Nineteen75

Freud is definitely out of favour at the Vic Uni psychology department. Freud's theories have been refuted a dozen times during the year, most recently in a presentation of repressed memory theory.   The lecturer suggested that there is little scientific support for repressed memory, that traumatic memories behave in much the same way as other memory.   The emotion works as a memory enhancer but accuracy of the memory is not improved by the confidence in which is it remembered. The lecturer’s statement on the matter is that there is more evidence that traumatic memories are dealt with by our brains in much the same way as other memories are.   My initial introduction to the domain of scientific and psychology research tells me that just because there is evidence of a tendency for behaviour in one regard – this does not illiminate legitimate alternative experiences.   If most of us have IQs between 80 and 110 – that does not mean that some will not have IQs below or above these

I am sitting in a studio, watching my nearly 16 year old daughter dance. I enjoy watching her graceful fluid movements; telling a story with her body. I am very much the biased proud mother, but objectively, she is talented and may well pursue a dance career. Technology is allowing me to also sit here, surreptitiously (or not so as my daughter later points out) reading my facebook updates. In my life that’s a mix between personal family connections, community event updates and special interest blogs. Currently I am following not-too-friendly fire between two self professed feminists, each on different sides of a familiar debate. Where should a feminist sit on the issue of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding, some would say, restricts a woman to the role of mother, something that feminists have been fighting against for decades now. Some argue infant formula frees women from the restrictions of mothering, enabling her to share the load. Some say that formula companies engage in immoral marke

I am in the middle of writing an academic assignment. I am at the library in order to avoid distraction... housework for one, my bookshelf of unread books for another, and my never ending ‘to do list’. Although as I sit here surrounded by enticing books I realise a wee gap in my logic. However, I have slogged for an hour and my mind is wandering. I have gazed out the window, I have been to the bathroom, I have finished my bitter burnt coffee. I need to do something else. I need to write something else. I need distraction in order to refocus, which I know seems at odds. But people need extremes to be balanced. We aren’t single dimension characters from early AD greek dramas; we are dynamic, synergetic, often a mixture of polar opposite reactions in the one person and for some strange reason, if we can manage the opposites we find in ourselves, it can bring balance, harmony and a life well-lived . I am studying psychology, a discipline that looks for ‘a’ causes ‘b’ in human behaviou

Tem pm Saturday night. Husband away doing blokey things. I have a movie on in the background “Julie and Julia”, a glass if pinot gris on the bedside table. It’s been an afternoon and evening of pottering. Apparently pottering is good for oestrogen. Not sure who comes up with this stuff, but anyway. I did find myself with two hours to myself with children venturing off in spate directions. The better part of the evening has been taken up with ironing and listening to TED seminars; happy in my own head and world. The kids given a few hours glued to various media; Playstation and TV. The day started early. My cat is proving himself to be quite the predator. Most nights he comes in to prance around my bedroom bragging about whichever small animal he has captured for my gratification. This morning at about 4am, the familiar proud mewl woke me. Half asleep, I dealt with the poor creature, left limp and lifeless behind my bedroom door and crawled back into bed. It wasn’t until a f

So far this year I have had the pleasure of experiencing small town New Zealand, from a South Island town that doesn’t have a Macdonalds, to a small fishing village that doesn’t have a dairy. Ngawi, the dairy-less village, and surrounding area is rich in history, both in Maori oral history, (one landmark here is called Kupe’s sail) and early European whaling and settler history. It’s very soothing here in a strange way – rugged, tempestuous, isolated and peaceful. The expansive coastline and seascapes provide breathtaking sunsets. The beauty is very restful, the force of the coastal weather reminds us how small we really are and subject to the hand of God. The peace may be attributed to the absence of decent cell phone coverage, maybe also the lack of crowds and development. We are surrounded by undeveloped landscape, gravel roads, fishing boats, bare feet and crab pots. Everyone knows everyone else; visitors and holiday makers are obvious by dress and manner. The closest s