The Weekend University

Why, without solid scientific justification, has the number of mental disorders risen from 106 in the 1960s, to around 370 today? Why has the definition of mental disorder expanded to include ever more domains of human experience? In the first part of this lecture, Dr James Davies will take us behind the scenes of how the psychiatrist’s bible, the DSM, was actually written – did science drive the construction of new mental disorder categories like ADHD and major depression or were less scientific and more unexpected processes at play? His exclusive interviews with the creators of the DSM reveal the answer. The second part will address why psychiatry is such big business, and why, on the whole, it may be doing more harm than good. You’ll get insider knowledge on how psychiatry has put riches and medical status above patients’ well-being. The charge sheet is damning; negative drug trials routinely buried; antidepressants that work no better than placebos; research regularly manipulated to produce positive results; doctors, seduced by huge pharmaceutical rewards, creating more disorders and prescribing more pills; and ethical, scientific and treatment flaws unscrupulously concealed by mass-marketing. You’ll learn the true human cost of an industry that, in the name of helping others, has actually been helping itself. Dr James Davies graduated from the University of Oxford in 2006 with a DPhil in Social and Medical Anthropology. He is a Reader in Social Anthropology and Mental Health at the University of Roehampton and a practicing psychotherapist. James has delivered lectures at universities such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Oslo, Brown, UCL and Columbia. He has written for The Times, The New Scientist, The Guardian and Salon, and is author of the bestselling book: Cracked: why psychiatry is doing more harm than good. James is the co-founder of the Council for Evidence-based Psychiatry, now secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence. His latest book: ‘Mental Health in Crisis’ will be published later this year. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Dr Davies’ book: https://amzn.to/33OAMuc

We sleep for a third of our lives. For millennia the Tibetan Buddhists, Toltec-Mexhicas and Sufi mystics have used that lost third for waking up to their highest potential through lucid dreaming. In this talk, lucid dreaming teacher Charlie Morley will explore how this ancient art is now being studied by modern day neuroscience and how these studies have been as insightful for the mystics as they have been for the scientists. Lucid dreaming can be used to consciously direct the dream so that we can learn, train, meditate and gain answers to some of life’s biggest questions while we dream. Sourced from over 10 years of teaching the subject, Charlie’s talk will open you up to the possibility of engaging deep change while you sleep deeply. The talk will include an overview of the history, science and practice of lucid dreaming from both the Western science and the mystic traditions as well as explorations on how to engage the wider holistic benefits of lucid dreaming and conscious sleeping which these practices offer. Charlie Morley is a bestselling author and teacher of lucid dreaming & shadow integration. He was “authorised to teach” within the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism by Lama Yeshe Rinpoche in 2008 and has since developed a holistic approach to dream work called Mindfulness of Dream & Sleep and written three books which have been translated into 13 languages. He’s spoken about lucid dreaming at Cambridge University, “Buddhism and Youth Culture” at The Houses of Parliament, is a regular expert panellist for The Guardian and has been named one of The Next Generation of Meditation Teachers. In 2018 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship grant to research “mindfulness based PTSD treatment” and continues to teach on retreats for armed forces veterans. For over 10 years Charlie has run retreats and workshops in more than 20 countries and continues to teach internationally. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Charlie’s website: https://www.charliemorley.com/ Charlie’s books: https://amzn.to/325nGXY

Your brain is constantly changing. Did you have much better memory as a child? Were you able to concentrate on reading a book for a long period of time whereas now you can barely finish a full article on the Internet? Do you tend to procrastinate and feel unable to stop no matter how hard you try? Were you once a much more optimistic person, but now you struggle to feel happy about your life? These are just a few examples of how your brain changes based on what it experiences most often (scientists call this “activity-dependent brain plasticity”). In this talk, neuroscientist Dr. Gabija Toleikyte will explain the mechanisms underlying high performance, memory formation, attention and productivity. You’ll learn how you can use these insights to be more efficient and effective at work, boost your memory, overcome procrastination, and optimise your cognitive functioning to get more done with less effort and in less time. Dr Gabija Toleikyte is a neuroscientist and business coach. She completed her PhD at the University College London on the neuronal basis of memory and navigation. During her PhD, Gabija acquired a business coach qualification and worked as an internal coach at UCL for senior academics and administrative staff. Combining coaching experience with neuroscience insights allows Gabija to develop unique seminars, where solid neuroscience research is presented in the context of the topics relevant for individuals and organisations. You can keep up to date with Gabija’s work on her website: www.mybrainduringtheday.com. Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity - Dr Toleikyte’s website: www.mybrainduringtheday.com

