Journal of Psychology Groningen

pagina 1 - April 2015
Diemensies
Journal of Psychology Groningen
Keeping up
appearnces
April 2015 - page 1
April 2015 - pagina 2
COLOFON
CONTENTS
55th volume, 5th edition
[DIEMENSIES]
is the magazine of the faculty
of Psychology of Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
and collaborates with Study Association VIP.
[BOARD 2014 - 2015]
[CHAIR] Isabelle de Harder
[EDITORS IN CHIEF] Yfke van der Ploeg and
Laura Meijer
[TREASURER/SECRETARY] Jacobien van Klinken
[ILLUSTRATIONS]
Roos Cornelius
Bram Dirven
Niels Lohmann
[PHOTOGRAPHY]
Ilse Noordhof
[LAY-OUT]
Mieke van de Wetering
[EDITORIAL BOARD]
Fionneke Bos
Roos Cornelius
Ruben Groen
Isabelle de Harder
Tamarinde Haven
Ingrid Hekman
Phil Hulscher
Jacobien van Klinken
Robin Kramer
Alexander Meijer
Laura Meijer
Nina Mooij
Ilse Noordhof
Yfke van der Ploeg
Anne Varvik
Anne van Vliet
Ruud Wassink
[ADDRESS]
Psychologisch Instituut Heymans
M.0032
Grote Kruisstraat 2/1
9712 TS Groningen
[E-MAIL]
[email protected]
[INTERNET]
www.diemensies.nl
[TELEPHONE]
06-14227088
[©2014] Diemensies
All rights reserved. Nothing from this edition
may be copied, distributed, stored in a digital
file, published, or in any way, it be electronical,
mechanical, by photocopies, recordings, or
any other way, without consent of the editorial
board beforehand.
page 2 - April 2015
ENGLISH
Preface
The SPOT: Dr. Nina Hansen
Living the American Dream
Dear writer
Dear anonymous reader
He/She got Asperger
3
4
9
11
12
14
NEDERLANDS
Verloren eer keert moeilijk weer
Opiniemensies
VIP-nieuws
Reset de klok
17
18
19
21
pagina 3 - April 2015
PREFACE
This edition’s theme is ‘keeping up appearances’. And I think it is safe to
say that everyone does it. Whether it is being extra polite to your (possible) future mother-in-law, putting on some extra make-up for your date,
pimping your resume for your dream job or at your high school reunion
where everyone wants to show off how well they turned out.
As you can see, keeping up appearances comes in many forms and
shapes, and I know for sure you could think of a hundred other ones. But
it is all covered by one main topic: psychology. Why do we behave in the
way we do and what are the mechanisms behind this? Some people say
that you can relate anything you want to psychology and maybe that’s
true but it is definitely true for ‘keeping up appearances’, it can be a
symptom of a psychological disorder, as you can read in my piece about
girls with Asperger but it could also be closely linked to some cultural
standards as you can read in Yfke’s story about honour and vengeance.
Isabelle de Harder
April 2015 - page 3
April 2015 - pagina 4
THE SPOT:
DR. NINA HANSEN
Isabelle de Harder & Yfke van der Ploeg
This edition we had the honour of interviewing Dr. Nina
Hansen, an associate professor in Social Psychology at
our faculty. Hansen is interested in the social psychology
of cultural change, and studies this in the context of
developmental aid interventions, where new aspects of
modernization are implemented into other cultures. She
specializes in evaluating such developmental aid projects
scientifically. After being welcomed into her office, we
quickly see the pictures and logos of the projects that she
worked on in Sri Lanka and Ethiopia, prominently figuring
on our teacups. How did she gather this impressive
collection of tea mugs, and what can she tell us about
the failure and the unexpected side effects of some of
the interventions she evaluated? Does she have some
advice to those of us ready to explore other cultures from
a developmental aid perspective? And last but not least,
what does she want to share with our readers about the
Social Psychology master program?
page 4 - April 2015
pagina 5 - April 2015
Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Could you tell us some more about the research you do now?
My name is Nina Hansen and I am an associate professor
One of the biggest projects that we are working on now
at the Social Psychology department. My research focuses
looks at the impact of offering microfinance services to
on the social psychology of cultural change, which I study
people who live below the poverty line. Microfinance
in the context of development aid. I look at interventions
services offer these people small loans, and different
that introduce one aspect of modernization to low-
types of trainings on how to run their income. This idea
income countries and at how this changes people’s lives.
was introduced by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
For example, when people receive laptops or access to
However, nowadays, people question its success a lot. To
microfinance services, does this change how they see
investigate this, we did a research project in Sri Lanka,
themselves, how they construe their identities or how they
where we focused on the psychological effects of the
relate to others?
intervention. So far, the majority of the people that get
access to these microfinance projects have been women.
Was this also why you started studying psychology in the first
The women, however, are not single individuals but are
place?
part of a collective, a family. Previous qualitative research
I have always been interested in how societies function
has already shown that the microfinance service can cause
and change, and how people live together. I studied that
conflicts and friction for the women in their families, as
not only in psychology, but in an interdisciplinary master
they learn all these new things, but their husbands normally
program. I focused on social psychology, international law,
make the financial decisions. This may be one reason why
economics and sociology. During my studies I realized that
the projects are not as successful as one would hope.
I am very interested in what kind of emotions, cognitions
To study these relational dynamics, Marloes Huis, who
and behavior people express and experience in groups.
recently started her PhD on this topic, and I interviewed the
And that is what social psychology focuses on: individuals,
husbands as well as the wives in Sri Lank and Vietnam. We
and the contexts shaping them.
found that they both would appreciate having two or three
trainings together, so that they could learn how to run the
Where has your career course taken you so far? And where did
income-generating activities together, how to set goals and
you like it most?
show commitment towards each other. Our collaboration
I studied in Göttingen, in the north of Germany. I took a
partner in Sri Lanka, a women-led microfinance institution,
break between my studies, while I worked on the world
focuses solely on women. However, we convinced them
exposition in Hannover. With a group of – I would now
that if they really want to have a sustained change, it would
say – friends, I organized a youth program and several
be wise to include the husbands in the training as well. In
conferences with organizations like the World Bank and
May, Marloes, two of my students, and I are going back to
UNESCO. The world exposition at that time focused on
Sri Lanka, which I am very much looking forward to. We
sustainable development, and this is how I started working
will adjust the provided trainings to our new insights and
in this international domain. When I finished my studies I
add theory-based components to them.
got a scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley,
focusing on Psychology and International Development.
What about the other interventions you work on?
