The Self And The Home Structures Of Self podcast

1:25:27

In this episode I talk about a research article called "The Mental Health Industrial Complex: A Study in Three Cases" by Dr. Eric M. Greene from 2019 in The Journal of Humanistic Psychology. Dr. Greene explains through three case studies how the biomedical model of diagnosing creates individualized health conditions while ignoring environmental and social factors, medicalizes natural human behavior that is a response to unhealthy environments, and by pathologizing behavior it can make mental illness symptoms worse. It is worth noting that in the first section of the episode, first 26 minutes, I talk about my personal struggles with mental illness when I was younger. If you would rather skip this part you can hop to the 27th minute to focus on the research of Dr. Greene. BUT discussing my experiences puts into context why I am so interested in this research, and on the intersection of environment and health in general. In addition to the article I also reference The Happiness Industry by William Davies. Great book, highly recommend. I use this book as a reference point for my episode on Happiness from awhile back (Happiness Part 2 specifically) So check that out if you want deeper context and analysis of The Happiness Industry, which delves into the history of the American mental health industry. As always I would love any feedback. Please like, subscribe and leave a review as it helps so much for us podcasters! Share with a friend if you're feeling particularly giving. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to reach out to me via instagram, twitter, tiktok, all @aubtron. Or you can email me at structuresofself@gmail.com. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Boys' Friendships, Masculinity and Human Connection 53:13

4 years тому53:13

53:13

This episode focuses on the research of Niobe Way from their book: Deep Secrets: Boys' Friendships and the Crisis of Connection. The book unpacks how our concepts of American masculinity do not always reflect the lived experiences of boys and gender expression. And that the development of masculinity in boys is reflective of how are are all "in the culture" and play a role, and that it speaks to larger systems of culture that influence everyone in the United States. Books I mention in this episode: Deep Secrets by Niobe Way Together by Vivek Murthy Loneliness by John T. Cacioppo Social by Matthew Lieberman If you have any comments, questions or topic suggestions I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message on instagram @aubtron or email meat aubreystarkmiller@gmail.com. I'm also on Clubhouse at @aubtron or just search for my name, Aubrey Stark-Miller. I'd love to open some discussions on topics of social science. Also open to doing collaborations! Wanna co-host a virtual workshop or connect and discuss ideas? Drop me a line! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Welcome Back: Hiatus Update & Future Direction 34:39

4 years тому34:39

34:39

Hello Everyone! I took an extended break but I am back and excited to be recording more regularly again. This episode talks about a few things I've been doing and lists some other ways you can get involved in Structures of Self. On instagram I am doing IG Lives every Friday at 4pm PST, and I'm doing a zoom discussion group monthly. Possibly twice monthly as well! If you want to get in the discussion group, have any suggestions on topics, or any feedback, please shoot me a message on twitter or instagram, @aubtron or feel free to email me, aubreystarkmiller.com I'm also on Clubhouse and would love to start discussions on various topics! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Social Environment: Isolation Part I 49:47

5 years тому49:47

49:47

This episode will begin to get into social isolation, with structural and psychological origins, and the effects on the body and mind. This will be a multi-part series since there's just too much loneliness to fit into one episode and because Aubrey likes to go off on tangents. In this first part a couple questions are asked, so that we may begin to think about how loneliness or less social contact could, potentially, influence our health and our social structures due to covid-19. This first segment looks at some of the previously existing health effects of loneliness (pre-covid) and the theories as to why loneliness is tied to health. Resources: Can Design Help Overcome Loneliness Loneliness May Warp Our Genes, And Our Immune Systems by Angus Che The risks of social isolation by Amy Novotney Links: Facebook Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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The Self and The Home 55:57

5 years тому55:57

55:57

This episode asks many questions, among them: What is our relationship to the space around us? Do we see ourselves as separate from our homes or connected? What changes may arise in that relationship as a result of COVID-19? There are a couple historical and anthropological throwbacks to put in context how we, as humans, generally have viewed the home. The main objective is to better understand the relationship, allow ourselves to ask some questions and develop awareness of the connections between living spaces and ourselves. A little philosophical, a little real world application, a lot of questions. Here's to opening our minds, increasing awareness and staying curious. Resources used and/or mentioned in the episode: At Home: An Anthropology of Domestic Space edited by Irene Cieraad The Psychology of Home: Why Where You Live Means So Much by Julie Beck Life After Covid-19: How the Pandemic make reshape the world as we know it by Juan Sebastian Pinto A Critical History of Domestic Architecture You can find our blog and more info at structuresofself.com and find us on facebook and instagram at @structuresofself --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Developing Your Home Environment 50:42

