Cross-cultural differences in attachment - 31 March

Hello blues and pinks; in the list of links to your right you will find the link for your homework which is to find out what you can about cross cultural differences in attachment. You will work in pairs to find out either about attachment in Israel, Japan, China, Germany, the African nations, or cross cultural adoptions. I will tell you which area to research in lesson, if you are unsure drop me an email. You have also been asked to make detailed study notes on Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) using the prompt sheets provided in lesson.

Leucocytes, lymphocytes, T, B and Natural Killer Cells

There is a fair bit of terminology in the first year textbooks relating to psychoneuroimmunology and I thought it might be worth while giving you a summary of what some of these things are so you know the differences and can at least use the terms appropriately if you want to. It will certainly make for top informed answers if you do use these keywords in the correct context.

Leucocytes are white blood cells and as a category inlcude: monocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes, all derived from the same type of cell in bone marrow. They protect the body against infection by engulfing foreign material (phagocytosis) and producing antibodies.

An antibody is a type of protein formed in the body that attacks foreign substances. Antibodies are produced by b cells (which are a type of lymphocytes, see below), usually in response to specific antigens. Antibodies inactivate viruses, and mark foreign cells and cancer cells so that they can be eliminated by other cells of the immune system.

Lymphocytes are a specific type of leucocyte. There are large granular lymphocytes called natural killer cells and smaller lymphocytes called t and b cells.

T and B cells recognize invaders and generate specific responses that are tailored to eliminate these pathogens or pathogen infected cells. B cells work by producing large quantities of antibodies which neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. T cells produce toxic granules which kill off pathogen infected cells. The picture shows a T call (orange) killing a cancer cell and has been borrowed from the science museum website. I have created a link in the links column as this site gives some more easy to digest info on the immune system.

Following activation, B cells and T cells leave a lasting legacy of the antigens they have encountered, in the form of memory cells. Throughout the lifetime of an animal these memory cells will “remember” each specific pathogen encountered, and are able to mount a strong response if the pathogen is detected again.

Natural killer cells (NK cells) play a major role in defending the host from both tumours and virally infected cells. The picture shows a

Interleukin 1 Beta is a type of cytokine. Cytokines are proteins released as part of the immune response particularly relevant during wound healing where they have a role in directing the sequence of events regardiing activty of other leucocytes. The implication being if the levels are low, wound gealing will be slower as in Kiecolt-Glaser.

Hope this is helpful!

Paper 2 Defining Abnormality HW 1

Use textbooks (and internet carefully!) to research Rosenhan's (1973) famous 2 part study entitled 'On being sane in insane places'. Describe the aims, procedures, findings and conclusions. Read up on the criticisms also and conduct a 6 hats analysis using the information you have found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq-7uvVOoyk This link takes you to a little utube clip about the study. You will not be able to access this at school.


Also, please complete short answer a and b questions 1-4. You also need to ensure that you have read up on deviation from social norms and failure to function defintions from your 2 textbooks. Gross also has an excellent chapter on defining, classification and diagnosis of abnormality. A grade candidates certainyl ought to be accessign the widest possible range of sources from now on.