Mandala Art: The Symbol Of The Universe

December 29 2020

art, culture, philosophy, psychology, religion

Humans throughout history have used art as a bridge between their emotions and the outer world. It is the projection of their inner experience with all its complexities and magnificence. One of the popular art forms is the Mandala. Tourists who travel to India notice the beautiful geometrical designs on the walls and the ceilings of temples. Those images are “mandala” which literally translates to “circle” in Sanskrit.

In their most basic form, mandalas are circles contained within a square and arranged into sections that are all organized around a central point. They’re typically produced on paper or cloth, or drawn on surfaces.

Mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism and one of their most iconic artworks. Buddhists produced it in Tibet, India, Nepal, China, Japan, Bhutan, and Indonesia. It dates from the 4th century to the present. These mandalas are highly complex paintings with captivating details and rich colors. However, For Hindus and Buddhists, they are more than artistic designs. A mandala represents a symbol of an ideal universe.

What Is The Significance Of Mandala Designs?

In most cultures, the circle is a symbol of unity, wholeness, and oneness. It also symbolizes the womb, motherhood, and nurturing.

Mandalas are interpreted in two ways: external and internal. Externally it is a visual representation of the universe. The circular designs symbolize the completion and infinity of life. Then there is the dot or the center which is seen as the starting point from which everything begins. The dot is surrounded by different geometrical shapes and patterns symbolizing the connection of the different systems in the universe.

The mandala could also have an internal meaning. For instance, it could represent the spiritual journey of the individual and his inner life. In other words, Mandalas show the unity of the cosmos and how everyone fits in it as a connected system.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the belief is that by moving towards its center, you are going through a transformative process that brings healing into your life.

Different Mandala Types

The Lotus: The lotus flower has a deep significance in Asian cultures. Buddhists view it as a symbol of detachment from the materialistic world and living a more spiritual life. Buddha said that the lotus is an example of how the dirt of the body can not burden the soul just like the lotus that floats on water.

The Elephant: It symbolizes great power and strength. First, there is the grey elephant, which is a sign of the mind that should not be distracted by the suffering, while the white elephant represents the state of true enlightenment that is achieved through mindful meditation.

The Flower Of Life: It features complex geometric designs. These designs trace back to Northern Africa and Mesopotamia. Modern users believe that it is a sacred geometric shape that promotes focus and concentration during meditation.

The Circle: They are the most common form of Mandala and the easiest to draw.

The Different Uses And Types of Mandala:

There are various types of mandala art in Asian cultures, here are some common types that serve different purposes:

1.Teaching Mandala: Teaching mandalas are symbolic, and each shape and color represents a different aspect of a philosophical or religious system. For instance, the student creates their own mandala projecting a visual symbolization of everything they have learned. Teaching mandala designs serve as mental maps for their creators.

2.Sand Mandala: Buddhist monks have long used sand mandalas as a traditional, religious element. These designs use a variety of symbols made from colored sand that represent the impermanence of human life.

The construction of this mandala begins with a ceremony in which the monks consecrate the site and call forth forces of goodness through chants and music. Then, over the course of ten days, the monks will pour colored sand. Shortly after its completion, the monks will disperse the sand to symbolize the impermanence of existence.

3.Healing Mandala: Healing mandala designs are made for the purpose of meditation. Evidently, they evoke calmness and enhance concentration to silence disturbing thoughts and anxiety. In modern days, mandalas have become a popular symbol of meditation used for appreciating the beauty of nature and forming a connection with oneself.

Mandala in Psychology:

The primary use of mandala art is as a form of meditation to gain knowledge from within. Moreover, Buddhists believe that meditating on mandala brings profound inner transformation. Whenever their minds wander with thoughts, they bring their focus back to the center. They believe that the beauty of this geometrical design should absorb their full attention. So this kind of meditation gives more relaxation and centeredness.

