final value system by which human actions are judged. We located the first factor in the human aspiration for development in both the inner and outer life and in the need for community. In our department mutual help, the promotion of development and usefulness for the community came to be regarded the standards of behavior. We used these standards as coordinates in our discussions. These made possible the work of psychotherapy as well as life in the therapeutic community.

Myths, perceptions, and incorrect knowledge surrounding epilepsy in rural Zimbabwe: a study of the villagers in Buhera District.

The aim of this study was to assess the myths, perceptions, and incorrect knowledge that people in Buhera Rural District harbor about epilepsy. The study was conducted among people living with epilepsy (n=100) using a standardized questionnaire that was developed after two focus group discussions with the village health workers (n=20) and interviews with the key informants. Each respondent was interviewed during their monthly visit to Murambinda Mission Hospital. Focus group discussions and interviews identified 32 types of myths, perceptions, and incorrect knowledge relating to the causes, prevention, treatment, and effects of epilepsy. Most of the respondents agreed that epilepsy is a misunderstood condition that has stigmatizing myths, perceptions, and incorrect knowledge surrounding it. The study concludes that these myths, perceptions, and incorrect knowledge are a hindrance to the aim of reducing the treatment gap in epilepsy in Buhera, Zimbabwe and that desired quality of life for people with epilepsy can only be achieved after imparting accurate understanding of epilepsy in rural communities.

A phenomenological perspective on subjective well-being: from myth to science.

This paper summarizes the concept of subjective well-being, from ancient philosophical reflection to the first psychological, empirical research on the construct of positive psychology. The author examined the different conceptual definitions of subjective well-being throughout history as well as the dominant themes in the philosophical theories, concluded with some contemporary philosophical trends in Western culture of the 20th and 21st century. This framework also touches upon the dynamics of the relationship between philosophical and psychological thoughts on subjective well-being.