Afterwards, I did my PhD in Jena, studying responses to
I think this is what you can see in a lot of development aid
social discrimination from the victim’s perspective. When I
projects: things are developed in the West and assumed to
went back to Berkeley again for a postdoc, I learned more
lead to the same expected changes somewhere else. You
about the different methods and approaches to study
can also clearly see this in a different project that we discuss
these topics. Afterwards, I was looking for an opportunity
in one of my master’s courses, where new cooking stoves
to come back to Europe: in my heart I am a European.
were offered to Indian villagers. The new stoves should
So, I was very happy to get a position offered here at the
have improved health outcomes as had been shown in the
University of Groningen. I am very grateful that I got the
laboratory, but the majority of the people in the villages
space and freedom to set up a new research line here
did not use them. Findings on interventions are often
focusing on cultural change. I have been here for seven
surprising like this, in that people do not adapt to these
years now and to be honest, although I sometimes miss the
new things. In my opinion, it is therefore very important to
Californian nature and weather, I am very happy to be here.
firstly do a careful needs-analysis, to see whether people
April 2015 - page 5
April 2015 - pagina 6
Illustration: Bram Dirven
page 6 - April 2015
pagina 7 - April 2015
are really interested in the new things and are open to
their heritage. In the case of the Shinasha, however, the
them. If so, it is important to carefully think about how
children had already participated in Amharic- and Oromo-
to introduce them. You could for example use the social
speaking schools for a long time and had assimilated to
structure of a local culture. Often, the head of the village is
the dominant languages. For them, it was the other way
very important. If he or she (most of the time he) convinces
around: sending them to a native language school asked
his people to use the new stoves in order to increase health
them to learn a new, foreign language. To me, it is very
benefits, it is more likely that they will actually do so.
important to understand these contexts. The results of an
Interventions that use this block leader approach are often
intervention very much depend on the cultural context,
more successful than interventions that simply give things
which can be extremely local.
to people.
One other example that might be interesting to
How did you come to work at these projects?
share, is an evaluation I did for the ministry of Foreign
I am very careful in choosing the projects I work on. My
Affairs of the Dutch government, looking at a mother
scientific interest comes first. I want to see what projects
tongue education project. The project was funded by
might be interesting academic-wise. Then, I carefully look
the Dutch government and supported by the Ethiopian
for organizations that I can trust, and where I think the
government. In Ethiopia, 85 different languages are
intervention might work out. I also look for interventions
spoken. Most of these languages are oral languages,
that are set up in a proper, efficient way. The people I work
so there is no written version. The project studied three
with have to be open to understand the importance of
of these minority languages in the West of Ethiopia and
conducting careful research. For instance, without a control
developed dictionaries, so that school books could be
group your study will not be thoroughly conducted. I also
developed in the respective first languages. We evaluated
like to get to know the project-leaders and the people in
this project for two different mother tongue languages:
the field, to see if they would really be interested in the
Bertha and Shinasha. We followed children who started
results, even the unexpected and possibly negative ones.
school in their mother tongue and compared them to
That’s the only way you can really work on the same level,
students of the same ethnic minorities who started school
exchange ideas and learn from each other. For instance,
in a second language (in this case Amharic, the dominant
when I was in Sri Lanka I met a very enthusiastic woman
language in Ethiopia). The Bertha students who followed
from the microfinance institution. The people there were
the mother tongue education track indeed showed better
keen on developing a training together, because they
school performances, compared to those who were taught
normally do not have the funds to do that themselves. It
in Amharic. School enrollment also increased. Especially
works both ways: they support our work in the field and we
the Bertha girls developed a higher self-esteem, feeling
educate their trainers in collaboration with other parties.
more confident in going to school and more proud of
For them, this is a chance to add new components to their
themselves. Surprisingly, we found no such results for the
trainings. And if we find positive results, it might help
Shinasha students. We were puzzled: why did we find results
them to get funds in the future. I myself always try to get
for the one language minority, but not for the other? Here,
funds from a government or an international organization
qualitative research helped a lot. We learned that the Bertha
though, not from the collaboration partner in the field, so
valued education highly and that they wanted to maintain
that I can stay independent.
April 2015 - page 7
April 2015 - pagina 8
What are some of the most unexpected findings you have seen
Do you have some advice on how to choose the right projects?
in this project?
An important approach in social psychology suggests that
Well, the first project I got involved in was a project offering
inter-group helping is especially beneficial when the two
laptops in Ethiopia. Laptops were given to schoolchildren at
groups that are involved (the helper and the one being
a time when almost no one had one. The idea was that the
helped) have the same status. The project will also be
teachers would use the laptops in school and the children’s
more effective when it is aimed at helping a local group
grades would improve with doing so. However, the laptops
to become autonomous, so that in the future they will not
were hardly used in class and the grades did not go up.
stay dependent on the help. Something else that you could
So, the government assumed that the intervention was not
pay attention to, is whether you will be placed in the local
working at all. However, we did some different measures
community or in a house with all the other expats. If you
and came to the conclusion that something was improving:
choose a local organization that really includes you in the
the children’s abstract reasoning skills. These were just not
community, you will get to know the culture and its people
measured by the traditional grading system. Now, the
more closely and you could also learn from them. Your own
ministry was a bit more pleased and decided to continue
attitude about this is very important. You should go there
the project.
to get to know the culture, not to change it. We cannot
have the solution to their problems if we do not even know
So sometime it is also part of your job to convince the
them. Bear this in mind, because you can also learn a lot
government or a funder?
from a different culture. That is my advice!
*laughing* No, normally I do not. I always try only to
evaluate the projects, so that I can be independent and
Do you have a final message for our readers?
not torn between two parties. If my partners ask me for
In general, what I would like to say about our Social
advice after the study, I am always open to that, based on
Psychology master, is that the things we teach here can
the results that we gathered. My pure interest comes from
broaden your academic and your personal perspective
an academic perspective though. I’m not doing research
on how to evaluate and perceive different cultures. Also,
to help people, or to improve their lives: I do research to
we teach you about how to design and evaluate different
better understand the psychological mechanisms behind
kinds of interventions that aim to change people’s daily life
an intervention. I choose projects where I can test my
behavior. Our master’s program offers some very interesting
psychological hypotheses. These insights in turn may help
courses, in which we teach you more about the academic
project designers to further improve their programs, but I
and practical skills that would prepare you to work in the
can only evaluate them and provide suggestions based on
field of developmental aid, or on interventions in general. A
our findings.
lot of students do not know that we offer hands-on practice
in how to set up all kinds of interventions, or that there are
Something else we wanted to ask you about, is about how much
many jobs out there for social psychologists. Interventions
we have lately heard in the media about negative aspects to
can be relevant in the field of groups and inter-group
developmental aid projects aimed at young volunteers. UNICEF,
relations (e.g. diversity training, integration or mass
for example, made a campaign using the slogan ‘Children
events), in the health domain (e.g. prevention programs,
are not tourist attractions’, addressing a trend you could call
health coaches), but also on environmental behavior
‘developmental aid tourism’. What is your take on this?
