Benefits Street: excellent documentary or poverty porn?

Channel 4 has another reality TV show, expose, documentary.  Move over My big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Benefits Street is the new kid on the block. The documentary makers from Channel 4 spent over a year filming on a street in Winson Green, Birmingham UK where it claims the majority of over 99 inhabitants on James Turner Street are claiming government benefits.  

Many people have criticised the show as 'poverty porn', a way for us "have somes" can stare and jeer at the Dickensian style baddies, draining the state of all of our hard working money. The episodes focus on different themes, episode 1 introduced some main characters of the street, including white Dee, a matriarch of the street whipping everyone into shape and black Dee a woman on the verge of eviction and frustrated at the lack of employment opportunities. 

The episode was also extremely controversial as it depicted a just released from Jail Danny and his junkie friend Fungi on an expedition to find loot to sell for drugs. It showed Danny creating an alarm proof bag and depicted him breaking the security tag for the stolen goods on a bus. Episode 2 showed the cultural mix on the street by featuring a group of Romanians entrepreneurially trying to make ends meet by selling scrap metal much to the dismay of other residents annoyed at the mess this caused.

The show is an interesting depiction of a modern street with problems, but these issues are not so different from those in wealthier, middle class neighborhoods such as: unemployment, absent fathers, immigration, integration, drug abuse and crime. These issues are not just social ills of the less fortunate, they occur in normal people too, just behind closed doors. The show shows a street where people can group together, help each other out. Struggling heroin addict Fungi could always call on white Dee to help him with his benefits claims and hold money for him.  

                                 

Episode 1 showed a gentleman Smoggy who offered basic amenities such as soap, milk and hot chocolate all for 50p. He noticed that many people including himself were struggling and took advantage of a gap on the market. Since the show aired he has been offered three jobs. Some people have said the show portrays a negative image of people on benefits. I know people who live on benefits and they don't live like this. I also spent 3 years living in Birmingham and didn't see evidence "scroungers". People who claim benefits are everywhere, in every city and town in the UK. What the show does do is shows its perspective of what some people on benefits go through and what they face.  

The show has had some major criticism, incensing conservative MPs to use the show as political fodder, cries of child exploitation, claims of poverty porn. I think I understand what the show is trying to do, show people on benefits and how day to day life is for them warts and all, but does it go too far? One thing that is portrayed is the community spirit people helping each other out like an episode of Eastenders, but maybe they should all go and just get a job.

Emailphobia

I'm going to confess something to you, something strange and something I thought was unusual. I have major work related EMAIL ANXIETY, yes e-mail anxiety. It starts before I get to work, where I envisage the number and type of emails I may have waiting for me in my inbox. The questions, requests and advice, the reports, unfinished work and other things, sometimes haunt me hours before I even get there. The fear or attaching the wrong document, or forgetting to attach the correct document to the e-mail, the repercussions can be utterly devastating.   The worst email anxiety episode may occur when returning from a few days off or holiday, there can be hundreds, even thousands of them lurking in your inbox.

I think that this form of communication in work places although convenient, quick and easy but I am sure too much of it is unhealthy. Hiding behind emails instead of picking up the phone or actually talking to the person next to you is sometimes a systematic trend of modern work environments.I encourage work places to rely less on the dreaded email, talk to colleagues face to face, pick up the telephone. Of course it is necessary to have a paper trail some times to save your bacon for proof if something dodgy does occur, but it shouldn't be relied upon.

So those of you that think that I am exaggerating, e-mail anxiety  is a REAL thing and work places should do every thing they can to minimise this.These things can be:

• Talking face to face?
• In meetings discussing as much as can be verbally and using emails to confirm and support prior information. 
• Picking up the phone for a short conversation

Following these tips may minimise the hundreds of emails that you may get. 

Do workplaces focus too much on perfection?

During an episode of Celebrity Masterchef earlier on this year, I came across a curious phenomenon. The head chef said to the celebrity that each plate that he/she produce should be perfect, flawless and consistently the same. It then dawned on me, is this even possible in an environment that is hot, highly pressured and loud?   Having worked in probably too many organisations (I blame the recession), public, private and charities I have observed a trend, a trend that has really started to disturb me; this trend is the obsession of managers to expect their employees to be "perfect". To eliminate mistakes, to consistently produce the same winning formula, but to improve and to strive for better all of the time, but is this too much to ask? As unpredictable as humans are and a constantly changing working environment with goal posts moving, is it realistic to expect perfection everyday? Or is it more realistic to allow employees to make and learn from their mistakes so as to work in a comfortable environment?

I am no philosopher, but I don't think we can be perfect consistently and especially not in the work place. Insisting on this is unrealistic in often confined, restricted employment environments with rigid job descriptions and archaic management structures is probably not a good idea. Focusing on perfect work I believe is not only destructive, can be short sighted and highly counter productive. Insistence on perfection can increase mistakes, increase anxiety, reduce productivity, decrease motivation and overall job satisfaction.