Carl Jung, a popular Swiss psychoanalyst, was the first to introduce mandala art to western scholars. He became fascinated by their therapeutic powers. For him, mandala designs represent the psychological self and lead to self-awareness and healing. Moreover, they exhibit the divinity of the self since the circle is a symbol of the wholeness of the psyche. For example, drawing complete designs of Mandalas unconsciously helps individuals with integration and individuation.

Nowadays, people color mandala designs to reduce stress. It also allows expressing the creative side. Drawing Mandala designs became a hobby among art lovers. To reach the full effects, they let their instincts guide them without analysis or following certain rules. The choice of colors and shapes flows naturally.

Mandala Art In Modern Life:

Modern consumerism has linked mandala art to the bohemian lifestyle. So we can find these designs in decoration, fashion, beauty, and other aspects. Elephant mandalas have become extremely popular in Western cultures.

In modern life, people use mandala designs in a variety of ways. In yoga, mandalas represent a sacred space to exclude external influences. Often, Monks and Yoga coaches draw mandalas during meditation. Similarly, Native Americans use it in healing circles, and this act has spread worldwide. The circles are useful for the restoration of the body, mind, and heart. Also, if you look at a Dreamcatcher, which is a popular item that has an Amerindian origin, it also has the shape and patterns of Mandalas.

Mandala Art In Other Cultures:

We can find similar geometrical designs in other cultures like Christian and Islamic architecture. even Native American culture includes similar designs under different names.

Today, they have become so popular worldwide. Consequently, artists are competing to break the records of the most complicated and mesmerizing Mandala designs.

Mandala art is a popular tool for meditation since their designs reduce negative thoughts and bring harmony, but not just for this reason. Ultimately, people create mandalas to center the body and mind.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj

The Rashomon Effect: Is Truth Accurate?

November 14 2020

Five people just witnessed an accident. Will they retell it the same way?

This is where the Rashomon Effect comes in.

The fact the same event unfolded in front of all of them makes it likely they would all describe it identically, but it is not that simple.

What is the Rashomon Effect?

The Rashomon Effect refers to a situation wherein an event is given plausible but different, often contradictory interpretations by the people involved. It is named after Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 movie Rashomon. A murder is witnessed by four individuals, but described in four separate ways despite having all seen the same crime.

Is Truth accurate?

The Rashomon Effect puts theorizes that truth is relative and subjective. The reason there are four versions of one crime in the movie, is because personal interpretation underlies each person’s testimony. It is what hinders the quest for an answer. People’s accounts of certain events depend largely on individual experiences. Something hardly affects two people the same way, and so the mind draws different descriptions. It is their own perceptions of truth that comes to play.

In Rashomon (the movie), the bandit and the samurai’s testimonies are different. The first claims he dueled the samurai in a sword-fight, and successfully killed him. However, the samurai recounts a second version. The bandit let him free and then he took his own life. It is understandable. Both of them, driven by their self-hood, retell the story with their own perception. The bandit wants to prove he killed a skilled swordsman; The shame of the samurai’s wife’s infidelity pushes him to kill himself.

The Rashomon Effect addresses memory subjectivity.

Memory isn’t photographic, contrary to popular belief.

In 1932, Frederic Bartlett conducted a study to research the reconstructive nature of memory, and how it is affected by previous knowledge. Participants listened to a story, and had to retell it. When recounting later, details became less accurate, and more personalized as they each drew from their own culture to fill in the gaps. Thus proving that memory is a subject of personal interpretation.

We tend to alter our memories in a way that makes the most sense to us.

The Rashomon Effect: a term for unreliable eyewitnesses.

Eyewitness testimonies are the strongest evidence against criminals. However, social scientists showed that eyewitness identification is not as faultless as people think. And that causes wrongful convictions. Experts, since then, strive to reform the accuracy of eyewitness identification.

Author: Nour Nachoua Nait Ali.

