Why I choose Heavy Metal (why should you?)

I tried...technically! I can't say that I haven't. I tried to listen to popular music, when at the age of 9 or 10 (I don't really remember....

Ozzy: Rock Legend or Just a (Old) Man?

I have just watched the documentary "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" which was apparently directed by his son Jack Osbourne. It has been characterised from monumental to insightful and generally received...

Brian Johnson Vs Bon Scott: A Scientific approach to an ongoing AC/DC debate

We have all been there. And by "there" I mean have been part of the oldest debate in AC/DC history and probably one of the biggest in Rock history in general. Who is better, Bon Scott or Brian Johnson?...

Religion Vs Rock N' Roll

I know, the title couldn't be more kitschy and lame. But here is what the world has come to! I have been avoiding to get into this debate (i.e. the religion, not the Rock N' Roll one) for obvious reasons...

Mind under training (Introduction)

I realised that while I have been writing my extremely influential (!) articles, I still haven’t introduced myself properly...

28 November 2011

Religion Vs Rock N' Roll

I know, the title couldn't be more kitschy and lame. But here is what the world has come to! I have been avoiding to get into this debate (i.e. the religion, not the Rock N' Roll one) for obvious reasons:

1. I am not religious, at all, so my thoughts and ideas are probably biased (or maybe scientifically researched, educated, and rational);
2. I will defend Rock N' Roll (not intentional Christian Rock, Satanic Rock or whatever useless piece of propaganda out there, just pure Rock N' Roll);
3. I despise ignorance and people who are comfortable with it.

I will probably make more enemies than attract followers with this piece of writing but a person has to do what's honest to them. So here it is then!

I've recently read another piece of "creative writing" (and I am being very kind here) by a certain person, of certain religious beliefs, through a certain propagandic website. I will not disclose any more details as I do not want to advertise them more than I need to.

This piece starts off by describing how the Rock N' Roll scene has shocked parents around the world; from Elvis' hip moves, to The Beatles' haircut (!), The Rolling Stones' vulgar rock, Jefferson Airplane's hippie ways, and last but not least, Heavy Metal's advocation of sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, drug abuse, and Satanism (notice the capital S!).


Then it goes on to defend the Rock music that suits them best, i.e. the one infused with relevant religious elements and in their opinion human sensitivity, poetry, and constructive social criticism and ditch the Rock music that is EVIL.

Evil Wrong Rock music (could be a new sub-genre, don't you think?) according to these people is the music of Sex & Lust (i.e. Mötley Crüe). It goes into a detailed discussion about scenes of sex & lust in specific songs and the androgynous look of Mick Jagger. Then we have Rebellion, a condition promoted by Rock music along with attacks towards society, parents, school, and god....!

Then follows Aggression & Violence, apparently evident on MTV. Here is the argument that mostly got on my nerves (politely put): Heavy Metal music is not intellectual, it's meant to connect to the "most base and low levels of the unconscious mind". There are so many wrongs in that sentence, that as a Psychologist, I'm offended by the lack of interest, understanding, and pretentious use of what they think is deep and science-y enough to impress the readers.

The fourth danger of Rock is Immediate Gratification, enjoying life in the present and avoiding thoughts about the future. Finally, we have Satanism, which as always cannot be excluded from any discussion on Rock music. Here we are presented with examples like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and MTV. The blame for satanism is settled then!

Reading this article evoked many feelings in me: mainly the EVIL ones! I was surprised how people can be so narrow-minded, ignorant, and dishonest all at the same time. I don't wish to attack people personally, that is not my purpose in life. I worry how religious propagandas undermine the intellectual ability of people. Especially when these propagandas come from people who change their religious affiliations like dirty underwear.

Surely a well-educated, wise, and rational person can understand that Rock music cannot be blamed for all social problems. And by well-educated I don't necessarily mean people with University level degrees etc. On the contrary, I mean people with life experiences that teach more than a University doctorate.

People are way smarter than the person who wrote the article thinks (or is). Surely, from a psychological perspective, the teenage years are a very challenging and sensitive period in our lives. But most problems derive from inadequate familial, educational, and societal support and guidance. Music, in the same way as books, movies, and TV, does carry some challenges and thought-provoking views, ideas, even fantastical elements. 

It's the way children are equipped that will determine whether they succumb to stupid ideas such as satanism, gods, and mythological creatures. I wish that people would simply stop blaming general vague umbrella-type terms such as Heavy Metal for all the problems society (another vague umbrella-type term!) faces.


Just to be clear: As I do not believe in a white-bearded, long-haired, sandal and cape-wearing man, sitting on a white cloud and picking his next "miracle" victim, the same way I do not believe in a red-faced, goatee-bearer, goat-like man, with horns, sitting in the deepest parts of earth, stirring an imaginary soup made with humans in a giant cauldron.     