(e.g. encouraging the use of environmental products and
In general, I think it is a good thing to broaden your horizon
technologies). Knowing how to change people’s behavior
and to go abroad. Engaging in contact is an important
could be a valuable asset for many graduates looking for
first step to get to know a new culture and maybe even
a job. Especially in times of economic cuts, it is important
stimulate inter-group friendships. However, these projects
to design effective programs and to know of theory-based
have to be looked at with caution. Who is really benefiting
ways for improving interventions.
from it? The tourists or the locals? I think it really depends
on the project.
page 8 - April 2015
pagina 9 - April 2015
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Fionneke Bos
The United States of America. The one place in the world where
dreams come true, the pursuit of happiness is an unalienable
right and where the freedom to do whatever you want is
regarded the most important right of all. Down-to-earth as I
am, I had always been skeptical about this tireless optimism.
And then I got to experience it myself, during my 6-month
research stay at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and
the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Some thoughts
on keeping up appearances in the USA.
The moment my feet touched American soil I got so excited
in the States were difficult for me: I missed home and
that I had to restrain myself in order to prevent airport
experienced a major culture shock. Whenever I would
security from hauling me away on suspicions of successful
start talking about these difficulties with my roommates
drug trade. Security in American airports is no joke; one
they quickly changed the subject or even blatantly walked
slightly off facial expression or gesture can get you into a
away saying that “it would all be all right”. I learned not to
lot of trouble. Noticing my happiness, the flight attendants
mention these problems anymore and talk about positive
welcomed me with “have a nice day, miss Bos(s)”. Barely
things only, and now we’re getting along quite nicely.
able to contain my enthusiasm, I got my enormous suitcase
from the baggage claim, after which I strode outside into
However, getting along cannot be equated with becoming
the bright sunny streets of Nashville.
friends. Especially in the South, people are very friendly
and warm, and you can easily confuse this with a genuine
Okay, obviously it went a little differently. Still a little sad
interest in you and becoming your friend. People whom
that I had to leave my family and friends behind, I stepped
I’d just met an hour ago would tell me that I was amazing,
out of the plane without even being acknowledged by the
such a nice person, we should meet, etc., but then I would
flight attendants. Dark clouds spat out rain continuously,
never hear from them again. When I presented my master’s
darkening the ugly carpet of the airport and soaking me
thesis to the psychology department at Vanderbilt, my
before I even reached the car. But the first story is a lot
supervisor Steve Hollon told me that I did an amazing job,
nicer to tell.
was very polished, and that he didn’t have any feedback.
While this is of course very nice to hear, I keep wondering
One of the first things I noticed about Americans is that
what people really think.
they do not like to hear your sob stories. The first days
April 2015 - page 9
April 2015 - pagina 10
(this got me in a very tense and awkward situation, learned
my lesson). No, Americans probably smoke more marijuana
than Dutch people, even though (or because) it’s illegal in
most states. Yes, they think universally available health care
is a bad idea, even though this might be restricted to the
South of the U.S., where most people are Republicans and
devoted Christians. In fact, in Tennessee it is still forbidden
by law to teach evolutionary theory without explicitly
stating that it is not scientific fact. Huh?!
As a psychologist in the making, I’m especially interested
in cultural differences related to mental health. One such
Another thing America is famous for is its focus on
difference became noticeable immediately in the first
positivity. Think of the happy endings of American movies
week, when Steve invited me to join his undergraduate
and the focus on success stories. Americans just love a
Honors class on depression. He asked the students to
story in which severely disadvantaged individuals rise up
describe why they signed up for the class, and at least
to become rich and famous. Lack of self-confidence is
five different students mentioned they had a history of
definitely not a problem here, most Americans believe that
depression and wanted to learn more about its origins and
they’re living in the most beautiful and prosperous country
treatments. I’ve never seen someone in The Netherlands
in the world and that this entitles them to something.
share such personal issues with people you barely know.
Nashville is nicknamed Music City, referring to the music
Again, someone becomes familiar to you relatively quickly,
studios and the vast amounts of singer/songwriters trying
but don’t expect to be friends.
to make it here. For the record, Taylor Swift and Miley
Cyrus are originally from Nashville (Taylor still frequents a
Like a true American, I do see a plus side to this extreme
pancake place near my house), so it is not entirely ludicrous
familiarity. In The Netherlands, we can be quite distant and
to imagine yourself getting discovered here. I just try not
hesitant to reach out to people, in order to prevent others
to laugh when guys tell me with a straight face that they’re
from seeing too much in this (if I ask her for coffee, she’ll
going to be the next John Mayer.
probably think we’re friends, which we’re not). Here, you get
randomly invited to all sorts of events, even if you just met
Sometimes I do feel that this enthusiastic overconfidence
someone. No strings attached, just go and have fun, and
is not entirely out of place. In a way, I’m actually living the
maybe meet some new people in the process. In January
American dream myself, traveling all the way from Europe
I spent a week in Philadelphia to get to know my other
to do interesting research and build my academic career. I
American supervisor, Rob DeRubeis, who quickly invited
love constantly hearing English around me, cycling around
me and all his students to his house for dinner and tequila.
like a crazy Dutchwoman on the busy American roads (I
Probably not many Dutch supervisors would do this…
counted the number of times people honked at me, it’s
21), and being able to discuss my ideas with the best
Even though American culture takes some getting used
experts in my field. Do I sometimes wish I were back in The
to, I actually find it very interesting to notice the cultural
Netherlands? Absolutely. But until the summer, I intend to
differences. Yes, talking about euthanasia is a no-go here
enjoy every minute of my own American dream.
page 10 - April 2015
pagina 11 - April 2015
DEAR WRITER
As you might have seen, our
previous edition Dear Reader
(nr. 452) aimed at forming an
interaction and collaboration
with our readers. Amongst other
things, one of our writers wrote
a love/hate letter to you, his
readers, which to our pleasant
surprise led to an anonymous
letter in our post box! Below, you
can see the exchange between
our anonymous contributor and
our own writer, Alexander.
April 2015 - page 11
page 12 - April 2015
April 2015 - pagina 12
April 2015 - page 13
pagina 13 - April 2015
April 2015 - pagina 14
Diemensies
Diemensies
zoekt schrijvers
is looking
for writers!
Do you
enjoyHeb
writing
storieshouding
or poems?
Verzin jij weleens
verhalen?
jij een kritische
en een scherpe
mening?
je misschien
(in het geheim)?
HebDo
jij een
Do you
haveSchrijf
a critical
viewgedichten
and a sharp
opinion?
you have
unieke
kijk op de
wereld? Dan zoeken
jou!
aninteressante,
interesting,
unique
perspective
on thewijworld?
you interested?
Come
meeting (‘s
Ben je Are
geïnteresseerd?
Kom een
keer join
langsusbijindeavergadering
woensdags
om 17:00
in H.222)
of stuur
een e-mail
naar
(Wednesdays
at 17:00
in room
M. 0070)
or email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
page 14 - April 2015
pagina 15 - April 2015
DEAR ANONYMOUS READER
Dear anonymous Reader,
First of all let me apologize for the tardiness of my reply to your letter. By the time it found
its way into my hands, it was too late to be published in the previous edition, themed: The
Future. I hope though, that you were not so disappointed that you decided never to pick up
the Diemensies again, and hopefully, this overdue epistle will still reach you.
