COVER ART BY MOHAMED OSAMA • FOUNDED BY TERESA JOHNSON

PSYCH2GO
ISSUE 15 NOVEMBER 2019

GENERALISED
ANXIETY
AWARENESS
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST
It’s just a feeling? Yeah, but seeing yourself ugly though you’re beautiful
is the worst feeling ever. It seems like that’s my drawings and that’s
true...you do know that, and I do know that but my mind don’t. My mind
drives me to hate everything in this ugly LIFE.

That’s how it feels when you experience BDD.

Mohamed Osama
Behance @MoMarrwan
4
WAIT, WHAT EXACTLY IS "PSYCH2GO"?
Psych2Go started as a blog to feature short
psychology facts in the format of memes
(text-posts that are rapidly spread around the
internet). Our mission was to brand ourselves
as a forum/platform for people to get quick
psychology information to further discuss and
debate about the posts. We wanted to create
an open forum of discussions to help foster
critical thinking about research methods and
limitations.
To accomplish that, the Psych2Go team is
transparent about the fact that we don't always
post legitimate psychology information, but
only do so in order to get people to really
question ALL our posts and think on an
analytical level. Sometimes what you think is
true is actually not true and sometimes what is
not true is yet to be supported by research.
We have found that understanding research
methods and having an open and encouraging
forum for all of this is essential. Several
Facebook groups have also been created,
already aiming at this - including groups that
allow people to express their creativity like
our “Poetry” and “Doodle” group, and our
“Research and Writing Discussion” group
which creates discussion among expression of
ideas, and academic assistance.
As time went on, it made sense that Psych2Go
should start providing supplementary
materials such as sources, references, as well
as some explanation to our viral meme posts
that are featured on our Tumblr (as you’ll see
an example from the “Psych to Go” article in
this magazine issue) which generates large
discussion from audience members. From
these realizations to include more material
content, psych2go.net, the sister site was born.
When we started, Psych2Go had a team of
10 writers and published over 200 articles
within less than 2 months and received over
one million page views. And the articles
followed a specific format:
1. Intro
2. Bring up research.
3. Identify the research methods and the
limitations
4. question for our readers
This format is aligned with our mission
statement to analyze research, create
discussions, and provide the resources needed
to facilitate those discussions.
Then, as time went on, we thought about
implementing a mentorship program to help
further facilitate this learning process for our
younger audiences (since a majority of our
readers were not yet psychology students).
And that’s where psych2go.net is today! We
have editors, mentors, and intern writers, who
our Human Resource team has a very close
relationship with and helps them every step of
the way.
Our goal is to become the go-to site for
psychology, writing, help, research, studies,
and so forth. Psych2Go serves as an easily
accessible and inclusive platform for our young
audiences.
Tai Tai
Manager and Creator of Psych2Go
Psych2go@outlook.com
Psych2go.tumblr.com
Psych2go.net
 Artwork by: Mohamed Osama
5
PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
6

HELLO!
As a special part of the “Psych2Go” team, we believe that this magazine sets itself apart
from other science magazines out there. Understanding this magazine is not in a traditional
“magazine” format gives our magazine a creative and unique feel.

This was made by a collection of young entrepreneurs from all over the world. This publication
includes international contributors from places like Slovenia, The U.K., the Netherlands, the
Philippines, Canada, and people within various places of the U.S. like New York, Maryland, D.C.,
Tennessee, and California.

Keep in mind that not all of us are trained professionals in the Psychology field, but simply people
that are intrigued by Psychological concepts, only wanting to pass our research along, while
involving people to talk about their personal experiences, as well as informing an audience with
interesting Psychological facts.

We hope that you enjoy this collaborative publication that acts as an extension of our online blog,
psych2go.net, and we ask that you get involved with this entrepreneurial organization as well!
After all, Psychology is the science that’s all about you, and as a growing company, we’re offering
the opportunity for you to grow with us.

Teresa Johnson / U.S.A

Editor-in-Chief, Manager and
Coordinator of Psych2Go Magazine
linkedin.com/in/teresajohnso/
 Artwork by: Dew Borja
7
PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
 Psych2Go

8
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
9

CONTENTS
About Psych2Go 4
Hello Message 6
Meet The Writers 10
Psychology in the News 16
Awareness Topic 18
Cross-Cultural Psychology 20
Social Psychology 22
Exploring Mental Health 24
LGBTQA + Psychology 26
Music Psychology 28
Personality Psychology 30
Forensic Psychology 32
Art Submission Winner 34
Career Tips 35
Creative Writing 38
Community Submissions 40
Neuropsychology 48
P2G Entertainment and games 50
Psychology to Go 52
Debunking Psychological Myths 54
Advice Column 56
Mental Health Hotlines 58
Quiz Answers 60
Reader Testimonials 62
P2G Community Challenge 63
Contributors and Thank Yous 64
10

MEET
THE
WRIT
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
11

T
TERS
12

Hi, I'm Teresa and I attend the University of Maryland in College Park, MD as a
journalism major. I love writing, communicating, and self-expression and am
looking to pursue a job in the social media or communications field.
U.S (Maryland) / Founder of Psych2Go Magazine

Teresa

Im Imogen, a 25 year old Psychology graduate with a Masters in Research. I

manage the magazine as well as writing various sections each issue. I love writing,
as well as food, music, and most of all learning!
The U.K. / Managing Editor of Psych2Go Magazine

Imogen

Hi! I am currently going to graduate school for a Master’s in forensic psychology.

Some of my greatest passions in psychology include the topics of eating disorders,
self-harm, psychopathy, and forensic psychology. When I’m not working or doing
homework I can generally be found watching Netflix, sleeping, playing video
games, playing with cats, or working out—U.S. (Minnesota)

Larissa

Hi! I’m Kayleigh. Besides having a passion for writing,  learning new things and
gathering interesting facts (Did you know the majority of lizards can’t run and
breathe at the same time?), I love creative things like drawing and making jewelry.
I'm currently studying at University and in my free time I can be found listening to
music, reading and writing, or browsing the internet—Netherlands

Kayleigh
I still like hedgehogs. I like psychology and have a BSc from a Canadian university.
My field of study was industrial/organizational psychology and I currently do work
in HR!—Nova Scotia

Hannah
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
13

Hello! I’m 22 years old and a recent graduate of media studies. I’m a huge
supporter of anti-consumerism and media awareness and although I didn’t study
psychology, I am fascinated by the way our mind works. In my spare time you can
find me reading (especially fantasy literature), listening to music, watching TV
series and writing. Above all I am simply a girl, madly in love with stories in all
shapes and sizes—Slovenia

Katja

Hi there! My name is Risha. I am a psychology graduate, general studies. I am

oftentimes described as a shy girl with a quick wit. Amazingly, I have managed to
channel my passion to different facets of art and psychology; and blended my two
loves. I am a firm believer that learning never stops—Philippines

Risha

Paul Travis is an author living for the rush of big city lights and a self-proclaimed
diva with a heart of gold willing to help anyone in the world that he possibly can.
For more information check out www.paultravis.net —U.S (New York)
Advice Column Team

Paul

I am a 23 year old student currently working towards a bachelor's degree in

English Literature and Creative Writing at the Open University. I run an online blog
of my work and a Literature Facebook Page called 'Life Out Of Sync." In my spare
time I like to drink coffee and talk to my cats.—The U.K
Advice Column Team

Paige
14

My name is Kimi, I’m a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, studying

Chemical Engineering. In my free time, I love to watch Netflix and read fantasy
novels. U.S (Texas)

Kimiya

Hi I'm Jessica! I graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore County with

a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and concentration certificates in Human
Services and Biopsychology. Along with writing for the neuropsychology section
and career column, I am also a Clinical Research Coordinator at Johns Hopkins
working with patients while also studying migraine pain in the brain as well as
surgical techniques for aneurysms. Cognitive neuroscience is my main interest,
specifically sensation and perception. I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity
to continue to explore and expand on these interests through writing for
Psych2Go!.U.S (Maryland)

Jessica
Hello! I’m a 23-year old graduate student at William Carey University. I recently
graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and now I am studying to
obtain a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I write about music
psychology each issue. I'm passionate about psychology and mental health, and I
hope my writings are able to help others!
U.S (Mississippi)

Gabriel
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
15

I’m Amy, a 19 year old psychology student at the University of Ottawa. I write the
Animal Psychology section and I love hockey, music, writing, and traveling.