Ayahuasca Ceremonies, the Alternative of Psychotherapy for Amazonian Tribes

November 8 2020

culture, psychology, therapy, travel

Ayahuasca retreats are becoming popular in the west, so what is Ayahuasca? It is a traditional psychoactive brew made from two plants: the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) which grows in the Amazon, and a shrub called Chacruna (Psychotria Viridis), which contains the hallucinogenic drug Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). So Ayahuasca is illegal in the UK, the US, and many other countries. Ayahuasca retreats are common among indigenous tribes for psychological healing.

It is a sacred beverage that the indigenous tribes of the Amazon in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador consume as part of a shamanic procedure. Ayahuasca causes hallucinations and has therapeutic effects, that is why it attracted the attention of western medicine as a possible treatment for depression.

Ayahuasca literally translates from the Quechua language of the North Andes as “soul vine” or “vine of the dead”. For centuries, Natives have used it in spiritual rituals and ceremonies because of the belief that it brings a better sense of self and heals the wounds and trauma of the past. They also believe that Ayahuasca ceremonies help them to transcend consciousness in order to communicate with their ancestors and reconnect with the spirits of the forest.

The scientific evidence on ayahuasca is limited, but it activates repressed memories in ways that allow people to come to a new understanding of their past. In some cases, it helps people work through memories of traumatic events. So neuroscientists are beginning to study ayahuasca as a treatment for depression and PTSD.

What Are Ayahuasca Retreats and Why Are Westerners into Ayahuasca?

In recent years, eastern philosophies have influenced westerners. These philosophies support being in a higher state of consciousness beyond the physical world. So, Ayahuasca retreats sound like a perfect way to reach that state.

The number of visitors from North America has increased over the years. It has become popular worldwide among those who want to heal from past traumas or simply experience an Ayahuasca journey. Some people say that a single Ayahuasca retreat is like a decade of therapy in several nights. Others think this is an overstatement, but they do not deny its therapeutic effects.

Shamans strongly recommend that they should supervise Ayahuasca ceremonies. Those who take the retreats need someone to look after them carefully. An Ayahuasca ceremony leads to an altered state of consciousness that lasts for many hours.

Many people travel to countries like Peru, Costa Rica, and Brazil, where Shamans offer Ayahuasca retreats. These experienced shamans prepare the brew and monitor participants for safety.

Ayahuasca ceremonies are usually held at night and last until the effects of Ayahuasca have worn off. After the shamans who lead the ceremony prepare and bless the space, Ayahuasca is served to participants.

After consuming the Ayahuasca, most people start to feel its effects within 20–60 minutes. The effects are dose-dependent, and the trip can last from 2 to 6 hours.

The Effects of Ayahuasca Ceremonies

In its most common form, Ayahuasca is a strong-smelling brown liquid with a bitter taste. Its effect is related to the age, quality, and type of plants used. In addition, the psychoactive potency of ayahuasca differs according to the environmental conditions of their growth, the ratio of their combination, and the amount of processing they undergo.

Weaker doses of ayahuasca produce a detachment from one’s body and surroundings. This allows a mental objectification and critical examination of the smallest of details, feelings, and thoughts. Stronger forms of the liquid cause visual perception of irregular shapes, colorful geometric patterns, fleeting images, and out-of-body experiences or dream-like visions. People who went through Ayahuasca ceremonies say that they had flashbacks from the past in which they saw important events of their lives from different angles which changed their lives.

People react to Ayahuasca differently. Some experience euphoria and a feeling of enlightenment, while others go through severe anxiety and panic. It is not uncommon for those during Ayahuasca ceremonies to experience both positive and negative effects from the brew.

The tribes that use ayahuasca see purging (vomiting, crying, laughing…) as a vital part of healing. When you purge, you’re expelling all the negative energy from the body. It helps to get rid of the anxieties, fears, regrets, and hatred.

The Benefits and Side Effects of Ayahuasca According to Medicine:

Research has shown that Ayahuasca retreats improve the mindfulness capacity for the brain and emotional regulation. It may help with depression, PTSD, and anxiety. However, it may interact negatively with other drugs, and it could be dangerous for people who have a heart condition. As for mental illnesses, it may worsen the situation for those who have a history of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. There have been several death cases due to this brew during Ayahuasca ceremonies, but it never happened in clinical trials.