If you are in fact reading this, let me thank you for your response. Your letter was
very consoling, yet also confronting. O, how I have besmudged the names of those who I was
trying to adorn. Please, hear me when I say it wasn’t all foolish hypocrisy that led to become
a name-dropper, a supercilious literati. I merely wanted to pay an homage to those writers
who have inspired me, and liberated me. O, how I wish I had thought twice before dragging
you and your ilk through the mud. Now that I’ve been cleansed by your wise words, I see that
Harry Potter has, in its own way, saved and nourished the confused, angry teen I once was.
Let literature and art not be a lamentation of all that is wrong, but rather a celebration of all
that is right. You, dear Reader, have opened my eyes. And, in all honesty, they were in need of
opening.
As you might be aware, the human psyche evolves through reconciling contradicting
attitudes and beliefs. A prime example of this would be my own love of literature, and the
hate of those who do not care to uphold its value and its integrity, that sprang from it.
Naturally, a black and white view of the world such as this can and will never last, and one day
black and white will make way for all the colors of the rainbow.
It might restore some of your faith in me to know that, while I was writing my letter to
the reader, I was already aware of the error of my ways. I fact, it was exactly this dialectic
contradiction described above, that I was trying to portray (and I believe the attempt to be
quite succesful, for a first try). Please, do not hold this for an excuse for my scornful sneerings.
At the time I was writing my letter I was in a particularly pessimistic mood. Recent events,
your letter among them, have reminded me of the concept of Aufhebung; that although
resolutions of contradictions inevitably lead to more contradictions, that doesn’t mean that
things never go anywhere. Moreover, through the the synthesizing of two seemingly opposite
forces, true personal (and societal) growth can be attained.
I believe I owe Freddy Nietzsche some kudos (and you, dear Reader, for bringing these specific
chapters of his writings to my attention). For if my previous letter was a song of lamentation,
this song has now ceased to be sung (although not entirely on its own accord), and the genius
of meditation has found its way back to me, the writer, the singer. I cannot promise you I am
done singing my capricious, pandemoniac, and solipsistic ravings – they are the symptoms of
a phase I must go through before reaching true enlightenment – but I will promise you, I will
not stop writing. Not when my ink-ribbon dries up. Not when the neighbors complain of the
constamt ticking of my typewriter. Not even if Cratylus would put his famous finger to his lips
to gesture me to be silent.
April 2015 - page 15
April 2015 - pagina 16
For even though everything flows and words might have no true object; even
though we, in our efforts to attain eternal remembrance, forever sail against the equatorial
trade winds of time; even if, in our sincerest moments of clarity, we are subconsciously heading
towards the next contradiction to resolve; it cannot be denied, by me, nor any other man,
that if the simple act of scribbling down all the pretty words that I’ve read in books and
dictionairies makes me happy, and profoundly so, that it is this act I am entitled to pursue,
and it is this act that grants meaning to my tiny existence. If there is anything that would give
significance, it would be turning a neutral existence into a joyous one. To provide the empty
page with words that make the heart pound and the larynx sing, and to find a merry tune
coming from ones own vocal chords while doing so, must be like drinking from the fountain
of youth. I will seed the boggy sloughs with fields of dandelions, and propel the song of hope
into the future. And I will sing this song until my voice crackles, and then I will croak it like a
bullfrog croaks its mating call with a swollen belly, until my vocal chords snap, and then I will
whisper it like a ghost. O, Reader, how I will take so much pleasure in fulfilling my promise to
you. If they wouldn’t put you on hold for as long as they do, I would call the tax-hotline and
squawk a verse or two at the poor bugger on the other end of the line.
And, after reinventing myself as a man dedicated to spreading joy and hope, I have no more
need for anonymity.
Sincerely yours,
The writer,
Alexander Alain Meijer
P.S: Yes. There is no story without an epilogue. I would give a last remark on the topic of
publishers, fame and fortune. I will quote to you from a book, like you quoted from a book
to me. It is not from what you’d refer to as a philosophical work, yet philosophical it most
certainly is. It comes from Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller.
I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive.
page 16 - April 2015
pagina 17 - April 2015
HE
SHE
GOT ASPERGER
Isabelle de Harder
Can you help me? Yes you, and please don’t stop reading. It
won’t be hard, I promise! Just fill in the boxes you first associate
the word with:
Nail polish: he she
Beer: he she
Wine: he she
Asperger: he she
So what did you fill in? ‘She’ for nail polish? Quite obvious
Both studies found that there were four times as many
isn’t it, even though we both know some men will wear
boys as girls with Asperger’s syndrome. But is this number
nail polish, think of Prince or the Dutch rising star Jett
correct or are the girls simply flying under the radar?
Rebel. However, these guys are the exception to the rule.
This is something that Tania Marshall, psychologist
And when it comes to beer, you must certainly in the
specialised in Autism studies, asks herself in her book ‘I am
Netherlands know that a lot of girls drink beer as well and
Aspien girl’. According to her it could be possible that a
if you connected wine to ‘she’ you still can think of your
lot of girls and women with Asperger are less likely to be
friend’s sophisticated dad that has his own wine cellar. But
identified or misdiagnosed because the diagnostic criteria
when it comes to Asperger, it’s a different story. I think most
are based on the characteristics of boys and men. So what
of you would connect it to ‘he’ not really knowing there
goes wrong? But first in short, what is Asperger’s syndrome?
could be a ‘she’ connected to it as well. And this comes
with a reason.
‘Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
considered to be on the “high functioning” end of the
At first, when hearing this edition’s theme, Asperger’s
spectrum. Affected children and adults have difficulty with
Syndrome did not cross my mind at all1. However, as it turns
social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests
out, ‘keeping up appearances’ can be a daily routine for
and/or repetitive behaviors. Motor development may be
many affected by this form of autism. Most of them being
delayed, leading to clumsiness or uncoordinated motor
women. In fact, they fulfil this routine so well, that initially
movements. Compared with those affected by other forms of
Hans Asperger himself even thought women were not
ASD, those with Asperger syndrome do not have significant
affected by the syndrome at all. However, further research
delays or difficulties in language or cognitive development.
made him revise this: girls do have Asperger but it seemed
Some even demonstrate precocious vocabulary – often in a
more common among boys than girls as research from
highly specialized field of interest.’4
Kanner (1943) and Ehlers and Gillburg (1993) showed.
2
3
April 2015 - page 17
April 2015 - pagina 18
This brings us back to what goes wrong. Apparently it’s
the social interaction were the girls distinguish themselves
from the boys. In an online article Tania Marshall briefly
focuses on the main causes of misdiagnosis:
1 They develop the ability to ‘disappear’ in a
large group, often being on the perimeter/periphery or
the ‘outer; of the group or of the social interaction of the
group, the ‘quiet’ one.