Amy

I’m Dancia Susilo and I have specialized in Healthcare and am currently attaining
a double major in Psychology and Linguistics as well as a certification in Digital
Marketing. I aim to enrich people’s lives with knowledge and helping them attain
their goals. Im currently self-employed as a business coach specializing in small
startups and performance artists.

Dancia
16

INTHE
NE
Written
by: Han
nah Jad
e / Art

WS
work by: Soh
aina Mar
atita
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
17

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

The most popular emoji people use has recently been studied and
scientists have determined the psychology behind it. It has basically
replaced “lol” when trying to soften the blow of a sarcastic text, laughing
at a joke, or just acknowledging something funny. Humans are very
social creatures who do a lot of communication through body language,
so emojis allow some of that to come through in text messages.

Robots may also be psychology’s new lab rats. Two scientists at a

Florida university are running classic psychology experiments, but on
robots with artificial intelligence. The robots are built with an artificial
intelligence that acts in the same way neural pathways exist In humans
and animals. The current experiment is like that of BF Skinner. Except
the robot faces the right way and then gets a reward. They are still
working to see how the results play out. So far the robots have been
able to solve the first puzzle.

Sources cited:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/10/could-robots-be-psychology-s-new-lab-rats
https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/1726756/the-psychology-behind-the-most-popular-
emoji/amp/
 AWARENESS TOPIC
18
Body Dysmorphic
Disorder (BDD)
Written by: Imogen Bowler / Artwork by: Jeremy Rodriguez
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental
health disorder which is characterised by ob-
sessing over perceived flaws in relation to the
body. Generally, it’s been found to affect 2.4% of
the population, and, despite the stereotypes, it
affects both men and women (Bjornsson, Didie
& Phillips, 2010). In men, it tends to present as
muscle dysmorphia (Phillips, 2009). BDD tends
to be pretty underdiagnosed for a wide range
of reasons, including that it is often misdiag-
nosed. This article will explore in depth what
BDD is. It’ll look at the diagnostic criteria, pos-
sible causes, treatment, common misdiagnos-
es, and finally what it is often comorbid with.
The DSM is the manual used to diagnose
mental health conditions and disorders. BDD is
characterised in the DSM as an OCD-spectrum
disorder, and it is distinctly different to eating
disorders like anorexia nervosa. The criteria
for a diagnosis is as follows: 1) Appearance
Pre-occupation (pre-occupied by one or more
“unreasonable” flaws), 2) repetitive behaviour
(for example: mirror checking, excessive
grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking,
clothes changing etc.), 3) clinical significance
(there must be a clinical amount of distress at
the symptoms), and finally, 4) these symptoms
must not be due to an eating disorder.
So how do clinicians and doctors go about as-
sessing these symptoms? A scale is generally
used, which is often the case when diagnosing
mental health disorders. Specifically, the BDD
Questionnaire tends to be used.
Do we know anything about the possible caus-
es of BDD? It seems, like with many complex
mental health disorders, that the causes are
a combination and interaction of many factors
(Phillips, 2009). BDD tends to develop during
early adolescence (Phillips, 2004), however it
can develop later as well. It has been found
that before the onset of BDD, the individual will
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
often have social anxiety. To look at just how
hereditary BDD is, twin studies have been con-
ducted. It was found that BDD has a heritability
of about 43% (Browne, Gair, Scharf & Grice,
2014). Possible factors in causing BDD include,
but are not limited to: introversion (Veale,
2004), negative body image & perfectionism
(Hartmann, 2014), heightened aesthetic sensi-
tivity (Feusner et al, 2010) and childhood abuse
(Feusner et al, 2014).
What can be done once BDD has been diag-
nosed? There are treatments available for peo-
ple with BDD, with differing success depending
on the patient. Generally, in terms of therapy,
cognitive behavioural therapy seems to be best
for BDD (Phillips, 2004). Often, this is also cou-
pled with medication, with Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors being the most effective
(Phillips, 2004). Giving the patient psychoedu-
cation before treatment begins also seems to
have a positive effect (Phillips, 2004).
As previously mentioned, BDD is often mis-
diagnosed at first. This tends to be because
there are a lot of shared symptoms with other
disorders, and also due to a lack of knowledge
of BDD among clinicians. The disorders BDD is
often misdiagnosed as include: social anxiety,
OCD, Major Depressive disorder, or social
anxiety (Phillips, 1994). It can also be misdiag-
nosed as an eating disorder or a body-focused
repetitive behaviour disorder.
Finally, it is also common that people with BDD
will have additional disorders. This is known
as a “comorbid” disorder. Often, people with
BDD also suffer from eating disorders (32.5%
- Ruffolo et al, 2005), or OCD (8% - Braw-
man-Mintzer et al, 1995).
19
Sources cited:
Bjornsson AS; Didie ER; Phillips KA (2010). “Body dysmorphic
disorder”. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 12 (2): 221–32.
Katharine A Phillips, Understanding Body Dysmorphic
Disorder: An Essential Guide (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2009), pp 50–51
Katharine A Phillips, “Body dysmorphic disorder: Recognizing
and treating imagined ugliness”, World Psychiatry, 2004
Feb;3(1):12-7.
Browne, Heidi A.; Gair, Shannon L.; Scharf, Jeremiah M.; Grice,
Dorothy E. (2014-01-01). “Genetics of obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder and Related Disorders”. Psychiatric Clinics of North
America. 37 (3): 319–335.
Veale D (2004). “Body dysmorphic disorder”. British Medical
Journal. 80 (940): 67–71.
Hartmann, A (2014). “A comparison of self-esteem and
perfectionism in anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic
disorder”. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 202 (12):
883–888.
Feusner, J.D.; Neziroglu, F; Wilhelm, S.; Mancusi, L.; Bohon, C.
(2010). “What causes BDD: Research findings and a proposed
model”. Psychiatric Annals. 40 (7): 349–355.
Katharine A Phillips. The Broken Mirror. Oxford University
Press, 1996. p. 47.
S. Ruffolo, J., Phillips, K. A., Menard, W., Fay, C., & Weisberg,
R. B. (2006). Comorbidity of body dysmorphic disorder and
eating disorders: severity of psychopathology and body image
disturbance. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39(1),
11-19.
Brawman-Mintzer, O., Lydiard, R. B., Phillips, K. A., Morton, A.,
Czepowicz, V., Emmanuel, N., . . . Ballenger, J. C. (1995). Body
dysmorphic disorder in patients with anxiety disorders and
major depression: A comorbidity study. The American Journal
of Psychiatry, 152(11), 1665-1667.
 20
Wr
itte
As
n by:
Ris
an ian B haM
ae
Ord
es
dt
/ A
rtw
he eauty
ork
Cu b y:
Sa
m
Mo
ro
ltu Stan
re d
of ards
‘Lo
ok
ism
’

