Robin Pacitti, spoke to us on weight loss and nutrition as it pertains to chronic disease prevention.
She gave us ideas and suggestions on making diet adjustments for a healthier more satisfying lifestyle. Her goal was to help us achieve health and weight goals through eating delicious, nourishing foods.
To learn more about Robin Pacitti and Nutrition for a Heathier Life, Click here.
Click here to view the recording of his presentation.
The slides used in Doug's presentation can be seen by clicking here
For the purpose of understanding child abuse, last week we first explored the functions of the Amygdala, the Motor Cortex, and the Prefrontal Cortex of the human brain. The Amygdala is associated with Feelings, Affect and Temperance. The Motor Cortex is associated with Actions, Behavior and Courage. The Prefrontal Cortex is associated with Thought, Cognitions and Prudence.
We discussed how our adult brain develops in the present by drawing on memories from the past and projections of the future. We noted philosophical differences between the Platonic Ideal and the Aristotelian Real in knowing the past, present and future. We defined the type of love that helps to facilitate meaning, purpose, insight.
Metaphorically, by examining the movie “Alfie,” we examined how psychological difficulties arise as a result of an imbalance among Feelings, Actions and Thoughts as we seek meaning and purpose of self within the context of life.
We proposed that both the Abused and the Abuser experience psychological difficulty determining what is relevant and life-sustaining throughout life.
For the Abused and the Abuser to gain healthy functioning, they must incorporate propositions, procedures, perspectives and participatory ways of knowing. By way of clarification we looked at the example of learning how to ride a bicycle.
To ride a bike a person must understand how a bike functions, learn the procedures necessary to pedal and maintain balance, adopt the perceptions of experienced riders who are less likely to fall and finally ride with others on the roads and bike paths. The rider seeks to attain the deepest level of knowing while rolling on the road of life.
Memory contributes significantly in attaining the deepest level of knowing. Propositional knowing involves recalling Semantic definitions of words and concepts (bicycle, balance). Procedural knowing enables performance of tasks (pedaling while maintaining balance). Episodic Memory or Perspective knowing involves recalling earlier experiences within a specific context and the accompanying emotions (an adult teaching a child how to ride a bike for the first time). Participatory memories help us refine Identity and ability to manage Feelings, Actions, and Thoughts (riding with others in the bike club).
All types of knowing contribute to discovering purpose and meaning of life. They help us to survive and establish loving relationships.
Now this week, we will examine their application within the framework of Child Abuse.
After examining intervention for the abuser, you will see what could be done for Kenny, an abused, neglected, and objectified preschooler, who was propositionally mute, procedurally withdrawn, unresponsive to adult perspectives, and would not participate in normal childhood activities.
Thank you for your participation
Doug