2 They tend to use coping and camouflaging
mechanisms, which include imitating, social echolalia and
acting to conceal their confusion when playing with others.
3 They use the strategy of waiting, watching,
observing carefully and then participating when they are
sure of what to do, by imitating other people and/or what
they have done previously. What they have done previously
may be inappropriate to the current situation.
4 They are usually quiet, are often well behaved
and polite and thus left alone by teachers, peers or other
support staff.
5 The presenting issue (for example, depression
or anxiety or an eating disorder) becomes the focus of the
assessment, diagnosis or treatment, and the overall most
fitting term (Asperger Syndrome) is missed. Sensory, coordination and/or communication difficulties have been
ignored.5
As it seems girls are better in faking social behavior and
according to professor Anthony Attwood (2007), clinical
psychologist, this “use of social imitation and mimicking
by observing other children and copying them, leading to
masking the symptoms of Asperger syndrome is making the
girls learn to be actresses in social situations and this kind
of camouflaging can delay a diagnosis for up to 30 years.”6
But why is this bad? Being able to stay off the radar doesn’t
seem so bad in this case. Girls with Asperger’s syndrome
might not be the most popular kids in school but at least
being known as the quiet one might be better than being
for example the ‘weird’ kid, not saying this will always be
the case. So is a diagnosis better for you? According to
Attwood and Marshall it is, as you can read in point 5,
their adjustment strategies and ‘keeping up appearances’
cost so much energy and effort that this type of ‘social
exhaustion’ makes them very vulnerable for depression,
anxiety-related disorders and/or eating disorders. Plus the
social exhaustion makes it hard for family and friends as
well. The stress and tiredness often result in melting down,
upon returning home from school leaving the family at
its wits end. Having a diagnosis can help the family to
page 18 - April 2015
better understand what is going on and even give them
the possibility to be educated in how to handle in different
situations. And this is why it is very important to spread
awareness. According to Marshall it is already helping since
there has been a rapid increase of females with Asperger
diagnosis in several countries.
​ consensus about the ratio of males to females diagnosed
A
with Asperger hasn’t reached yet. Several studies show
there is a range from 2:1 till 16:1 for men. So there might
not be a very clear answer to whether girls with Asperger
are flying under the radar, although it seems so. At least
there is another lesson to learn: Never take a fact for a fact
without conducting some research yourself. And let this be
exactly what we are being taught here at Rijksuniversiteit
Groningen.
References:
1
Marshall, T. (2013, march 27). Flying under the radar.
Retrieved
from
https://tantiaanmarshall.wordpress.
com/2013/03/27/flying-under-the-radar-girls-andwomen-with-aspergers-syndrom-2/
Kanner, L. (1943). Autistic Disturbances of Affective
Contact. Pathology, 24-250. Retrieved from http://
neurodiversity.com/library_kanner_1943.pdf
2
Ehlers, S. & Gillburg, C. (1993). The epidemiology of
asperger syndrom: A total population study. J. Child Pychol
Psychiatry, 34(8): 1327-50
3
Autism Speaks. Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved from
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/aspergersyndrome
4
Marshall, T. (2013, march 15). Asperger syndrome in
girls and women: Keeping up appearances and missed
diagnosis. Retrieved from https://tantiaanmarshall.
wordpress.com/2013/03/15/asperger-syndrome-ingirls-and-women-keeping-up-appearances-and-misseddiagnosis/
5
Attwood, T. (2007). The complete guide to Asperger’s
Syndrome. Retrieved from https://books.google.nl/books?
hl=nl&lr=&id=qJZmsp3ZVG8C&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=att
wood+2007+asperger+syndrome&ots=lFoupKpDtv&sig=
3UDNegLqlZtyxZNRo-qEkrzuhco#v=onepage&q=attwood%25202007%2520asperger%2520syndrome&f=false
6
pagina 19 - April 2015
Ziekenhuisbed
Liggend tussen machines
of mensen, de vage grens
waar schimmen ophouden
en dingen beginnen
Ze dacht: ik start opnieuw
wis alles uit
zelfs het onuitwisbare
van blauw naar zwart naar rood
naar wit.
Als alles weg is, blijft over: een
verhaal
of een gedicht
en woorden die nooit zeiden
wat ze moesten zeggen
maar dat was oké want
wat moet je verwachten in
een wereld waarin
niemand ooit
de waarheid
waagt.
L.M.
April 2015 - page 19
humanitas
page 20 - April 2015
April 2015 - pagina 20
April 2015 - page 21
eerwraak volgt. Gewoonterechtelijke eisen worden door
aanzien op te baseren.
geraakt in de gemeenschap, eist de samenleving dat er
want daar hebben ze nu eenmaal niet veel anders om hun
bijvoorbeeld) meer mogelijk is en het voorval bekend is
Eerbare meisjes zijn vooral voor arme gezinnen belangrijk,
geen andere, meer vreedzame, oplossing (uithuwelijking
namelijk anders dan şeref, je hebt het of je hebt het niet.
zondaar een ‘gewoonterechtelijke eis’ is. Wanneer er
dat al genoeg om haar aanzien te verwoesten. Namus is
een middel is om zijn aanzien te vergroten. Gelukkig maar.
de familie, en het zijn dan ook de vaders, ooms en broers
een vrouw zo ondergeschikt is aan de man dat ze slechts
mannen zijn uiteindelijk verantwoordelijk voor de eer van
snappen om te beginnen het hele systeem al niet waarin
blijven mannen het aanspreekpunt van de familie. De
Écht begrijpen kunnen we het echter niet, want we
mobiel zijn en van familie verhuizen wanneer ze trouwen,
hiërarchie en samenhang te stichten in een samenleving.
echter de eindverantwoordelijken. Waar vrouwen relatief
dan het onze, maar dat simpelweg ook een manier is om
In culturen waarin eerwraak voorkomt, zijn de mannen
systeem van waarden en gedragsregels dat anders is
dan ook onderling als hun zedelijkheid gevaar loopt.
beschouwen als iets dat voortvloeit uit een compleet
echtgenotes en nichtjes. Vrouwen waarschuwen elkaar
Eerwraak kunnen we dus beter plaatsen wanneer we het
heeft bij het voorkomen van misstappen van haar dochters,
de hele samenleving aanvaard, en ervaren als bindend.
Zo kan het dus zijn dat een hele familie belang
die de eer behoren te verdedigen als er iets fout gaat. Zo
was het Saba’s vader die haar terug smokkelde naar hun
Reageren? Mail naar [email protected].
thuisland, en bepaalde de vader van Nadia hoe snel en
met wie ze moest trouwen. Op dezelfde manier handelen
de vaders, ooms en broers eigenlijk in het belang van de
hele familie wanneer ze hun eer wreken.
Referenties:
Bakker, H. (augustus 2011). Factsheet eergerelateerd geweld.
nl/doc/feiten/factsheet_EG_20p_aug%202011.pdf
Zo kunnen we de voorvallen van eerwraak en de verhalen
Geraadpleegd op 2 maart, 2015, van http://www.huiselijkgeweld.