Written by: Risha Mae Ordes

CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
Mankind has always had an infatuation
with beauty and the pursuit of it since time
immemorial. Some authors suggest that
beauty is not just a visual experience, but a
holistic one that is a feast for all of the senses
as well as the soul.
Our obsession with corporeal beauty and
aesthetics may root from the idea that being
beautiful has tremendous benefits. Authors
of the 1984 book Face Value: The Politics
of Beauty, Robin Lakoff and Raquel Scherr
suggests that beauty in itself is a commodity
- a reflection of wealth and class standing.
Other studies suggest that attractive people
also appear to pay lower bail, and are more
likely to be hired for jobs than less attractive
individuals.
Mainstream beauty has been all about
following the cookie-cutter aesthetics. In Asia,
it’s the glass-like, blemish-free, fair skin, a
v-shaped jaw, and almond-shaped eyes. And
this cultural preference can be felt globally,
as both through the systematic propagation
for this standard through technology and
modernization, and historically through
colonization.
However, these standards, especially the
preference of lighter skin tones, is nothing new,
especially in the soils of the East. Some studies
Sources cited:
Eric P.H. Li, H. J. M., Belk, R. W., Kimura, J. & Bahl, S (2008).
Skin Lightening and Beauty in Four Asian Cultures. NA -
Advances in Consumer Research.35, eds. Angela Y. Lee and
Dilip Soman, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research,
Pages: 444-449.
Goon, P. & Craven, A. (2003). Whose Debt?: Globalisation and
Whitefacing in Asia. Intersections: Gender, History and Culture
in the Asian Context, Issue 9.
Kim S. & Lee Y (2018) Why do women want to be beautiful? A
qualitative study proposing a
new “human beauty values” concept. PLoS ONE 13(8):
e0201347.
Kholmogorova, A., Tarhanova, P. & Shalygina, O (2018)
Standards of physical beauty and mental health in children
21
suggest that long before colonizers found the
shores of Asia, there was already a strong
preference for individuals and deities with
lighter skin tones. This belief was discovered to
be deeply embedded into the traditions of some
Asian countries. For example, in the cultures
of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, paler skins
tend to be signs of aristocratic heritage of
class allegiance.
Now, the premium for beauty is higher than
ever, while the culture of ‘lookism’ is more
widespread and institutional. Asian women
will jump leaps and bounds just to achieve
double eyelids, or to get fair skin. Some would
subscribe to glutathione drips and surgery. The
promotions of strict beauty standards include
negative consequences on the mental health of
a person, especially young people. It may foster
negative self-images, low self-esteem, and
an unhealthy obsession with wanting to look
beautiful.
There is a pressure in society to break the
molds and change the standards to a more
inclusive narrative that fits all shapes, sizes,
and skintones. However, this paradigm shift is
only the beginning, and definitely, the world has
a long way to go.
and young people in the era of the information revolution,
International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 11:1, 87-
98, DOI: 10.1080/17542863.2017.1394007
Little, C., Jones, B., & DeBruine, L. (2011). Facial
attractiveness: evolutionary based research. The Royal
Society Publishing: Philosophical Transactions B. 366(1571):
1638–1659.
Rondilla, J.L. (2012). Colonial Faces: Beauty and Skin Color
Hierarchy in the Philippines and the U.S. (Unpublished doctoral
dissertation). University of California, Berkekeley. USA.
https://asia.nikkei.com/NAR/Articles/The-complex-culture-
and-history-behind-K-beauty
https://thesocietypages.org/papers/homoegenization-of-asian-
beauty/
22

Social Media
and How We
View Our
Bodies
Written by: Paul Travis / Artwork by: Jeremy Rodriguez

It comes as no surprise that social media

negatively affects our body image in a psycho-
logical manner. Truth is, it really doesn’t matter
but everyone is, in some form of capacity,
impacted by body type. With all these fitness
gurus showcasing their definition of what it
means to be “beautiful” and given they are
experts in their field of work, a lot of people lis-
ten to them from celebrities to everyday folks.
Approaching the dark side as people scroll on
their Instagram and Facebook newsfeeds - it
becomes a toxic mental state that impacts a
person’s self-esteem.

Research from a mental health and addiction

treatment facility, The Florida House, showed
how damaging it can truly be. The study
revealed how different factors affect how men
and women view their bodies. Social media
took the lead over any other factor with women:
87.73% saying yes that they compare their bod-
ies via a social media image in an unfavorable
light whilst only 12.27% said no it isn’t unfavor-
able. When men were asked, the number was
still very high above all other stuff, too: 63.37%
said no that they compare themselves in an
unfavorable light and only 38.63% said yes.
PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
23

With many apps out there to alter or enhance

our best features, you must wonder why our
mind becomes so fixed on this when some
of the images we see can totally be a lie.
Really, there is no right or wrong answer. It all
depends on the person viewing. In time, we
can only hope such matters can become less
important as people begin to shift to see that
the importance of life is making memories, not
cute photos.

Body confidence also decreases as a person

ages. Everything changes as we grow older in
time. More needs to be done so women feel
comfortable with themselves. Also, men need
to feel at ease about themselves as well. Re-
gardless of their age group, everyone deserves
to feel beautiful and confident in who they are.
It’s sad to know a tiny device can truly ruin a
person’s view on how they look.

Sources cited:
https://www.today.com/today/amp/tdna128500
 EXPLORING MENTAL HEALTH
24

What is
dissociative
identity
disorder?
Written by: Hannah Jade / Artwork by: Marielle Laya

DID is believed to be a defence mechanism that

To start, it used to be called multiple person-
ality disorder. In reality, it is a severe form of
a dissociative state that causes a divide in a
person’s identity, thoughts, and feelings.
the brain creates to endure trauma and abuse
so that the person who experienced the situa-
tions is able to better compartmentalise what
happened to them - and sometimes repress
it entirely.

This does generally result in the person ex-
pressing multiple personalities.
With most research it seems like a lot of
people suffering with this condition do refer
to the separate personalities as a “system”
where they make up the whole human. There
is still a lot of scholarly debate amongst people
in the psychological field about this disorder
and whether it is its own separate disorder or
something connected with schizophrenia.
Not a lot is known about dissociative identity
disorder as it is a rather new topic that we cur-
rently deal with. The main treatments seem to
be working with antipsychotics as well as talk
therapy to deal with the trauma that affects the
individual so badly that they dissociate.
It is not currently known if the goal should be
to “get rid of” the other personalities or just
work with all of them together.

What is believed to cause DID is a severe

trauma; usually that had occurred in childhood.
The most common one seems to be childhood
sexual abuse.
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
25

What is believed to cause

DID is a severe trauma;
usually that had occurred
in childhood. The most
common one seems to be
childhood sexual abuse.
 LGBTQ + PSYCHOLOGY
26
Written by: Renee Gasbarre / Artwork by: Jeremy Rodriguez
LGBT: BODY
ISSUES WITHIN
THE LGBT
COMMUNITY
A recent survey by the Mental Health
Foundation in the UK found that among adults
identifying as “gay, lesbian, bisexual or other,”
53% felt anxious and 56% felt depressed
due to their body image, while 33% of adults
identifying as heterosexual reported similar
feelings. Moreover, 33% of adults identifying
as “gay, lesbian, bisexual or other” reported
having “suicidal thoughts or feelings” in
relation to their body image, with 11% of adults
identifying as heterosexual reporting the same.
Additionally, research done by the National
Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) shows
LGBT people as “more likely” to suffer stress
and anxiety related to their body image, with a
“particularly worrying proportion” of bisexuals
reporting suicidal thoughts.
Where is this coming from? LGBT+ individuals
face a number of struggles that damage their
mental health than heterosexuals (on the basis
of their sexuality), like stigma, discrimination,
harassment, etc. But one that many overlook is
making queerness palatable for those outside
the community, and sometimes even for those
within. For many, this means following as
many societal rules as possible, namely that
of western beauty standards. Being already
at risk for mental illness, internalizing the
pressure to conform aesthetically is far
more likely.
Research shows this to be especially true for
gay and bisexual men, who are more likely to
“experience a desire to be thin,” and reporting
having “fasted, vomited, or taken laxatives or
diet pills to control their weight” more than
heterosexual men. In Michael D. Siever’s 1994
study he pointed to the disparity between
the body image of gay men and heterosexual
women, both of whom are “taught to have
strong desires to attract and please men.” Gay
men, he concluded, tend to be “less happy”
with their bodies than heterosexual women,
as they are stuck between wanting to appear
attractive to men and having the “strength and
athletic prowess” they are expected to as men.
Lesbian and bisexual women experience a
similar problem. Though lesbian “ideology”
strives to reject the “overemphasis placed
on women’s physical attractiveness,” it’s not
necessarily enough to counteract the ridiculous
beliefs about female beauty a woman has
already internalized. On the other side of the
coin is the expectation to be “strong, athletic
and muscular” among lesbian women. These
opposing beauty standards are meant to
function as “markers” for lesbians to identify
each other, making those who don’t fit feel
unconnected to the group.
NEDA suggests that lacking “a sense of
connectedness” to the gay community may aid
in the development of eating disorders. This is
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
supported by “black and Latino LGBs” having
at least as high a frequency of eating disorders
as their white counterparts. Trans individuals
also feel this double dose of “minority stress,”
as I.H. Meyer puts it, as inconsistency between
their assigned sex at birth and their gender
identity makes following already demanding
beauty conventions all the more the difficult.
These conclusions are all based on limited
research. Very little, if any effort has gone
into studying individuals with less known
orientations and gender identities, let alone
those with overlapping identities. It also stands
to acknowledge that additional factors like
ethnicity, religion, disability, etc. are largely
ignored in these studies. Unfortunately,
it’s more common to have multiple issues
contributing to one’s mental illness(es) than
just one, which makes isolating causes a
challenge. Hopefully, with the growing global
awareness of LGBT+ identities and struggles,
we’ll see more progress in their research and
study in the future.
27
Sources cited
Chabot, N. (2005, January). How to Look the Part:
Implications of Body Image Issues for Lesbian, Gay,
and Bisexual College Students. Retrieved from
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.
cgi?article=1149&context=tvc.
Body Image, Sexual orientation and Gender Identity.
(2019, May 13). Retrieved from https://www.
mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/
sexuality-gender-identity.
Eating Disorders in LGBT (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/
Transgender) Populations. (2012). Retrieved from
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/
default/files/ResourceHandouts/LGBTQ.pdf.
Mahmoud, J. (2019, April 16). On Body Image and
the Queer Community. Retrieved from https://
queer-voices.com/on-body-image-and-the-queer-
community/.
The LGBT Body Image Problem. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.turning-point.co.uk/blog-home/the-lgbt-
body-image-problem.html.
 MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY
28

