Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities and platforms have shifted to the virtual realm, including rituals and ceremonies. When it comes to psychedelic rituals, there are several important...Show moreDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities and platforms have shifted to the virtual realm, including rituals and ceremonies. When it comes to psychedelic rituals, there are several important factors to take into account, such as the setting, dosage, and type of substance consumed. This paper examines the effects of virtual ceremonies on psychedelic experiences. The study utilized an online self-report questionnaire that was sent 1-2 days after the ceremony conducted by retreat company Spinoza. The gathered data were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. The categorization and themes were agreed upon by two independent researchers. The themes presented relate to the improvement of mental health and physical comfort along with insightful personal journeys. Further evaluation of the research suggested that the findings provide a general idea about the effects of digital format on the psychedelic experience. It has been found that with digital platforms on psychedelic experiences, individuals can experience clarity of unsolved issues, improved self-regulation, as well as improved emotional and mental states.Show less
Inaction inertia occurs when one is less likely to take an attractive opportunity, after refusing an even more attractive opportunity. In their experiment, van Putten and colleagues (2007) tried to...Show moreInaction inertia occurs when one is less likely to take an attractive opportunity, after refusing an even more attractive opportunity. In their experiment, van Putten and colleagues (2007) tried to decouple the inaction inertia effect by using ambiguous information. Their results yielded that ambiguous information did in fact decouple. However, the authors came to these conclusions by using optional stopping and p-hacking. This influenced the reliability of the results, so we decided to replicate this study, for good research practices and because it can give us valuable insight into how decoupling works when given an attractive offer. We made use of the replication recipe of Brandt and colleagues (2014) to conduct the replication.Show less
Disgust, rooted in human evolutionary history, serves as a vital defense mechanism against pathogens, manifesting in varied behaviors. This paper explores the intricate relationship between disgust...Show moreDisgust, rooted in human evolutionary history, serves as a vital defense mechanism against pathogens, manifesting in varied behaviors. This paper explores the intricate relationship between disgust and visual attention, employing the eye-tracking method. Drawing insights from primate studies, habituation, and human facial expressions, the research aims to address three key questions: Does gaze aversion occur in humans when exposed to disgusting stimuli, extending avoidance behavior into the visual domain? Do individuals exhibit prolonged attention to facial area, indicating a social imperative to assess the risk of pathogen contamination? How does gaze aversion change with repeated exposure to disgust-inducing stimuli? The study employs three conditions, including scenes of feces ingestion in the test condition, to assess total looking time. Results reveal significant gaze aversion towards feces as compared to control conditions, supporting the hypothesis of avoidance behavior. Participants displayed prolonged attention to faces during non-disgusting conditions, challenging assumptions about social necessity for risk assessment. Repeated exposure across trials to disgust-inducing stimuli did not significantly alter gaze behavior, highlighting the nuanced nature of responses to aversive stimuli. Discussion of the findings and implications are also addressed.Show less
This research aimed to investigate whether food choices can be affected by placebo suggestions and the role of body image satisfaction and Body Mass Index (BMI) in this placebo effect. This study...Show moreThis research aimed to investigate whether food choices can be affected by placebo suggestions and the role of body image satisfaction and Body Mass Index (BMI) in this placebo effect. This study involved 22 participants aged 18-35. In the placebo group, participants received suggestions that a vagus nerve stimulation will decrease their hunger, while the control group received no suggestions. The vagus nerve stimulation was a sham procedure and did not stimulate the nerve. Participants' BMI was calculated followed by measuring body image satisfaction by completing the Body Self Image Questionnaire (BSIQ). Hunger was measured at baseline and post-suggestions. Additionally, food choice was measured with a computer task, in which participants had to choose between healthy and unhealthy food items. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the placebo and control groups for food choice (p = 0.56), baseline hunger (p = 0.69), and hunger post suggestions (p = 0.96). Additionally, hunger did not predict healthy food choice (p = 0.89) and body image (p = 0.77) and BMI (p = 0.32) did not moderate the effect of the suggestions on food choice. These results indicate that short suggestions might not be enough to affect hunger and food choices. The lack of effect found might be due to a small sample size and future research should include larger samples and longitudinal research design. Understanding the role of expectations and placebo effects in hunger, can in the future help develop strategies to promote healthier eating.Show less