Scientists need more research to determine if doctors can use Ayahuasca as a potential treatment for certain medical conditions in the future.

Sources:

The Last Shaman 2016 (Netflix Production)

Healthline.com

BBC News

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

Retrospecting on Globalization amid the Covid-19 Pandemic

May 19 2020

covid19, globalization

Anthropologists were able to trace the roots of early human society to roaming bands of hunter-gatherers living off the land [1]. This lifestyle suddenly changed with the innovation of agriculture [2]. It provided a surplus of food that allowed members of the group to specialize in roles not directly linked to obtaining food. Many of these new specialized roles were aimed towards the production of goods, such as baking, smithing, woodworking, jewelry crafting, leatherworking, and so on. But other roles such as bureaucrats, religious figures, and guards were a result of the gathering of large numbers of people forming the first cities. These are the roots of the three economic sectors we know today: agriculture, industry, and services.

Human society evolved through the centuries in countless aspects but the specialization of labor brought by agriculture is arguably the most significant turning point in human history. Many anthropologists argue that the innovation of agriculture created the concept of civilization [3]. The main reason behind the massive impact of specialization of labour is fairly simple. It is the fact that two individuals, each perfecting a specific trade then exchanging the goods they produce with one another, creates significantly more benefit to both parties than if each one had created both types of goods. This simple idea was then applied on an international scale creating what we know today as globalization.

Globalization in an economical context with the idea that each nation specializes in a specific set of products while obtaining the rest of its necessities through international trade. A prominent example is how China focused on creating cheap electronics while Germany was able to master the art of creating manufacturing infrastructure equipment [4].

There is a large array of factors that enabled this new age of globalization. Initially, the industrial revolution minimized the massive share of the labor force employed in agriculture. Industrial automation soon after shifted many industrial workers into the service sector. And this all happened while the productivity of both sectors grew exponentially. This significantly expanded the middle class in most of the world, creating a demand for more specialized goods.

Another factor that aided in the rise of globalization was the relative peace in the aftermath of the Second World War and the economic competition during the cold war. Soon, nations began noticing the valuable benefits of globalization and started removing tariffs and embracing international trade. The most notable example of this is the creation of the European Economic Zone that later evolved to the European union.

Finally, an extremely important factor that made global trade possible is the innovation in both logistics and communications. Standardized containers made maritime trade extremely efficient and, therefore, much cheaper. The idea of shipping potatoes across the planet and still making a profit was unimaginable a few centuries ago, yet today it is a sustainable business model.

The impact of globalization on our lives is easily visible. Its efficiency allowed for cheaper products, thus, raising the standard of living worldwide. It also fueled innovation and technological advancement as industries no longer compete with other local manufacturers but are obligated to compete on a global scale if there are no tariffs to protect them.

This new phenomenon has also enabled wide cultural exchange between the different nations of the world. However, in my view, the most significant effect of globalization is preserving global peace. Nations are no longer incentivized to fight but to cooperate with one another. As the dependency between nations makes it in their best interest to avoid conflict.

Unfortunately, globalization does have many negative side effects. The global market had allowed the indirect exploitation of weaker nations as a form of neocolonialism. Companies shifting their production into third world nations had also weakened the power unions once had over their employers, allowing for worker rights infringements. And finally, modern excessive consumerism is having a devastating impact on the environment all over the planet.

This terrible COVID-19 pandemic, we are living through, has revealed the dependency on global trade and how interlinked the world has become. It can even be argued that this modern pandemic can be directly attributed to globalization. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that many nations might reconsider their stance on globalization in the aftermath of this crisis. Personally, I would argue against abandoning this new economical model. It is true that it has many flaws that should be dealt with, from the unstable stock market, to the power multinational corporations have obtained. But the virtues of Globalization, in my view, outweigh its sins. The comfort of modern society was obtained through further and further specialization of labor and innovation since the dawn of agriculture. As I see it, the next logical step is to embrace and refine globalization and follow the path of greater prosperity rather than regress to the ways of old.