Written by: Gabriel Taylor / Artwork by: Maxine Gando

Is Hip Hop
Changing Mental
Health?

Ideas of mental health have

changed over the years. The
evolution of hip hop has been a
clear measure of those changes
for many people. The majority of
rap and hip hop artists are black
men, a group whose mental health
journey hasn’t been an easy one.
Even now, the stigma against seeking
help creates men who don’t want to
appear weak or be the butt of jokes.

With Gangsta Rap in the 1990s came the Thug

Life image. Men who portrayed themselves
as dangerously masculine were enormously
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
29

successful, and no one could imagine artists Suicide Prevention Hotline. The day the song
like Tupac or Biggie baring their souls to a was released, there was a surge of calls as
therapist. Rap was angry and combative but fans felt empowered to reach out for help.
was, itself, therapeutic in a sense. Fans could Respected musicians like Fat Joe, Chance The
relate to the anger and hopelessness they Rapper, Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, and many others have
heard in the music and felt empowered by the been open to talking about therapy and their
aggressiveness. Ironically, expressing their diagnoses recently.
feelings through their lyrics was how Tupac
and Biggie became so relatable. Just as in the 90s, rap and hip hop artists can
influence society. Only this time, instead of
More recently, as public perceptions ridiculing mental health care, support from
change and stigmas are lifted, rappers these artists may be helpful to those who need
are increasingly able to take care it. Perhaps today’s musicians are wondering
of their mental health and what Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls would
discuss it publicly. Many have to say on the subject if only mental health
artists can be found had been a priority thirty years ago. How many
discussing the subject young lives might have been saved from the
in interviews, lyrics, gang mentality that was so prevalent in rap and
and on social media. hip hop? How many can we save in the future?
Darryl McDaniels
of Run DMC
uses his book, Rap was angry and
Ten Ways Not
to Kill Yourself, combative but was,
as a platform
to encourage itself, therapeutic in
people not to let
asking for help a sense. Fans could
relate to the anger
make them feel
weak. Because
of the work it
takes, “therapy and hopelessness
is gangsta,” he
assures readers.
they heard in the
Kanye West is
another rapper whose
music and felt
struggles have been public.
His album, Ye, says “I hate
empowered by the
being Bi-Polar It’s awesome”
on the cover, and he’s done
aggressiveness.
countless interviews on the
topic.

Rapper Logic wrote a very personal song

about the effects of his depression and suicidal
thoughts. He named the song “1-800-237-
8255”, which is the number of the National
 PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY
30

