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Nikrahan GR. Theory of brain complexity and marital behaviors: The application of complexity science and neuroscience to explain the complexities of marital behaviors. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1050164. [PMID: 36959907 PMCID: PMC10027753 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1050164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The extant theories on the quality and stability of marital relationships have some difficulties in explaining some of the complexities of marital behaviors. The present article is an initial attempt to explain the complexities of marital behaviors based on the science of complexity and neuroscience. This article proposes a new theoretical framework relying on this simple argument that marital behaviors, as one of the most complex human behaviors, are the product of one's brain's complex adaptive system (CAS). Hence, to understand the complexities of marital behaviors, a movement toward familiarity with the brain's CAS involved in marital behaviors needs to be started. The article presents the theory of brain complexity and marital behaviors (BCM) and outlines its assumptions, concepts, and propositions. Then, BCM is compared with the extant theories on happy and stable marriage, and finally, it was concluded by discussing the testability and the potential application of the theory. This article might inspire interdisciplinary studies of marital relationships, complex systems, and neuroscience and may have considerable practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholam Reza Nikrahan
- Department of Psychology, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
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Schuttenberg EM, Sneider JT, Rosmarin DH, Cohen-Gilbert JE, Oot EN, Seraikas AM, Stein ER, Maksimovskiy AL, Harris SK, Silveri MM. Forgiveness Mediates the Relationship Between Middle Frontal Gyrus Volume and Clinical Symptoms in Adolescents. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:782893. [PMID: 35295882 PMCID: PMC8918469 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.782893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dispositional forgiveness is positively associated with many facets of wellbeing and has protective implications against depression and anxiety in adolescents. However, little work has been done to examine neurobiological aspects of forgiveness as they relate to clinical symptoms. In order to better understand the neural mechanisms supporting the protective role of forgiveness in adolescents, the current study examined the middle frontal gyrus (MFG), which comprises the majority of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and is associated with cognitive regulation, and its relationship to forgiveness and clinical symptoms in a sample of healthy adolescents. In this cross-sectional study (n = 64), larger MFG volume was significantly associated with higher self-reported dispositional forgiveness scores and lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Forgiveness mediated the relationship between MFG volume and both depressive and anxiety symptom levels. The mediating role of forgiveness in the relationship between MFG volume and clinical symptoms suggests that one way that cognitive regulation strategies supported by this brain region may improve adolescent mental health is via increasing a capacity for forgiveness. The present study highlights the relevance of forgiveness to neurobiology and their relevance to emotional health in adolescents. Future longitudinal studies should focus on the predictive quality of the relationship between forgiveness, brain volume and clinical symptoms and the effects of forgiveness interventions on these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M. Schuttenberg
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer T. Sneider
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David H. Rosmarin
- Department of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- Spirituality and Mental Health Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Julia E. Cohen-Gilbert
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Emily N. Oot
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anna M. Seraikas
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Elena R. Stein
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Arkadiy L. Maksimovskiy
- Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Sion K. Harris
- Center for Adolescent Behavioral Health Research, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marisa M. Silveri
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Marisa M. Silveri,
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Wei H, Hardin SR, Watson J. A unitary caring science resilience-building model: Unifying the human caring theory and research-informed psychology and neuroscience evidence. Int J Nurs Sci 2021; 8:130-135. [PMID: 33575453 PMCID: PMC7859535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience is the psychological capability to recover from difficulties quickly. Healthcare professionals are especially vulnerable to job-related stress and burnout. Unitary Caring Science is the framework for Watson's Human Caring Theory, providing a philosophy of practice in healthcare. With the high rates of clinician burnout and psychological issues, it will be significant to unify the human caring theory with research-informed psychological and neuroscience evidence to develop clinicians' resilience-building strategies. The purpose of this article is to introduce a Unitary Caring Science Resilience Model and explain the science behind the core strategies based on Unitary Caring Science philosophy and the psychological and neuroscience research. This model includes six strategies: Embracing loving-kindness for self and others; Nurturing interpersonal and intersubjective connections/relations; Deepening a creative use of self and sense of belonging; Balancing self-learning, self-awareness, and an evolved self-consciousness; Valuing forgiveness and releasing negativity; Inspiring and maintaining faith-hope. The caring-theory guided resilience-building strategies are proven to alleviate the depletion of clinicians' energy and emotions. Healthcare practices are challenging but rewarding. Clinicians can be emotionally, psychologically, and physically exhausted if they always consider themselves 'giving' and 'doing' institutional tasks without a sense of purpose or fulfillment. The practice can be rewarding if it becomes more aligned with clinicians' value to serve humanity. Through the unitary caring science resilience strategies, clinicians can build resilience as an antidote to clinician burnout and depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Wei
- College of Nursing at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | | | - Jean Watson
- Watson Caring Science Institute, Distinguished Professor/Dean Emerita University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing, CO, USA
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Slavich GM, Shields GS, Deal BD, Gregory A, Toussaint LL. Alleviating Social Pain: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Forgiveness and Acetaminophen. Ann Behav Med 2020; 53:1045-1054. [PMID: 31050715 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has suggested that physical pain (e.g., caused by injury) and social pain (e.g., caused by social rejection) are modulated by some of the same biological systems. Consequently, it is possible that acetaminophen, which is commonly used to alleviate physical pain through neurochemical pathways, may have social pain-relieving effects that interact with forgiveness, which reduces social pain through psychological pathways. To date, however, only a few studies have examined how experiences of social pain change over time, and none have examined how acetaminophen and forgiveness interact to influence these effects. PURPOSE We addressed these issues by investigating how acetaminophen administration and daily forgiveness are associated with experiences of social pain over 21 days. We hypothesized that acetaminophen-related reductions in social pain across the 21-day study period would be greatest on days following high levels of forgiveness. METHOD To test this hypothesis, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which we randomly assigned 42 healthy young adults to an acetaminophen condition (1,000 mg of acetaminophen daily), placebo-control condition (400 mg of potassium daily), or empty-control (no pill) condition. We then assessed their levels of forgiveness and social pain for 20 consecutive days. RESULTS As hypothesized, acetaminophen reduced participants' social pain levels over time but only for those exhibiting high levels of forgiveness (i.e., 18.5% reduction in social pain over 20 days). CONCLUSIONS These data are the first to show that forgiveness and acetaminophen have interactive effects on experiences of social pain, which is one of the most common and impactful of all human experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Slavich
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Grant S Shields
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bailey D Deal
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Amy Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA, USA
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Fourie MM, Hortensius R, Decety J. Parsing the components of forgiveness: Psychological and neural mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:437-451. [PMID: 32088347 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Forgiveness-a shift in motivation away from retaliation and avoidance towards increased goodwill for the perceived wrongdoer-plays a vital role in restoring social relationships, and positively impacts personal wellbeing and society at large. Parsing the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of forgiveness contributes theoretical clarity, yet has remained an outstanding challenge because of conceptual and methodological difficulties in the field. Here, we critically examine the neuroscientific evidence in support of a theoretical framework which accounts for the proximate mechanisms underlying forgiveness. Specifically, we integrate empirical evidence from social psychology and neuroscience to propose that forgiveness relies on three distinct and interacting psychological macro-components: cognitive control, perspective taking, and social valuation. The implication of the lateral prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, respectively, is discussed in the brain networks subserving these distinct component processes. Finally, we outline some caveats that limit the translational value of existing social neuroscience research and provide directions for future research to advance the field of forgiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melike M Fourie
- Studies in Historical Trauma and Transformation, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Ruud Hortensius
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jean Decety
- Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
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