We live in an era of political, economic and climatic crises. Any normal individual would be emotionally affected by such events. Therefore, it is not a surprise that some experts claim that we currently face the largest mental health crisis mankind has ever experienced. In fact, almost one in two people will now experience a severe mental health problem at some point during their lifetime. The first part of this presentation will describe how the current mental health crisis may be caused by socio-economic circumstances that prevent individuals from living a meaningful life. Specifically, it will address how structural community crises, governmental austerity measures, societal existential crisis, educational and academic crises affect our ability to experience meaning in life. The second part will describe how the current mental health care system is in crisis, and how, instead of helping people, can actually make problems worse. Specifically, it will examine the role played by biomedical lobbies, financial crises, and unfounded psychiatric diagnoses in causing these problems. The sum of these examples suggest that a small group of powerful individuals benefit from current system, whereas many more suffer unnecessarily. The third section will explore evidence-based ways individuals can live meaningful lives – despite these circumstances. You’ll learn about the latest research on the link between meaning in life and mental health; specifically, how increasing meaning can act as a safeguard against mental health problems, and improve emotional wellbeing. The lecture will conclude with a vision for an alternative mental health care system; one which focuses on the social context of individuals and empowers them to live meaningful and satisfying lives. Dr Joel Vos, PhD, CPsychol (joelvos.com) is psychologist and philosopher. He is deputy course leader of the professional doctorate in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling. He also works as lecturer and chair of the Meaningful Living Research Group at the Metanoia Institute London. Joel is director of the internet platform Meaning Online and is chair of the successful IMEC International Meaning Conferences London (meaning.org.uk) the next of which will be held 12-14 July 2019. Joel has over 70 scientific publications to his name, including the books ‘Meaning in Life: an Evidence-Based Handbook for Practitioners’ (Palgrave McMillan) and ‘Fifty Pictures of Living a Meaningful Life’ (amazon.co.uk). His latest book, ‘Mental Health in Crisis’, was published in 2019. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity Joel’s books: https://amzn.to/2Y58toc Joel’s website: https://joelvos.com/

The only reason you’re here, reading this, is because there is an unbroken chain leading back from you to the origin of life itself. In nature, adaptations shaped by environments to solve the problems of survival and mating: Endless forms of beautiful complexity like echolocation, courtship dances, and lactation. For millions of years we’ve had to find food, find mates and take care of our children and for hundreds of thousands of years we’ve used language to communicate, made tools, formed societies and shared our cultural innovations. Evolutionary psychology sees the human mind as shaped by the problems we faced over and over again throughout our deep history. According to evolutionary psychologists nothing about human nature makes sense except in light of evolution. The endless forms in the human mind include emotions, thought patterns, perceptions, and social interactions which can be discovered and examined by investigating their possible function in solving problems of survival and reproduction. Evolutionary psychology has had a massive influence on the field of psychology and public’s perception of the human mind. But, detractors also criticize evolutionary psychology for being biologically determinist, reactionary, and lacking falsifiability and scientific rigour. In this talk I’ll introduce you to the field of evolutionary psychology, its foundational principles and methods as well as common misunderstandings, questions and legitimate concerns. Diana Fleischman, PhD is a Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. After an internship at a chimpanzee research facility, Diana earned her PhD in evolutionary psychology at the University of Texas at Austin studying hormonal influences on disgust sensitivity. After two research positions, one investigating handwashing and the other looking at hormonal influences on women’s psychology, Diana arrived at Portsmouth where she researches disgust and teaches a course on the Psychology of Human Sexuality. Diana is currently working on a popular book applying evolutionary psychology and animal training to romantic relationships. You can follow Diana on twitter @sentientist. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduni... Diana’s website: http://www.dianafleischman.com/ Follow Diana on twitter: @sentientist

Existential Coaching Workshop with Yannick: http://bit.ly/2T02ak9 Change is the holy grail of psychology. Sometimes it’s easy. But often, we’re so caught up in our pre-existing patterns, beliefs and habits, that it seems impossible to think or do things differently. We find ourselves riddled by inner conflicts fuelled by mutually exclusive desires. We want to lose weight and also eat what we like. We want to have lots of financial success, but also live comfortably without taking risks. We want to find the right partner, but prefer not to open up and make ourselves vulnerable. We don’t want change when life’s good, but if it stays static for too long, we get bored or even depressed – no matter how good it seems from the outside. In this talk, Yannick Jacob will present a positive-existential perspective on behaviour change. The lecture will integrate findings from the new science of positive psychology within a framework of existential philosophy as applied in the coaching room with clients from all walks of life. Yannick Jacob is an Existential Coach, Positive Psychologist, Coach Trainer & Supervisor, Mediator and the FMR Programme Leader of the MSc Coaching Psychology at the University of East London. He works with coaches and leaders to help them gain clarity, make difficult choices, build resilience and navigate their life. For over a decade Yannick, has studied optimal human functioning and all things wellbeing, as well as the depths and complexities of the human condition. His first book, An Introduction to Existential Coaching, will be published by Routledge in early 2019. Learn more about Yannick’s work and philosophy at existential.coach. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity Yannick’s book: https://amzn.to/2OAgS35