TOXIC STANDARDS OF BEAUTY AND BDD

Written by: Risha Mae Ordes / Artwork by: Jeremy Rodriguez
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
It’s quite normal for a person to have inse-
curities, but to people with Body Dysmorphic
Disorder, it’s neither that easy or that simple.
Their dislike of a part of their body often is
debilitating and the persistent and intrusive
reminders of their imperfections would impair
their quality of life. If that’s not already hard
enough, people who suffer from Body Dys-
morphic Disorder (BDD) have to live in a world
obsessed with all things beauty and aesthetics.
The exact cause of Body Dysmorphic Disorder
is not fully understood yet. However, there are
theories that suggest that it can be affected by
both biological and environmental factors, in-
cluding genetic predisposition, life experiences
such as trauma, and neurobiological factors. In
fact, there is a theory that suggests a problem
with neurotransmitters could be the most likely
reason, as BDD has high comorbidity with
other mental health disorders such as major
depressive disorder and anxiety.
Part of the environmental factors is a world
obsessed with beauty. Society has shaped the
idea of beauty and aesthetics into a singular
identity, one that has been propagated through-
out the world. The media is a huge platform
that teaches people that in order to be con-
sidered beautiful, one must have a slim waist,
clear and fair skin, straight hair, among other
characteristics. While this fosters a sense of
insecurity for most people about their appear-
ance, this perception of beauty exacerbates the
condition of a person with BDD.
31
If a person already has a predisposition in their
genes, their lived experiences would then have
a greater impact on their mental states. How
the world perceives beauty and aesthetics
would be the reason the doubt and insecuri-
ty would manifest. The world reinforces the
idea to that person, who in turn manifests the
obsession into behavior. Likewise, for a person
who already is diagnosed with BDD, living in a
world full of Instagram models and influencers
who embody a certain kind of look, it’s difficult
to curb the intrusive thoughts that see a defect
or imperfections.
Society, however, is in the middle of a paradigm
shift. More and more people are pushing body
positivity movements. Imagery of different
shapes and sizes of all genders are starting
to spread worldwide. And even if these might
not be a tremendous help, the idea that the
systematic ideals of beauty that has perpetu-
ated history for years are slowly being replaced
by something more inclusive and accepting is a
feat in itself. It’s now up to people to help each
other to heal.
Sources cited
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9888-
body-dysmorphic-disorder
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-
illnesses/other-related-conditions/body-dysmorphic-
disorder-bdd
 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
32
IN THE COURTROOM:
What (Not) to Do When Testifying
One thing that forensic psychologists do which
is not commonly talked about is testifying. I
have a Master’s degree in forensic psychology,
and yes, testifying was mentioned, but there
was no mention of how to actually act when
testifying, or even what to wear. Sure, there
were stories told by professors and videos
watched of forensic psychologists testifying,
but there was never a great deal of exploration
on the topic. However, testifying can be a big
part of a forensic psychologist’s job. Dr. David
Sources cited
Dixon, D. (n.d.). Forensic psychological evaluation
and assessment: Psychology in the courtroom. In
NW Forensic Psychology. Retrieved from http://
www.nwforensicpsychology.com/wordpress/articles-
Written by: Larissa Grundmanis / Artwork by: Pilar Chaves
Dixon, a forensic psychologist, wrote that
one area of the legal system which forensic
psychologists can be a part of is psychological
evaluation and assessment in order to aid
a trial. Below are some Do’s and Don’t’s of
testifying (but there are many more that can be
addressed).
media/paperspublications
Perlin, M. L. (1977). The legal status of the
psychologist in the courtroom. Journal of Psychiatry
and Law, 5(1), 41-54.
Pitera, M. J. (2012). Ensuring witness attire
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
Do: Rely on the Data
A forensic psychologist aids either the defense
or prosecution (depending on who hired them)
but should always rely on the data. It is not
their job to determine what should happen
to the defendant; rather, it is their job to
communicate what the data shows. If the data
highlights information that was unhelpful for
a case, it is the lawyer’s job to take that into
account and build their case either with or
without the data. If an individual is called to
testify, the best thing to do is to stick to the
data and tell the truth, rather than trying to
create answers that may be construed incor-
rectly. After all, the purpose of testifying is to
aid the trier of fact (e.g., judge, jury) – not to
determine guilt or innocence.
Don’t: Take it Personally
There are reasons why it is important to go
through a great deal of training when it comes
to becoming a forensic psychologist, but
something that is not taught is how to not take
things personally. During a forensic psychology
class, one of the professors stated to “not take
it personally” when a lawyer tries to discredit
one’s testimony. Logically this makes sense
because it is the psychologist’s job to convey
data obtained from a psychological evaluation
or assessment. Meanwhile, it is the lawyer’s
job to either have the defendant found innocent
or guilty. Often that can come at the expense
of the individual who is testifying, which can
make one feel very insecure.
Do: Understand How Your Presentation Can
Affect a Jury
How one dresses is highly important; after all,
there is no such thing as a second first im-
pression. The perception of a psychologist – or
anyone that comes to testify – begins as soon
makes the right statement. American Society of
Trial Consultants, 24(4), 40-41. doi:http://www.
thejuryexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/TJE-July-
Aug-pages40-42.pdf
Reid, S. (n.d.). Roles of forensic psychologists. In
Chron. Retrieved from https://work.chron.com/roles-
forensic-psychologists-13544.html
33
as they walk to the stand. Because of this,
it is important to not wear a gaudy or flashy
outfit. Rather, plain outfits are the best rule of
thumb. However, that is not to say one should
dress as though it’s casual Friday. They should
be aware of courtroom customs, including
wearing suits and conservative clothing. Solid
colors should be worn, ideally blue, gray, or
beige, since those colors convey professional-
ism as well as approachability.
Don’t: Show Anger or Anxiety
Remember, it is a lawyer’s job to show either
guilt or innocence. Due to this, targeted ques-
tions can arise, which can feel overwhelming.
It is important during these times to remem-
ber one’s education and expertise in the field.
However, if one allows comments or criticisms
to get to them, they risk appearing less skilled
to the judge or jury. Furthermore, if an expert
witness appears to be insecure or anxious
about their testimony, why should the jury
believe that the psychologist stands by what
they’re saying? It is important for an individual
to be confident in their testimony, but not too
confident so as to portray oneself as cocky.
Remember, it is important to rely on the data
and understand how one’s presentation can
affect the jury. There will likely be times that
cross-examination will be taken personally, but
it is best to try to avoid that, ultimately remem-
bering that it is the lawyer’s job to successfully
cross-examine a witness. This may lead to
anger, anxiety, or egotism, which can all be
detrimental to the strength of one’s testimony.
The best thing to do is breathe and report what
you know, because while examining witnesses
is a lawyer’s job, telling the data’s truth is a
forensic psychologists’ job.
VanBrocklin, V. (2007). Are you ready to testify?. In
Police One. Retrieved from https://www.policeone.
com/legal/articles/1459523-Are-you-ready-to-testify/
Courtroom: What (Not) to Do When Testifying
 ART SUBMISSION
34
ART
SUBMISSION
WINNER
This Illustration is themed on Transactional
Analysis; the idea that each of us have an adult,
parent and child persona within us; in terms of
social behaviour.
Occasionally our ‘child’ self, can feel
overwhelmed with emotion, but our ‘adult’ or
‘parent’ selves can guide, soothe, protect and
understand our younger version. No matter the
obstacles... good days or not so good days; we
are often the best person, to understand that
little version of us.
Artwork by Yvonne Gilchrist / yvonnegilchrist.co.uk
If you would like to have
the chance to win and
have your art showcased
in our next issue, be
on the lookout for the
next art theme which
will be posted on our
social media!
We can all have the ability to take care of
our ‘child’ selves; which in turn may give us
confidence and freedom, to use our ‘adult’
persona in a social context. According to
Transactional Analysis; It is often believed, that
interacting in your ‘adult’ persona, is the most
effective form of communication.
Taking care of our younger self, may even be
helpful to calm fears or angst; especially those
that stem from childhood. Are we perhaps our
best therapist? as we know ourselves better
than anyone else?
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
35

PRODUCTIVITY:
GETTING THINGS DONE
TO DO WHAT YOU WANT!
Written by: Jessica Jang / Artwork by: Sam Moro

We always say the same things at the begin- general list. Here’s an example—
ning of the year and this year it’s going to im-
prove! It doesn’t have to be extreme either just 1. 2 page English paper
change one thing at a time! This time you’re 2. Online science homework
going to be that person that finishes work early 3. Meeting notes VS
and can still get a sweet treat once in awhile.
It takes a lot of self-discipline but you got this! 1. 4 page English paper
Focus and get those dreams! a. Research/Outline (2 hrs)
b. Rough Draft (3 hrs)

CAREER TIPS
Write down your game plan at the beginning c. Final Draft (2 hrs)
of the week! You cannot do this in your head. 2. Online science homework
Block out your priorities such as class and a. Read passage/take notes (1 hr)
work. You can split by time or by sections of b. Complete multiple choice questions (2 hrs)
time. Whatever your preference. c. Complete free response (2 hours)
3. Meeting notes
MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN a. Review last weeks
b. Come up with volunteering
Class Class 11-
opportunities (1 hr)
DAY Class 8:30-9:45 11:50
c. Talk to Treasurer about Dues (30
8-NOON 8:30-9:45 Club Club Tutor
WORK 12-1 Work 12-1 10-1
mins to review)
11-6 11-6
Class 2-3
NIGHT Then apply that time to your sched-
1-MIDN MEETING Class Class Practice
ule and divide what needs to be
3-4 5:30-6:45 4-5:15 6-9
done as necessary.
Understand you do not have 24 hours because
you need to sleep! Nothing really
gets done after midnight so make MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT SUN
that your hard cut-off. Class Class Class
8:30-9:45 8:30-9:45 11-11:50
DAY
Be specific! Analyze how long it 8-NOON SCI WORK Club 12-1 Work Club 12-1 Tutor
11-12 11-6 11-6 10-1
will take for you to complete your
tasks. They say if you set a time, Class 2-3 ENG
2-3
you’re more likely to complete the
task by then. You can also break NIGHT MEETING ENG + Class Class ENG Practice NOTES
1-MIDN 3-4 SCI 5:30-6:45 4-5:15 7-10 6-9 2-4
down tasks instead of making a 7-10
SCI
7-10
 CAREER TIPS
36

Once you have all this then this is the time to
take care of yourself and actually hang out with
friends like you promised!
Make appointments like planning to do a face
mask, grocery shopping, exercising, or going
out to dinner so you will finish what you need
to do before you have fun or relax. Add that to
your schedule in the blanks!
Thursday
Club 12-1
Lunch date with Jamie! 2-3
Class 4-5:15
Make your due dates earlier than the actual
deadline and put them on a calendar.
I get that this is everywhere but no one likes to
procrastinate if they don’t have to. Give yourself
about 1-2 days so if there are any issues you
have time. Technology can smell fear.
whether that be for napping, reading, or getting
a smoothie. Write out your plan on a post-it to
stick to it so you’re motivated to work efficiently.
For eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner make
sure you overestimate before going back into
your flow.
Understand not everything will go according
to your plan but try your best. Getting into a
workflow is hard but take things little by little.
Remove all distractions. Out of sight, out of
mind! Also, remember why you need to do
these tasks and picture yourself doing what
you want to do aka The Payoff. Whatever fuels
you to love learning, hold on to it!
Remember: You don’t have to be constantly
working. You are not a machine. Remember to
treat yourself and keep a list of things you want
to do so your wants can be part of the plan.
Good luck!

Overestimate your task time.