Imagination can help with creativity but sometimes it can get in the way of reality as well.
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18 November 2011

Brian Johnson Vs Bon Scott: A Scientific Approach to an Ongoing AC/DC Debate

We have all been there. And by "there" I mean have been part of the oldest debate in AC/DC history and probably one of the biggest in Rock history in general. Who is better, Bon Scott or Brian Johnson

Although record keeping was not common in the 70s (wonder why?), rumour has it that AC/DC is the best selling Rock band in the world with all their albums reaching a minimum(!) of platinum status. Their album Back in Black, which reached an unbelievable double diamond status, sold over 40 million copies, reaching the status of No. 1 best selling Rock album of all time (and No. 2 -sadly- album of all music genres after Jackson's Thriller). No offence to Michael Jackson or its fans but... Boohoooo!



We have all heard arguments pro or against either one of them (Bon or Brian) in terms of singing abilities, performance, stage presence, showmanship, looks, style, energy, suitability to the band's style etc (the list is endless and frankly quite boring). 

A quirky Canadian Professor of Economics decided to take another approach to resolving this argument. He conducted an experimental study drawing together sciences such as Psychology, Physiology, and Sociology with experimental economics. It does sound a bit boring but his approach and results will surprise you.

In his experiment, he used the ultimatum game. I am not getting into details about the procedures but if you wish to learn more about it, I will put the reference at the end. Briefly, participants were randomly allocated into pairs with the roles of proposers or responders. The proposers were given a sum of money and were asked to choose how much of this money they would like to offer to their corresponding responder. The responder then accepts or rejects the offer. Simply put, if they accept, both proposer and responder receive their money. If the responder rejects the offer they both get nothing!

The basis for this is the assumption that people value fairness and don't just put their own wealth first, but also value other people's. And here you will ask: what does that have to do with AC/DC anyway?

In the experiment the pairs where split into two groups with one pair doing the "dealing" while listening to It's a Long Way to the Top sang by Bon Scott while the other pair listened to Shoot to Thrill sang by Brian Johnson assuming that different music types have different physiological and emotional effects on people that may guide decision making.


The findings of this strange if not creative experiment favoured Brian Johnson (sorry Bon Scott fans!). More offers were accepted in the Brian Johnson than the Bon Scott listeners leading to more efficient decision-making. Interesting I would say the least! So there you have it. From an economic perspective Brian Johnson deserves his current position (like we needed scientific support for that!) as the frontman of one of the best Rock N Roll bands.


I think the study is quite interesting, not considering the lack of control for psychological factors, a critique I am not getting into, rather letting you decide as a reader. So which one do YOU "choose"? Personally, I cannot, and refuse to choose between the two frontmen. I will not argue towards their greatness but I will say both were catalysts in the success that AC/DC are today.

For those that already rock, I salute you!
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Article reference: Oxoby, RJ (2009). On the Efficiency of AC/DC: Bon Scott versus Brian Johnson. Economic Inquiry, 47(3), 598-602.
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Image credits:

13 November 2011

Review of Motörhead (The World is Yours Tour 2011)


Review of Motörhead The World is Yours Tour (HMV Apollo, London, UK):

Venue: Old yet comfortable theatre, view from balcony blocked when people get up 6/10


Opening Acts (UK Subs & Anti-Nowhere League): Punk Rock bands, not a huge fan of Punk 5.5/10

Motörhead Quality & Versatility: 10/10


Passion: 10/10




Gig Running Time: Good 2 1/2 hours 9/10


Set List: Jammed on "Whorehouse Blues" 9.5/10


The World is Yours Album: Pure Rock N Roll 9/10


Crowd: Ages ranged from 5 to 80+ equally enthusiastic 9.5/10


Loudness: Volume up to 11 (deafness) 10/10


Overall Experience: 9/10





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10 November 2011

Mind Under Training (Introduction)


I realised that while I have been writing my extremely influential (!) articles, I still haven’t introduced myself properly. And since this blog is now more popular (who would have thought) than I expected, I feel that it is something I should have done already.

Well, I am an alien 25-year-old woman living in the graphic yet moody city of London, a psychologist under training (UK regulations require me to clarify), and attempting to get the infamous “Dr” title (?) in front of my name – we shall see! I have the same issues as the average 25-year-old woman, perhaps a lot more as you may see.

The two main things you should have probably realised about me by now (that is if you actually bothered reading my previous masterpieces) are that I am sarcastic (both towards self and others), ironic (mainly towards others), and I listen to Heavy Metal. And you would have probably inferred that I am a disdainful, arrogant Miss-Knows-It-All...and you would be probably right!

Just kidding, I don’t know everything, yet.

My main purpose in life is to listen, love, learn, and become genuinely open-minded (please refer to my pretentious open-mindedness post). I don’t really like the way the world operates (but who does anyway) and I am determined to change a fraction of it (i.e. a helpless hopeful idealist) with what I’ve got, which unfortunately is not that much. I kind of hate vanity (please refer to my generation: vanity post) but I have come to believe that we all have it somewhere in our DNA structure.