This crisis is an opportunity to discuss and contemplate what globalization has offered us and what it has denied us. It is a discussion that we would see unfold in the years to come. I simply hope that you are properly informed on how we got here.

Author: Wail Rimouche.

The Seven Types of Love for Ancient Greeks

May 17 2020

Greek, love, philosophy

When people hear the word love, the first notion that comes to their minds is romantic love.

However, love is a broad term and is not exclusively for romance, because it has been there since the beginning of humanity. Romantic love specifically is far from being timeless and universal as we may think. The modern idea of love has been influenced by novels and romanticism.

We know that love is not that narrow since we express it with family, friends, and partners. That is why we have different contexts for love. Greeks were the first to create special terms to help distinguish between these types of love instead of utilizing one general term in different contexts.

Eros “Romantic, Passionate Love”

Eros means passion and lust. It is somehow the ”love of the body” because it is driven by attraction and sexual longing. It is the desire and the obsession that couples have for each other in the first phase of their relationship or the ‘’honeymoon phase.’’ It increases the hormones of love in the brain which causes the addiction. This type of love out of the rest is the closest construct to our modern definition of romantic love. In Greek mythology, it is a form of madness brought about by one of Cupid’s arrows. Greeks have feared this kind of love because its power could be destructive. Even Cupid in greek mythology was pictured blindfolded to show how blind it is.

Modern philosophers like A.Schopenhauer described it as the force behind survival and reproduction. Unfortunately, this spark does not last when the couple starts seeing each other’s flaws. The relationship either ends or grows into something less passionate but more meaningful.

Philia ”Authentic Friendship”

It is the intimate connection between two souls that goes way deeper than Eros. It is built on shared values, trust, and authenticity. Philia is when you can be yourself in front of the other without fear of judgment or abandonment. It is described as friendship regardless of whether it is with a close friend or a romantic partner. For Plato, the best kind of friendship is that which lovers have for each other. It is a Philia born out of Eros, which transforms from lust and obsession into a shared desire for a higher level of understanding of the self, the other, and the world. It is what we usually refer to as the ‘’soulmate connection’’ in movies and books, that one person who gets you and knows you well.

Ludus ”Flirtatious love”

Ludus is infatuation and flirtation, just like having a crush and acting on it. It is casual and based on fun, whether it’s flirting, dancing, engaging in sexual activities, with no strings attached and completely free of passion, depth, and the obligations of Eros and Philia. Problems arise when one person mistakes Ludus for Eros which makes things more complicated for the other person since this confusion brings unwanted attachments.

Storge ”Unconditional Family Love”

It is the natural, effortless love between parents and their children or family members in general. We love our family members in spite of their mistakes or the things that we do not like about them. Storge is driven by a sense of belonging so we can even describe it as a feeling of patriotism towards a country or a clan. It differs from Philia because it could be one sided from mothers towards their children, because young children still have not developed the capacity to love unconditionally, so their bond is built on fulfilling their needs. Also, instead of emerging from personal qualities like Eros and Philia, it could be based on nothing but dependency and familiarity.

People in the early stages of romantic relationships expect this kind of unconditional love, but they only face the dependency of Eros or the understanding of Philia. With time, Eros may turn into Storge given the right conditions and maturity so it only comes with familiarity after Eros is gone and Philia is developed.

Agape ”Selfless Universal Love”

It is the love that one gives without expecting anything in return. It includes the love of God, nature, people and even strangers. Agape is best embodied in charitable acts, for example, because it is derived from empathy and altruism. Agape gives us satisfaction and happiness and enriches us psychologically and socially because when you act upon it, you expect no rewards from people. This sort of love is the foundation of great communities and high levels of well-being.