5 years тому50:42

50:42

In this episode, Aubrey talks about how she has felt over the past month of shelter in place in Austin, Texas. She offers insight into how the home environment can influence stress levels, and offers five different simple ways to make home environment adjustments in order to increase well-being and productivity. At the end she mentions a few books to check out, the titles are included here: The Nature Fix by Florence Williams Color Problems: A Practical Manual for the Lay Student by Emily Noyes Vanderpoel Noise and Its Effects by Linda M. Luxon and Deepak Prasher Unf*ck Your Habitat by Rachel Hoffman Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Covid-19 and Changing Environments 37:19

5 years тому37:19

37:19

Structures of Self is doing a temporary pivot. A shift from previous content, this episode opens a dialogue on changes in our environment as a result of Covid-19, the novel coronavirus, and it's impacts on the structures of our society. Over the next several weeks there will be several episodes dedicated to understanding how reduced social contact, a change in our working and home environments, and extended time indoors could have affects on our health. This episode delves more into the host, Aubrey's, personal reflections on her experiences thus far, and future episodes will incorporate more of this personal vantage as we all experience a new world in cover-19 and after. Materials referenced: Connected by Nicholas Cristakis The Happiness Industry by William Davies https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks Bowling Alone by Robert M. Putman The Nature Fix by Florence Williams Lost Connections by Johann Hari Find more content at structuresofself.com and on instagram @structuresofself and @aubreystarkmiller --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Light and its Effects on the Body 43:41

5 years тому43:41

43:41

In our modern era humans are spending less time outside, with the majority of our experiences being inside buildings or vehicles. This means less natural sunlight and more manufactured light such as incandescents, fluorescents and LEDs. What effect is that having on our bodies? This episode discusses the mental and physical consequences of spending so much time inside. If you like today's episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And if you have any suggestions on topics related to the environment and our health, I'd love to hear from you! I can be reached on instagram at @structuresofself or email at aubrey@structuresofself.com. For more content check out our instagram and our blog at structuresofself.com. I will also be releasing YouTube videos soon so keep an eye out for those as well! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Neuroplasticity and Enriched Environments 1:29:10

5 years тому1:29:10

1:29:10

Neuroplasticity is a buzz word you may have heard flying around but what does it mean? And how does it relate to our environments? In this episode, Aubrey discusses the importance of "enriched environments" and how it impacts creating new habits, your mindset, and more. For more information and blog, check out our website www.structuresofself.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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Happiness Part 2 1:08:55

5 years тому1:08:55

1:08:55

After doing the first episode on Happiness, we decided to expand on the concepts and the history. This episode looks into some of the history behind happiness, social constructs of the United States, their impact on our mental health and the field of psychology today. Episode Resources: Music selection is 'Would You Change The World' by Min-Y-Llan off of S27-X (II) courtesy of Free Music Archive (freemusicarchive.org) The Happiness Industry by William Davies The History of Happiness by Peter N. Stearns Happiness comes Naturally: Engagement with Nature as a Route to Positive Subjective Well-Being by Ethan A. McMahan The Built Environment and Mental Health by Gary W. Evans Ten questions concerning the built environment and mental health by Andrew J. Hoisington, et al. The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity by Michael Marmot Happiness, Geography and the Environment by Finbarr Brereton, J. Peter Clinch and Susana Ferreira --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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[5] Happiness in the United States (part 1) 1:20:32

5 years тому1:20:32

1:20:32

In today's episode, Courtney and Aubrey discuss the broad area of happiness, narrowed down specifically to concepts of happiness in the United States. Happiness is unpacked related to the country's history with "the pursuit of happiness", as well as how the word is related to our mental and physical health, economics, our comparison to other countries and a few personal anecdotal experiences. Please leave a review & subscribe! Contact us @structuresofself on IG :) Resources: Harvard Business Review Article:https://hbr.org/2012/01/the-history-of-happiness UN's Human Development Report:http://www.hdr.undp.org/ Human Happiness Report:https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/ Living Longer & Happier Through Kindness Podcast What Makes A Good Life TedTalk with Robert Waldinger:https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare The How Of Happiness by Sonya Lyubomirsky Yale's Online Course on Well-Being:https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being Elements of a Sociological Contribution to Happiness Studies by David Bartram https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/10/07/americans-obsessed-with-their-own-happiness-overlook-the-key-ingredient-to-a-good-life/ https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/heres-the-data-to-back-up-your-intuition-america-really-is-getting-less-happy.html https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/not-everyone-wants-to-be-happy/ https://fortune.com/2017/03/20/america-world-happiness-report/ Samuel, Lawrence R.. Happiness in America : A Cultural History, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central, Diener, Ed, and Robert Biswas-Diener. Happiness : Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2008. https://www.fastcompany.com/40544341/america-desperate-for-happiness-is-getting-less-and-less-happy The myths of Happiness: What should make you happy, but Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t make you happy, but Does by Sonja Lyubomirsky Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America by Barbara Ehrenreich https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/heres-the-data-to-back-up-your-intuition-america-really-is-getting-less-happy.html --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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[4] Social networks and the self: Exploring group identity and connection 2:08:23