Background. Picky eating behavior and physical activity are strongly associated with health in children (Karklina et al., 2011). By investigating the associations between shyness, picky eating...Show moreBackground. Picky eating behavior and physical activity are strongly associated with health in children (Karklina et al., 2011). By investigating the associations between shyness, picky eating behavior and physical activity in children and parental stress we could potentially define better intervention programs to prevent health disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, anaemia, heart problems and earlier death, by identifying if physical activity, shyness and parental stress are potential areas of treatment. Aims. To investigate (1) if parental stress predicts shyness in ten-year-old children; (2) the association between shyness and picky eating behavior; and (3) the association between shyness and physical activity in ten-year-old children. Methods. A total of 3610 parents of Dutch children (50.6% girls) participated in the study. The mean age of the children was 10.19 (SD=.501; ranging from 8 to 12) Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results. Shyness was predicted by parental stress (F(4,3601)=44.693, p<.00), picky eating behavior (F(4, 3479) = 12,942, p < .001) and higher levels of shyness were associated with being a boy and older age. Picky eating behavior was predicted by shyness (F(4, 3479) = 60,957, p < .001). Higher levels of picky eating behaviour were associated with lower levels of shyness and having the male gender and the family situation. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower levels of shyness and having the male gender. Conclusion. More research must be done with more reliable assessment tools and more universally accepted definitions of the variables. Lower levels of shyness were associated with more picky eating behavior, which is reassuring but our effect sizes and internal consistencies were low. Parental stress and shyness were positively associated with each other. Shyness and physical activity were negatively associated with each other. Since a lack of physical activity has risks such as developing cardiovascular disease, it is important to identify parental stress and shyness in 10-year-olds and provide support and advice to the parents of these 10-year-olds to be able to avert more serious outcomes.Show less
The sunk cost bias is a common fallacy that people fall victim to. It entails placing a higher value on an option because of the resources already invested in it, rather than rationally evaluating...Show moreThe sunk cost bias is a common fallacy that people fall victim to. It entails placing a higher value on an option because of the resources already invested in it, rather than rationally evaluating its current worth. This economic fallacy goes beyond financial investments and is found to also be present in romantic relationships. Our research investigates this effect, and whether age and gender play a role in it. This was investigated through a questionnaire with a total of 93 participants in the Netherlands. Our main hypothesis was that the temporal investment in the relationship significantly influences the likelihood of staying during difficult circumstances, such as a period of emotional distress or cheating. This prediction was confirmed. However, a difference in influence of temporal investment in the decision to stay in the relationship, between males and females, was not found to be significant. Moreover, age was only found to have a significant influence on the effect of temporal investment for the predicted length of staying. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the presence of the sunk cost effect of temporal investment in romantic relationships, without a significant difference between males and females, or a significant effect of age that is attributable only to the sunk cost fallacy.Show less
This paper investigates the effect of nocebo suggestions on food craving levels and explores whether personality traits, specifically neuroticism and impulsivity, moderate this impact. The study...Show moreThis paper investigates the effect of nocebo suggestions on food craving levels and explores whether personality traits, specifically neuroticism and impulsivity, moderate this impact. The study was conducted using a sample of 21 volunteers which were recruited from Leiden University, and used a randomised controlled trial design. The two groups that were used in the analysis were control and nocebo groups (increase hunger). Nocebo group participants received a sham vagus nerve stimulation and were exposed to suggestions that this stimulation will increase their hunger. Food craving was measured using a Visual Analogue Scale at different time points throughout the experiment, and self-report inventories were used to assess neuroticism and impulsivity. A repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and a moderation analysis were performed to analyse the data. The results showed significant changes in craving intensity, F(3, 57) = 11.14, p < .001, with higher craving levels in the control group compared to the nocebo group. Neither neuroticism F(3, 17) = 0.37, p = .77, nor impulsivity, F(3, 17) = 2.11, p = .14, were significant in moderating the relationship between nocebo suggestions and food cravings. However, impulsivity independently showed a significant negative effect on craving ratings, where higher impulsivity was related to lower food cravings, b = -11.07, t(df) = -2.18, p = .04. The study’s limitations included a small sample size and ambiguous definitions of nocebo effects, which could have affected the results. Future research should focus on exploring other personality traits to deepen our understanding of their effect on nocebo suggestions and food cravings.Show less
Adolescence is characterized by a prominent increase in peer orientation and high sensitivity to peer evaluations. To date, explanations for individual differences in peer evaluation sensitivity...Show moreAdolescence is characterized by a prominent increase in peer orientation and high sensitivity to peer evaluations. To date, explanations for individual differences in peer evaluation sensitivity have not been thoroughly investigated. The present study examined whether a catastrophizing emotion regulation tendency and overprotective parenting could explain why some adolescents are more sensitive to negative peer evaluation than others. Sixty-four adolescents (mean age = 14.66; 49 females) took part in a Social Evaluative Learning through Feedback (SELF-) Profile task. Participants had to predict the valence of peer feedback in a 240-trial paradigm with four fictitious peers that differed in their probability of giving positive feedback. We hypothesized that through the mediating effect of catastrophizing, parental overprotection could predict the ratio of negative predictions of peer evaluations. We also expected that adolescents scoring higher on these self-reported concepts would have a higher ratio of negative predictions for the most negative vs. the most positive peer. Similarly, it was hypothesized that adolescents with higher catastrophizing and overprotection scores would expect more negative feedback in the SELF-Profile task beforehand and also estimate them to have been high afterward. Our results showed that total parental and paternal overprotection, but not maternal, predicted catastrophizing in adolescents. However, we did not find evidence for the hypothesized mediation models or associations between the self-reported concepts and the SELF-Profile pre- and post-ratings. Together, these findings suggest that parental overprotection and catastrophizing are related concepts but they are not sufficient in explaining negative biases in social reinforcement learning in adolescence.Show less
Psoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis,...Show morePsoriasis patients frequently report feelings of stigmatization. While many studies have been done on self-stigma, perceived stigma and on the impact of stigmatization on patients with psoriasis, few studies have focused on the extent and predictors of public stigma towards psoriasis. This cross-sectional study is the first study to date to focus on the extent of public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population, as well as to examine the possible predictive value of four subscales of empathy as assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); perspective taking, PT; fantasy, FS; empathic concern, EC; and personal distress, PD. Respondents (N = 121) were asked to watch video vignettes, after which public stigma was measured with the Impact of Chronic Skin Disease on Daily Life (ISDL). A paired-samples t-test and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results suggests that that there is public stigma towards psoriasis in the Dutch population (t(119) = -6.55, p < .001). A weak positive relation between personal distress (PD) and public stigma was found (B = .08, p = .04), while the other three empathy subscales (PT, FS and EC) were not found to be significant predictors for public stigma towards psoriasis (all p-values >.05). These results add to the theoretical knowledge about psoriasis and theory development and suggest that interventions against public stigma towards psoriasis might not focus on eliciting empathy, as other mechanisms would possibly be more beneficial in reducing public stigma. Future studies should replicate the study with other measurement instruments.Show less
In recent years, classical psychedelics have become increasingly popular as a possible treatment method for mental health disorders. Optimizing set and setting during psychedelic use leads to the...Show moreIn recent years, classical psychedelics have become increasingly popular as a possible treatment method for mental health disorders. Optimizing set and setting during psychedelic use leads to the most beneficial outcomes. Trait mindfulness, which is the general tendency to experience mindfulness in daily life, could be seen as part of the set. Earlier research suggested that psychedelic drug intake could lead to increases in practicing mindfulness, trait mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility (CF), all factors associated with positive mental health outcomes. Moreover, these factors seem to be interconnected, as, for instance, trait mindfulness can predict higher CF. Since there has currently been no research yet on the influence of psychedelic drug intake on CF with trait mindfulness as a mediator, as well as on the impact of psychedelic drug intake on trait mindfulness controlling for current meditation practice, this paper aimed at filling this explanatory gap. The findings suggested that psychedelic-experienced individuals are more likely to currently be a meditator than psychedelic naives and that the positive association between psychedelic use and trait mindfulness remains after correcting for current meditation practice. Further, a significant indirect relationship between psychedelic drug intake and CF with trait mindfulness as a mediator has been found, though the direct effect is non-significant. Lastly, psychedelic use-related variables were investigated, showing that the dose could positively predict CF but other variables, including frequency, recency, and likelihood of next intake could not. Implications of these findings for current practice, future research, and psychedelic-based treatment were considered.Show less
Patients suffering from psoriasis are known to commonly experience stigmatization. Even though stigmatization negatively impacts patients’ mental and physical health, relatively little is known...Show morePatients suffering from psoriasis are known to commonly experience stigmatization. Even though stigmatization negatively impacts patients’ mental and physical health, relatively little is known about what prompts public stigmatization. This study aims to examine the extent of public stigma towards people suffering from psoriasis and the influence of scratching, as a possible predictor, on the extent of public stigmatization towards these patients. A cross-sectional survey using video-vignettes has been performed on a sample (n =153) of the Dutch population. Respondents were shown a baseline video with an actress without the visible skin condition showing and either a video-vignette with the visible skin condition showing or a video-vignette with the visible skin condition showing and the actress scratching. After each video-vignette, the level of public stigmatization was measured, using the adapted version of the 6-item Impact of Chronic Skin Disease on Daily Life Stigma questionnaire. The results showed, using a paired samples t-test, an increased level of public stigma when the skin condition is visible compared to when it is hidden with a moderate effect size; t(119) = 6.55, p < 0.001, d = .60 . No significant effect was found, using an independent samples t-test, between when a person with psoriasis is scratching their visible skin condition, as compared to when they are not scratching their visible skin condition; t(151) = 0.48, p = .63. These results suggest that patients suffering from psoriasis are subjected to an increased level of public stigma and that scratching can not be named a predictor for public stigma towards these patients.Show less