Pragma ”Committed Love”

It is the love that develops over a long period of commitment. It favors mutual long term interests and compatibility over sexual attraction because the couple honor and respect their differences without having unrealistic or idealistic expectations. Pragma is common in arranged marriages, for example, even when the couple do not start with Eros or Philia, we can see Pragma flourishing because of the commitment and familiarity.

Over time, romantic relationships ( if successful ) turn from Eros and Ludus to Pagma and Storge and could have different variations. It is everlasting love and more realistic than Eros and Ludus, so it is the highest form of love.

Philautia ”Self-love”

Philautia is self-love, which could be healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy love is the selfish and narcissistic one and it is akin to Hubris. In ancient Greek, people would be accused of Hubris if they place themselves higher than Gods. It is pleasure and fame-seeking.

There is also healthy self-love that is necessary for self-growth because it reinforces self-esteem and our own self-worth. It is different from selfishness. People in their daily use of language tend to mistake self-esteem with self-confidence but they do not always go together. Someone could be self-confident yet has low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem is internal and has nothing to do with external factors that increase self-confidence like money, status, and fame.

All these types of love are important and experiencing them in life is necessary for growth even if some of them are not long-lasting. We may experience them all, or maybe just a couple of them, but they are all relatable. It is crucial to make the difference between them especially when it comes to Eros and Pragma in order to avoid confusion. Understanding these types of love helps with emotional maturity and acceptance towards one’s self and the others.

References:

Plato, Lysis.

Plato, Phaedrus.

Plato, Symposium.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethic X.

Author: Hibat Errahmane Hadjadj.

The Hidden Power of Empathy

May 15 2020

empathy

A simple word, question, or even a sentence can do a lot to a person. We always ask “how are you?”, however, it will not feel the same if we ask “No, really, how are you?”I have been asked this question and I felt loved. I felt that the person who asked me this question wanted to connect with me. Nowadays, our society is being disconnected and chaotic. We no longer check in on each other as we are being busy whether at work or at home. We ended up being less and less empathetic. When was the last time you checked in on an old friend or any of your acquaintances? I mean like, checking in for real and showing empathy. Empathy is a thick cord. It helps move people toward each other and helps them get along and feel better. It helps connect people together and it matters.

Why Does It Matter?

Whenever we talk about empathy, we talk about caring and sharing. To care about each other and to share kindness, support, and love whenever they are needed. However, empathy is not about giving only, it is also about gaining. You will gain good deeds which is something that is advantageous in our religion. In addition to “well-being” that may promote a good satisfactory condition of existence because of your ability to help someone in need.

Showing empathy can turn someone’s life upside down. People deal with different types of stress. They end up being physically and mentally tired at times after having a long tiresome day. A simple nice gesture or word will help with a person’s mental health. I think we all experienced moments where we felt down and got over it after receiving the support or motivation we were looking for. Sometimes a hug can be all we need at that moment.

In essence, being empathetic comes with advantages. After sharing love, you will feel more love. If you contribute to help someone out by just listening to them or sharing their pain, you will unconsciously develop some emotional connection. Besides, being empathetic helps transform your life socially and personally. It helps build a character and enhance your relationships with people. In addition to being kind to one’s self and to gain inner peace, which is priceless.

How To Show Empathy

Leo Buscaglia stated once:

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

It sounds easy to talk about empathy, nevertheless, it is hard when it is turned into actions. Empathy means being patient to handle a person’s mood and to know how to deal with it. We are human beings, and we all switch from a mood to another. There may be moments where you may wonder “why do I bother?” I sometimes ask myself that. Still, there will always be that voice whispering inside your ear and asking “why not?”

Showing empathy can be practised by doing the following things:

-Listening to people without judging. In other words, listening for the sake of listening and not to give lectures.

-Asking people how they are doing only when you are interested in the question. You cannot ask people how they are doing and then tell them you will talk later.

-Getting to know people better and trying to give excuses instead of judging them. You never know what a person goes through.

-Showing that you care and showing concern. This may be done by giving hugs or feedback, a kind gesture, or a simple surprising message.

-Expecting nothing in return. Once you show empathy, you expect nothing in return. Consider it as a duty.