When wrapping up an activity give yourself

15-30 minutes. You have to include saving your
project, cleaning your space, packing up your
stuff, and moving. This also gives you time to
stay organized and relax a bit.

Use 2 calendars and a planner. Or organize

this all online!

Just putting everything on one calendar is

super messy and overwhelming to look at. Use
one calendar for work/school and the other for
holidays/events. Color coordinate and have fun
with it! Your planner is for your weekly calendar
to focus on the present.

Plans breaks!

Give yourself about 30 minutes to take a break,

PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
37
 CREATIVE WRITING
38

When the world has gone dark, Desperate and gagging,

And you can’t fight anymore, Running out of air,
The pain has an echo, I am shocked when I find,
Down a dark corridor. There are many hands there.

We grab when we drown, And these hands, they catch me,

In an ocean of sorrow, From the echoing night,
And the water sends ripples, They pull me to shore,
all the way to tomorrow. So I can see the light.

We look to the surface, The lives of just one,

For a way back home, Intertwined with the few,
And we panic and grab, I join them in the water,
So we don’t sink alone. To save others too.

My mind is a house, We don’t judge when they

And it’s haunted by fear, Try to grab others down,
Sometimes it’s like the echo, Because we all know,
It’s all I can hear. What it feels like to drown.

I’m always grabbing the air, That’s why we forgive,

But it’s too far above, When they’ve done us wrong,
I wish people could see, So that they can see,
That I’m nothing but love. What it means to be strong.

But I never stop reaching, Because the heart of one man,

Despite it all going black, Is as strong as an army,
I hold on to the hope, And yes the pain echos,
Someone will reach back. But Love’s a tsunami.

—Paige Keir

The Pain Echoes

PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
39

Artwork by: Tulie Mitiuriev

 COMMUNITY SUBMISSION—NOVEMBER
40

WHY CERTAIN GROUPS ARE

IGNORED IN THE EATING
DISORDER COMMUNITY
Written by: Alexandra Killworth / Artwork by: Corali Ribas
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
An eating disorder is largely defined as a set
of disordered eating habits, usually related to
self-esteem and body image, which usually
results in an unhealthy lifestyle. The most
commonly spoken about eating disorders are
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. However, there
are several other eating disorders that are not
easily recognised by society. These include
Binge Eating Disorder, OSFED (Other Specified
Feeding/Eating Disorder), Pica, Orthorexia, as
well as more. With so much ignorance in soci-
ety and media surrounding eating disorders, as
well as the representation of these disorders,
it’s no surprise that there are several groups
that are very frequently ignored or dismissed by
professionals, friends and family.
In the media, the most common represen-
tation of a person with an eating disorder
is as follows; a small, underweight, white,
middle-class girl who is Anorexic. With this
particular representation spread around, it
means that other groups who don’t fit into
this stereotype end up dismissed completely.
Some of these groups include older people
41
(65+), men, people of colour, the working class,
those who are disabled, as well as those who
identify as transgender. Although professionals
in the medical field have to remain unbiased,
they are often quick to judge the severity of
an eating disorder on whether or not they fit
the stereotype. For example, up until recent
years, many resources regarding symptoms or
help for Anorexia Nervosa would specifically
reference a lack of periods in women. This
immediately dismisses men and boys suffering
from Anorexia, as it suggests that only women
can have this particular disorder.
As mentioned previously, it is the media that
has built up this singular, biased and stereo-
typical representation of what a sufferer of
an eating disorder looks like. This image is a
combination of a lack of accurate media cover-
age of eating disorders, ignorance surrounding
the symptoms and circumstances, and lack of
consistent help available for sufferers.
42
A popular film within the eating disorder
community is ‘To The Bone’, released in 2017
on Netflix. It’s a story about a woman with
Anorexia going through recovery. While the film
does feature women of colour, a variety of body
sizes, hints at LGBT characters and a male
sufferer -the protagonist is an underweight,
white middle-class woman. The film is certain-
ly a step in the right direction, but sadly isn’t
enough to combat the lack of representation.
Ideally, more TV shows, films or documenta-
ries should be produced by those suffering or
recovering from eating disorders, in order to
achieve an accurate and varied representation.
As well as the lack of representation, there’s
also a lot of ignorance surrounding the actual
symptoms of eating disorders themselves.
Having an eating disorder does not equal
starving yourself 24/7 and being gracefully thin,
which is what most people assume it is. In re-
ality, the symptoms are far more complex and
interweave with your everyday life, becoming
a part of the sufferer so much that it’s almost
impossible to part from it. As a result, some
groups are automatically pushed aside. People
often assume that men can’t starve themselves
since men have to eat more calories than
women. Many assume that transgender people
In the media, the most common
representation of a person
with an eating disorder is as
follows; a small, underweight,
white, middle-class girl who
is Anorexic.
can’t suffer because they’re just confusing it
with their gender dysmorphia. Many assume
that those who are disabled can’t suffer as they
have other ‘body problems’ to focus on other
than food. In reality, controlling food intake and
exercising tends to be a way of taking control
over part of their life when they can’t control
anything else. The ignorance of the symptoms
of all eating disorders causes more harm than
good. Some may argue that it protects young
children from learning about mental illness at
a young age, however that is not an excuse to
completely keep it from everyone in society.
While it is completely true that young girls have
a lot of pressure from the media and society
to conform to unrealistic beauty expectations,
many other groups have similar pressure too.
Men have unrealistic body standards, such
as being tall, overly masculine and muscular.
People of Asian descent are expected to be thin
and small. Some women who are black are
even expected to be overweight, or ‘curvy’, an
idea that relates to older colonialist views. Peo-
ple involved in competitive sports are expected
to keep a healthy, slim, toned or athletic body,
which is constantly compared to others.
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
43

Men have unrealistic body

standards, such as being tall,
overly masculine and muscular.
People of Asian descent are
expected to be thin and small.
Some women who are black are
even expected to be overweight,
or ‘curvy’, an idea that relates to
older colonialist views.
When so many groups in society have unre-
alistic or exaggerated body expectations, it’s
bizarre that there’s so much ignorance and so
little help available for all of them, especially
when it’s assumed that if a young girl doesn’t
eat much she is Anorexic. In reality, recent
studies show that the percentage of men being
diagnosed with an eating disorder is increasing
every year and that the number of men who do
suffer may be almost equal to the number of
women.

Ultimately, it is down to media projecting

the wrong representations onto society and
keeping others locked away. It’s not just eating
disorders either; mental illnesses as a whole
are not spoken about as much as they should.
As a result, young people grow up completely
ignorant to what mental illness is really like
and therefore don’t get the help they need if
they do end up developing a mental health
illness. Getting the word out about the different
groups that do still suffer would go a long way
to spread awareness of the impact of eating
disorders on everyone.
 COMMUNITY SUBMISSION—CREATIVE WRITING
44

Everybody is looking for an escape

I don’t know what time it is but I can tell you this
You can let your mind escape but you won’t get away you got to deal with
it today
Everybody has the same feelings nobody wants to talk about
All I know is that we got to differentiate then we have to motivate be-
tween what is real and what’s not
You can bury your head underneath but it won’t help you
You have to dig your way out think about positive vibes let that motivate
you
Trust me I know what I’m talking about I’ve been in this game for a long
time
I try to stay positive that’s why now I motivate and differentiate
That’s the way out
You can plan ahead but nothing is set in stone
That’s why you got to keep moving and learn to differentiate to motivate

—José Salas

Motivate
Differentiate
 Artwork by: Corali Ribas
45
PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
46

COMMUNITY
PHOTOGRAPHY

As a fulltime artist, for the last

six years, with a degree in Applied
Psychology and a Masters in
Counselling I am very aware of
the therapeutic effects of art.
Here I am sketching in the fresh
air in Florence, Italy, last July. I
had favourable comments and
discussions with the general public
but best of all I got to be creative
in the open air which relaxed me.
I also get a lot of satisfaction out
of taking fine art workshops with
pensioners and adults with mental
illnesses

—Mrs.Joanne Campbell BSc, MSc, P.G.C.E.