Instead I feel that work places should endeavour to minimise and  embrace mistakes. Allow employees to  learn from and develop strategies to prevent mistakes harming the productivity of the organisation.  A theory of organisational learning by a couple of researchers Argyris and Schon (1978), double and single loop learning suggests that organisations should try and eliminate mistakes before they happen in order for them to grow and develop effectively. In eliminating mistakes before they happen, an organisation has to learn from previous mistakes that have been made, perhaps from individuals, groups and the organisation as a whole.

So I think organisations should:

• Create an environment that is open and allows employees to make mistakes but have a forum to learn from them 
• Empower staff and allow them to create new ideas and allow them to implement them
• Open communication channels to make it easier for employees to share concerns
• Make work environments less formal in order to make work less stressful
• Praise staff when needed and  have development points for staff in 1-1s and appraisals
• Give employees time to absorb tasks, new environments and new ways of doing things 

I think if these things are done I believe staff will naturally begin to reduce mistakes and become more productive and happy. 

Demystifying the PhD

Often cited as the pinnacle of academic endeavour, the highlight  and aspiration for many wannabe scholars, PhDs are perceived to be the peak of a career.The reality is spending at least three years trying to find a "theoretical contribution", or something new or novel within the research discipline of your choice. A doctor of philosophy (PhD) doesn't have to mean researching philosophy but it originates from the Latin meaning of philosophy which is the love of wisdom.

Essentially a PhD is research project on a topic no body else has focused on and the more obscure the better. To apply for a PhD  you will need to identify something that has not been investigated how you will research it and why any one should care about the outcome.  This can be in any subject you can think of. There are many reasons to pursue a PhD, to increase your knowledge of a particular subject or topic, to further your academic career and become a lecturer, to research areas you feel are overlooked or to avoid getting a job in "the real world". They should never be seen as an easy option or a three year doss, they are hard to complete mainly as you have to juggle them with many other lifestyle choices and commitments such as families and relationships.

What will you do in a PhD
The process of applying to doctoral research programme includes either applying for a studentship or writing your own proposal and seeking funding independently. A studentship is a funded place at a university on a particular project. Once you have done this, finding a supervisor is the next step, basically your PhD manager, responsible for guiding you offering advice. After this you will start a full time (3-4 years) or part time (4-6 years) of study and research. Writing a background to the research (what has been found out on the topic previously, what the controversies are, what you will do, how you will do it, what  you found out and what it means).

After this you will write about  your project, often in 50,000- 80,000 words. This sounds like a lot, however think of all the essays you have written in your undergraduate degree? It's probably about the same. When this has been completed and handed in you will then have to complete a spoken exam or a viva voce. A Viva Voce is where two examiners read your thesis and ask you many questions about what you have written and why, what are the implications and any clarifications that are needed. At the end of this you find out if you have failed,  passed with corrections (having to amend some of your thesis) or passed with no corrections, i.e its perfect. Most people pass with some corrections, after this in the UK you are allowed to be called Dr.

PhD's require:

• Stamina, ( it's more of a marathon, not a sprint); 
• An excellent team of supervisors- they are the key, they can make or break your motivation 
• Sanity or the ability to surround yourself with people who will keep you sane
• A very good support network- people who will understand you and be there for you unconditionally
• A good system of file back ups, - I have heard horror stories about people who have lost their whole 80,000 word thesis in a currupted file. Use google docs or dropbox or both
• No fame seeker behaviour: Don't do it for the fame or apparent respect you may receive- many people don't know what a doctorate is requires. Not many people will care if you have a doctorate in the bacteria of dung beetle wings...
• Understanding that you will be emotionally battered and bruised, academics like to remind each other that in fact they know nothing about any thing, that's what you will discover when you pursue a PhD. 

So if you feel like spending 3-7 years banging your head against a brick wall and despairing- go ahead and apply for a PhD.

The case of Trayvon Martin

This case has sparked national and international protests and exposed parts of America's laws. In February 2012 George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch man of a gated community in Florida shot Trayvon in an alleged act of self defence. In the trail which culminated earlier this month, (July 2013), the Jury acquitted Zimmerman of manslaughter and second degree murder.

The background
George Zimmerman is a 29 year old man who was part of the local neighbourhood watch programme in the twin lakes area (a gated community) in Florida. The area had reported some burglaries in the year hence why the neighbourhood watch committee had been set up.  On the day of the shooting, Zimmerman reported spotting a black youth around the estate, looking 'suspicious'. This person was in fact Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old boy visiting his dad and step mother at his step mothers  house. After Zimmerman calling the police and relaying what he had seen, he still pursued Martin. An altercation occurred which ended in Trayvon being fatally shot. Zimmerman after the shooting was not arrested but questioned and released after citing not enough evidence. As Zimmerman had acted in self defence after the 'Stand your ground law'.