There are still lots of things you can do. These are just some common examples that are the most common in today’s society.

References:

Empathy: A Trait that Can Transform Your Life

Empathy Quotes (1166 quotes)

Krznaric, R. Empathy: Why it matters and how to get it. Tarcher Perigree. 2015

Lesley University. The psychology of emotional and cognitive empathy. 2019.

Author: Lydia Khelil.

Four Famous Psychological Experiments

May 6 2020

experiments, psychology

The intricacies of the human mind have always been fascinating. What drives us, people, to behave the way we do is a mystery, but over time, there have been many psychological experiments conducted to better understand human psychology. Throughout the centuries, many psychological experiments were carried out, ranging from social tests to behavioral experiments that produced thought-provoking outcomes.

Today, we will be listing four psychological experiments whose results were more than merely interesting. It is worthy of mention, however, that some of the experiments listed below could not be repeated in modern times due to their unethical natures.

Stanford Prison Experiment, in 1971

Conducted by a research group led by psychology professor Phillip Zimbardo, the Stanford prison experiment was a social psychology experiment that focused on perceived power between prisoners and police officers. Zimbardo wanted to test the psychological effects of authority, so he recruited 24 male participants who, predictably, were the most mentally stable and healthy. The volunteers were assigned as either ‘guards’ or ‘prisoners’ with Zimbardo himself as the ‘superintendent’. Early reports revealed that the participants quickly embodied the roles they were handed. The ones acting as the guards would physically and mentally torture the prisoners, who in return were emotionally traumatized. This experiment was shut down only six days later due to its overwhelming danger, with Zimbardo writing: “We realized how ordinary people could be readily transformed from the good Dr. Jekyll to the evil Mr. Hyde..”

The Pygmalion Effect (or Rosenthall effect)

Psychologists Robert Rosenthall and Lenore Jacobson conducted a study that revealed higher expectations from teachers lead to enhanced performances from students. They tested children at an elementary school, where teachers were led to believe that the results would show students to be more gifted than others. The researchers, however, selected kids at random but presented them as the gifted ones to their teachers. At the end of the year, the students they had chosen arbitrarily were found to be performing better than the rest, even though they were not actually gifted in the first place. These results caused Rosenthall to conclude that biased expectancies could affect reality and create self-fulfilling prophecies. And that teachers had a real effect on their students’ academic performances.

The Marshmallow Experiment.

Walter Mischel, a psychologist, conducted several experiments in the 1960s to test preschool children’s delayed gratification. Along with his colleagues, he brought four-year-olds into a room and presented them with a marshmallow and two options. The researcher would leave the room, and if the children had not eaten the marshmallow yet when he came back, they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. If they did eat it, however, they would not get a second — small reward now or a bigger one later. Some children reached for the marshmallow as soon as he left, while others resisted gratification and earned two at his return.

In follow-up experiments, the same children who had waited were re-evaluated as they got older. They demonstrated higher S.A.T scores, better responses to stress, and social competence. They even continued to show the same high results well in their 40s. This proved that delaying gratification at a young age led to successful advantages later in life.

The ‘Monster’ Study.

In 1939, a stuttering experiment was conducted on 22 orphans in Iowa. It was conducted by Wendell Johnson, and Mary Tudor to prove stuttering was a learned behavior. The kids were divided into two groups: one labeled ‘normal speakers’ and the second ‘stutters’ (half were actually stutters). During the course of the experiment, the first group was given positive feedback. The second group was made self-conscious about their speech and belittled for its imperfections. Five (normal) kids in the second group began stuttering after the negative therapy, while the ones with previous speech problems became even worse. Some even retained speech problems for the rest of their lives. The researchers tried to reverse the experiment (since they initially believed it was acquired), but its effects were permanent. It prompted major ethical concerns and that is why it is called the ‘Monster’ study.

Some of these psychological experiments brought about thought-provoking results and introduced new angles to look at human psychology. But, the methods with which the studies were conducted were unethical, and at the expense of actual human beings.