FB: @joannecampbellartist
Instagram: @ joannecampbellartwork
PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
47
 NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
48

The Nervous System

and Our World Written by: Jessica Jang / Artwork by: Sohania Maratita

These days it’s hard to be still and quiet.
Something is always buzzing for your attention
whether it be the office answering emails,
maybe someone cooking, your neighbor’s leaf
blower, or your phone. Under it all is probably
the sound of cars. With all this happening
everyday, people forget that this noise is
pollution and taking a toll on our health. There
have been studies saying this pollution is
leading to common health issues such as blood
pressure and heart issues. It has also been
impacting child development. Reports have
shown that children near airplane flight paths,
railways or highways have slower cognitive and
language skills with lower reading scores.
Hearing is most of our important functions!
The ability to hear is important for survival
since it helps us raise awareness of our
surroundings to tell us what is happening
without it being in front of us. The ear picks up
the sound waves with the auditory nerve and
sends the signal to the temporal lobe in the
brain to interpret. The brain then determines
whether that sound is unpleasant or pleasant.
Once this ability is gone, its gone forever.
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
The frequencies of certain things like a the
light notes of a flute in a symphony or the
rustling of leaves will slowly disappear.
According to the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, the maximum
exposure time at 85 decibels (dBA) is eight
hours. In the city, people are regularly exposed
to noise above 85 dBA from sources like
subways, construction, and airports. This
continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA
over time will cause cause significant hearing
loss over time! The average background noise
levels in traffic are around 60 dBA, which is
loud enough to raise one’s blood pressure
and heart rate. Sirens are a dangerous kind of
noise inflicted on people everyday since they
ring at a sound-pressure level of 120 decibels.
According to the World Health Organization,
this level corresponds with the human pain
threshold and for 110 dBA, the maximum
exposure time is one minute and twenty-nine
seconds.
Noise pollution studies show that this leads to
stress, loss of concentration, and loss of sleep.
Researchers believe ignoring the noise causes
a stress response. They found significantly
higher levels of the stress hormones
adrenaline and cortisol and markedly higher
blood pressure readings for children near
airports and trains than children in quieter
neighborhoods. This elevated blood pressure in
childhood then predicts higher blood pressure
and higher levels of stress hormones which
leads to the life-threatening adult illnesses
such as high blood pressure, elevated
cholesterol, and heart disease. Schools are
49
not only affected, surprisingly, hospitals are
louder today than in the past. Other than being
by sirens, there is also the various machines
beeping constantly and motorized beds causing
the average to be at 72 decibels when the
World Health Organization recommend the
sound level in patient rooms should not exceed
35 decibels. This is possibly hurting the hearing
of newborns already starting that stress
response.
What’s being done about this? For more than
a century anti-noise advocates have fought
for the right to silence since the right to hear
is a bit difficult. There have been policies
placed by environmental psychologists such
as noise reduction materials in transportation
rails and in classrooms by airports and trains.
In hospitals there have been changes in
construction for the floor and ceilings. They
are even creating furniture which absorb
sound. For developments, officials are creating
“zones” for each area to have a purpose such
as residential.
With our busy world, remember it is good to
take a break and step back from the noise.
What you can do is be mindful of volume and
wear earplugs if exposed to loud sounds for a
period of time. Psychologists around the world
today are continuing noise pollution research
on the negative effects of noise. This will help
society further understand noise pollution and
explore how we can calm down the noise.
50

PSYCH2GO
T H E QU I Z

1. Which is a qualitative type of analysis?

A) T Tests B) Thematic Analysis C) Chi Squared D) Pearsons Correlation

2. Which isnt an example of BDD compulsions?

A) Excessive Grooming C) Practicing Acceptance

B) Excessive Exercise D) Checking in the mirror excessively

3. Which is not an area of the brain?

A) Cerebellum B) Frontal Lobe C) Backwards Lobe D) Temporal Lobe

4. Which doesn’t have a good success rate in terms of treating BDD?

A) Plastic Surgery B) SSRIs C) CBT D) Psychoeducation

 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
51

PSYCH2GO
TRU E O R FAL SE

1. The ratio of girls to boys with BDD is about 50/50

2. Neuroscience is an important part of psychology

3. BDD is not an OCD spectrum disorder

3. Psychodynamic therapy is based on Freud’s theories

PLEASE SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 60

 PSYCH2GO
52

PSYCHOLOGY
TOGO
Written by: Kayleigh Herber
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
AND OUR WORLD
We at Psych2Go are pretty sure that many
of you have heard jokes that some people of
other races all seem to look alike, but did you
know that most people are genuinely worse
at recognizing individual faces of people from
a different ethnicity? In witness line-ups,
researchers found that people identifying
suspects from different ethnical backgrounds
were 45% accurate, while people identifying
suspects of the same ethnical background
were 60% accurate (Behrman & Sherrie) –
this is a statistically significant difference.
At the core of most racism-related issues
is the ingroup and outgroup theory. The
ingroup is any group you feel like you belong
to, which can be different depending on the
situation. For example, you may feel like
belonging to a certain group concerning
your sexual identity or belong to a group of
people with the same hobbies. The outgroup
is everyone who, for that situation do not
belong to the same group. So concerning
ethnicity, the ingroup would be people who
have the same ethnicity.
But how come something so natural and
instinctive as recognizing at least partly
depends on which ethnicity you belong to?
How come we notice more individual traits
in people we arguably share more genetic
material with? It partly because of the
environment you grew up with. Nowadays,
segregation is definitely not as strong as it
was decades ago, but as we arguably spend
most of our time with our family – with whom
we often (but not always) share genetic
material – or live in neighborhoods with
people of similar socioeconomic status, we
53
encounter similar people. This also makes
it more relevant for us to recognize them by
smaller identifiable traits. Let’s clarify this by
comparing us humans to beverages
The more varieties of wine (or brands of
coke) you drink, the more you start noticing
nuances and differences between them.
This wine tasting ‘effect’ is a key component
in reducing the implicit racial bias of the
Cross-race effect, because as it turns out,
you can actually train yourself and others
at becoming better at recognizing individual
faces of people from a different ethnicity.
Researchers helped children with learning to
recognize individual faces through Perceptual
Individuation Training. These researchers
found that this is a long term effect, not just
temporary. In turn, this leads to reduced
perception of the ingroup and outgroup
difference – they feel more familiar and thus
a bit more like an ingroup. This exposure
helps to become more open and accepting
of others (Qian, Quinn, Heyman, et al.). This
effect suggests that exposing children to a
wide diversity of faces will help them grow up
to be more ethnically open-minded adults.
Sources cited
Behrman, Bruce W.; Davey, Sherrie L. (2001). “Eyewitness
identification in actual criminal cases: An archival analysis”.
Law and Human Behavior. 25 (5): 475–491.
Qian, K. Miao. Paul C. Quinn, Gail D. Heyman, Olivier
Pascalis, Genyue Fu, Kang Lee. “A long Term Effect of
Perceptual Individuation Training on Reducing Implicit
Racial Bias in Prescool Children.” Child Development, 2017.
Web.
 DEBUNKING PSYCHOLOGICAL MYTHS
54

Body Dysmorphic disorder

Written by: Imogen Bowler / Artwork by: Seth Lile

Sources cited L. (2006). Delusional versus nondelusional body dysmorphic

Perugi, G., Akiskal, H. S., Giannotti, D., Frare, F., Di Vaio, S.,
& Cassano, G. B. (1997). Gender-related differences in body
dysmorphic disorder (dysmorphophobia). Journal of Nervous
and Mental Disease.
Phillips, K. A., & Diaz, S. F. (1997). Gender differences in body
dysmorphic disorder. The Journal of nervous and mental
disease, 185(9), 570-577.
Phillips, K. A., & Castle, D. J. (2001). Body dysmorphic disorder
in men: Psychiatric treatments are usually effective.
disorder: clinical features and course of illness. Journal of
psychiatric research, 40(2), 95-104.
Pope, H. G., Khalsa, J. H., & Bhasin, S. (2017). Body image
disorders and abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids among
men. Jama, 317(1), 23-24.
Taqui, A. M., Shaikh, M., Gowani, S. A., Shahid, F., Khan, A.,
Tayyeb, S. M., ... & Ganatra, H. A. (2008). Body Dysmorphic
Disorder: Gender differences and prevalence in a Pakistani
medical student population. BMC psychiatry, 8(1), 20.