Stand your ground Law 
The stand your ground law is a self defence law which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without the need to run away from the perceived danger. This means if an individual believes or perceives that a situation is potentially dangerous and life threatening that individual has the right to use reasonable force to remove that threat. In the case of Trayvon, Zimmerman allegedly perceived that he was in danger and therefore shot him.

Why is this case important?
This case has inflamed international and national american press. The killing of a young black teenager who was unarmed and seemingly innocent, who had nothing but a bottle of iced tea and a packet of skittles is the main bone of contention. Without knowing the intricate details of the trial itself, I cannot judge the accuracy of the testimonies or the techniques of the defence or prosecution; however what is apparent is that Zimmerman had used a form of judgement to assess the intent and reason why Trayvon was in that area. Stereotyping did play a role in this case; Zimmerman judged Trayvon incorrectly as someone who shouldn't have been in the area and posed a threat. The outcome was a dead teenager.

University tips

For those of you that have finished A- levels or equivalents and are going off to university in October this post is for you. These are the top tips I wish someone would have told me before I started university.

• Don't buy all of the text books brand new!- Buy second hand from x students or assess and find out how crucial they are to have, you can get by just using journals. 
• It's not about how hard you work, it's about how smart you work! Find a technique that works for you and your learning style. Utilise past papers for exams and study the most frequently occurring topics. (Study some spare ones too just in case your topics do not come up in the exam).
• Use your holidays well! Yes it may seem that you have a gazillion years of holidays, term/semester lasts from 10-12 weeks leaving you free to live your life, chill and relax. This is wrong! Well i'm not saying you can't relax, but UTILISE your holidays, if you need to work, work, internships are everywhere, think about what you want to do. Use websites like www.skillspages.com and www.indeed.com to view opportunities. 
• Don't worry too much about the subject you do for your degree. Unless you  have only ever wanted to be a doctor, nurse or teacher then do those degrees, otherwise chose something you enjoy. Most degrees won't lead you to the perfect job a lot you will have to get more experience after your degree or further postgraduate study. 
• It does matter more to some extent where you do your degree, in this super competitive world reputation of the institution is quite important, so consider this when you have to choose where to invest your 3 or 4 years.
• Learn how to cook and clean! This is a MUST, I remember week 6 at university  I was in the laundry and a guy came in with his mum and didn't know how to operate the very basic launderette style washing machines which just required him to press a button. Me and my friend had to tell his mum how to use the washing machine, he was just standing there looking. I was outraged. Learn how to use a washing machine, wash dishes and cook on a basic level!
• Consider courses with work experience elements. Many universities have placement years attached to their degrees these are usually called sandwich degrees. These are extremely good degrees giving you an edge over other graduates and crucial practical experience.
• Consider doing a year/ semester abroad. I have always been jealous of courses that offer this element, its a great way to travel to other countries and gain an insight into different systems, plus meeting new people. 
• Lastly enjoy it whilst you can, University especially undergraduate years will be the making of  you.
• 
  

I'd like to say thank you to all of those people who replied to the Facebook message I sent, those responses contributed to this post.

How to become a Clinical Psychologist

As the popularity of psychology degrees is growing in the UK, one of the most popular destinations for psychology graduates is a career in clinical psychology. Although many psychology students aspire to become clinical psychologists, the majority do not pursue this career.

What do clinical psychologists do?
Clinical psychologists deal with the well being and stress reduction of clients and primarily work in the NHS. They deal with depression, schizophrenia, neurological disorders, addictive and challenging behaviours, eating disorders and learning disabilities. To assess clients psychologists may use a variety of skills including direct observations and psychological tests. These assessments may lead to therapy counselling or advice and psychologists work in health and social care settings such as hospitals and local council services such as the social services. Clinical psychologists are often confused with psychiatrists, the difference between clinical psychologists and psychiatrists is that psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed 5 year medical degrees and specialise in psychiatry. Psychologists complete 3 year degrees and a 3 year doctorate degree and cannot prescribe drugs like psychiatrists do.

How do I get into clinical psychology?
Firstly you need to have completed an accredited undergraduate psychology degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and have Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR). If you have not completed a psychology degree you can complete a 1 year conversion course. After the undergraduate degree you need to complete a three year NHS funded doctorate in clinical psychology.

Competition to obtain a place on a clinical psychology doctorate is fierce, around 30% of applicants are successful each year. To increase you chances you need a 2.1 at undergraduate level, however if you did not get a 2.1 a masters or a lot of work experience will be a benefit. Work experience in care homes, social services or hospitals will help. Additionally research experience and skills would also be a benefit. Another stepping stone to getting a place on a clinical doctorate is a position as a assistant psychologist or a research assistant.

In conclusion the journey to becoming a clinical psychologist may seem long but with the right mindset, contacts and work experience you can make it, they key is just to be prepared.

Links
The British Psychological Society
Prospects