Thursday, April 11, 2013

Glenn Wilson: Mind Over Matter (Psychosomatics)


From FORA.tv (originally - I retrieved the full lecture from the Gresham College website), this lecture by Glenn Wilson looks at the placebo effect, and it's role in "charlatan" cures and treatments, and it goes much deeper - into the realm of psychosomatics, an emerging field that examines the intersection of social, psychological, and behavioral factors in health. Wilson is the author of Born Gay: The Psychobiology of Sex Orientation, CQ: Learn the Secret of Lasting Love, and Psychology for Performing Artists.



Glenn Wilson: Mind Over Matter

Charlatan "cures" and "alternative" treatments are widespread and popular. Despite lacking any credible rationale, people often seem to benefit from them. The power of suggestion and "placebos" is impressive. What accounts for miracle cures and phenomena like stigmata? Are certain personality types prone to particular illness? How does stress affect our immune system? Psychosomatics is a fascinating branch of psychology with many issues yet to be settled. This is a part of Glenn Wilson's series of lectures as Visiting Professor of Psychology, 2012/13. For more information on this lecture, please visit its page on the Gresham College website.

As well as being one of Britain's best-known psychologists, Glenn Wilson is the Visiting Gresham Professor of Psychology. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has published more than 150 scientific articles and 33 books.

He is an expert on individual differences; social and political attitudes; sexual behavior, deviation and dysfunction; and psychology applied to the performing arts. Not one to shy away from contention, his most recent books include: Born Gay: The Psychobiology of Sex OrientationCQ: Learn the Secret of Lasting Love, and Psychology for Performing Artists. He has lectured widely abroad, having been a guest of the Italian Cultural Association, and a visiting professor at California State University, Los Angeles, San Francisco State University, Stanford University, the University of Nevada, Reno and Sierra Nevada College.

Apart from being a professional psychologist, Dr. Wilson trained as an opera singer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and still undertakes professional engagements as an actor, singer, and director.

Extra lecture materials

Transcript for "Mind over Matter"
PowerPoint Presentation for "Mind over Matter"

This is a part of Glenn Wilson's series of lectures as Visiting Professor of Psychology, 2012/13. The other lectures are as follows:

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