6 years тому2:08:23

2:08:23

In this episode, Aubrey and Courtney talk about how human connection is an innate human need, why we feel the deep urge to connect with others, what happens when we are (or are not) connected to others, and how to make moves in your own community to find more connection. ** Corrected reference made to the ancient diving people from near the Philippines: The Bajau people live across the southern Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia (Wikipedia). Resources: Social inhibition, sense of belonging and vulnerability to internalizing problems by Elisabeth L.de Moor, JohanDenollet, Odilia M. Drunk Tank Pink by Adam Alter Tribe by Sebastian Junger How We Became so Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us by Will Storr Connected: The surprising power of our social networks and how they shape our lives Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler It’s all done with mirrors: Neurological and sociological integration in the case of limb transplants Alexandra Catherine Hayes Nowakowski Empathy, mirror neurons and SYNC by Ryszard Praszkier Purposely stoic, accidentally alone? Self-monitoring moderates the relationship between emotion suppression and loneliness By Veronica Smith, Elicia C. Lair, Sean M. O’Brien Effects of Social Exclusion on Cognitive Processes: Anticipated Aloneness Reduces Intelligent Thought By Baumeister, Roy F Social Exclusion Psychological Approaches to Understanding and Reducing Its Impact By Paolo Riva and Jennifer Eck Religious involvement and physical and emotional functioning among African Americans: The mediating role of religious support by Holt CL, Wang MQ, Clark EM, Williams BR, Schulz E. Groups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health by Haslam C, Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle G, Chang MX The Different Behavioral Intentions of Collectivists and Individualists in Response to Social Exclusion Social by Matthew Leiberman Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-are-wired-to-connect/ Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-chemistry/201712/the-neuroscience-loneliness ***** Connect with us in Instagram! @structuresofself Connect with Courtney @courtneypeacockcoach Connect with Aubrey @aubtron Email us with suggestions & questions at info@structuresofself.com If you liked what you heard, please rate & subscribe! Thank you for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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[3] Movement & Mental Health: Uncovering the connection between stress and physical activity 1:39:09

6 years тому1:39:09

1:39:09

In today's episode, Aubrey and Courtney discuss the impact that movement has on stress and the subfields of anxiety & depression. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at hello@structuresofself.com or on Instagram @structuresofself. We'd love to connect! If you like what you heard, please tell your friends, rate us and subscribe! Your glial cells will thank you. Resources: What are Glial cells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glia Neuroplasticity and Depression: The brain changes throughout adult life...a process of plasticity By David Hellerstein, Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/heal-your-brain/201107/neuroplasticity-and-depression Binge alcohol alters exercise-driven neuroplasticity lEmily A.BartonaYanbinLubMuradMegjhanibMark E.MaynardaPrathamesh M.KulkarnibBadrinathRoysambJ. LeighLeasureac Responses of glial cells to stress and glucocorticoids BY: F. Jauregui-Huerta,1 Y. Ruvalcaba-Delgadillo,2 R. Gonzalez-Castañeda,1 J. Garcia-Estrada,1,3O. Gonzalez-Perez,1 and S. Luquin1 Stress: the Silent Killer By Christian Amondson Stress: The Killer Disease: Stress and inflammation leave us vulnerable to depression. By Emily Deans (Psychology today) All About Catecholamines in the Stress Response Fight-or-Flight Chemical Messengers by Elizabeth Scott The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk How Your Mental Health Reaps the Benefits of Exercise by Sarah Gingell (Psychology Today) Analyzing the role of diet and exercise in myelin production, Mayo Clinic https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S2215036618302918 An examination of serotonin and psychological variables in the relationship between exercise and mental health Can You Be Blissfully Unaware of Your Own Stress? By Cari Romm https://jamesclear.com/exercise-and-depression https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061025085513.htm https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-works-and-why/201803/how-your-mental-health-reaps-the-benefits-exercise https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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[2] What is The Self? 1:12:09

6 years тому1:12:09

1:12:09

In today's episode, Aubrey and Courtney discuss what it means to have a sense of self, components that contribute to forming a deeper awareness, and tools anyone can use to strengthen a connection between mind and body. Questions or comments? We'd love to hear what you think! Contact us via Instagram @aubtron or @courtneypeacockcoaching Sources: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk The Sense of Self: Perspectives from Science and Zen Buddhism by Richard Sears Our Sense of Self by Katrin Weigmann Self-Constitution: Agency, Identity, and Integrity by Christine M. Korsgaard How Environment Shapes Your Identity, contributed by Spaces The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/structuresofself/support…

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[1] Intro: Welcome to Structures of Self 59:56

6 years тому59:56