Tag: Psychology

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For some people, being ill means being special. They crave for the attention and care that others willingly provide them. The feeling is so intense that they would like to stay in that condition. However, unfortunately for them, some illnesses just simply go away and ironically therein lies the rub.

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy?
2. Why do people fake serious illness?
3. Do you feel like you are given special treatment when you are sick? Does it make you linger to it a bit more?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If truth is universal, then why is it that there are many interpretations about the truth? Have you ever doubted your seemingly real perception of truth because someone manipulated you to think so? Some cult leaders and dictators tend to use this method called gaslighting.

Watch the video and find out more about gaslighting.

Discussion Questions:

1. How is gaslighting defined?
2. Who are at risk of becoming a victim of gaslighting?
3. What are the signs one is being gaslighted?
4. Is gaslighting considered a form of abuse? Share your thoughts.
5. Is it possible for someone to be engaging in gaslighting behaviors and not know it or is it always done with intent? Elaborate on your ideas.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you witnessed an emergency? Were you alone or were there a lot of people who witnessed it with you? Was it your first instinct to help or did you just watch by and waited for others to help first?

Let’s watch this video on an experiment on bystander apathy and find out about this phenomenon called ‘the bystander effect’.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the bystander effect?
2. Why don’t people get involved in these situations?
3. What was your reaction to this video?
4. What does ‘pass the buck’ mean?
5. Do you agree or disagree with, “There is safety in numbers.”?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are put in a situation where we must make a moral decision; and what if between two possible moral imperatives, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable. It’s moral dilemma at its finest.
Here’s a scenario:
How would you decide if the two options you had would cost someone’s life? Could your action be justified?

Watch the video below and find out more about the trolley problem.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is trolley problem?

2. What do you consider in making a moral decision?

3. If you were the one to press the switch, would you let the trolley barrel down the track that would kill five workers or divert the trolley onto a second track with one? Or could there be a more ethical solution to the problem?

4. What are some real world applications of trolley problem? (Note: This is not always about sacrificing people’s life.)

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One doctor made up a fake drug and used every skill he had to convince a group of people it was a cure for their fears, phobias, addictions and insecurities. He was able to get some remarkable results, but in fact the drug was nothing more than a sugar pill.

Can a “fake” treatment really cure an ailment?

Watch the video below to learn more about the placebo effect.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the placebo effect. How is it used in a medical research?

2. What are the positive and negative effects of the placebo effect?

3. What conditions do you think can a placebo produce results even when people know they are taking a placebo?

4. Talk about your own experience of a placebo effect.

5. What if all medicines were placebo all along?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For some people, there is a hairline distinction between appreciation and objectification. When we appreciate, we recognize one’s good looks as a part of that person and not reduce them to it, which is the latter. Some may claim that objectifying someone is natural, others may take it as a compliment.

Let’s listen and find out more about it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-181101

Discussion Questions:

1. What is objectification? Is it inherently bad?

2. Please give some examples of objectification evident nowadays. What could it lead to?

4. According to the podcast, “Women are more likely to be objectified than men”, why do you think that is the case?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Recently, mindfulness is taught worldwide and integrates it as a subject matter like sciences, math, etc. This helps students be aware of their thoughts, bodily sensations, and feelings. This is to address the mental health problems among young people. It is an alarming social issue as people are struggling to get to grips with how they will fit into the increasingly complex modern world.

Watch as mindfulness is explained in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think mindfulness should be taught at every school?
2. How do you think it will help you improve your life?
3. Why is it important to start talking about mental health?
4. Do you feel there is a stigma against mental health problems in your society?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have all done it and we certainly are not proud of it but ‘schadenfreude’, according to some experts, is a normal emotion. Someone else’s misfortunes can bring you chuckles, laughter, and a strange feeling of satisfaction.

Let’s listen to the audio below and learn more about it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190110

Discussion Questions:

1. Share your thoughts on schadenfreude. Is it good or bad? Share your opinion.
2. Have you ever experienced schadenfreude? Talk about that moment. Did you feel bad about it or did you feel it was justified that time?
3. In which jobs or businesses do you think schadenfreude thrives on?