Author: Nour Nachoua Nait Ali.

The New Age of Automation

May 3 2020

automation, new age, technology

Humanity has witnessed through its eventful history several industrial revolutions. The first one, created by the invention of the steam engine, is the most well known. The second emerged with the introduction of the assembly line and electric power. Afterward, the third industrial revolution was a result of advances in robotics and computer technology. And now we find ourselves again at the dawn of a fourth industrial revolution. Or as the Germans like to call it: “Industry 4.0” [1].

The upcoming wave of innovation would definitely create more economic prosperity and make even more products accessible to the general public just like the ones before it. But unfortunately, it will also create a new crisis of redundancy. Industry 4.0 technologies are rapidly growing and expanding to different industries and even several other economic sectors such as agriculture, construction, and even banking. This new revolution is different from its predecessors since it does not only automate physical labor but also automates mental, and to some extent even creative [2], labor.

This new age of automation revolves around extracting ludicrous amounts of data from every source possible, vibrations, and temperature variations in a power plant to online shopping habits. The obtained data is then fed into Artificial intelligence able to extract useful information from it. This enables predicting and optimizing systems but most importantly simulating them. This makes the AI capable of learning how to perform many tasks that seemed impossible to perform by a computer merely a decade ago.

Machines will no longer be automatons that can only perform basic mechanical tasks. With the advances in AI technology [3] made possible by the immense processing power of modern computers and cloud data centers, many tasks will soon become more efficient and cost-effectively performed by intelligent machines. A very good example of this is the emerging technology of self-driving cars that threaten the entire transportation job market [4]. Complex security systems have already begun to reduce the need for security guards. Administrative jobs are also at risk of being replaced with far more efficient software as bureaucracies are shifting towards a more digitized format.

Many more examples could be given for the vast array of tasks AI has become superior in performing than ordinary humans from medical diagnostics to proofreading. But this does not mean that all jobs are going to be replaced. In fact, most of the jobs available nowadays would not simply disappear but become AI-assisted. The adoption of ATMs and digital payments did not kick bankers out of business but pushed them to more specialized roles with the assistance of technology. The same would probably occur in other professions. Unfortunately, because AI-assisted workers are vastly more efficient than their conventional counterparts, the number of workers in a specific field would be drastically reduced.

The vast unemployment that will soon be created by these new technologies will not only be devastating on an individual scale but on a macro-economical scale. Trying to force companies to maintain unnecessary workers by legal means is simply kicking the can forward. Fighting against market forces, as history has shown us, is futile. Workers will have to adapt to this new job market that demands hyper-specialization, Human-machine cooperation, and life-long learning.

Supervising new highly complex machines and software would certainly require a very highly skilled and adaptable labor force. Creating a labor force fit for this new age is unfortunately impossible with the current outdated educational system. The solution is ironically what caused the issue in the first place: AI.

Online learning has already begun to emerge as a valid alternative to conventional classroom learning models. Pairing online learning with an advanced AI [5] that can learn the user’s thinking pattern and common mistakes and remedy them using feedback far better than a teacher ever could. This AI can, therefore, customize the learning experience of each student and optimize their learning efficiency and even answer their questions. It can also further enhance their learning experience by using interactive tools such as animated maps, graphs, diagrams, and simulations.

Online learning would also allow workers to hyper-specialized since the logistical constraints the classroom educational models suffer from are no longer a concern. Creating specific educational models for each specific profession is impossible in any university but in online learning, it’s easier than ever.

Finally, the accessibility of online learning would enable everyone to acquire the skills they need to cope with the demands of an automated economy. It would also allow workers to keep up with a rapidly changing profession and specialization when necessary without having to commit to a learning program full time.

Today, we find ourselves on the edge of a new era of technology and with the benefits of these technologies comes challenges we must overcome. We must reform our obsolete educational system to avoid the devastating outcomes of this new era of automation. This is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed before an entire generation becomes redundant in mere decades.