Tag: Psychology

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome? It is a victim’s coping mechanism, but in many cases, it could eventually lead to many mental problems for them in the long run.

To find out more, let’s watch this video about Stockholm syndrome and its dark results on victims of abduction.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “coin” mean here, “Criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot first coined the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ in 1973.”? Use it in your own sentence.
2. What is a “coping mechanism”? Use it in your own sentence.
3. What does the expression “to go into a flurry” mean? “The media went into a flurry.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on Stockholm syndrome?
2. Have you seen or heard of a case involving Stockholm Syndrome? Talk about it.
3. How to help people currently dealing with Stockholm syndrome?
4. What other coping mechanisms can one use during moments of hopelessness and frustration?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

To stay calm in a stressful situation is a hard thing to do. Sometimes, you cannot easily think of a solution since you are too focused on what’s stressing you out.

Let’s watch this video to know how to stay calm in a stressful situation.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. How is pre-mortem explained in the video?
2. What about post-mortem?
3. How does the hippocampus work?

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you easily get stressed when things are not going well?
2. When was the last time you got stressed about something?
3. How do you usually manage things when you are in a stressful situation?
4. How do you wish you reacted to things when you were stressed about it in the past?
5. How would you calm yourself now when you are stressed?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever noticed that whenever you do something, you tend to focus a lot more on the negative things?

Although this is useful in helping us solve problems, it can also be a burden.

As an example, if you got a new shirt and wore it, if one person were to say something bad about it, you would probably focus more on that negative instead of the positive feedback.

This is called the negativity bias, but why does it happen? And what is the extent of this bias?

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

1. How has negativity bias affected your life?
2. What are other ways to lessen the effects of negativity bias?
3. What do you think of negativity bias? Is it mostly good or is it mostly bad?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We often overlook what an astonishing and difficult accomplishment it is to feel mentally well because of how effective and quiet our brains are in their daily activities. Healthy minds are constantly engaged in a series of actions that support our feelings of clarity and purpose.

Mental health needs some attention and effort to maintain.

Here are various approaches for maintaining our composure and equilibrium.

Discussion Questions:

1. What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘mental health?
2. What do you do to maintain or improve your mental health?
3. Do you think modern society increases the likelihood of mental health problems?
4. What programs does your government offer to help those suffering from mental illnesses and issues?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the difficulties of attempting to comprehend our minds is that, sometimes, we have to admit that what goes through them may have more to do with our bodies than the actual functioning of our brains.

Watch the video about the workings of our minds.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you ever find yourself suddenly becoming pessimistic? What normally triggers this and how do you overcome these thoughts?
2. How do you calm yourself when you’re agitated or having negative thoughts?
3. What physical processes typically have an impact on how you think?
4. What is one thing you have learned from this video?