Empathy & Botox: Or How To Effectively Stop Caring

It is hard to be apathetic to human suffering... But it's possible.
~Nils-Fredrik Nielsen, Samlede Tristesser.

Facial feedback hypothesis assumes that reading emotions from peoples' facial expression is helped by displaying the corresponding expression yourself. For example, when I pout my lips and look like the end of the world is nigh (my usual composure) it will help me recognize that emotion in someone else. Also, holding my face in a certain emotional pose will influence how I interprete what I see, hear or feel.

A nice & famous example is that people find cartoons funnier if they read them while keeping a pen horizaontally between their teeth (it's like smiling, don't try it), and less funny if they hold the pen in their mouths with their lips (like pouting).

Now, many scientists believe that this is a very important part of understanding others emotions in general (some Italians attribute this to "Mirror Neurons"). If we were unable to replicate another's facial expressions directly, it will hinder understanding their emotional state.

This brings us to our topic. A study in Cerebral Cortex shows that people with botox injections show less spontaneous imitation of facial emotions in pictures. But there is more; in a brain scan (and we know only real scientists use brainscanners) botoxers showed less amygdala (often assumed to play a role in processing negative information) activation in response to sad faces. The authors suggest this could make them less skilled in understanding what they see.

It's strange, however, that they did not have participants rate the facial expression they saw on emotion type and intensity. This could have demonstrated if botoxers really had problems understanding the expressions. Nonetheless it is an interesting finding, suggesting a positive effect of botox in removing yourself emotionally from other people.

And forget about creating an army of soldiers without an amygdala, incapable of feeling fear. Just botox the 'em. Not only will they be ruthless, have no empathy or fear. They will be pretty also.

Useful materials:
-Botox (or some houshold silicone)
-Dermatologist, plastic surgeon or helpful friend
-Needles
-Bandages
-Medical maltreatment insurance

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Side note: In my search for botox related information I stumbled upon a journal with the uplifting name "Headache". Something tells me you will be hearing more from this one on Science of Sadness.
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Lnk:Facial Feedback Hypothesis, Wiki
Lnk: Pens, Smiles & Cartoons, JPSP, 1988
Lnk: "Mirror Neurons"
Lnk: Article in Cerebral Cortex
Lnk: "Headache"

Loneliness Makes You Cold

"When friendship disappears then there is a space left open to that awful loneliness of the outside world which is like the cold space between the planets (slightly above 0 degress Kelvin? -ed). It is an air in which men perish utterly." - Hilaire Belloc

A (relatively) new article in Psychological Science reports that when thinking about a situation where you were socially excluded, it makes you estimate the room temperature as colder.
A second study excluded or included participants in a computer ball-tossing game. When excluded, participants preferred hot drinks and food over cold, suggesting a need to "warm up".

Reversely the authors speculate that cooler temperatures could make you feel sadder, lonelier and socially excluded (a valid assumption but pure speculation nonetheless as this bidirectionality was not explored).

An interesting side note was the surprisingly large variaton in estimated room temperature (from 12C to 40C). Another indication that context and other subjective factors steer perception of reality more than factual conditions (bringing us to the question of the existence of factual conditions itself).

Additionally, this reasearch could potentionally shed light on seasonal disorder as partly caused by variations in temperature. Makes me wonder if dressing warmly could help shield you from depression.





Useful Materials:
-Ice cream
-Snow
-Cold pizza
-Siberia
-Documentaries on North Pole
-Winter rain
-Ice baths
-Dog sled expeditions

Topic Tip:
Turning down the heat in your home will result in stronger feelings of sadness, loneliness and social exclusion. We'd suggest you open all windows, take a shower but don't dry off. Subsequently pull out some Ben and Jerry's (preferably their depressingly fitting "Socialice") and start reading "The Terror"*.

* An all time favorite historic fiction on two ships stuck in the ice somewhere in north-east Canada while supplies run out. While the crew fights for survival The Cold starts creeping into every aspect of their lives. I constantly kept upping the thermostat while reading.

Lnk: Article by Zhong & Leonardelli in Psych. Science
Lnk: Book "The Terror"
Lnk: Movie: "The Frozen Dead"
Lnk: Depressed Hamsters Shed Light on Seasonal Disorder

-Matthijs

A depressive diagnosis for anyone

This blog will be about getting you down, because it is better for you this way. This first post, however, will be a short introduction to the many ways you can be sad, so when you read and follow our posts, you will instantly know what level of despair you have reached.

Think you are not depressed or never have been?

Please see the list below and think again. There is a depression type or subtype for every man, woman and child out there, you will never need to feel left out again (although this might help you reach the ultimate goal of severe despair).

If you can't find one you like, let us know now, and for only $9.99 we come up with one, and what the heck, if apply you within the next 30 years, we'll throw in one for free.

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The golden standard of modern psychiatry, the DMS-IV starts us off with 6 depression-relevant diagnostic categories you might find yourself meeting criteria for:

Major Depressive Disorder: Do we need to spell it out for you? You're depressed or down for weeks on end, for years on end.
Major Depressive Episode: As above, but shorter - at least 2 weeks duration.
Manic Episode: A temporary reversal of fortune - you run around feeling energized, grandiose even. Others do not concern you, you don't need sleep and might become irritable. Symptoms must hold for at least 1 week.
Mixed Episodes: Little of this, little of that. Combines Major & Manic episodes.
Hypomanic Episode: Like Manic but shorter. A case of red bull should do it. 4 days minimum.
Dysthymic Disorder: Only sometimes depressed, but over a period of 2 years. Me: "Doctor, I have never always felt great" Dr. Phil: "That's a clear case of Dysthymia, son."

But wait, there is more! Of the following depressive categories, not all are as accepted today, but who are they to tell you how you feel?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD!): Hamsters have it too! If only it was as prevalent in summer...
Endogenous depression: Occurs from within. No one knew why. Biological. Avoid antidepressants.
Reactive depression: Results of circumstantial stressors. Antidepressants no effect.
Psychotic Depression: Similar to endogenous. Includes hallucinations.
Bereavement: Loss of loved one (spouse, friend, hamster etc.).
Neurotic: See Dysthymia.
Primary Depression: Depressed because of depression (!).
Secondary Depression: Depressed by other reasons (medical, biological, financial).
Postnatal depression: You'll have to become pregnant first, sorry guys
Postpartum Disorder: a.k.a. Baby Blues. Have baby? Depressed? PD! See postnatal depression.
Atypical Depression: Depression that is not typical. Most prevalent type. Patient feels good when something good happens. Sound familiar?
Double Depression: See Dysthymic. Depression x 2.
Situational Depression: same as Reactive but different.
Agitated Depression: Irritability and restlessness.
Melancholic Depression: Anhedonia (loss of pleasure). Inability to find pleasure in positive events (in contrast with which disorder?) Often in combination with agitation, insomnia, and no appetite for Domino's.
Catatonic Depression: Depression for cats with movement impairments.

If all else fails and normality & content is closing in, remember, we are here for you.

Welcome to Science of Sadness.

Stay with us & stay sad,
written by Matthijs - edited by Dan F

Lnk: DSM-IV 1, 2 (subscriptions only)
Lnk: Depressed Hamsters Shed Light On Seasonal Disorder