Een gewoonterechtelijke eis
van de meisjes al iets beter plaatsen. Het past aardig in
ermers/MOPerspectief/recensie2.html
eer (en daarmee de zedelijkheid) van de rest. Wat voor
Geraadpleegd op 2 maart, 2015, van http://home.hccnet.nl/r.
de mannen van de familie de leiding dragen over de
Driesen, L. (z.d.). Voor de eer van de familie en het individu.
het plaatje van een patriarchale samenleving waarin
mij echter nog zo vreemd blijft, is het idee dat die eer
van http://www.turkije-instituut.nl/page/eerwraak
of zelfs moord. Ermers licht toe dat de dood van de
Turkije Instituut. (z.d.). Eerwraak. Geraadpleegd op 2 maart, 2015,
enkel hersteld kan worden door middel van geweld,
pagina 21 - April 2015
page 22 - April 2015
maakt, bepaalt voor een groot deel het aanzien van je
familie zit.
van je omgeving. Want de indruk die je op de gemeenschap
Nederland, waar ze zich thuis voelt, maar wél zonder haar
je zoveel mogelijk te gedragen naar de normen en waarden
naar een Nederlandse ambassade vluchtte. Nu is Saba in
soort ‘ons-kent-ons’ dus, waarin het van groot belang is om
elf maanden opgesloten, totdat ze op haar achttiende
iedereen elkaar kent en goed in de gaten kan houden. Een
naar een huis in het thuisland van de familie en werd daar
Meisjes hebben namelijk een goede reputatie en geven
eergerelateerd geweld voor kunnen komen?
maar ook van de reputatie van de vrouwen in zijn familie.
zijn de culturele ingrediënten die maken dat eerwraak en
zijn prestige. Dat hangt af van zijn eigen afkomst en rijkdom,
zoiets dan wél bestaan, zelfs vanzelfsprekend zijn? Wat
toegeschreven aan de man en is zo’n beetje het totaal van
maar in welke mix van normen, waarden en ideeën kan
şeref, waarmee je dit goed kan schetsen. Şeref wordt
dochters zouden willen doden om een verkeerd vriendje,
kent men bijvoorbeeld twee begrippen van eer, namus
het ons als westerlingen niet voorstellen dat we onze
en vrouwen. In traditionele gemeenschappen in Turkije
het op sommige plekken een lokale traditie. Wij kunnen
zijn. Dat kan overigens behoorlijk verschillen voor mannen
dat het het geloof is dat aanspoort tot geweld. Eerder is
wat het in een samenleving precies betekent om ‘eervol’ te
Villerius, en de experts die ze spreekt is het een misvatting
normen en waarden dan ook een mooi inkijkje geven in
in Turkije en Marokko. Islamitische landen, maar volgens
zijn boek ‘Eer en Eerwraak. Definitie en analyse’ uit dat
landen als Afghanistan, Irak en India, maar ook dichterbij
hele familie. Dr. Rob Ermers, arabist en turkoloog legt in
Dit soort eergerelateerd geweld komt veel voor in
şeref mee aan een man, als ze zelf namus bezitten. Of ze
roddels over dit soort gedrag van een meisje rondgaan, is
het Oosten: in arme plattelandsgemeenschappen waarin
met onbekende mannen. Als er binnen een gemeenschap
voorwaarden. Zo komt het Turkije vooral nog voor in
kleden zich kuis en gaan niet al te veel uit, helemaal niet
verschijnsel, dat alleen kan bestaan onder bepaalde
vrouwen met namus blijven maagd tot aan hun huwelijk,
Het instituut benadert eerwraak als een sociaal-cultureel
de zedelijkheid of kuisheid van de vrouw. Simpel gezegd:
Op de site van het Turkije Instituut vind ik een goede uitleg.
dat doen, hangt af van hun gedrag, want namus is namelijk
Namus en Şeref
April 2015 - pagina 22
April 2015 - page 23
VERLOREN EER KEERT
MOEILIJK WEER
Yfke van der Ploeg
Vanachter mijn laptop gruwel ik bij het journaal. Uit nieuwe cijfers
blijkt dat er in ons kikkerlandje gemiddeld 14 meisjes per jaar
om het leven komen door eerwraak. Gevallen van eerwraak en
eergerelateerd geweld roepen bij westerlingen vaak bijzonder
veel afkeer en onbegrip op: hoe kan het toch dat dochters, zusjes
en echtgenotes vermoord moeten worden voor de ‘familie-eer’?
Prijswinnende documentaire- en programmamaakster Jessica
Villerius maakte er naar aanleiding van deze nieuwe cijfers twee
documentaires over. Daarin gaat ze op zoek naar de waarheid
achter de gruweldaden: welke schijn proberen de families van de
meisjes koste wat kost hoog te houden? En waarom?
Saba, Dunya, Zara en Nadia
schuilnamen vertellen sommige van dit soort meisjes nu
Dat meisje, Saba, werd in de zomervakantie meegenomen
uit angst voor het schenden van de familie-eer. Onder
erachter dat ze een vriendje had dat hij sterk afkeurde.
gebeurd mogen ze ook nog eens aan niemand vertellen,
meisjes dus toch de bom. Bij één van hen kwam haar vader
familielid. Zij zitten in een lastig parket, want wat is er
op deze manier klein te zijn gehouden, barstte bij deze
eergerelateerd geweld zijn weleens misbruikt door een
als ze niet als maagd het huwelijk in zou gaan. Na jarenlang
uitzondering. Ongeveer de helft van de slachtoffers van
Nadia’s vader beloofde haar bijvoorbeeld te vermoorden
werd door iemand uit de eigen familie. Dit is helaas geen
vader, tante of broer met fysieke en/of verbale agressie.
verloor die maagdelijkheid echter omdat ze misbruikt
up dragen. Als dat tóch gebeurde, reageerden moeder,
ogen van hun ouders. Een van de geïnterviewde meisjes
niet naar school, met leeftijdsgenootjes omgaan of make-
Facebook, of verloren hun maagdelijkheid te vroeg in de
extreem beperkt in hun vrijheid - mochten bijvoorbeeld
gehad met onbekende (of afgekeurde) jongens via MSN of
escaleerde, hadden ze het daar al zwaar. Ze werden vaak
voorgestelde huwelijkskandidaat afgewezen, te veel contact
niet meer veilig naar huis kunnen. Ook voor de situatie zo
variëren rond dezelfde thematiek. De meisjes hebben een
geven en zelfs nog gek op hen zijn, maar toch zouden ze
eigen vaders en moeders. Hun verhalen lopen uiteen, maar
ze voert, zie je dat de meisjes nog veel om hun ouders
buurman of foute zwemcoach achter zich aan, maar hun
niet weten waar ze zijn. In de gesprekken die Villerius met
doodsbedreigingen. De meisjes hebben echter geen enge
huizen en zijn alleen, want juist hun familie mag natuurlijk
Nederlandse meisjes die ontsnapt zijn aan serieuze
hun verhaal. Ze zitten opgevangen in zwaar beveiligde
Villerius spreekt in haar documentaire met zeven jonge,
pagina 23 - April 2015
page 24 - April 2015
OPINIEMENSIES
Ruben Groen en Laura Meijer
Na een variabel aantal jaar studeren (vier op zijn gunstigst, maar
vaak een aantal jaartjes meer) is het zo ver: met je masterdiploma
op zak stap je het gebouw van je toekomstige werkgever binnen.