I am also not religious at all although I was meant to be (according to familial, societal, and global values but that’s another blog post altogether – watch this space). And here is where some of you may infer that I am Satan’s advocate (this blog is not for you then). Sorry to disappoint you, I am not that important (to Satan at least). I don't dance round a pentagram, naked, while holding a goat's head and singing Antichrist songs (although it would make a great movie). I just prefer Science over Fiction - although come to think of it science fiction movies have their merits too - but I will not get into a debate about this in the blog – ok maybe a little bit.

I love great music (sorry to disappoint people but some genres out there are not music) and that means I love music developed by people playing real, tangible instruments (please refer to my Why I choose Heavy Metal post). I listen to Rock N’ Roll if I am allowed to sum it all up under that term (quoting the great Lemmy). I spend most of my money on gigs as these offer me the “high” other people get from drugs. Which brings me to another point: Drugs kill people – some do slower than others. End of story.

In order to learn, I travel...a lot, mostly in Europe; not because of choice but because of money (under training, remember?). People who die with no such experiences (mainly due to choice), do so incomplete. I try to love art (sometimes it's much harder than it seems), and I do, most of it. I also believe that if mind is the door to the unconscious and the unseen, then books are the key. So I read quite a lot (from trashy magazines to scientific journals). Also I write (as you can see from this blog) and I think I do that pretty well (think).

Finally, I am proud of myself (surprised?) for mainly one reason: I have reached a point where I can “see” through my big head and have an insight, a meta-cognition (for the fellow psychologists ...under training) of my stupid/wrong/stereotypical/weird thoughts, actions, and dispositions, the same ones that I see everyday around me in other people. For a self-obsessed person like me that’s not a happy place to be, at all! The good thing is that I can take a step forward and talk about it in a blog – for the whole world to see – and show what an insightful, open-minded, really really smart person I am (see above re issues). What I write here in this blog, do not necessarily exclude me.

Plainly put, I am just writing what most people already think/know/observe/realise/do not admit about themselves, others, and society. I criticise and judge as a result of disappointment, contempt, and hope at the same time – in a vain attempt to:
1. Cover with words my own self-doubt and the little voice in my head;
2. Minimise my attention-seeking behavioural patterns and the feelings these cause by doing it in a useful and entertaining way;
3. Achieve self-affirmation;
4. Provoke thinking.

So, don’t shoot the messenger, just enjoy the debate. Oh, and give peace a chance!
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05 November 2011

Review of Iced Earth (Dystopia World Tour 2011)



Review of Iced Earth Dystopia World Tour (O2 Academy Islington, London, UK):


Venue: Small & intimate 8/10

Opening Act (Fury UK): Clear influences 6.5/10

Iced Earth Quality & Versatility: 9/10

Passion: 8/10

New Frontman: 6.5/10 + 0.5 for cuteness = 7/10

Gig Running Time: Very very very short 4/10

Set List: Played Dante's Inferno 7/10

Dystopia Album: Personally I like! 7.5/10

Crowd: Well done Cyprus 6/10

Overall Experience: Love this band! 7/10



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01 November 2011

My First Scientific Publication

Newly diagnosed heart failure: Quality of life, mood, and illness beliefs 


Objectives. This study sought to examine how patients’ mood and quality of life (QoL) change during the early high-risk period after a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) and to identify factors that may influence change.


Design. A within-subjects, repeated-measures design was used. Assessments took place within 4 weeks of diagnosis and 6 months later.


Methods. One hundred and sixty six patients with HF completed assessments of their mood, QoL, and beliefs about HF and its treatment. Correlation analysis was conducted between the variables and analysis of variance and t-tests were used to assess differences in categorical variables. To examine which variables predicted mood and QoL, hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted.


Results. At follow-up, patients’ beliefs indicated a realization of the chronicity of their HF, however their beliefs about the consequences of having HF did not change and their satisfaction with their treatment remained high. QoL and anxiety improved significantly over time but there was no significant change in depressed mood. As would be expected, improvement in symptoms was a key factor in improved mood and QoL. Other significant explanatory variables included age, comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depressed mood, patients’ beliefs about the consequences of their HF and their concerns about treatment.


Conclusion. The present study provides an insight into how patients’ beliefs about their illness and treatment, and changes in these variables, affect QoL and mood in the short term after diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The study demonstrates that in addition to symptoms, patients’ emotional state and QoL change significantly in the early period following a new diagnosis of HF. Importantly, the association of these changes with psychological factors suggests that closer  attention to patients’ beliefs about their HF and its treatment at the time of diagnosis have the potential to improve QoL and aspects of mood at least in the short term.
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Reference: Mulligan, K. et al. 2011, British Journal of Health Psychology
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2044-8287.2011.02047.x/abstract
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Image credit: http://healthglee.com

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