Phillips, K. A., Menard, W., Pagano, M. E., Fay, C., & Stout, R.
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
Often, Body Dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is
thought of like eating disorders, as a disorder
that generally affects women. However, that’s
not actually the case, and it is a common myth!
This article will outline the prevalence of BDD
in men, as well as looking how it generally
affects men and any differences between men
and women who suffer from BDD.
Quite a few studies have been conducted
looking at gender and BDD, and thus we have a
fair few that report the split of men and women
with BDD in their samples. Phillips et al (1997)
was one study looking at gender in BDD. Their
sample was 188 subjects with BDD, and they
found that 51% of this sample were men. Taqui
et al (2008) also looked at gender and BDD.
Their sample was of Pakistiani medical studies.
They found that out of their sample, about
5.8% met the criteria for BDD. The ratio of
females:males was 1:1.7 - once again showing
slightly more men actually suffered from BDD
than women. These findings do not seem to
be unusual, especially when looking at trends
in non-clinical levels of body dissatisfaction.
Phillips & Castle (2001) for example suggest
that the levels of men dissatisfied with how
they look now matches the level of women who
do. This should show you that the myth of BDD
being a “woman’s” disorder, is indeed not true.
So now we know that men do often suffer from
BDD, pretty much at the same rate as women,
it seems logical to look at if there are any
differences between men and women when it
comes to BDD symptoms. Perugi et al (1997)
found that men had a higher preoccupation
with genitalia, height, and body hair compared
to women. Taqui et al (2008) found differences
in the “top concerns” of males and females as
well. For men, the top four concerns were head
hair, being fat, their skin and their nose. For
women, the top three concerns where being
fat, skin and teeth. Men were also significantly
more concerned about being thin and their
hair. Phillips et al (1997) found men were more
preoccupied with their build, genitalia and hair
55
thinning. Phillips, Menard & Fay (2006) also
found men tend to be obsessed with genitalia,
and bodybuilding. They also tended to have
lower functioning skills.
There are also differences in the compulsive
behaviour that men with BDD display. Phillips,
Menard, and Fay (2006), for example, found
that men were more likely to obsessively lift
weights. Phillips and Castle (2001) also found
that nearly all males in their sample with
BDD exhibited time-consuming behaviour
to “fix” their perceived deficit. This included
things such as mirror-checking, camouflage,
reassurance seeking and excessive grooming.
Another interesting area to look at is
differences in characteristics of people with
BDD depending on their gender. Phillips et al
(1997) found that men with BDD were more
likely to be unmarried, and to have substance
use (including alcohol) problems. Perugi et
al (1997) also found that men with BDD had a
higher prevalence of bipolar. Phillips, Menard
& Fay (2006) also found that men were much
older, single and living alone. They were also
less likely to be working, and more likely to
receive welfare. Finally, they were likely to have
depression and diabetes.
Lastly, when discussing BDD in men, an
important condition to bring up is “muscle
dysphoria.” This is a subset of BDD which often
affects men. The patient sees themselves as
skinnier than they are, and feel like they don’t
have enough muscles. This leads to excessive
working out, and a strict control of one’s diet.
It can even lead to steroid use in an attempt
to become more muscular. Pope et al (2017)
suggest that between 9-25% of men with BDD
suffer from this subset of it.
In conclusion, it is very much an untrue myth
that it is only women that suffer from BDD.
 ADVICE COLUMN
56

THE ADVICE COLUMN

As highly introvert person, I can’t go out in
order to meet a girl, and I desperetly need
that kind of love in my life. I tried to force
myself to go out, but that didn’t help because
I always tend to be isolated in crowd and I
can’t meet anyone. I don’t need to overcome
my introversion, I just need maybe some
other way to meet other people, potentialy my
future girlfrend, but I don’t know what are that
ways and I can’t figure it out.

I hope that you can help me. Thank you. ~ MD

Hello!

I’d like to start off by saying no need to

apologise for your English, your letter is very
well written and an interesting read! I’d like
to assure you that what you are feeling is
totally, totally normal. You’re at an age where
your sense of self is developing and it’s great
that you are in touch with that. You have the
potential to be whoever you want to be and I
hope the journey to finding yourself is a good
one. I am twenty six and I still get this feeling,
but I’ve learned that this is the part I really
need to listen to- seems you are already doing
that which is awesome. I think you would be
surprised by how many people actually are
feeling the same way as you, I would encourage
you to be open to this possibility and include
others in your growth if you find mutual
understanding and trust. Thank you for your
letter, and as I said I hope things go great for
you.

PAIGE
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
57

Have a question for our team?

Feel free to email us at PSYCH2GO@OUTLOOK.COM
58

Mental Health Crisis Lines New Zealand: 4-473-9739 

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 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
59

Mind infoline: 0300 123 3393 e-mail:

info@mind.org.uk 
Mind legal advice: 0300 466 6463 legal@
mind.org.uk 
Eating Disorders: 0845 634 14 14 e-mail:
help@b-eat.co.uk 
Eating Disorders for under age 25:
08456347650
Bereavement: 08444779400 e-mail: help-
line@cruse.org.uk 
Frank (information and advice on drugs):
0800776600 
Drinkline: 0800 9178282 
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999
1 e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk 
Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02  
India
Self Harm:00 08001006614
Suicide: 022-27546669 
Canada
Kid’s helpline: 1-800-668-6868

International text based help:

imalive.org
crisischat.org
blahtherapy.com
7cupsoftea.com

Artwork by:
Jeffrey Bigelow
Mental helpline provided by:
riseandtry.tumblr.com
60

PSYCH2GO
THE ANSWERS

Questions
1. B / 2. C / 3. C / 4. A

True or False
1. True / 2. True / 3. False / 4. True
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
61

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Psych2Go Issue 1

Hello, Hi! I received a digital copy of

Honestly I think that you guys had an magazine one and I loved it. It was really
amazing idea of creating a dynamic and informative. It had great articles and it was
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 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
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Psych2Go’s
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COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
64

OUR CONTRIBUTORS
The Contributors & Digital Research team Illustrators:
Rhonda Marie—U.S. (Kentucky) Jeremy Rodriguez—IG @jerutz_illustrations
Tai Tai—(Canada) Sam Moro—uncloudless.tumblr.com
Analucia Guzman—(Guatemala) Tulie Mitiuriev—tuliemit.wixsite.com/nmitiuriev
Holly Schaefer—U.S. (Pennsylvania) Marielle Laya—IG @hime.laya
David Bradley—U.S. (Massachusetts) Pilar Chaves—behance.com/Kirkayuu
Megan Altemus—U.S. (Louisiana) Maxine Gando—IG @maxinedanielle
Carolyn McCormick—U.S. (North Carolina) Sohania Maratita—sohainamaratita.com
Corali Ribas—IG @corali.studio
Writers: Seth Lile
Imogen Bowler
Jessica Jang Quiz:
Paige Keir Questions—Imogen Bowler
Risha Mae Ordas Design—Anne Vu
Hannah Jade
Larissa Grundmanis Advice Column:
Gabriel Taylor Paige Kier
Kayleigh Herber
Paul Travis To our magazine patrons, thank you so much
for continuing to support us!
Editors:
Davon Merritt Gretchen Lyons
Mohammad Emaduddin Talia
Becki Wiggett Gabriel Taylor
Gabriel Taylor Raquel Alavazo
Anna Snur Tia Profitt
Chrissie Fitch Dan Lindberg
Jeffrey Evans
Graphic Designers: Toria Tower
Anne Vu (Australia) Ashley Daniels
annevu.com Summer Seeds
Nathan Francis
Zoe Zong
James Blah
Michael Daniels
 PSYCH2GO—ISSUE 15
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Issues of the Psych2Go Magazine come out Quarterly (four

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