Althans dat hoop je. Voordat het zover is, moet je namelijk eerst nog
een selectieprocedure doorstaan, inclusief sollicitatiegesprek. Omdat
het thema van deze editie ‘schone schijn’ is, vroegen wij een aantal
mensen in de kantine van het Heymansgebouw naar hun antwoord
op de volgende vraag: mag je bluffen tijdens een sollicitatiegesprek?
ervaring heb, maar wel erg snel leer!
Did you ever do it yourself?
solliciteerde voor positie als kok gezegd dat ik niet zoveel
Sadly, yes.
et cetera. Dus het was niet echt nodig, wel heb ik toen ik
So you’re kind of forced to do it?
we bij een kopje koffie gingen praten over het type bedrijf
I wouldn’t do it anymore.
L: Ik heb alleen maar gezellige gesprekken gehad, waarbij
I think so, most people do it. If everyone stopped doing it,
A: Nee, maar ik zou het wel overwegen in de toekomst.
Bluffing at a job interview, is that okay?
Heb je het zelf ooit gedaan?
Niclas, 22 jaar
A: Dat vind ik ook
(zoals verwacht) nee
L: Overdrijven mag wel, vind ik, maar liegen niet.
Zelf ooit gedaan?
A: Ja oké, het ligt er wel aan waarover je liegt.
worden aangenomen, passen zij beter bij het bedrijf.
een beeld over jou als ze er dan inderdaad achter komen.
Dan vind ik alsnog niet dat jij het mag doen. Als zij dan
L: Ik vind van niet, ze komen er toch wel achter en het schept
Stel anderen doen het wel?
vinden. Het moet wel in die paar minuten.
gesprek houden.
wel en daarnaast heb je maar een kort gesprek om het uit te
dan dat je in het echt bent. Dan kan je ook geen goed
A: Ja, je moet je beste kant laten zien. De meesten doen het
Nee, je moet eerlijk zijn. Je moet jezelf niet beter voor doen
Bluffen op sollicitatiegesprek, mag dat?
Bluffen op sollicitatiegesprek, mag dat?
Linda (23) en Anoniem (22 jaar)
Anoniem – 23 jaar
I just had one job. It was a promotion job so I had to present
the object and not really myself, so there was no need to do it.
April 2015 - pagina 24
April 2015 - page 25
Studievereniging
Psychologie
Groningen
Horst, psycholoog bij Lentis in de Ambulante Forensische
future lectures as well!
praktijk en werken zonder BIG-registratie. Hester ter
both of our lectures. We look forward to seeing you at our
van der Wijk vertelde over het werken in een zelfstandige
opportunity to thank everyone who has attended one or
snijvlak tussen de geneeskunde en psychologie. Angeniet
more than 200 people showing up, and we want to take this
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen opgezet en bevindt zich op het
discussed. We had a very large turnout for this lecture, with
Deze master heeft het UMCG in samenwerking met de
as well as the potential benefits of lucid dreaming were
research master ‘Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology’. company logo. How one begins training for lucid dreaming
over. Hij is hoogleraar in de psychiatrie en vertelde over de
personal lucid dreams, like the one in which he created his
Psychologie. Vervolgens nam Peter de Jonge het woord
very light-hearted and interesting, as he shared some of his
bij het Martini Ziekenhuis op de afdeling Medische
gaining awareness while one is asleep. Mr. Post ‘s lecture was
Zij is GZ-psycholoog in opleiding tot Klinisch Psycholoog
dreaming, for those who do not know, can be described as
loopbaan. De eerste spreker van de avond was Inge König.
director of Snoozon, who talked about lucid dreaming. Lucid
enthousiaste sprekers vertelden over hun carrière en
by Tim Post, from the University of Twente and the founding
carrièreavond van het collegejaar georganiseerd. Vier
had our second lecture of this year. The lecture was hosted
Donderdagavond 12 februari werd alweer de derde
On January the 15th we, the English Lecture Committee,
De Carrièrecommissie
The English Lecture Committee
Psychiatrie, sloot de avond af. Het was een interessante
avond met een grote opkomst. Op 21 april is alweer de
Best, English Lecture Committee
laatste carrièreavond van dit jaar, met als onderwerp
Arbeids- en Organisatiepsychologie/Sociale Psychologie.
Liefs, CaraV
practiced behavioral cognitional approaches to see ourselves
van deze activiteit, het was zeer geslaagd... Wordt vervolgd :) situations and looked at our coping strategies. Also, we
was een succes! Wij zijn erg tevreden over het organiseren
as in in smaller groups. For instance, we imagined different
ons gebakken exclusieve tosti’s. Ook de warme chocomelk
exercises, which were practiced with the whole group, as well
gezellige locatie, en iedereen heeft genoten van de door
wintertosti-indoorpicnick. De USVA was een hele mooie en
laughter took place. laatste tentamen hadden, vandaar de naam aftertentamen-
the fellow students were great! A lot of discussions and
datum gekozen omdat alle eerstejaars die ochtend hun
success. The atmosphere, exercises and interaction between
lunch georganiseerd in de USVA. We hadden voor deze
Our first workshop of the year “Positive Bodies” was a great
Op 23 januari hebben wij als eerstejaarscommissie een
The English Activity Committee
De Eerstejaarscommissie
Dr. S. Dalley gave short lectures in between the
in a better light. Liefs van de EJC
Our evaluation has shown that many participants
left the workshop with a positive feeling. We appreciate the
cooperation with Dr. Dalley, who made this possible, and all
our participants too.
See you at the next workshop!