The term: ‘archetype’ was coined by the Swiss psychoanalyst and psychiatrist: Carl Gustav Jung. Jung’s work has been influential not only in psychology, but also in anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religious studies. The archetypes, Jung argued, influence the unfolding of human development, are the sources of our dreams, and are enacted in the myths and rituals of almost every culture that has ever existed in human history. In this lecture, Dr Kevin Lu, will explore Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes – one of the distinctive features of his analytical psychology. The talk will examine the various ways in which the archetypal concept may be understood, and will focus on the distinction made between archetypes and archetypal images. Dr Lu will also discuss some of the more notable archetypes, including the shadow, the persona, the anima/animus and the Self. Dr Kevin Lu, PhD, is Director of Graduate Studies and Director of the MA Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies in the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the International Association for Jungian Studies. Dr. Lu’s publications include articles and chapters on Jung’s relationship to the discipline of history, critical assessments of the theory of cultural complexes, and Jungian perspectives on graphic novels and their adaptation to film. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity Information on the MA in Jungian & Post Jungian Studies: https://vimeo.com/67385596

The effects of spiritual practices are now being investigated scientifically as never before, and many studies have shown that religious and spiritual practices generally make people happier and healthier. In this talk, Rupert Sheldrake will summarize the latest scientific research on what happens when we take part in these practices, and suggest ways you can explore some of these fields for yourself. In particular, the talk will focus on how science helps validate seven practices which underpin all the major world religions, and discuss some of them in more detail: - Meditation - Gratitude - Connecting with nature - Relating to plants - Rituals - Singing and chanting - Pilgrimage and holy places. For those who are religious, you’ll learn about the evolutionary origins of your own traditions and gain a new appreciation of their power. For the non-religious, the talk will show how the core practices of spirituality are accessible to all, without the need to subscribe to a religious belief system. Dr. Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 13 books. He is a leading researcher into anomalous phenomena and was among the top 100 Global Thought Leaders for 2013, as ranked by the Duttweiler Institute, Zurich, Switzerland’s leading think tank. He studied biology and biochemistry at Cambridge University where he earned his Ph.D., followed by a fellowship at Harvard where he spent a year studying philosophy and history. His books include: ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ (2017), ‘The Science Delusion’ (2012), and ‘The Sense of Being Stared At, And Other Aspects of The Extended Mind.’ sheldrake.org Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduni... Rupert’s website: http://sheldrake.org/ Rupert’s books: https://amzn.to/2Gbvijy

It’s often assumed that there are two ways of interpreting the world: a rational scientific way, or an irrational religious way. In this talk, Dr. Steve Taylor offers a third alternative: a view of reality that transcends both conventional science and religion, and answers many of the riddles that neither can explain. Steve will suggest that the primary reality is not matter, but consciousness. The standard model of science has had little success in explaining such areas as human consciousness, the influence of the mind over the brain and body, altruism and ‘anomalous’ phenomena such as near-death experiences and spiritual experiences. Focusing specifically on consciousness, altruism and spiritual experiences, Steve will show that these phenomena are much easier to make sense of, if we assume the existence of a fundamental consciousness of spirit. Steve will draw on the on the insights of philosophers, physicists, mystics, as well as spiritual traditions and indigenous cultures, offering a vision of the world as sacred and interconnected, and of human life as meaningful. Dr. Steve Taylor is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University. He is the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including Making Time, The Leap and his new book Spiritual Science. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness happening on our planet’ and he has twice been named in Mind, Body, Spirit magazine’s list of the ‘100 most spiritually influential living people’. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity Steve’s books: https://amzn.to/2XwFblC Steve’s website: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/

In an out-of-body experience (OBE), people feel as though they have left their physical body and can see the world from outside it. What are these experiences, and are they spiritual? As a 19 year-old psychology student, Susan Blackmore had an extraordinarily powerful OBE that lasted for hours and culminated in a mystical experience of transformation and oneness. Her determination to understand what had happened led Susan to becoming a parapsychologist – a profession she later gave up, zen training, and decades of research into the nature of mind and consciousness. In this talk, Susan will explore the surprising science of out-of-body experiences, whether anything really leaves the body during an OBE, and their profound effect on our sense of self. Sue Blackmore is a psychologist, lecturer and writer researching consciousness, memes, and anomalous experiences, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Plymouth. She is a TED lecturer, blogs for the Guardian, and often appears on radio and television. The Meme Machine (1999) has been translated into 16 other languages; more recent books include Conversations on Consciousness (2005), Zen and the Art of Consciousness (2011), Seeing Myself: The new science of out-of-body experiences (2017) and a textbook Consciousness: An Introduction (3rd Ed 2018). Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Support this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theweekenduniversity Susan’s book: https://amzn.to/2Y3tlwx Susan’s website: https://www.susanblackmore.uk/ Donate to Sue’s chosen charity (Anyone’s Child): https://anyoneschild.org/