Automatic Perceptions, and Mindfulness

   We had our second psychology practical today. It was pouring rain and Dr. Creech was running late, so one of the more experiences TAs started the class with a little bit of meditation, and then went over the lecture portion which related to automatic perceptions, especially with respect to transference and counter-transference in the doctor-patient relationship. Transference refers to when someone (e.g. the patient) puts an unconscious redirection of feelings onto someone else (e.g. the doctor) based on their feelings about someone else. For example, if a patient is mad at a co-worker and the doctor looks like their co-worker, they may act mad towards the doctor even though they aren't actually mad at the doctor. Counter-transference refers to the opposite, specifically when a doctor is emotionally entangled with a patient based on predispositions. For example, a doctor may show protective feelings over a female patient, and then realize through discussion that it was actually because the patient reminded them of their little sister.

   Transference and counter-transference are automatic processes that cannot always be controlled, but the important things as a clinician is to be aware of them when they happen. If you are not aware that they are happening, then that is where the negative effects really come into play. So once again the topic of mindfulness came into discussion during our small group talk today, and I really liked a new point that Dr. Ragbir brought up. There seems to this distinct connotation of the word meditation in which you imagine a person sitting in a quiet room with their eyes closed, maybe with the lights off, just breathing, maybe even doing some sort of humming or chanting.

                                                 Pretty classic looking meditaton here right?

    Now of course there is nothing wrong with that picture of meditation. In fact it is a very healthy way to relax and bring oneself into their mind and awareness, and to pull away from the stresses of their life. However, this does not have to be the only way to be mindful and meditate. Dr. Ragbir talked about a Buddhist monk named Thich Nhat Hanh, one who has been compared to the Dalai Lamai. He explained that when asked about what he does to be mindful, Thich said that he is always mindful. He is always aware of himself in all ways, because you really don't need to get into that quintessential meditation practice in order to be mindful. All it takes is practice and most importantly, removing any judgement upon yourself in the journey to mindfulness. Again there is this belief that to be mindful, you need to have completely unwavering thoughts, focused just here on the present moment (I should know, that's why I thought I've been meditating wrong all along). But in reality, it is not the way that you meditate that makes you mindful, it is just the awareness of what you do. Whether your mind is focused solely on the tides of the ocean, or if your thoughts drift to your schoolwork, and then traffic, and then what you want to do next weekend, they can all be true mindfulness, IF you are aware of what it is that is going on. Practice awareness, remove the judgement, and just do it for yourself and you will see the benefits that mindfulness brings.

     On another quick note I just wanted to mention that I did end up going all out for the Halloween costume yesterday, wearing the thing 2 costume (wish I'd thought to bring thing 1 and share it with a friend; oh well, maybe next time). It was pretty fun though laughing with others about being really silly (not to mention Dr. Terzic said to me, "Noah, I thought you were a serious student" --> I think he was kidding, after all it's okay to let loose sometimes). Not to mention Bonus! I came in third place and won a Starbucks gift card! Can't wait to top it next year.

There's me on the right, my friend Alex as batman on the left, and someone I don't know in a really sick scarecrow costume in the middle.