Yours, English Activity Committee
pagina 25 - April 2015
page 26 - April 2015
gezond?
moeilijkheden om in slaap te komen en slaapstoornissen
slapen? En als we dan minder slapen, is dat dan wel zo
waarbij na enige tijd verschuivingen kunnen ontstaan. Bij
onze klok weer even te resetten? Gaan we dan nog wel
dere de lichtintensiteit. Ons ritme is dus redelijk flexibel
worden vaak melatonine-pillen voorgeschreven die als
of als in de film ‘Her’ (2013), waarin de hoofdpersoon
hart- en vaatziekten en kanker.
dat we taferelen krijgen zoals in de genoemde roman
kan ook problemen met zich meebrengen zoals stress,
robots. Belangrijke punten om over na te denken voor-
ritme. Het te vaak verstoren van het circadiaans ritme
mensen gaan lijken, maar mensen ook steeds meer op
die vaak vliegen moeite houden met het verdraaide
genoemde sciencefictionroman robots steeds meer op
liteit een maximum en blijven nachtwerkers en mensen
heersen en veranderen. Niet alleen zullen volgens de
dat zorgt dat we moe worden. Toch bereikt die flexibi-
en biologische eigenschappen steeds meer kunnen be-
houden. Melatonine is namelijk het stofje in de hersenen
Met onze strijd tegen de natuur zullen we menselijke
het ware de biologische klok in de hersenen voor de gek
‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ de mensen en de
getest worden wil men ze op de markt kunnen brengen.
het complete plaatje te bekijken voordat we net als in
getest op 16 gezonde vrijwilligers. Er moet nog meer
sen in de praktijk is het misschien verstandiger om eerst
met behulp van geïnjecteerde virussen, zijn met succes
ontwikkelingen, maar voordat we het werkelijk toepas-
stellingen van de bloedcellen effectief kunnen resetten
We mogen trots zijn op dit soort wetenschappelijke
het ’s nachts dag is en andersom. De pillen, die de in-
misschien grenzen die we niet meteen kunnen overzien.
lichaam te synchroniseren zodat het lichaam denkt dat
heid? Hersenen zijn flexibel maar deze flexibiliteit kent
Health University maken het mogelijk bloedcellen in het
dit voor een effect op de hersenen en op je gesteld-
De Canadese McGill University en de Douglas Mental
hele ritme weer terug moet worden gedraaid. Wat heeft
poging gedaan pillen te ontwikkelen tegen jet lags.
ritme, maar wat als je dan stopt met nachtwerken en het
te laten beginnen of te laten eindigen. Hieruit is al een
een perfecte oplossing, het compleet verdraaien van het
circadiaanse ritme te resetten en als het ware opnieuw
moe zijn en wanneer niet. Voor nachtwerkers lijkt het
zetten is nog geen sprake, maar het is al mogelijk om het
stellen dat het goed is als we zelf beslissen wanneer we
is al gelukt. Van de klok een paar uur terug of vooruit
gezondheidsrisico’s. Ik kan me persoonlijk niet voor-
is gevonden en ook het veranderen daarvan bij mensen
de gevolgen van deze eventuele ‘oplossing’ en andere
randering in kunnen komen. De interne biologische klok
slaap- en waakritme niet enorm, maar daar zou nu ve-
verliefd wordt op een computer.
Tot nu toe waren onze eigen invloeden op het
Hoe fijn zou dat zijn op een dag als vandaag. Daar
Er is nog niet genoeg onderzoek gedaan naar
robots niet meer uit elkaar kunnen houden.
zit je weer in de collegebanken, werkgroepen of achter
de computer aan je bureautje te knikkebollen en te gapen. Voor de zoveelste keer hondsmoe omdat je de nacht
States, US: Doubleday.
De avond voor je nieuwe werkdag alvast je ritme instel-
Dick, P.K. (1969). Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? United
een prettig idee om je hersenen even te kunnen resetten.
Referenties
ervoor het licht weer eens te laat hebt uitgedaan. Wat
len op 9 uur ’s ochtends, zodat je de volgende dag met
ence. (4th ed). Canada: Norton & Company, Inc.
bedje in kan duiken.
Gazzaniga, M., Heatherton, T., & Halper, D. Psychological Sci-
volle concentratie kan beginnen en weer lekker laat je
Maar wat zijn de werkelijke gevolgen van het
10.1038/nn.3937
concentratieloze dag een pilletje zullen innemen om
cadian rhythms and behavior. Nature Neuroscience, 2015; DOI:
ons ritme start? Zou dit betekenen dat we bij iedere
lating circadian clock neuron firing rate resets molecular cir-
er als we in de toekomst zelf kunnen bepalen wanneer
Jones, J.R., Tackenberg, M.C., & McMahon, D.G. (2015). Manipu-
op de markt brengen van dit soort pillen? Wat gebeurt
April 2015 - pagina 26
April 2015 - page 27
RESET DE KLOK
Anne Varvik
In de sciencefictionroman ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep?’ van de Amerikaanse auteur Philip K. Dick (1969), gaat
de wereld gebukt onder radioactief stof als gevolg van de laatste wereldoorlog. Mensen vluchten naar andere planeten met
hun robots als hulpjes, genaamd androïden. De ontwikkeling
van de androïden vordert zo snel dat ze bijna niet meer van
mensen te onderscheiden zijn. Zelfs emoties kunnen worden
opgewekt met apparatuur. Uiteindelijk is de huidige technologie zo ver ontwikkeld dat de robots een eigen wil krijgen en
zich niet meer houden aan de ‘mensen-regels’. Een grote opstand is het gevolg, waarbij de mensheid niet opgewassen is
tegen het stalen uiterlijk van de androïden.
ingestelde ritme in wanneer we bijvoorbeeld ’s nachts
pijn en nu ook slaap.
angrijke rol. Vaak gaat het gedrag van mensen tegen dit
menselijke eigenschappen sturen: stemming, gevoelens,
ern, 2011). Licht en temperatuur spelen hierbij een bel-
ende drugs (doping) en klonen. We kunnen steeds meer
moeten eten en slapen (Gazzaniga, Heatherton, & Halp-
pillen tegen ADHD en depressie, performance-verbeter-
cyclus van rust en activiteit die aangeeft wanneer we
natuur in gaan’. Neem de google bril, embryo-selectie,
deel van de hypothalamus en onderhoudt een 24-uurs
zorgen voor verbeteringen van de mens die ‘tegen de
de orde. Ontwikkelingen door de laatste jaren heen
de omgeving te beïnvloeden.
cente ontwikkelingen is ook vaak het omgekeerde aan
wakker waren of sliepen veranderd, zonder het licht in
in met films als ‘I, robot’ (2004) en ‘Her’ (2013). Met re-
muizen werd uitgevoerd, werd de tijd waarop de muizen
overnemen, bestaat en de media speelt op dit thema
stmatige manier te stimuleren. Bij het experiment dat op
menselijker worden en uiteindelijk het menselijk bestaan
hebben het voor elkaar gekregen deze plek op een kun-
De angst dat robots en andere computers steeds
De biologische klok bevindt zich in een klein
werken, naar de andere kant van de wereld vliegen of tot
wordt het nieuwe ritme afgedwongen door onder an-
die verantwoordelijk is voor onze biologische klok en
wij zelf al onze biologische klok. Bij jet lags bijvoorbeeld
hebben nu de precieze plek in de hersenen gevonden
in de vroege uurtjes door feesten. Gedeeltelijk verzetten
De onderzoekers Jones, Tackenberg en McMahon (2015)
pagina 27 - April 2015
page 28 - April 2015
Diemensies
Vakgroepsblad psychologie Groningen
Schone schijn
April 2015 - pagina 28